Title: A Waltz of Days Past
Author: Silver Sun Chime Harry Potter is the property of JKR. I merely own the plot.
Rating: PG-13 (Borders R at times)
Category(s): Romance, Angst
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco, Hermione/Ron, (Other couples will be mentioned)
Warning(s): Homosexual Relationships, Strong Language, Mentions of Rape, and Sensuality (but nothing smutty)
Summary: Four years after the fall of Voldemort, Harry Potter seemingly is living the perfect life. He is to be wed to his long-time crush Cho Chang. But when formal archenemy Draco Malfoy shows up at his doorstep battered and bruised, Harry realizes how empty his life is, and how it could improve.
Chapter One: Four Years without You"Damn it, where is my bloody necklace?"
After frantically digging around in cupboards and shelves Harry Potter, the famous Boy Who Lived, heaved a sigh of defeat. "Damn." He muttered under his breath.
"Please tell me you've found that silly chain. We're going to be late for our wedding rehearsal!" Came a rather soft, yet distinguishably annoyed feminine voice. From across the disheveled room a woman of about twenty sauntered over to where Harry stood. The raven-haired man snorted in response, indicating he had indeed hadn't. The woman shook her head disapprovingly.
"Why do you keep that… thing? It has absolutely no value whatsoever--"
"Yes, it does. Sentimental at the very least." Harry cut in; growing irritated at his fiancée's bluntness.
"Whatever. I suppose if it is important to you, I could help search for it?"
"Thanks, but no thanks Cho. I guess I can survive a few meager hours without my trusty good luck charm." Cho giggled slightly.
"So it's a good luck charm now? Harry, darling, that's childish!" She let out in-between fits of laughter.
"Childish? I think not. Everyone needs a bit of luck at some point. You just wait, in a few years, no… months you'll be begging for me to lend that very same "silly chain" to you." Harry paused, stroking his chin as if he were in deep thought. "You know… I distinctly remember wearing that necklace on our first date, during our first kiss… I can go on if you like."
Cho flushed a crimson red. "No, it really is not necessary. Now, lets hurry and at least try to make it to our wedding rehearsal on time." The Asian woman playfully whacked Harry on the back, propelling him forward.
"Alright, alright! Damn, Cho! No need to resort to violence!"
"Just, go!" Cho leaned in for another shove, but, being a former seeker, Harry dodged the blow with ease. He hastily headed over to the front door, and wrapped his callused fingers around the knob. He paused though, and looked at his fiancée.
"Well, are we going or not?" He asked slyly. Cho glared at him as she moseyed over to her husband-to-be. Harry planted a soft kiss on her forehead before they walked out of their meager apartment.
Harry and Cho Chang had been an item since Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. At the time he had been suffering from a sudden, particularly nasty break-up. The ebony-haired boy found himself sinking into a deep depression, and if not for Cho, he would surely have perished from anguish.
She confessed her feelings for him after their first Quidditch game of the year, Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor. Surprisingly, Gryffindor lost the match, due to Harry's lack of interest. Cho Chang, growing increasingly concerned for the famous boy, tried to engage a conversation, desperately searching for a sliver of hope for his future. The small chat ended with the Ravenclaw seeker spilling her deepest, darkest secret, her love for Harry Potter. Harry was in perilous need of a strong source of support and love, and it seemed only Cho was fit for the position.
During their first year together, Voldemort's reign of terror came to an abrupt end with the Dark Lord's unperceived downfall. Harry had finally accomplished slaying the murderous wizard. It was during that monumental last battle that his long time rival, Draco Malfoy disappeared before his very eyes. He was never found, and it was assumed he had died. This came as quite the shock for poor Harry. He had never hated the arrogant boy; in fact, he rather enjoyed their childish spats in a twisted way. To a certain extent, Malfoy's teases and insults had kept him sanethroughout the critical periods each school year had in store for him. He had been the only one to treat Harry the way he deserved – like a normal human, not some god to worship or despise. And for that, he thanked the blond-haired boy.
After Voldemort's death, the Death Eaters went berserk with rage, attacking muggles and wizards alike in a sadistic manner. Hundreds were tortured, experiencing pain far worse then death, praying for the arrival of their demise. Harry's depression worsened dramatically. After all, one was ultimately the cause of so much pain and suffering, cannot help but feel guilty. Each death stole a piece of Harry's heart and soul, until he felt so empty that it took every ounce of strength he could muster to simply cry.
