Harry groaned. His head was throbbing, his eyes were unfocused and no sooner did he try to sit up, he wanted to throw up. In short, he felt like shit.
"Puke it out, go on."
It wasn't like he had any choice anyway…
Harry stumbled towards the bathroom. Draco wrinkled his nose in disgust at the retching sounds. He had never seen someone so wasted.
He then heard a dull thud and a loud 'Ow!' and Harry came back out, clutching at his stomach.
"How many?" he asked weakly.
"Four and half."
Harry groaned again and collapsed on the bed.
"How'd I get up here?"
"Dobby."
Harry nodded, but it only worsened his pain.
"Drink that," Draco pointed to a glass placed on the table besides the bed, "Anti-hangover potion."
Harry gratefully drank it one gulp. Immediately, his headache receded, his mind cleared…
And the memories of last night came rushing back to him.
"Shower and get ready…" With that, Draco slipped through the floor.
Harry slowly stood up. So, Draco knew now…and by what he had said last night…
Harry rubbed his forehead, it was unclear…
Draco had stayed back because he had never loved someone. No, never loved someone who loved him back. And…Harry racked his brains to remember…he wouldn't have stayed back if…if he had met Harry earlier.
Harry's eyes widened. Oh shit….
Harry turned on the shower. The hot water washed away whatever was left of the hangover. What would he say to Draco now? Harry mentally cursed himself for getting into this mess.
He was just buttoning his shirt and contemplating what course he should take, when Draco slipped into the room again.
"I told Dobby to apparate your friends back home," he said impassively.
Harry nodded mutely.
There was silence for a while then Draco sighed, "Okay, so both of us know what happened last night. And well…I shouldn't have said that…"
Harry looked at him, confused.
"I-" Draco paused, as if wondering how best to put forward his thoughts, "I'm a ghost…I'm dead…"
Harry bit his lip, wondering what to say, when Draco spoke up again.
"Ca-can we just forget all that happened?"
Harry lowered his eyes…
"I wanna show you something…"
Harry looked up again, confusion in his eyes.
Draco led him to the locked room.
"It has a password, I can't believe you couldn't figure that out…"
Harry allowed himself a smile, "True, that was the most obvious thing…"
"Dragonfire"
The door swung open, revealing Draco's bedroom. It was less elaborate compared to the one at manor, yet beautiful all the same. There were many pictures on the wall, of Draco with his friends, his parents, a copy of the picture that Draco had gifted Harry. And in one corner lay a pensive.
"Memories of me collected from different sources. I want you to add yours to them…"
Harry silently walked towards the pensive, its silvery white contents swirling. Harry prodded it and glimpsed a fleeting image of himself.
"Draco," Harry said, surprised, "You have a memory of me…"
"Can't be!" Draco said, disbelievingly.
"Come and see," Harry prodded the contents again and his face swam again in it, "Can you enter?"
"Of course," Draco said impatiently, "What do you think ghosts are made up of?"
Harry blinked confusedly, "You mean-"
"Just get in!"
Harry repressed all other questions and plunged headfirst into the pensive, Draco slipping in behind him.
They were in the elevator in the Ministry with Draco and Zac Bell. Draco was deeply engrossed in reading some parchment. The elevator doors slid open…and in walked Harry.
Both Harry and Draco gasped.
"Hello Harry," Zac Bell said, "Working late tonight?"
Harry nodded, "Sure isn't easy being an Auror."
Draco looked up at that moment, nodded at Harry and resumed his reading.
"The fool!" Draco hissed, "One word! He could've said at least one word!"
"Wouldn't have made a big difference anyway…" Harry said.
One floor up and Harry stepped out again, leaving Draco and Zac behind.
"Which memory is this?"
Draco didn't reply immediately, "The day I died…"
That's why I felt I had seen Draco somewhere before…cause I had…
"Draco, I don't wanna watch…lets leave please."
Draco nodded mutely and the two rose out of the pensive.
"So I shouldn't have stayed back…" Draco said, his voice hollow.
