Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. All rights to the characters, fictional places and names, belong to J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing.

Epilogue

Harry was lying in bed. Looking around, he only saw darkness. The only things he could actually make out was himself and the bed he was lying in. It was a hospital bed. "Quite comfy", he thought, as he sat and leaned against the bedpost. Eyeing the wrinkles on his sheets, he straightened them out. He grabbed one the pillows behind him and fluffed it up, just to smoosh it again. Harry realized that his body felt very heavy and that moving cost him a lot of energy. Glancing at his surroundings, trying to make out anything in the darkness, he saw a figure walking towards him. It had a faint silvering glow around it. The dark figure looked like a person. It had arms and legs, and a head, but that's all he could make out. It was coming closer and closer, revealing more of itself with every step it took. A pitch black robe with green linings, blonde hair and a graceful stride. "Oh my, that's Draco!" The sudden realisation popped into his head without hesitation or in need of a second glance. The figure that was moving towards Harry was indeed Draco Malfoy in all of his Slytherin pride. "Draco! Hey, Draco! I'm over here. I can't seem to move very well and I may need your help. " Harry pointed towards his lower body, particularly his legs.

Walking directly towards him, Draco began to take off his uniform, one piece at a time. First went his tie, then his sweater. Harry sat up straight while this was happening, grabbing pieces of his blanket and covering himself. His hands masking his genital area. He felt a slight bump against his palms as he saw Draco stripping every piece of his clothing in front of him. The bulge in his trousers grew bigger with every second, making it hard to hide. Draco was throwing away his shirt. He only had his jeans and boxers on now. "Fuck! It's really gettin' hot in here." Harry thought to himself, pressing even harder against his erect penis now. The blonde boy arrived at the foot of his bed, only wearing his undies. Harry's bulge was starting to hurt and he really needed to set his erection free. Draco crept closer and closer, his eyes were lit with passion and he was licking his lips with the tip of his tongue. His lips were wet now and he finally reached his destination: Harry. Sitting on the other boy's lap, so that Harry's lower body was between his legs, he was rubbing against Harry's erection, making him squeamish. The blonde grabbed Harry's hands firmly, placing them on either butt cheek and smirking at the next-to-no resistance in that matter. There was only Draco's underwear, a thin bed sheet and a hospital gown separating Harry's erection from Draco's needy ass.

Harry's cheeks flushed red, sweat breaking on his forehead and slowly squeezing, massaging, Draco's ass, making the blonde moan in pleasure. Draco leaned in, both of them chest to chest now. Heaving up and down, bouncing and rubbing against the other boy's hard penis. He wrapped his arms around Harry's neck, coming even closer and breathing right into his ear. "Harry, I want it. Please, give it to me. I need it so, so much." He whispered into his ear, seductively. Every breath that he exhaled into his ear felt warm and Harry was turned on by every single one. Draco started nibbling at his ear for a few second until finally moving towards Harry's red lips. "How about I show you how to kiss me, Harry." Draco suggested, moving even closer now. Harry only nodded, while avoiding eye contact. Irritated that he wouldn't look at him, he gently grabbed Harry's chin and thrust it towards him. Their eyes were locked now. The black haired boy swallowed all the spit he had in his mouth before Draco could move in for the kill. "There's no need to use so much saliva while kissing," 'Moine always told him, "It's not something that essential for kissing. Just get a feel for what you're doing and then you're good to go." As they closed the distance between them, Harry knew he wasn't the world's best kisser and his palms started to sweat and he grew uncomfortable, but it was too late to stop now.

Draco brushed his tongue against Harry's bottom lip, teasing him to open. Once he did, Draco rolled his tongue over the boy's, indulging in the wet heat of Harry's mouth. It wasn't messy at all, because Draco was doing much of the work while Harry was just sitting there, enjoying the ride. Harry was only semi-focused on the kissing and his erection and all, when he suddenly heard a faint noise coming from the shadows. It was so faint, he could have sworn it was in his head. He was about to dismiss it when he heard it again. "It's definitely someone's voice", Harry told himself. He listened closely, completely ignoring Draco and his magic tongue. "What...where is it coming from?" A blinding light now reached his field of vision and he had to squint real hard to make out anything at all. "Someone is grabbing me by the shoulders," Harry thought, "but who is it?" "Harry! Harry, you're awake. Oh thank Merlin, you're alright. Madame Pomfrey, come quickly. Harry's woken up!" A familiar voice belched out, echoing like crazy in Harry's head. "It sounds like Hermoine...for some reason. Where did Draco go? Was I dreaming this whole time?" Harry opened his eyes slowly and with much effort only to reveal a worried Hermoine on his right side and a nurse, probably Madame Pomfrey, on his left.

