The resolution happens exactly the way everyone always expected it would. There's war, there's right, there's wrong, there's Harry, there's Voldemort, and finally there's a clear sky. The sun rises and the villain's blood gleams on the sharp edge of the hero's knife.
Harry limps out of a dark cave (or castle, or hallway, or cell, or…) because that is how these things happen--that's how the reporters will tell it in the papers. He collapses on a patch of cool, damp grass and waits for unconsciousness. He waits for sleep or death or--
He waits. The storytellers never talk about the moments of quiet and uncertainty.
There's black, there's hazy white, there's bright light, and there are the moments of joy as soon as Harry awakes. Harry is tired and happy. He smiles because happy people do such things. He smiles because Voldemort cannot; will never.
There are celebrations, congratulations, and collective commiseration (for those who sacrificed their lives). Harry eats and mingles. He gives one speech at the very beginning of the many ceremonies and accepts all of his awards. He reopens the school alongside his remaining friends.
There's security, there's calm, and then comes the trials. Harry's prepared and unafraid and harbors little animosity and…
And then there's Malfoy.
There has always been Draco Malfoy. He still walks with his head up as if he isn't going to prosecuted. He eyes Harry briefly. Harry feels nothing but a vague sadness, because he knows Malfoy's fate. He also knows what could have been--that Malfoy could be standing at the other side of the hallway with Harry if he had made the right choices.
Their confrontation happens as most people expect it to occur. There's a secluded area; there are no other people around. There is one, there is the other and a tension hangs ominously in the air around them.
Harry speaks first (this is where the rules change, though no one notices until much later). Harry doesn't usually speak first.
"Malfoy," Harry says.
Draco tilts his neck, rubs both his hands over his hair. "Save it, Potter."
Harry says sometime after they've gotten past requisite non-greetings and less then flattering glances, "--but you murdered all of those innocent people--!"
"Which is completely different from you kill--excuse me, from the 'necessary disposal' of hundreds following Voldemort." Malfoy does not look at Harry. He's supposed to but Malfoy has never followed the rules.
Harry is scandalized. He starts to say something and stops. He touches Malfoy's arm, holds onto him firmly, and it's the first time he's touched Malfoy in a while. It's the first time Harry's touched him without trying to strike a blow.
Malfoy is supposed to have been redeemed. Harry is supposed be able to call him 'Draco' by now, but.
"You weren't--you were supposed to. Why? Why didn't you come back Hogwarts? Why did you listen to him? Why did you need to make your father proud?" Harry is almost disgusted rather than sympathetic.
"You didn't?"
These are their last documented words.
This is, of course, not the end of the story.
