This is my first story in English. I'm from Germany and unfortunately I couldn't find a native speaker to translate my stories. My English is okay, but the grammar is a bit difficult. Nevertheless, I gave it a try. Please be nice and I'm happy about tips!
"Harry? Harry!" The man's shout persisted through the small house in Spinners End. Severus Snape let the clasps of his suitcase snap shut and reduced it in size. He stepped into the hallway and called out once more, "Harry!"
"What?" Harry Potter stuck his head out of the door of his room and looked at his adoptive father, annoyed.
"Are you ready?" the latter now wanted to know and stepped into the room of the now seventeen-year-old.
The small room was full of books, Quidditch equipment, quills and parchments. Clothes lay on the floor and on the bed was a suitcase that was only half full so far. Severus looked around and then looked sternly at his son.
"What did I say about this pigsty? We're leaving in an hour. I hope that's not all you're taking on a two-week trip?" He pointed his finger at the opened suitcase.
Harry shrugged, raised his wand and cleaned up the mess. Rather half-heartedly, he took another jumper from the cupboard and put it in the suitcase. Severus watched him closely. By now he knew Harry only too well and suspected that something was on his mind.
After his victory over Voldemort, in his last year at school, he was supposed to be carefree and happy, especially as it was his first summer holiday that he could spend without fear. Severus Snape had taken Harry in after Sirius' death, after he had confided in him during one of the Occlumency lessons, even if not entirely voluntarily. Harry had told him that he had no intention of going back to his relatives and preferred to stay with Sirius. When Sirius died in the Department of Mysteries, it was Severus who had picked up the boy.
Flashback - Hogwarts Hospital Wing shortly after Sirius' death
Severus Snape hurried through the dark corridors of the school. Everything was quiet. The students were lying in their beds and all that could be heard was the storm raging outside. When he entered the hospital wing, it was empty except for one bed at the end of the room. The lamp on the bedside table was lit. Harry sat in bed with his knees drawn up, staring into the distance. Severus stepped closer and pulled a chair next to the bed.
"You should sleep," he said, softly as rarely.
"You already sound like Madame Pomfrey," Harry said without looking up, drawing his knees in a little more.
Severus took a deep breath. He found it difficult to find the right words, although he knew exactly how the boy must feel.
"Look, I know it's hard. I know how bad it is. How bad it is t lose someone you love," he said softly. Harry shook his head and wiped his eyes.
"No, you don't know what it's like! You have no idea. He was everything, everything that still somehow connected me to my parents. Sirius was my hope, for...for a family and it's my fault he's gone. IT'S MY FAULT!" He had shouted the last words and now looked at Severus, shaking and sobbing. The latter had got up and done something that took Harry completely by surprise. He stepped towards the bed and pulled the boy into his arms. He held him tightly, pressed him to him and didn't let lo s until he felt Harry slowly calming down, and only then did something push him away.
"Believe me when I tell you it's not your fault. Black...Sirius didn't come just to save you and the others. He wanted to make a difference, he always did. I'm sure he wouldn't want you to blame yourself now. And I'm not leaving here until you understand that," Severus said and sat back down on the chair.
"W-why are you doing this?", Harry wanted to know.
"What?"
"Comfort me," Severus looked at the boy for a while. Much had changed in the last few months, much that was itself still new to him. Harry had confided in him, a person who never had a kind word for him. It was this fact that had made Severus see the boy with different eyes.
"Well I'm...listen, I've made mistakes. One of them was seeing only your father in you. That was wrong and I know that now," he said. Harry looked to him and nodded. Silence now descended on the room. Severus watched the boy. He saw how much he was suffering, how much he was searching for meaning. He knew this. He too had done it, he too had searched for something like a reason for a long time when Lily died. He knew that eventually the pain would subside, but the questions, the reproaches would remain. Would take root like small trees in the soul and always cause a roaring in the ears when one least suspected it.
"I-I'm not going back," the words were barely a whisper, but they snapped Severus out of his thoughts. He shook his head.
"No...no you won't. I can't say I have any experience, but...but how would it be if you came to live with me?" It was almost as if he hadn't spoken the words himself. Right after Severus had learned today that Sirius was dead, he had briefly thought about what it would be like to take the boy in, but now that he had spoken it, it seemed the only logical option. Harry looked up. There was something in his eyes that Severus had not expected - hope.
"I-are you serious?" he wanted to know.
