This was such a challenge. I really hope it lives up to the work I put into it.
Plot twist in this chapter... You might cry.
Warnings – have some napkins handy
Empty Pages
Chapter Four – Turned to Stone
Written by Illumination
Harry stood in the middle of the cul-de-sac for what could have been hours. It was quiet community; hardly a single soul stirring outside the homes. Harry found it strange that Draco would reside in such a close-knit muggle neighborhood; he had always been completely resistant to muggle ways. He wondered what had compelled him to move here, when he could have lived in his secluded mansion.
The house directly in the middle was the very address Narcissa had given him. It was made of brick, like every other house on the block, and although it was quite large, it was nowhere near the side of the manor. Two large stories towered over an empty driveway and a flawless green lawn. Two fruit trees grew to the left of the driveway – perhaps if it wasn't winter, Harry could have been able to tell which kind of fruit. An assortment of other plants decorated the space around the house. Harry breathed in the scent of firewood. This place reminded him of the Dursley's.
A slight breeze ruffled the brunette's hair, disrupting the stillness of the evening. He was ready.
One foot in front of the other. Breathe. Suddenly, he was standing on the front doorstep, staring at the dark brown oak door. His heart was pounding in his chest; whether it was from nerves or excitement or both, he couldn't be sure. It had been so long, and for the moment, he was focused on not hugging Malfoy as soon as he appeared on the other side of the door. He was more anxious than when he had been preparing to fight Voldemort. Not even Ginny had created feelings like these.
One last deep breath. He inflated his lungs, and lifted a hand to press the doorbell with one finger. It sounded within the house, and Harry's adrenaline spiked his exhilaration even more. This was it. Whatever happened now would change both of their lives.
There was movement within the house, and Harry fought the urge to turn and run. He was so unfamiliar with rejection, and so wary of it. "Just stay calm, stay calm," he murmured under his breath. Footsteps were growing louder. His breath caught in his throat.
The knob turned.
The door swung open.
Harry stared.
...
The woman standing before him had long brown hair partially pinned behind her head. Her eyes were a dark brown as well. She looked quite familiar. Harry found his voice, awkwardly shifting his weight.
"Sorry, I must have the wrong–"
"Who is it, love?"
Harry was cut off by a male voice. An all too familiar voice that dug little pins and needles into the back of his neck, all the way down his spine. The woman turned halfway to look over her shoulder. Harry's suspicions were confirmed.
Those eyes.
Like a lake bathed in liquid moonlight.
Harry stood there for what could have been minutes or hours, making a fool of himself, before the tears in his eyes made it impossible for him to look into those silvery blue orbs any longer. Once that occurred, there was no reason for him to be in their presence. He turned and ran.
How thick could he be...? Of course Draco had moved on. Of course he had a partner, and was living a normal life. Had Ginny been completely wrong? Was he never interested in Harry? After falling nearly head over heels in the short span of a week, Harry had expected Draco to be surprised to see him. He'd dreamed that the blonde would share his confession. He'd craved Draco's smile when Harry admitted everything. And perhaps he'd even readied himself for Draco to reject him; tell him it had been too long, or he no longer had those intimate feelings he'd had during school.
But Harry wasn't prepared for this.
He had stumbled aimlessly down the sidewalk, tears streaming down his face, barely able to see where he was going. Somehow, he had ended up in a small wooded area, where the underbrush grew thickly. Only when he slowed, bewildered as to where he was, did he realize someone was following him, calling his name breathlessly.
"Potter!"
Harry turned slowly, taking a few steps away from the blonde who was jogging up to him. Unfortunately, his feet became tangled in the mess of undergrowth and he lost his footing, falling amongst the thorn bushes. He put his hands out instinctively to break the fall, and felt the immediate pain.
"Honestly, Potter..."
Draco approached him, offering a hand. Harry took it, wincing at the pressure on his wounds, and stood up from the prickly scrubs. Wordlessly, Draco pulled his wand from his belt, vanished the blood on his own hand, and murmured a quiet spell to seal up the cuts upon Harry's palms.
"How did you find me?"
Harry watched as the tip of Draco's wand lingered over the heel of his hand, closing the slices. "Your mum." Those ashen-blue eyes snapped up to him.
"... How is she?"
"She seemed lonely."