Yet, through all of the angst and sobbing, Cho loyally stayed by Harry's side at all times, no matter what, supporting him and comforting him. She patiently waited for his smile to return once more. And, indeed, his smile did reunite with his face with time, as he found himself falling for the Asian beauty.
After Harry graduated from Hogwarts, he and Cho decided to leave the treasured wizard life for a peaceful, muggle life style. Living in a world where everyone pitied him and felt sympathetic towards him would surely have driven him mad. He felt as if he didn't deserve the respect and admiration he received, and to simply exist without the hassle of fame was his dream. Even though, the many determined Quidditch teams all had their eyes set on Harry's ability to seek the snitch. He couldn't keep track of the amount of letters the teams had sent him, asking if he would sign onto the team. Harry turned them all down. Truthfully speaking, Harry had always been drawn to writing. When he had been a student at Hogwarts, he had written in several journals, the genera cheerful or angsty, depending on his mood.
Not many people knew of his love for writing. Almost everyone acknowledged him as a future Seeker, not a future best selling author. Not even Ron knew of Harry's talent. One of the few who discovered his passion was surprisingly, none other then Draco Malfoy. Harry had been in a hurry leaving a rather embarrassing Potions class (his potion had exploded all over an enraged Snape), and had not noticed one of his beloved journals slip from his grasp. Draco, being naturally curious, had picked the leather book up, and had even gone as far as to read the detailed, well-written stories held inside. Despite his dislike of Harry, he found himself deeply engrossed in Harry's tales of misfortune and miracles. After successfully completing all that was in the journal, Draco returned the work to its rightful owner.
Through the accidental loss of Harry's precious journal, Draco and Harry's relationship became closer then ever, and all hostility between them disappeared. Soon after the new friendship was up and rolling, the two found hidden feelings of lust and love finally surrender and show themselves. They eventually became lovers, sharing every secret, every desire, and every sin. After a year of a passionate love affair, it seemed as if the two were never to be separated, that they were destined to spend the rest of their lives together.
But everything good must come to an end eventually. It had been Christmas Day, a day of joy and love. But for Harry, that one joyful day would forever haunt him. Draco and Harry had made plans the previous day to spend the entire day together, celebrating the holiday while embracing one another. They had agreed on Draco dropping by the Gryffindor common room to pick up Harry. He had, however, been late in doing so. Harry, curious as to why his lover had failed to show up for their second Christmas together, headed over to the Slytherin dungeons, to check up on him. Upon entering, Harry experienced the nasty shock of walking in on his boyfriend cheating on him. Draco failed to notice him enter the room as he was caught in a fiery kiss with the ever-horny Blaise Zambini. Harry froze in place with immediate shock. He stood with his mouth wide open, staring at the two engaged in a passionate kiss. That is, until Draco and Blaise broke off the kiss, panting deeply. Harry, unable to bear the pain any longer, stormed off, tears streaming down his face, ignoring Draco's persistent calls.
For a week the seemingly inseparable couple completely unacknowledged each other's presence. Draco had tried in vain many times to set up a date with Harry. But Harry would have nothing to do with a man whose hormones were more important then love. Instead, he sent a letter to Draco, specifically breaking off the relationship. Following the break up Harry began to feel empty, and felt tempted to forgive Draco, but he would only end up being hurt again.
Harry had never been one to cry. The only situations he had ever shed tears for were when he was at a loss for life. He cried when everything about him felt hopeless, and he felt as if there was no need for him to even exist. And the loss of Draco from his life proved a situation worthy of his tears. He could not recall crying more or as hard in all of his life. He had even gone as far as to contemplate suicide. But Harry was far too much of a coward to take his own life. Death scared him. He had seen so many deaths take place in front of him, that even though he anticipated the event, his death terrified him more then anything. He knew what grief deaths took upon him. He could not imagine what toll his decease would have on people. So, Harry merely cried. He spent his days wallowing in self-pity, watching his life deteriorate in front of his very eyes.
"Draco…" Harry whispered subconsciously. "How did I ever live without you?" He sighed. It was time to move on with his life. In a few hours he would be officially wed to the beautiful Cho. He had survived four years without needing Draco by his side. He was experiencing a love with no boundaries, a love without regret and shame. After the reciting of the anticipated wedding vows, Draco would no longer exist.