"Sure, you should actually know that I'm not joking," the teacher said and a smile flitted across the otherwise expressionless face.
"B-but Dumbledore?"
"Well I'll talk to the headmaster. He'll have to realise that he made many mistakes, one of which was giving you to those Muggles. Don't worry about it. I don't think anything will stand in the way of an adoption," Severus said.
"A-adoption? You really want to adopt me?" In disbelief, Harry looked at the man in front of him. At first he thought the teacher didn't mean it, was merely taking pity on him, but now he saw no doubt in the man's eyes.
Severus nodded.
"Yeah, I think you and I would get along just fine, don't you?"
"S-sure...I won't cause you any trouble!" Said Harry and for the first time that night there was a smile on the narrow face.
"Don't make promises you can't keep! Oh, and Harry, considering the fact that I could soon be your father, it would be nice if you didn't address me as 'you'," Severus said gently.
"Agreed...um...D-Dad..." said Harry hesitantly. He didn't know how the teacher would react to this speech, but Severus merely nodded.
"Very good and now go to sleep, I'll stay here a little longer," he said and the boy lay down again. It wasn't long before he was asleep. Quietly, Severus turned off the light and walked out of the room. He looked back once more, then turned and walked resolutely towards the headmaster's office.
Flashback end
"What's wrong?", Severus now wanted to know and sat down on the bed.
"What's to be?" Harry threw another pair of socks into the suitcase and sat down next to his father.
"Mmm...let's see, we're going on holiday today, the first real holiday ever and you're acting like I'm shipping you off to Azkaban without a return ticket, so?"
"Very funny dad. It's nothing, really! I-I just thought it would be nice if we went alone," Harry said quickly, looking at his fingernails at great length. Irritated, Severus scratched the back of his head.
"I thought you liked Lucius and Narcissa? Besides, Draco is there too!"
"Mh...I like them too, that's not it," Harry said. He felt strangely backed into a corner. Yes he liked the Malfoys, last summer he had spent a lot of time at Malfoy Manor. He had made up with Draco, especially after he had practically saved his life. He enjoyed his time with the Slytherin. They had a surprising amount in common and yet a holiday together with him made his stomach ache.
"What is it then?" wanted to know Severus.
"Nothing...es nothing. It's okay, Dad. I'm glad. Maybe just some post-war anxiety...", Harry said and smiled.
"All right then, well hurry up now and come down as soon as you're done," Severus said and walked out of the room. Pondering, he climbed down to the ground floor. At the same moment there was a knock at the door.
"Oh, it's you!" the teacher said as he opened the door and stepped to the side.
"Well, that's a welcome," Remus Lupin pushed past Severus into the room.
"Sorry Remus, my mind was elsewhere," the teacher said, pointing to the sofa in the living room.
"What can I do for you?" he wanted to know and sat down in the armchair opposite the other.
"So formal? Actually, I just wanted to say goodbye to you," Remus said.
"We'll only be gone two weeks!" interjected Severus.
"Yes, I do, but then school starts again and I'm rotting here alone."
"Oh Lupin, find a hobby, or a wife! Anything at all. Your work at the Ministry doesn't fill you up, does it?" Severus looked questioningly at his friend. He and Remus had a bond, especially Harry. Lupin, like the boy, had needed comfort and support after Sirius had died. So in the meantime he spent a lot of time in Spinners End when there were holidays. Now Remus made a throwing gesture with his hand.
"Oh that, yes it's quite nice, but...well let's not go there. So what's going on with Harry?" he wanted to know. Severus looked at the other in surprise.
"How do you know?" he wanted to know. Remus laughed.
"I'm not a father, but you look just like all the fathers I know. No one ever said being a father was easy."
"Mhm...could be. I don't know what's wrong with him. I thought he was happy for us to go on holiday together with Lucius, Narzissa and Draco, but now he'd suddenly rather go with me alone."
"Do you want me to have a word with him?"
"Try your luck and tell him we need to start walking," Severus said, standing up and pointing towards the stairs.
Remus climbed to the first floor of the house and knocked on the door of the room before entering. Harry was closing the suitcase and turned around in surprise.
"Remus!" he beamed and hugged the man.
"I thought I'd come and say goodbye," he said. Harry looked at him doubtfully.
"Oh yeah? Dad send you?"
"What? No! Why?", Remus defended himself rather half-heartedly.
"Remus!"
"All right. He's just worried," Lupin said and sat down on the bed. Sighing, Harry followed suit.