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't want to die! Hell, I hadn't done anything in life and I had already lost it! That was the first thought that came to my mind…that I hadn't even seen a person I loved. That very word makes the difference! I saw you Harry…"
"But it doesn't make any sense…you didn't love me at that time. You just-" do so now. He loves me…
"I- just add your memories to the pensive, Harry." His voice was cold, though it shook slightly, "I- I'm leaving."
"What are you saying?" No, he doesn't mean that…
"I'm leaving," Draco said, his voice definitely shaking this time, "You yourself said that this will become complicated. But if I'm not with you…"
"Shut the hell up…you cant go…"
"I have to! You're not sure if you love me yet. And if you do, nothing good's gonna come out of it. I'm a ghost, Harry. Why do you keep forgetting that? It matters, no matter what you say, it matters that I'm dead."
Harry was waging an internal war with himself. True, he couldn't allow himself to fall in love with Draco. But he had become so used to his presence in the house.
I don't want him to go…
"Your memories please…"
Harry finally found his voice, "No…"
"Harry, why don't you understand?"
I do understand Draco…
Draco's voice was rising, "I ask you one last time."
"I don't want you to go, Draco."
I understand it all now. What Ginny said…
"But I don't want to stay!"
was true…
"Please, Draco…"
I…
"Fine, its better if I don't have them anyway. Goodbye, Harry. The house is truly yours now…"
love you…
"Draco…" Harry whispered, reaching out, feeling the icy cold for one last time…as Draco slipped through the floor leaving Harry grasping at nothing.
Harry slumped to his knees and a single tear slid down his cheek.
"I love you, Draco," he repeated again. And all this time, I was living in denial…
Harry gazed at the portrait…he gazed and he gazed. But no matter how hard he stared, Draco wasn't coming back. Not even as a ghost.
"You know, Draco," said Harry, "Right now, I want to hold onto you and never let go. I want to feel the warmth of your skin…and the taste of your lips. But you know what? I cant…cause not only have you left me, but you're dead and a ghost."
Harry laughed hollowly.
"Funny, isn't it? I fell for a dead person…and the dead person also fell for me. I thought ghosts were incapable of emotions. I thought wrong then. So tell me, did it hurt? When you vanished like that, did it hurt to leave me? It hurt me a lot Draco. A living person has never hurt me so…and yet you, a ghost, managed to…"
Harry scratched his head, "I wish you hadn't stayed back…you had seen me right? So you shouldn't have. But at that time, you didn't know that we both loved each other. Hell, you don't even know now. I never got to tell you that I really loved you. I wish…I wish I could just turn back time…just to say that I loved you and then you wouldn't stay back and I wouldn't fall for you…and none of this would've ever happened!"
Harry paused, his brain considering what he had just said.
What if…what if I really do try and go back? He remembered the memory, his brain contemplating a plan.
Maybe…there still is hope.
The floor of the library was littered with scrolls of parchment and stacks of books.
Harry himself was engrossed in large tome, stopping from time to time to take down some notes.
What I'm doing is insane…there's no way I can do what I'm thinking of doing. Its ridiculous!
But no matter how hard his Auror side tried to argue, Harry continued his reading.
"Harry?"
Harry placed down his quill and looked up at Hermione.
"What is all this?" Hermione asked, looking at the messy state of the library. She picked up one, "Time travel?!"
"Thanks for coming Hermione…" Harry said quietly, getting up.
"Harry, whats wrong? And where's Draco?"
Sharp as ever…that's why I need you to help me Hermione.
"He-he's gone." Harry said, his voice steely and Hermione flinched at it. She took him by the hand.
"Lets go down and get you a cup of coffee," she said softly and led him downstairs.
"Okay, so what happened?" Hermione asked gently, after they both were seated downstairs with steaming cups of coffee in their hands.
"I love him."
This wasn't what Hermione had expected.
"Harry…" she began but he cut her off.
"Everything is ruined, Hermione. I cant live without him. This is so wrong…so very wrong!!"
Hermione put down her cup and put an arm around him.
"Calm down and tell me all that happened."
