Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter and its characters are not mine.
A/N: This series begins with a 100-word drabble. The continuation is longer at 800 words. I'm posting both parts here for convenience's sake.
The Forest in His Gaze
The night was deep and sultry; the forest rustled and sighed, its green breath flowing into Harry like a breath of life. While Draco silently watched on, Harry stirred on the forest bed like a dreamer waking from a nightmare. Holding his breath, Draco counted one, two, three. Harry opened his eyes—slitted, feral, unnaturally green eyes. It's over, Draco thought with a pang. He had made the choice and brought Harry back against his wish. As Harry sat up and stared at him with inhuman eyes, Draco, unable to look away, felt a part of him was lost forever.
Of Dreams and Death
Cherry blossom fluttered in the night, carpeting the avenue like snow. A sweet fragrance filled the air; spring breeze tousled Draco's hair. Stopping in his tracks, Draco beheld the figure that had appeared with the wind. Black hair, black cloak, a large black dog by his side. Slitted green eyes glowed in the moonlight, gazing at him, into him.
"Are you here to take me away?" Draco asked casually.
"No," Harry said. The sight of him stirred up a whirlwind of emotion in Draco; faded memories of yesteryear took on a splash of vivid colours. "I want to see you."
Those words reawakened the dull ache of an old wound inside Draco. Breathing out, he went to Harry and ruffled his raven hair without ceremony. "You sure took your time."
"Sorry." Looking apologetic, Harry took Draco's hand and nuzzled it like a beast soaking in his lover's scent. "I don't have any excuse."
"That's not what I meant," Draco whispered, his gaze falling upon the black dog sitting dutifully beside Harry, still and silent as a shadow. Was the dog a manifestation of Harry's godfather or the Grim, he wondered. "It's not like I can summon you whenever I please."
There was a way to summon Harry to him, but Draco did not speak of it. Harry must have come to the same conclusion, for he gripped Draco's hand tightly as though afraid of letting go. He fixed his verdant eyes upon Draco, pulling him in and holding him captive.
"How are you?" Draco asked.
"I'm getting by somehow." A pause. "When was the last time you slept?"
"I'll live," Draco said absently, though it was hardly a proper thing to say. When Harry gave him a sharp, scrutinising look, Draco sighed. "I've been busy with my research, that's all."
Without a word Harry led Draco by the hand to a nearby cherry blossom tree, draped his cloak over Draco, sat down against the tree trunk, and patted his lap in invitation. Raising his eyebrows, Draco nonetheless lay down on the grass and rested his head on Harry's lap. "You wouldn't let me do this before," he said wryly.
A smile played about Harry's lips. "That was before." There was a wistful note in his voice. With that he placed a cool hand on Draco's forehead for a heartbeat and covered Draco's eyes. "Close your eyes and get some sleep."
Letting out a breath, Draco pulled Harry's hand away from his eyes and beheld the man who was lost to him forever. Above, shadows stirred in the canopy of branches, reminding him of the primal forest where they came face to face with Death. "You have the right to be angry. For what I had done."
Feral green eyes held Draco in their gaze, eyes that held dreams and death in their depths. "I'm just glad we can see each other like this," Harry whispered. Shielding Draco's eyes from shadows and moonlight, he murmured something Draco could not quite catch.
Seeing nothing but darkness, Draco closed his eyes and willed himself to relax. The ground was hard beneath him, but his mind was already drifting. When he felt a hand resting atop his heart, he held onto it and heaved a breath. "I couldn't save you," he said quietly.
Silence.
The forest in the deep of Draco's memory rustled and breathed. A cool hand brushed against his brow and brought him a sliver of comfort. "Sleep, Draco." The haze of sleep came over Draco, and he let himself go. Unfinished thoughts and unvoiced feelings scattered like petals into the night.
The wind sighed; pink petals danced and fell. Lost in thought, Harry studied Draco's visage, and the emotions he thought he had forgotten resurfaced to the forefront. He knew about Draco's research, though he doubted it would ever come to fruition. Pressing his lips together, he caressed Draco's face ever so gently and watched over his sleep. It was the only thing he could do for Draco.
"You don't have to save me," Harry murmured, his fingertips brushing over pale-blond hair that looked almost white in the moonlight. Draco stirred but did not wake. "I just want you to live."
Draco frowned, as though he could hear Harry's words. Smiling a wry smile, Harry ran his hand over Draco's brow, and Draco sank into a deeper slumber. Feeling the steady beat of Draco's heart, Harry closed his eyes and savoured the stolen moment, knowing every precious heartbeat marked a heartbeat closer to oblivion.
Crouching beside him, the black dog lifted its head and perked its ears, its golden eyes staring off into the distance. "I know," Harry said quietly. "It can wait." The dog lowered its head, appeased, and in silence it watched over its companion and his slumbering lover.
Finis.