Title: This Time
Author name and e-mail: mistykasumi at SeducerofFantasy@hotmail.com
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Summary: Draco's always late, but not this time.
Rating: PG
Category: Romance/General
Disclaimer: If I am God, I own this book. I am not God.
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This Time
Snow fell upon Harry Potter as he paced at the meeting spot, impatiently waiting for an informer to arrive. Dumbledore had said that the informer he would be meeting was particularly useful, and Harry could only hope that Dumbledore was right.
Five minutes became ten became thirty became forty-five became an hour, and just as Harry was about to portkey away, he felt someone breathe against the back of his neck. Harry instinctively turned around and prepared to draw his wand, only to find himself facing Draco Malfoy.
"You?" he asked.
"Me, Potter."
"Why are you here?"
Malfoy snorted. "Why do you think I'm here? Could it be that…I'm the informant you have been waiting for?"
"You? You wouldn't, Malfoy."
Malfoy merely ignored Harry's words as he handed him a piece of paper and walked away.
Harry began seeing more of the blond afterward. He saw him at Hogwarts, saw him during battles, saw him much more now that he actually paid attention. And Harry had to wonder, what exactly was Malfoy's motive?
He noticed that Malfoy was always late. To meetings, to gatherings, to battles, he never seemed to be punctual, a trait that surprised Harry. Weren't purebloods supposed to be 'perfect', like they claimed so proudly to the world? Wouldn't punctuality be a trait required to attain perfection?
They met often. Harry was always there, and Malfoy would always show up tardy. But he would appear, and Harry would take whatever information Malfoy had for him, and each time, their hands would pull away a second later, their conversation lasting a second longer and delving a bit deeper into their souls.
It was slow. It wasn't a sudden realization, the kind often portrayed in romanticized novels. It built up over time, and one day, as Harry awoke, he just knew that he was in love with Draco Malfoy.
After the war, as they prepared to part, Harry asked Draco the one question that had bothered him throughout the nights. "Why?"
Draco looked away. "They took Blaise from me, and I promised him that should anything happen to him, I would switch to the winning side."
"You loved him, didn't you?" Harry asked.
Draco looked back at him in surprise, but he answered, "Yes, I did."
"He knows," Harry said, and Draco offered a half-smile at him.
"Thank you, Harry."
Just as Draco turned away, Harry asked, "Will you stay?"
And Draco turned around, a true smile upon his face. "I will. This time, I won't be too late."
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Happy belated birthday, Callie! :D