"I'm okay! Voldemort's gone and I'm still alive. He can stop worrying."
"Really? So kid, I've known you long enough, what's going on? Why don't you want to go on holiday with Draco? It's because of Draco, isn't it?" Harry buried his face in his hands.
"So yes!" Riet Remus.
"I-it's complicated," the boy stammered, getting up and pacing his room. Lupin also got up now, went to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder.
"No, it isn't. You fell in love with him and nothing more. It's perfectly normal. When did it happen?" he wanted to know, smiling. Harry turned his head to Remus and shook his head.
"I don't know. Sometime between Sirius' death, the adoption and now. We spent so much time together last summer and then...then he threw himself in front of me in the fight against Voldemort. Whenever I think of him, everything pulls together, I miss him..."
"What are you afraid of?", Remus wanted to know. Harry looked at him for a few moments, then turned away and went to the window. He knew exactly what he was afraid of. This fear had haunted him ever since he had become aware of how he felt about Draco.
"Before a 'no'," he finally said and turned back to Lupin. The latter nodded in understanding.
"I can't take away your fear of that, but a 'no' can only come if you ask something too and what's more, no one would risk their life for someone they felt nothing for. Think about it and come on, otherwise your father will get stress pustules," Remus said and with a wave of his wand, reduced the size of the boy's suitcase.
"Remus?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Dad, please!"
"I won't and now come on," Lupin said and led the way.
Half an hour later, Severus and Harry were standing in front of Malfoy Manor waiting for Lucius, Narcissa and Draco to come out of the house. Remus had kept his promise and said nothing to Snape. However, this meant still looking at his son worriedly.
"Dad stop it! I'm fine," Harry hissed, because at that moment Draco came out of the house.
"Ah, mon amis!" he said, beaming, and came towards father and son. Harry swallowed hard. The young Malfoy was handsome. He wore simple linen shorts and a white shirt.
"Well Potter, all packed!" he said as he stood in front of the two.
"Yeah, sure...um, although Dad still hasn't said where we're going."
"Really mean Uncle Sev. We're going to the south of France, we have a holiday home by the sea," Draco said.
"Really by the sea?", Harry wanted to know and looked at Severus, who smiled.
"Sure! Have you never been to the sea?" Draco looked questioningly at the other. He shook his head sadly. His father put an arm around his shoulder.
"We thought it was about time!" he said, looking up at the house from which Narcissa and Lucius had just emerged.
"Ah, I see the Snape-Potter family is present," Lucius said, laughing.
"Yes, very funny Luc. What are you wearing? Were the plain shirts sold out?", amused, Severus eyed his best friend, whose shirt was adorned with green palm fronds.
"What? I'm on holiday!"
"Yes, just like his taste. Hello you two," Narcissa said and hugged Severus and Harry.
"I want to see the sun at last, I can't stand the weather here," Draco grumbled. In fact, the sun had not been seen for days and it rained again and again.
"All right. Draco, you apparate with me!" said Lucius, gripping his son's shoulder.
"Dad, I'm of age, I can do it myself..." he didn't get any further. Lucius had already disappeared with him.
"Oh, oh, that won't do him any good. Unprepared Apparating is..." said Severus.
"Sucks...literally," Harry interrupted his father with a grin. He nodded and reached for his son's hand.
"Ready?" he wanted to know.
"Ready!" said the latter and they were both gone, followed by Narcissa.
Harry suddenly felt sand under his feet. He opened his eyes and the sun blinded him. So the first thing he perceived was the sound of water hitting rocks and the smell of salt. Then he saw it. In front of him was the ocean, more beautiful and powerful than he had ever imagined. He could hardly take his eyes off the sight when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Do you like it?" asked Severus, also looking out to sea.
"Yes, it...it's great!" said Harry. He turned and saw Narcissa and Lucius standing some distance away. Draco was visibly green around the nose, sitting next to his parents in the sand.
"Come, let's go into the house and unpack first," Severus said, leading Harry up the beach.
"Are you all right, Draco?" the latter wanted to know when they were level with the Malfoys.
"Go on. Dad thinks it's hilarious," Draco said, glaring angrily at his grinning father.
"Come on, let's go inside, it's getting dark," Narcissa said, walking ahead with Lucius and Severus. Harry held out a hand to Draco, who grabbed it and let himself be pulled to his feet. Suddenly the boys were standing very close to each other.
"Um...you can let go," Draco said, smiling.