Shaking, Harry gave her a broken description of what had happened…and what he planned to do about it.
"No…you cannot be serious," Hermione whispered, her expression stricken, "You don't know what you're saying, Harry."
"You have to help me, Hermione." Harry pleaded.
She was at a loss for words. Harry was distressed, that was obvious, but to this extent?
"Harry," she began again, more patiently this time, "I know that you're going through a lot right now. Having a ghost fall for you…I know it makes no sense. But you can't go creating portkeys back in time just so he wouldn't stay back. Time shouldn't be meddled with! As an Auror, surely you know that!"
"It wouldn't change anything," Harry pressed on stubbornly, " he wouldn't stay back as a ghost, that's all. I must not be seen, that's the main rule. And I wont be breaching that. "
"Harry, you said that Draco had thrown the earlier owners out," Hermione argued, desperately trying to knock some sense into him, "If there's no ghost, then you won't come to owning this house."
Harry shrugged, "I know but that wont matter. I'll be in my old house then."
"But what will you achieve by doing this? When you return, you'll still have the memories."
Harry paused. "I- I will?"
Hermione sighed exasperatedly, although she was glad she had finally gotten her point across to him, "Of course, you're talking of portkeys here. You were going to somehow, create a portkey back into time and then use it to come back again. If you do succeed and Draco doesn't stay back, it wont make a difference to you. In fact, you'll be clueless as to what happened in the past…how long has he been dead? Four years! It could drive you insane!"
A long silence followed, "According to what I've read, people remember both their lives. The one before they'd returned, and the one they'd be living that moment as well. When I go back, my very existence disappears from this world. And when I return, it'll just be me. There wont be two Harrys in the world. This isn't like the time-turner…"
Hermione's shoulders slumped, "Where did you get these books?"
"Draco had them…its like it was meant to be so."
She rubbed her temple wearily, "Harry, I wont try to stop you but just think it through. You're doing this for a person you didn't even know a month back. A person who isn't even alive. What are you really planning to do Harry?"
Harry clamped his eyes shut, blinking back the tears, "I- I just- Just trust me, please."
Hermione bit her lip, "Okay…fine. I'll help you…"
Harry grinned, "Thanks Hermione. I knew I could count on you."
Several hours of reading and pages and pages of notes later, Harry and Hermione was standing in the kitchen.
Hermione handed him a spoon, "Okay, keep this spoon with you at all times. I have no idea how long you'll be there." She paused.
"It'll be fine Hermione."
"For you, Harry. When you return, I'll have no memory if this ever happened. God, the severity of this situation…if the Ministry ever finds out…"
Harry didn't reply.
This is madness. But I'll do it…if it means being with Draco…
"I just hope Dobby remembers the time and date right," Hermione pulled out her wand, took a deep breath and tapped the spoon, "Portus."
The spoon glowed an eerie blue and Harry felt the tug. A stronger and harder tug than any other he had ever felt. And suddenly excruciating pain shot through his body and he screamed.
His knees hit something solid and he forced his eyes open, every muscle of body writhing in pain.
Dobby was right.
Draco Malfoy whipped around at the noise, wand ready.
Harry got up, wincing.
"Draco," his voice felt so weird.
"Halt right there." The blonde said coldly and Harry couldn't help but be taken aback at the tone. It was so alien.
"No," Harry didn't have time, "Listen to me!" Even speaking was taking a lot of Harry's efforts, "I- I love you!"
Draco was startled to say the least, but before he could say anything else, Harry had closed the gap between and pressed his lips upon his, taking advantage of the other boy's shock to gain control, pouring his heart into the contact. Perhaps it was the intensity of the kiss that rendered him unable to act, but Draco didn't pull away.
Harry pulled back, he felt dizzy, "You do love some- me. Dont stay back. Just don't."
The spoon was glowing blue again. Harry swore, maybe he shouldn't have wasted time on the kiss, but hell, he just couldn't help it. He'd been longing for it too much.
And as Harry felt the tug again, Harry brushed his fingers against Draco's cheek, smiling softly. I hope I knew you well enough to predict how you'd act…cause if I'm wrong, heaven knows what might happen.
