Time Period: About 7 years after school. Harry is about 24 & flashbacks of his 7th year at Hogwarts.
Spoilers: Hopefully you've read all the books and book five. But it doesn't matter to much. If characters are dead... it's because it's implied that they died in the passing time period. ;D Did that make sense? I hope so. :x
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Present Day
"I want to go outside."
Draco sighed at these words, holding Harry tightly in his arms again. "You know you can't." He knew that, eventually, he wouldn't be able to keep him from doing what he wanted. Two years in darkness, stuck in one place, could drive any sane person mad.
"But I still want to" was his reply.
Draco knew, deep in his heart, that Harry was afraid to go outside, no matter how much he longed for it. He was afraid that, the moment the cool air hit his face, they would know where he was... and they would come to take him back to that awful place. In Draco's opinion; Harry, and many of the others who'd been condemned there during the war, had no right to be in such a horrid place.
"I miss them."
Unlike the last time he spoke, this time his voice was low and stuffy. His arms wrapped tighter around Draco's arms that encircled him: wanting support. Draco found himself whispering, "So do I" into Harry's raven hair.
"Do you remember when this all started?"
Harry stroked his fingertips across Draco's arm, "How could I forget..."
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Hogwarts
7th Year (last week of school)
The seventh year at Hogwarts was always the most important for those who hoped to become successful wizards.
The great hall was as busy as ever, the last Monday the infamous trio would spend sitting at their house table, speculating over their final tests. They all had to admit, as they talked about their fond memories of Hogwarts, that this year had been the best. It had been quiet. But, as some say, it's always quiet before a storm hits.
It was then, in the middle of their remembrances, that Harry caught the pair of eyes staring hard at him from the table across the way. When he first caught hold of the Slytherins stare, it had been a look of loneliness and it had been a look of interest. But, only a second after their eyes had crossed, did the cobalt blue eyes look away and a menacing smirk return to the owner.
"So, Harry, what about it?" He blinked, confused, and asked, "about what?", hoping they wouldn't ask him why he wasn't paying attention.
"Haven't you been listening to a word I've said? Honestly Harry!" Hermione scolded him, repeating her question, "Over the summer, me and Ron were thinking about going up to the woods." Harry wondered, vaguely, why any wizard would want to sleep in a tent. Out in the outdoor, in the cold night. He snorted inwardly, the only reason Ron and Hermione want to go is so they could be alone in their tent, away from the prying eyes of Ron's mother.
"So, do you want to? Neville, Seamus, and Dean all said they could make it. You can bring someone else if you want." Harry also wondered who they expected him to bring. They were, after all, the only people he had, that is… after Cho had left the school last year. Harry hadn't talked to her since her parents took her out. It had been his fault anyways. "It's going to be right before your birthday." Harry shrugged, "I guess so."
"Oh c'mon Harry! We have to have a bit of fun before the summers over. Besides, I want to try this 'real camping' thing again." He took a bite of his roll, "I haven' been anywhere near camping since Dad took us to the World Cup." Again, Harry thought idly, after such an experience... who would want to go camping again?!
He ran a hand smoothly through his hair, wondering if his friends would ever notice the changes that had been made this year. One of them was obvious: Ron had finally got up his courage to pursue Hermione, and now it seemed like you could never pull them apart. This left Harry more alone than he ever thought he'd be at Hogwarts. He found himself wandering at night, hidden well beneath the cloak his father had left him, and exploring the parts of the school he'd only seen on the Marauders map, but never been to.
Staring across the great hall, listening faintly to Hermione & Ron's conversation, he remembered one night in particular, one of those nights you'd never forget.
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Hogwarts
7th Year (November 1st)
It was storming outside on the Hogwarts grounds, the start of a cold and wet winter. The water on the lake was practically overflowing.
Again Draco couldn't sleep. It didn't surprise him. Who could sleep with those two monsters snoring across the room? Throwing pillows, taping mouths shut, none of that worked. So he'd given up, thrown on his robes, and headed out of the common room without a sound.
Being a prefect gave you rights to leave your room at night. This night in particular, he had to take a walk. So many thoughts had been running through his head since school had started back up. 7th year was the most pressuring for a Malfoy. It was the year where your father told you, "Hey, guess what son? You're going to be going against good and killing innocent people. Oh, and just so you know, you're a worthless piece of shit and this is all your good for".
No matter how hard he seemed on the outside, towards Potter, the weasel, and the mudblood, Draco wasn't exactly the killing type. In fact... he liked to think the phrase "I'm a lover, not a fighter" applied to him on every level. He was a player, if anything, not a killer.
Draco had made his way up the floors, past the fat lady painting, and up into the owlery. Walking over to the balcony he noticed something in the corner that wasn't normally there. It took his eyes a moment to adjust, seeing that it wasn't something… it was someone.
"What are you doing up here, Malfoy?"
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