"Oh yeah right...", Harry stuttered and let go of the other's hand. Draco led the way while Harry didn't move. Halfway there, Draco turned around.
"Come on Potter or are you going to grow into it!" he shouted.
"Great, that was totally inconspicuous," Harry thought as he followed Draco up to the beach house.
A wooden staircase led directly from the beach to an inviting large and covered terrace. Harry was amazed. The house looked somehow cosy from the outside and the weather-beaten light wood blended seamlessly into the French coastal landscape. Inside, it was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Despite all this, the cosy charm remained. All the furniture was in light wood, the floor was tiled with natural stone and there was a slight smell of salt and lavender over everything.
"So Severus, your room is upstairs to the left at the end of the corridor, you know that. Harry, yours is next to Draco's on the right. Draco darling, please show him around," Narcissa said and pointed to the stairs.
"Well, come along then. We have the best rooms in the house," Draco said, letting Harry go first.
On the first floor, the young Malfoy opened the first door, which was opposite the stairs, and made a welcoming gesture with his hand.
"Here you are, this is yours!" he said and Harry stepped into the bright room. Like almost all the rooms, light wood and blue and white fabrics were dominant. There was a large bed in the middle and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a fantastic view of the sea.
"We share the balcony," Draco said and had already stepped out onto it. Harry followed him.
"Do you like it?", Draco wanted to know. Harry looked out at the sea, on whose horizon the sun was slowly disappearing. He couldn't remember ever having seen anything more beautiful. He looked at Draco, who was standing next to him, his gaze also fixed on the distance. Harry smiled and, as if he sensed it, Draco turned his gaze to him. Immediately Harry blushed and hoped that it was not noticeable in the evening sun.
"So?", Draco looked at him questioningly.
"Um...I've never seen anything more beautiful. It's great!" he said and looked down at the beach again.
"Fine, so what about swimming tomorrow after breakfast?" asked Draco.
"I...well I can't swim..." said Harry, looking apologetically at the other.
"You didn't? But I saw you swimming at the Triwizard Tournament," Harry laughed out loud and shook his head.
"I rather sank. It was all the gillyweed, if I hadn't pulled myself out of the water at the end by Dumbledore and Bagman, I would have drowned miserably. No one ever showed it to me," he tried to explain. Draco looked at him for a long moment, seeming to weigh up what to say. The fact that Harry had had a terrible childhood was hard for him to bear. He didn't want to believe it at first, didn't want to believe that the boy who had always seemed confident and strong to him had actually been a severely abused child.
"I'll show you!" he finally said. Harry looked at him in surprise.
"There is a small bay behind the rocks where the water is very calm. I think I'm quite a good teacher," Draco said and laughed.
"O-okay...", Harry replied rather hesitantly.
"You'll see, Potter, tomorrow night you'll swim like a fish," Draco said, putting one arm around the other and despite the cool evening wind, Harry felt warm.
At breakfast the next morning, Harry felt a little queasy. His experiences with water had so far been rather negative. Apart from almost drowning in the big lake at Hogwarts, the Dursleys had liked to give him cold or hot showers to punish him, so even today his relationship with water in general was rather poor.
"We're about to go swimming in the little bay," Draco's voice snapped Harry out of his thoughts.
"Wait a minute Harry can't swim!" said Severus sternly, looking at his son.
"Draco...er...Draco teach me," the latter said quickly.
"Don't worry Sev. The bay is shallow and the water is calm. That's where I taught Draco to swim," Lucius interjected.
"You're welcome to come," said the young Malfoy, emptying his glass of pumpkin juice and looking at his godfather.
"Better not, as white as Severus is, he'll turn to dust in the sun," Lucius said, laughing.
"Said the man who is off the chalk cliffs in Dover, virtually invisible," Severus countered.
"Peace, men," Narcissa said and began to clear the table.
"You guys go ahead, take some lunch and be back here as soon as it gets dark, please," she said.
"You got it mum! Come on Harry, let's go..." said Draco, reaching for his bag of swimwear. Harry stood up and accepted sandwiches and apples from Narcissa.
"Pay attention, do you hear?" said Severus and pressed his son's bathing costume into his hand.
"Sure dad! See you later," Harry said and walked behind Draco down the steps to the beach, watched anxiously by his father.
"Who would have thought?" said Lucius, following his best friend's gaze.
"What is it?" he wanted to know.
"Well, that you would ever be so worried about the boy."
