This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Word Count: 1262

Title: It's Never Too Late To Become You

Note:

Warnings: Death (mentioned), angst, anxiety, doubting one's self worth.

Beta: Sapphire402, Theorectical-Optimist, Abby (sorry not sure what ur ffn name is)

The Houses Competition:

[House]: Ravenclaw

[Class] Transfiguration (Stand-in)

[Prompts]: Theme: Angst

[Main]

[Quote] Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. - Steve Job

[Additional] [Word] Happiness

[Category]: Standard

Draco stood in his emerald green bedroom, looking into the ornate wood mirror that stood in his room. His heart was still broken from the death of his mother. Narcissa Malfoy had died of a broken heart not long after her husband died in Azkaban, like a common criminal. Draco had watched the strong, powerful woman wither away until she was nothing but a ghost of her former glory, and his parents' death left him with no choice - he was no longer just the Malfoy heir, he was now the last of the line, lord of the large estate. He needed to act with poise and dignity befitting his station every second of every minute, every minute of every day.

He saw the sadness and longing in his own eyes for a love like that of his parents, but they had been lucky. Despite their own marriage being the result of a contract of blood instead of love, he knew they had become true friends and soulmates against all odds. While Draco was looking at the metaphorical edge of Mr Greengrass's wand and saw no way to get out of a contract neither of the people affected by it wanted.

He had spoken to Astoria, of course he had. The irony of his betrothed telling him she had fallen for another, and she was scared about her family abandoning her in the light of this revelation, was not surprising to him. Theodore Nott was a good man, despite the situations beyond his control.

"Draco," he heard Astoria's voice outside his door.

"Come in, Tori," he said softly.

The door creaked open and she smiled at him. "You look dapper," she complimented. He was wearing a green velvet suit.

"Honestly it feels tacky," Draco said with a strangled laugh.

"Can we please stop this charade?" Astoria asked. "We both know we don't belong together, I love Theo, and you…"

"Don't say his name," Draco said, his voice turning hard as ice. "We have to see this through. I am sympathetic, Astoria, I really am, but this is what our lives are meant to be."

She didn't reply, but she didn't need to. Draco knew deep down he was lying. He didn't need to follow the expectations of his family, or those who judged him. He was simply scared, for if he did not conform, he would no longer be just another Malfoy — could he handle that?

The charity ball was beautiful, and Draco had to admit that Minister Granger had better taste than he had once believed.

"Malfoy, thank you for coming," Hermione Granger said politely, walking over to him. Astoria sat beside him, her eyes pinned on a man at the other end of the hall. "And Mrs Malfoy to be," she added to Astoria, and those sharp eyes turned to Granger.

"Excuse me?" Astoria asked.

"It was just my way of saying congratulations on the upcoming wedding," Granger said with a blush.

"Of course," Draco covered, since Astoria's cheeks were still pink, and he knew exactly why. "A very kind sentiment, Minister."

"Granger is fine," she blushed. "Never took this job for the title, you know."

"I find that hard to believe," Draco admitted. "Most people would kill for the power you have."

"While I'm sure that is the case," Granger replied. "I am doing this to help those that need me, not to go around flexing my power. I suppose this is hard for you to believe." The bite in her tone reminded Draco of the girl who punched him just before the death of Buckbeak. The girl who always held her head up and was proud of who she was despite the odds stacked against her. She became the Minister of Magic, one of the highest charges in their world, but at her core she was still the same.

"I apologize," he said, and both women stared at him. "I admire the strength you've had to reach for what seems like the impossible, and doing it without losing yourself."

"My mother always used to say: Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life," Granger said. "I did my best to always live by those words."

Draco nodded. He was surprised to realise how much he envied her strength.

"It's too late now," Draco said softly. He watched Granger's eyes widen.

"It's never too late to become who you are meant to be, all it takes is the courage." With those words, spoken like a true Gryffindor, Granger left them, and he felt Astoria's eyes boring into the back of his head from her seat.

"Does this mean.." Astoria started but stopped, taking in a breath.

"I'm not sure, Tori," Draco admitted. "Do you think I have the courage? I never believed I did."

"Well, um, do you mind if I go speak to Theo?" she asked, standing up. Draco nodded affirmatively.

He felt the eyes of the man he was doing his all to avoid, and as Draco looked up their eyes met across the crowded room. It was like first year all over again. Draco felt his heart start racing, and his palms getting sweaty. Harry Potter was standing by the snacks, chatting with Ron Weasley casually. Draco couldn't help the jealousy surging through him. "Oh no," Draco said to himself. "He is coming over here."

"Malfoy, glad to see you could make it," Potter coughed. "For Hermione's sake, of course."

"Of course."

"Are you two dating?" Draco felt his face heat up as the words came out of his mouth without his consent.

"Hermione? No," Potter said, blushing as well. "Why would you ask that?"

"Oh, um, I meant know, Ron," Draco said, his insides twisted. 'Did I honestly ask Potter if he was gay right now?' Draco wondered. He could have smacked himself.

"I," Potter's emerald orbs went as wide as plates. "You know I'm gay?"

Draco took that as a yes, and his heart plummeted. So much for never too late…

"I thought everyone did," Draco said simply. The blush on Potter's cheeks was adorable. Wait. Where did that come from?

"Um, no actually, most people don't," Potter said. "But I suppose you look at me the way I look at you."

"You still look at me? Don't you know by now, I'm not up to something?" Draco asked, his voice holding a strange edge.

"You think that's why I look at you? That I think you are up to something?"

"Of course what other possible…" Draco stopped talking abruptly. 'Could it be that Potter watched me for the same reason I watched Potter? It made no sense that someone like Potter would like me...'

"I'm not dating Ron, but I am interested in a man. The problem is that he's betrothed…" Harry clarified.

"You are into me?" Draco said, his voice barely a whisper.

Harry simply nodded. "I would like us to start over, get to know each other," Harry said.

"I think I might like that," Draco said with a small smile.

"I would too," Harry said. "After all, life is short. We shouldn't waste it living someone else's life."

Draco's focus was on one person alone, but as a Slytherin, he had seen Astoria and Theo watching them, and he knew in an instant that both Tori and he were going to go for what they wanted, with or without the Greengrass family's support. They could find happiness too.

After all, as Hermione and Harry had said, it was never too late to become himself.