Pt 3: Echo Echo

Chapter 7: Lonesome Pine

Draco was on top of the world. Harry's coming back for him had meant more than he imagined. As they stood there in front of Nottingwood's, he felt as though a great channel had opened up between their minds, allowing them to forgive each other and reach a new understanding without words.

Oh, words were involved, but they had no effect whatsoever. Words did not encompass Draco's new appreciation of Harry's strength.

Harry stood like a tree, with friends surrounding him, and yet as alone as Draco in his way. No one could completely empathize with Harry, because there was no one who had undergone the same circumstances or even close. He was as scared as Draco, and yet so brave.

Draco wasn't selfless enough to forget his own bravery, but for the first time, he felt that he and Harry were equals in a way.

For all Harry was a tree, he didn't know how deep his roots went. He didn't know if the life he'd built for himself would collapse.

Draco knew what that was like.

In his own way, Harry had secret places in his mind he was afraid to let Draco see.

And he was just as afraid of losing what they had.

They started over. They learned again what living together meant, who would be where when, what was needed from whom when. Both of their bosses gave them time off, and in the little half-guilty smiles they shared when they told each other this, they understood that they had both been practically useless and unbearable to work with while apart. They spent the time getting to know each other again, and talking, talking for hours.

And then Harry said it.

It might not have meant so much before, when Draco was so convinced he was a charity case, but with his new understanding of Harry, he understood exactly what it cost, exactly how hard and how easy it was for Harry to say.

It was practically a whisper, the depth of feeling communicated in shaking hands and ducked head and brilliant green eyes that wouldn't look at Draco until he took Harry's face and made them.

"I love you."

Draco kissed Harry senseless, trying to return the sentiment without feeling like a parrot. Finally he found that there was nothing for it, and, leaning his forehead against Harry's and grinning so widely his mouth hurt, he answered.

"I love you, too."