"Yes, everything has changed since then," Snape said, thinking of the evening when he had first seen Harry with different eyes.
Flashback - Occlumency Lesson
"Will you concentrate, Potter!" pressed out Snape. Harry sat wearily on the chair in the Potions Master's laboratory. He could barely think straight. They had been practising for two hours now and so far Harry only managed to keep Snape out of his head every other time. That was progress, after all. But the teacher was not satisfied. Before Harry could react, he shouted again, "Legilimens!"
Harry fought against it, trying to imagine a wall, but he could not. Suddenly he saw himself sitting in the cupboard under the stairs. No, Snape was not allowed to see that! With all his might, he concentrated on the barrier and managed to shut the teacher out of his mind. Severus looked at the boy in front of him, who was obviously at the end of his tether. He didn't know what he had just seen, but it left a strange aftertaste on his tongue.
"Can we stop for today, sir?" gasped Harry.
"Surely not Potter! The Lord doesn't pause either, so concentrate..."
"Please sir, I can't do it anymore. Please...I can't do this," the boy pleaded. Snape looked at him briefly and for a tiny moment felt something like pity, but quickly dismissed the thought.
"One last time," he said. He had to try again, had to try once more to see the memory that the boy seemed to be hiding well.
"Get ready!" he said, and already Harry felt Snape entering his mind. But he could resist no longer. He didn't want to fight any more. Let Snape see everything, he would hardly care anyway and so Harry gave up all resistance.
Again Snape saw the cupboard under the stairs, Harry was sitting in it, maybe five or six years old. Someone shouted at him and dragged him out. A fat, tall man began to beat the defenceless child. The scene changed. Harry was standing on a chair by the cooker, cooking. He had to be barely older than he had been in the last memory. While draining the potatoes he scalded himself so badly that he screamed, but the woman standing in the kitchen did not help him. She merely took the potatoes and put them on the table while the boy cowered on the floor, whimpering. Many such scenes followed. Memories of a childhood full of pain, hunger and without love. Suddenly Snape remembered that he was still in the boy's mind and that he had to relive every single one of these moments. Immediately he ended the connection. Harry was no longer sitting in the chair, but crouched against the wall, sobbing without support. Severus put the wand aside and poured water into a glass. He knelt beside the boy and held the water out to him.
"Drink!" he said emphatically, but without resentment in his voice. Trembling, Harry reached for the glass and drank.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't take any more," he stammered.
"It's all right. I'm sorry, I should have stopped," Severus said quietly and stood up. Hesitantly and shakily, Harry followed him.
"Please don't tell anyone. I'm not going back. I'm staying with Sirius, no matter what Dumbledore says. I can't do this anymore. I never wanted to be a hero, never wanted fame and glory. You know, I'm not my father...," Harry said wanly, looking down at the ground.
"Yes, I can see that," Severus said. It was true, the boy was not James Potter. He was very different. He was smart, helpful and selfless. Qualities you could hardly expect in a badly abused child and yet Harry Potter had managed not to despair - until now.
"I won't tell the director, but if something goes wrong with your plan to live with Black, I'll have to tell him. You can't go back to your relatives, that's clear."
"Thank you, sir. May I go?", Harry wanted to know. Severus nodded.
"Just a moment..." he then said, going to a cupboard and taking out a tin, which he thrust into Harry's hand.
"Take! The ointment helps against scars. It doesn't make them disappear completely, but it makes them paler."
"Th-thank you, sir," said the boy in complete surprise.
"That's all right. Now go Harry, it's late," said Snape and packed up his utensils.
"Good night, sir," Harry said, and immediately the door slammed shut. Sighing, Severus let himself sink into a chair.
"I really hope Black, you can give him a home," he whispered to the empty room, rubbing his eyes.
Just two months later, Sirius Black died in the Department of Mysteries.
Flashback end
Harry and Draco had reached the small bay in the meantime. It was not big, but big enough for a few swims. It went in shallowly and after about three feet it was no longer possible to stand. Large rocks on the left and right bordered the area that led into the open sea.
Draco took off his clothes and took off his trousers and shirt, just like Harry, he was already wearing his swimming trunks. He stood there somewhat indecisively and looked at the water.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. The water is calm. There is an undercurrent near the rocks, but we won't swim that far," Draco explained. Harry nodded, dropped his clothes on the floor and took off his clothes. He would have preferred to swim in a T-shirt. His scars were paler, but still visible, and he immediately felt Draco's eyes on him. He tried to cover his upper body somehow with his arms.