Draco's eyes returned to Harry's now healed hand. He didn't speak a word while he stowed his wand in his belt again. Harry's heart felt as if it were bleeding.
"Who is she, Draco?"
The blonde was quiet for a long moment. Finally, after Harry thought he wasn't going to answer, he murmured, "Astoria. Astoria Greengrass. Do you remember her?" Harry shook his head, unsure of what expression was plastered on his face. "She was two years behind us. In Slytherin."
It was Harry's turn to fall silent. Everything he'd realized; all the emotions that had been building up inside him... All for nothing. There were no words to describe the despair he felt as he stood there, only a few feet away from the one he...
Loved.
He loved Draco Malfoy.
It took all his self-control and willpower not to allow the tears to overflow right then and there.
"So what do you want?"
Harry blinked, trying to comprehend what Draco was saying. "... What?"
"You obviously came for a reason." The blonde looked him up and down. "You haven't changed much."
The smile that touched Harry's lips didn't reach his eyes. "Neither have you..."
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of the Chosen One appearing on my doorstep?"
Harry almost winced at the way Draco spat his adopted title, but smiled instead. Just like old times. "I... Just wanted to know how you're doing."
"Codswallop." Harry stared at Draco unseeingly. The urge to flee was creeping up on him again. "You wouldn't have run if that was all you wanted."
Harry was silent. There was nothing he could say. Nothing that would make any difference.
"Come on, out with it Potter!"
Closing his eyes, Harry's hands balled into loose fists. He had nothing left to lose, now. At least he could let Malfoy know he hadn't been blind as a ruddy bat.
"I... I broke up with Ginny."
"... You came all this way to tell me you broke up with Weasel T–"
"Would you just let me finish!"
Shocked into silence, Draco crossed his arms grudgingly and fell silent. Harry adverted his blazing emerald gaze. "I... I broke up with her because I... Well I realized I..." Harry gritted his teeth. "I don't want to be your enemy. I never did. I... I missed you." Harry felt his cheeks burning. "I didn't know what to do, and after all the dreams I had of you, Ginny kind of helped me realize that you never hated me either... And I just... I needed to lay everything out on the line. But I was afraid you'd reject me. We were never anything close to friends and just coming out and admitting I liked you would bugger any chance I had, but I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least come here and try..." Harry stopped speaking, beginning to feel himself rambling. He was frightened to look at Draco. The look on his face was probably one of disgust.
"You're not as daft as I thought, Potter."
Harry swallowed. His mouth was dry. Cautiously, he raised his eyes to the taller blonde standing before him. His expression was somber, if not a bit sad. Silvery-blue eyes were not on Harry's; rather lingering on his torso. Harry felt as if the whole forest around them was holding its breath.
"But you're too late."
So many emotions flooded Harry's being at once. Delight and distress clashed, causing Harry's eyes to drastically conflict with his smile. It was too much to take in all at once. He felt his mind threatening to opt out of the situation before him.
Draco's eyes finally met his. They held a history. Their first encounter. Their duel in the Great Hall. An argument during Care of Magical Creatures. Spats during dinner. Throwing snowballs at him from under the invisibility cloak. Encountering each other at the Quidditch World Cup. Their fight in the bathroom when Harry stumbled upon Draco crying. Harry witnessing Draco disarm Dumbledore. Recognizing Harry and not telling Bellatrix and his father and mother the truth. Rescuing the blonde from the burning Room of Requirement.
Harry felt the lump in his throat becoming more and more apparent.
"We're to be married in one month," the blonde murmured.
Harry nodded, looking down. Perhaps he bobbed his head a bit too eagerly. Wiping his nose on his sleeve, he tried to gather himself to make it down the homestretch.
"I... Brilliant. Yeah. Good for you, mate..."
"... Yeah, I suppose."
The brunette avoided his eyes. "I should probably be... Going now. Hermione and Ginny will worry."
"... Right. Yeah."
Harry fought the urge to crumble to pieces. He couldn't break down in front of Draco. He wouldn't. "I'll, uh... See you around."
Harry felt Draco's eyes on him. He knew he was being rude, and Draco would probably think badly of him later. But right now, he just needed to get away. His heart felt as if it had been forcibly ripped open, and all the juices sucked out.
"Harry?"
He froze. Those silvery eyes were on him.
"I... I'm sorry. Really."
The sob that escaped the teen's lips before he apparated echoed in Draco's ears.