His head hurt like hell. The voices ringing in and out, echoing from one part of his head to the other. "Harry can you see me? How are you? Is there any pain?" Madame Pomfrey asked in her usual calming voice. "My head feels like it's about to explode, woman! Of course it hurts." Harry thought to himself, but the only thing on his mind right now was one particular blonde guy. "Draco….Draco. Where is...where is Draco? Is he...he alright?" Harry managed to get out. Harry couldn't control the tears running down his face. He was scared. Afraid of what happened before, of what was happening right now. The nurse was rushing from one cabinet to the next procuring medicine after medicine, mixing them into a powder and prepare the mixture for Harry to drink. "Here, drink this. This should help with the pain and...with the exploding headaches," Madame Pomfrey said calmly, handing him a flask with reddish liquid. The medicine had a kind of weird stench to it, but as he drank it, it reminded him of the "medicine" the Dursleys gave him when he was younger to cure his coughs and headaches. It helped instantly. I guess that's the power of magical herbs, eh? He thought to himself. He saw Hermoine's worried face next to him. He never saw her face wear such an expression. It was terrifying. Shit must've been really fucked up for her to be like this. Where's...is Draco? I thought that I might actually see him here. At my bedside. Maybe he got hurt? I mean, he was facing his dad...anything could've happened. I just abandoned him. I left him there all alone. And for what? I was fucking pissed at Ron. He couldn't keep his damn mouth shut for once and with every word he said it pissed me off even more! Wait...oh my...RON!

"R-ron...is Ron ok? 'Moine, is Ron alright? I can't remember what happened. We chased each other through the Forbidden Forest and then a blinding light went off...and then everything went black…" He looked Hermoine in the eyes and saw her tearing up violently, sobbing even. Come to think of it her eyes were already puffy and red the whole time he's been awake. Tears rolling down her cheeks and snot slowly flowing out of her nose, she gently wiped the mucus off her upper lip with her Gryffindor hoodie, her hands shaking nervously. Anger and sadness was building up inside of him. He didn't know what happened and she wasn't about to tell. It made him feel anxious and guilty about not knowing what the fuck happened in the woods that night. Harry grabbed her by the wrist and the skin around his fingers turned slightly white by the power of his grip. "'Moine...listen to me! What the fuck happened that night in the woods? And where's Ron?" He looked her straight in the eyes and she fell silent. "Harry...Harry, Ron and you had a serious fight in the woods and it escalated to the point of no return...and in all of that your spells collided and caused an explosion of some kind. They...the teachers...don't really know yet." She brushed a few strains of her hair out of her face and tucked them behind her ear. Her hands were still shaking but not as violently as before. She clearly calmed down a little now. "There was a huge fire, and Ron was trapped under a fallen tree...the fire was everywhere. And then you came. You tried to help. Tried to rescue him. You went into the fire...but it was too late. The flames had already consumed his body and there was nothing anyone could do for him. And then you got hit by that branch...and I don't know, but Hagrid told me that he had to carry you out of there. And that's all I know." Getting a tissue out of her hoodie pocket, Hermoine snuffled up some of her remaining snot up her nose and and blew with all her might into the tissue.

Harry was shocked at what he just heard. Disgust and fear spread throughout his body. His heart broken. His best friend died because of him. How can I live with this. I am...it's my fault that he's dead. If I hadn't been so stubborn, so pissed, at him baiting me, we wouldn't have fought. He would still be alive. Alive and well. His poor family. I only know too well how they must feel. I never wished any of this to happen to any of friends, but it did. My chest hurts. Hermoine looks terrible and that's my fault as well. Because of me, Ron died and we both lost our best friend. Wait...how many more had died that night? Oh Merlin, I hope Ron was the only one. I can't bare much more, I fear. "'Moine, did anyone else...die that night?" He asked curiously, eyeing her cautiously, searching for any microexpressions. "No..no, no one else lost their life, but many got hurt. Got hurt real bad. Not only physically but also emotionally. Dobby is in a coma and might not make it through the next few days. Internal bleeding. Madame Pomfrey tried and tried but...she failed every time. I'm sorry, Harry, I know what he means to you." She looked at her folded hands on her lap. Silence spread throughout the room for a split second until Harry broke it. "What? Is there more?" He was at the brink of tears, desperately trying to know more about the people that got hurt. Ron died. Dobby is going to die. What else isn't she telling me? Gently placing his hand on hers, she looked up at him, her eyes still puffy and red but filled with pity and fear. Fear of hurting her best friend. Pity of how he would react to the news she had and how it will hurt him. She didn't want to hurt him. Harry was in enough pain as it is.

"It's Draco," She hesitated but when she saw Harry's hunger for information and the burning flames in his eyes that lit up when she mentioned Draco, she knew that she had to continue. " He visited you some time ago. He was… how should I put this...he was having some sort of mental breakdown and who's to blame him? His father wanted to duel him, and probably kill him too, you were nowhere to be found in all the chaos, he was alone and had no one. And when they found you, you were not awake and hurt really badly. He didn't know what to do. Pansy couldn't help him out, except tell him to visit you and so he did. I guess seeing you like this, was the final straw for his mental stability and he had to...let you go. I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry." Harry was in shock. There was a lump in his throat and he couldn't speak even if he tried. The blood pressure in his veins was starting to rise, his heart pounding rapidly and his breaths got shorter by the second. "Oh...and Pansy sent me this letter here," She revealed a letter from under her hoodie and showed it to Harry, placing it on his lap. Harry merely looked at it, not fully aware of his surroundings. He had a stabbing feeling in his chest and the pain was increasing slowly, making it even harder to breath. Hermoine didn't seem to notice the change in her friend's condition. Maybe he was imagining things and he was completely fine. Who knows?