"Hey, don't do that. They're just scars and they don't define who you are, okay?", Draco had stepped up to him and smiled.
"Okay...um so what do we uh do?", Harry wanted to know.
"So go slowly into the water until you are deep enough to lie on your back. Don't worry, I've got my hands under you, nothing will happen," Draco explained and led the way. Still hesitant, Harry followed him. The water was pleasantly warm in the small bay, but despite everything he had goose bumps. When he could just stand, Harry lay down on his back and spread his arms. Draco was right, the water was carrying him. He felt the other's hands on his back and enjoyed the feeling of weightlessness.
"That's working out great!" exclaimed Draco. They had been practising for almost two hours now and Harry managed to stay afloat with ease. Draco stood on the shore and watched him closely. He was impressed. Apparently it had been fear more than anything else that had kept Harry from swimming. Now he swam as if he had never done anything else.
"Harry! Not so close to the rocks!", Draco suddenly shouted. Without realising it, Harry had swum closer and closer to the end of the bay. Before he could realise it, the current had caught him and pulled him under. He fought against it and somehow made it back to the surface, but as soon as he could breathe again, he was pulled back again. Just as he was about to give up, he suddenly felt two arms pulling him up with all their might. Draco was there and pulled Harry to the shore. Completely exhausted, they lay side by side in the sand.
"Th-that was a damn close one," Draco gasped.
"Are you all right?" he wanted to know, turning his head to Harry, who lay pale and also out of breath beside him.
"Y-yes go...go on," he replies.
"But we won't tell your father, otherwise you'll soon only be allowed out of the house with a life jacket," Draco said and laughed. Harry sat up shakily and looked at the others.
"I guess we're in the habit of you saving my life," he said sheepishly.
"Well, I guess that's what I'm here for. But you would have done the same, I know that!" Draco said, thinking back to the Battle of Hogwarts, which was only a few weeks ago.
Flashback - The Forbidden Forest
The battle was in full swing. Students and teachers fought doggedly against the Death Eaters and tried to defend the school and especially Harry as best they could. Harry ran across the meadows down to the forest. He had to do it. The last Horcrux had been destroyed and now it was time to face Voldemort. His father had tried to stop him, had begged him not to go, but he had broken away. Now he was running, dodging the curses of the Death Eaters again and again, who were now apparently supposed to do everything to protect Voldemort.
"HARRY!" someone suddenly shouted, at the same moment someone pushed him aside and he landed in the grass. The curse had missed him by millimetres.
"D-Draco?" stuttered Harry and knelt down to the boy. He sat up with a groan.
"It's okay, I got the guy. The curse just grazed me," he said, holding his shoulder. Apparently a cutting curse had hit him.
"Th-that would have...that would have killed me," Harry said, looking at the Death Eater lying unconscious on the grass.
"Mhm...yes and now go," Draco said and in his voice you could clearly hear his exasperation.
"Draco I..."
"Go Potter, go on! They know you're here, don't they? Run and be a hero"
"I don't want to be a hero!" sobbed Harry now, and Draco pulled him awkwardly into his arms.
"I know, I know that...go..." he said, pushing the other slightly away from him. Harry nodded and turned to go, he looked towards the forest, took a deep breath and ran.
"HARRY! HARRY I..." shouted Draco, but he did not turn around again and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Flashback end
"You're thinking about it now, aren't you?", Harry wanted to know. Draco now sat down as well.
"Yes..."
"W-what were you going to say then when you called for me?"
"You heard that?", Draco looked at Harry in surprise.
"Yes...um yes I did, but I thought if I turned around now I'd never leave," Draco nodded and fell silent. A time passed when all that could be heard was the sound of the rushing water and the calls of the seagulls. At some point, as if out of nowhere, Draco knelt down and slid closer to Harry.
"At that time I thought I would never see you again and it tore me apart. At that moment there at the edge of the forest, I just couldn't bear never to see you again," he said and came closer. Draco was now so close that the tips of their noses were almost touching.
"I realised something right there..." he said and without warning Harry felt Draco's soft lips on his. They tasted slightly salty and were the best thing he had ever tasted. All too quickly, Draco broke the kiss again.
"I wanted to tell you then that I love you!",
Harry smiled and put his hand on Draco's chest.
"I love you too!" he said and was immediately pulled into another kiss and for the first time since Voldemort's death, he felt truly free.