"If I left her, this would all be real," whispered Draco.
"If I left her, we wouldn't have to lie," Harry declared. "You can't help who you love."
"If you left them, we could get a house in the mountains, and a cottage at the beach," Draco said. "Money would never be a problem."
"If you left her, we could hold hands in public." Harry said. It was simple, but the tiniest gestures meant more than anything.
"We'd be free. We could ride in a car together, go shopping together," said Draco. Just the thought of all these things made him miserable. He knew they'd never happen.
"I wouldn't have to pretend I hate you anymore." Harry said solemnly, while Draco stifled a smile. It was funny. But it was also sad.
"I could be with you in public. With our friends. We wouldn't have to hide. We could go anywhere, do anything," said the blonde.
"We always could." Harry frowned, shook his head. "But it's too late. I can't leave her. I have kids, a family." He sighed, rested his head on Draco's shoulder. "I wish I could."
"I have a wife. A daughter. A reputation to uphold. A Malfoy leaving his wife for a man. It doesn't help that that man is his arch-nemesis. I can just imagine." Draco groaned at the thought of his father finding out. "I love them."
"I love them too. I love Ginny, but the magic's gone. It's not the same, but I won't destroy my family."
"So this is it?" asked the pale man. He'd grown up overnight, it seemed.
"This is it," said Harry, tousling his already messy hair. "I'll always…" He choked up. He couldn't speak.
"Love you. I know. But I can't. We can't anymore. I wish things were simple."
"Life is never easy. You and I should know that more than anyone."
"Be strong. Hold it together." Harry wanted to cry, but he was putting on a strong front for Draco. He knew Draco was doing the same for him.
"I can if you can," a pink cheeked Draco said, with a mock smile which quickly faded, a tribute to their old competitiveness. "I love you."
"I know. I'll miss you."
It was like drowning: plunging into darkness with no escape. His heart was being ripped out and there was nothing he could do. He wanted to reach out, to stop Harry from leaving. But he knew that would be a mistake. One mistake in a long succession of them. As much as he didn't want to be doing this right now, as much as he hated walking away, that was as much as it was the right thing to do. Maybe for the first time in Draco's life, he was doing the right thing.
"Goodbye Harry."