I used to believe that we were on the edge of something beautiful. Something that would last for at least a long while. I wanted this relationship to work. I thought he wanted that as well. Oh, it's been a hell of a ride, that's for sure. Never let you go. Never let me down, Draco. Please. Harry tucked at the piece of cloth covering his heart, pinching his own skin. It was hurting. A burning sensation was spreading throughout his body. Don't you give up on us. Don't you let go. I feel the razor slowly pushing against my heart and hurts like hell. And here I thought that we were both in all the way, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health and all that stuff. But I guess that doesn't mean anything to him anymore. There really is such a thing as "a suffering too terrible to name" and I should just push away the unimaginable. But I don't if I really should. I really, truly, deeply like Draco so so much and he means the world to me, and I couldn't bare to lose him. And on the other side, he doesn't want anything to do with me. This surely is a dilemma. Hermoine gently touched his arm, a comforting warmth spreading throughout his limb. Harry turned his face towards her without realizing he was doing so. "It's from Draco." And he almost immediately snapped out of his trance, still feeling lightheaded and the stabbing pain in his chest slowly residing but unfortunately still present. Turning his attention slowly towards his lap, he saw a familiar handwriting on the cover of the letter. For Harry. It was Draco's handwriting and Harry couldn't help but crack a tiny smile at the curve of his mouth. Feelings starting to take form within him and it scared Harry. He didn't know what to do now. I'm all alone now.

Harry placed the letter back on his lap and stared at the empty void in front of him. Hermoine was saying something but he didn't register it. Not blinking for about 5 minutes, his mind started racing like crazy and he couldn't understand a single thought he was thinking. Chaos was spreading throughout his mind and it made him feel lightheaded again. The pain in his chest returned and he could hear his heart pounding like crazy. Badum badum. His heartbeat was so loud, his ears started ringing. His own insecurities were rising inside of him and panic started to spread, making him sweat on his forehead and under his armpits. It was all very uncomfortable, but he didn't know how to control or stop it from happening. Besides, he was in a state of paralysis anyway, so who cares, right?

Hermoine had a shocked expression on her face as she saw what her best friend was going through. She knew exactly what happening to him right now. He was having an anxiety attack and there was little she could do to stop it. The last time she saw Harry this way, was when Sirius died at the Ministry. It was something she thought she would never see again, but there he was having another attack. She went over to the nurse's station to ask Madame Pomfrey what she's supposed to do in a situation like this and the witch gave her some muggle medicine she confiscated from some rather troubling students. She looked at the pills and she knew exactly what she's supposed to do. Harry's supposed to swallow one of the pills whole and drink water to flush it down. Ok, I think that's easy enough to remember. But how am I supposed to make him take it? I'm his best friend, so technically I'm able to help him but I don't want to hurt him either. But that's like the only way I can help him. I could also get someone else to do it for me, but who? I would've gotten Draco...but after seeing him earlier and reading that letter, I don't think that would be a great idea. Anyways, I can do it.

She went over to Harry, standing next to his bed, she poured some water in a glass and handed them to Harry. Naturally, he didn't take them. I don't think he even realized I was trying to hand him something. Maybe force would help. She grabbed Harry by the shoulders and pushed him gently but with a little backbone into the mattress. There was no resistance at all. She opened his jaw, placed the pill on his tongue and poured some water into his mouth and shutting it again. Harry isn't swallowing. Fuck! Did I just mess up? Will he drown and die because of me? "Merlin's beard, Harry! Fucking swallow that damn pill already." She was shaking his body, still latching on his shoulder with that firm grip of her's. "Please, Harry. Do it for me?" Begging her best friend to wash down the medicine that could potentially help him recover from his state. She was still shaking him, reluctantly. And to her surprise, he finally swallowed everything after what felt like lifetime. A feeling of relief spread throughout her body and she slumped back onto the chair next to the bed. "Thanks, Harry. I wouldn't know what I'd do if I lost you as well." Chuckling to herself, her lacrimal gland activated again and a few single tears started rolling down her already puffy face.

Harry was lying in the bed, still paralyzed by what he just read, staring at the ceiling. He hummed a song that he heard a few years ago in the muggle world when he was visiting his aunt and uncle for the summer. It wasn't a great vacation but he tried to make the best of it. And during that time, he felt especially melancholy and depressed so he turned on the radio and just listened to it all day. This particular song he heard stuck with him for a long time but he totally forgot about after the new semester started that year. He continued to hum the tune without Hermoine paying him any attention. "Sometimes it lasts in love...but sometimes it hurts instead…" He mumbled and slowly closed his eyelids, falling asleep.

I hope everyone "enjoyed" the epilogue and final chapter :)

Inspirations were drawn from: TV shows (anything HBO, Showtime or ABC), books (mainly classics like Tolkien and Bronte), manga, music (Adele and Sia).

My next project could quite possibly be extra chapters to the main story or start a spin-off with Hermoine/Pansy as the main characters. What do you think?