~ There's only us, only tonight
                                                                                                                  We must let go to know what's right ~





                  Harry cautiously opened the front door and snuck inside, the smell of burning food still lingering in the air. He quickly removed his wet shoes and cloak, feeling slightly hurt that Draco was cooking for himself instead of waiting.

"Draco?" he called, walking down the hallway towards the kitchen with his shopping bag. He entered the cream coloured room and saw Draco standing by the table.

"There you are," he smiled, placing the eggs on the counter. "What's burning?"

"The pan that you left on the stove," Draco answered stiffly.

"Oh no, I totally forgot!" Harry exclaimed, looking towards the stove. "I got distracted when I saw that we were out of eggs."

"So then you just decided to go for a little stroll, did you?" Draco asked coldly.

Harry turned and frowned at Draco's tone. "What's wrong?"

"You're not supposed to leave this apartment by yourself, you know that, Harry!"

"I just went to get some eggs," Harry mumbled, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"Why didn't you at least leave a note? Do you know how worried I was?" Draco stepped closer, wanting to take Harry by the shoulders and shake him. "I even called Ron and Hermione, and made them worry too!"

"You did?" Harry asked quietly.

"Yes, and I would've called the Ministry as well if Hermione hadn't figured out that you had decided to go out on your own."

"I'm sorry..."

"You're sorry?" Draco exploded. "You could have been killed! I wake up to find you missing, no note, and a pan smoking on the stove...I thought you had been kidnapped!"

"But nothing happened and I'm fine," Harry said soothingly.

"That's not the point! What about next time?"

"I promise I won't do it again."

"I'm not trying to keep you in a cage, Harry," he cried in exasperation. "It's for your own safety."

"I know, and I swear it won't happen again."

Draco sighed and ran a hand through his ruffled hair. "I've come to realize that no matter what other people do to try and protect you, you still manage to find ways of putting yourself in danger."

"I don't do it on purpose!" Harry retorted indignantly.

"Yes you do, you just don't realize it."

"Look, I said I was sorry...what else do you want me to say?"

Harry moved towards Draco, but the blond quickly stepped away.

"I can't do this anymore, Harry"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean living each day in fear of losing you. I do care about you, but you have a lot of emotional baggage."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I think I should go"

"No!" Harry shouted, face paling. "Please don't leave. I said I was sorry, Draco."

Harry rushed forward and grabbed Draco's wrist, pressing his hand between his palms.

"If you care for me, then you won't leave," he pleaded.

"I do care for you, Harry, but I just can't sit around waiting for you to kill yourself."

Harry dropped his hand and stepped back, a look of understanding suddenly flashing across his young face.

"Oh, I see," he said coldly. "You don't want baggage without life-time guarantees."

"No, that's not it..." Draco couldn't look into the beautiful eyes that he loved so much, now so full of pain and betrayal.

"Then tell me you love me!" Harry shouted, tears forming in his green eyes.

"I...can't," he said, defeated. "I have to go."

Draco suddenly rushed down the hall to the bedroom, trying to keep his emotions in check, with Harry following right behind.

"Draco..." Harry pleaded, not sure what he could say to make Draco change his mind.

Draco started throwing his clothes haphazardly into a bag.

Harry put his head in his hands and tried to keep himself from sobbing hysterically.

"It'll feel much worse if I don't leave now," Draco thought to himself as he caught sight of a distraught Harry out of the corner of his eye. He finished tossing in all of his belongings and practically ran out of the bedroom and towards the front door.

        Harry reached it first and barred the way. "I'm not going to let you leave like this," he said weakly, eyes red.

"Get out of the way, Harry."

"Draco, please don't go...I love you," he cried desperately, hating how pathetic he sounded.

Draco narrowed his eyes in determination and grabbed a hold of the door knob. He wrenched it open in one pull, effectively pushing Harry aside, walked outside and shut the door behind him with a resounding click. He stood in the hallway briefly, listening to Harry's sobs echoing from inside, before tearing himself away.

He hailed a cab, stowed his bag in the boot, and slowly pulled away. He kept himself from looking back at the building that held all of his warmest memories. He suddenly felt barren and very alone, he had left all the colour in his life back in that flat. Now he was on his own with no idea about where he was headed, only knowing that once he got there he would break down completely for the first time in his life; cry for the one person he loved but couldn't say it to and knowing that he had hurt him more than anyone else ever had.