Draco's stunned expression was the last thing he remembered before being pulled back.
Thud.
He was back. Harry slowly got up. Had it worked? Am I back? And suddenly, a deluge of memories flooded his mind and Harry's knees buckled. He grabbed his head and yelled.
"Harry!"
Harry's head snapped up at the call. Standing in the doorway of the kitchen was Draco Malfoy, a concerned expression on his face. Draco dashed towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
A part of Harry's mind felt that the touch was very familiar and another part leaped in joy.
"Draco," Harry managed to smile, "so it worked…"
The memories still flashed in his mind, his head was throbbing. But Draco was alive…just as Harry had wanted. And he suddenly remembered that night. When he had walked into the elevator, Draco first hadn't paid any attention but when he finally looked up, his expression was of pure shock. He had struck up a conversation at that time. And…Harry smiled as he remembered this bit, Draco hadn't gone up to the atrium, instead he had continued his conversation with Harry and had followed him out…thereby…
Killing Zac Bell…
Harry bit his lip, he knew that meddling with time would have its consequences. If Draco hadn't died, someone else had to…
Meanwhile, Draco watched on confusedly as a variety of emotions crossed over his lover's face. From pain to confusion to happiness and now sorrow.
"Harry dear," he said, "are you fine?"
Harry took Draco's hand into his own. His memory told him that he was supposed to be getting something to eat.
"Draco, I had once appeared in your kitchen our of nowhere, right?"
Draco had an astonished look on his face, "You swore you didn't know anything about that!"
Harry kissed his hand softly, feeling the warmth and savouring it, "Thing is, I only remembered now…"
"Wha-"
Draco was cut off by Harry's lips. And this time, he eagerly leaned into it. One hand snaking around Harry's waist, pulling him closer, the other still held tightly by the very same.
"Strange," Draco said softly, "that kiss had felt the same as this one…"
The constant bombardment of memories had slowed down by now, but Harry felt completely drained.
"I know, Draco." Harry said softly, "I know…"
Its been a year now. Harry had tried to explain everything to Draco, but things had just gotten even more complicated. Hermione and Ron were married, and so were Harry and Draco. Everything had turned out fine, just as Harry hoped it would.
Oh and he was the actual owner of the house now…Draco said it himself…but he couldn't fathom why Harry seemed so smug about it…ah well, as long as he didn't start about time-travel and ghosts again, Draco was fine with it.
The End
This was the Alternate Ending...but the readers liked it more than the original one. So I interchanged them!
And many thanks are in order, so here goes- Zerocrash- The first reviewer and constant source of motivation. Thanks dear! xXxAlotLikeLovexXx - Writes really great reviews! Almost all of them brought a smile to my face. And your suggestions helped me improve the fic! Thanks! Cyiusblack- 'Update soon' lol and 'super chapter' I knew that even if no one else reviewed, you would! Hehe, thanks a bunch! TsukikoElric- XD Straight to the point reviews, loved them! Thanks! Bizerko-Kittykins- Detailed reviews. It felt good that you actually read the fic so carefully! Lol Thanks! SkyeEyesSparkle7135- I personally think she's an awesome writer and hence it felt great to read her reviews and the fact that she liked my fic! Thank you! tilly-tally-tease- You've reviewed most of the fics I've written and the whole of this since the third chapter. I am eternally grateful! Thank you! Werecool- Lengthy and helpful reviews. Always looked forward to reading them. Thanks so much! And a BIG thanks to all the other reviewers as well. Rika'sGrayWolf, minoki, luckycharm9, Crystal Malfoy, , Elektra107, zZzQueen, xinsert user name here-,freckles-is-god, , njferrell, KianaRia, Lady Sakura of the Fated, blue4summer, Cerrydwen, Chaos Raider Tenshi, Symphonii, Windseeker2305, mighty-midgie-001, chaos key, and animehpgurl. Thanks for the faves and the alerts! Its been great fun writing this fic, hope the readers had as much fun reading it as well. Cheers!