Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to the amazing JK Rowling, and sadly, not me.

Thank you to my beta, HPalto87, and hearts to my reviewers!

A/N: This is the end! Thank you all for sticking with me.

A shameless plug: My next major project is a collaboration with HPalto87, a long Harry/Draco story. It will be posted on her profile, and on my LJ. The links to both are in my profile. We're both really excited about it, so check back with us soon!

---

25

Flahback

Blaise opened the front door of the Zabini mansion to find a panicked Draco Malfoy standing on his doorstep.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy? Aren't you supposed to be at the Quidditch World Cup?" He asked.

Draco looked at him with confused gray eyes that Blaise wasn't used to seeing on his friend. Draco nodded, then shook his head. Blaise sighed, and led the blonde through the house to a quiet lounge.

They sat down on the sqishy couch, and Blaise called out, "Blinky!"

A house-elf appeared.

"Yes, master?" it quivered.

"I need two cups of hot chocolate, marshmallows in mine, but not in Draco's," Blaise demanded.

The house-elf nodded and disappeared. Blaise turned his attention to his friend.

"Why are you here?" he asked again. When Draco didn't answer, he tried a different approach. "How was the game?"

"It was fine. Puddlemere won," Draco said.

"So, shouldn't you be celebrating with Harry now?" Blaise asked.

Draco shook his head. "I had to break up with him."

Oh fuck, Blaise did not want to hear about Draco's relationship drama. He decided to be a good friend, however, and grudgingly asked, "Why?"

"He cheated on me," Draco said.

Blaise felt horrible for his friend, but he was skeptical. This was goody-goody Harry Potter they were talking about. The house-elf reappeared with the cocoa, and placed it on the table.

"And you have proof of this?" Blaise asked.

"He was snogging another guy in the middle of the fucking Quidditch pitch!" Draco yelled.

The house-elf shrank back. "Wou-would Master need anything else?" it stammered.

"No," Blaise answered, and Blinky left, happy to get away from the angry humans.

Blaise made an irritated noise, and looked away from Draco, afraid he would say something he'd regret. Why did everything these two do have to be so huge and public? A thought occurred to him.

"Hey, Draco, remember that fight you and Harry faked in Hogsmeade? This isn't lke that, is it?"

"Fuck you, Blaise!" Draco yelled.

"Hey, it's not like it hasn't happened before," Blaise said defensively.

"It's real, okay?" Draco said.

Blaise gave in and pulled Draco into a hug. Draco leaned against him, enjoying the comforting arms. Blaise felt Draco's hands slide beneath his robes and clasp around his back.

For a long time, Draco was what Blaise wanted, and he had been desperately jealous of Harry. Draco had never showed that sort of affection for anyone else. Blaise had wondered at first why, but it quickly became apparent that they complimented each other, they challenged each other, and most importantly, they loved each other. Blaise would always be nothing more than the best friend.

But here was Draco, in his arms, crying over Harry.

Wait, crying? Draco Malfoy doesn't cry!

But yes, he was crying against Blaise's chest.

"Hey, you two will work this out," Blaise tried to comfort him. This was slightly awkward. Blaise Zabini did not comfort people. In fact, he had fun causing pain and awkwardness.

Draco shook his head, and Blaise was losing his patience.

"Did you ever think about why he did all of this? Why he even left you for Quidditch in the first place?"

Draco didn't answer.

"What did you do to him, Draco, because the goody-goody Harry Potter wouldn't just hurt you like this for no reason. Considering your past, I have to think that you did something to drive him away."

"Fuck you, Blaise!" Draco pulled out of his arms to glare at his friend.

"Did you think I was just going to comfort you and tell you you're right, he's wrong, and the world is unfair? You're not a child anymore, Draco, and you know me better than that."

Draco gave Blaise a guilty look, then did something that surprised them both. He leaned in and kissed him lightly, letting his lips linger against Blaise's. When Blaise didn't immediately pull away, he did it again, letting the kiss deepen this time.

Finally Blaise pushed Draco back. "Stop it."

"Don't you want me?" Draco asked. He knew that Blaise had a crush on him for a long time.

"I did, before you fell in love with St. Potter," Blaise said with a glare.

"So, what, I'm not good enough for you anymore?" Draco demanded.

"That's not it. I'm not going to be your second choice, or your way to get back at him," Blaise said.

"He doesn't matter anymore!" Draco yelled.

"How can you say that? You two love each other so much, it's sickening!"

"I can't love him anymore," Draco said, and Blaise could tell he was close to tears again.

"Look, he's probably waiting for you, so just go home to him!" Blaise stormed out of the room, taking his cocoa with him.

---

Draco didn't want to be back in his own house yet, but he needed a few things if he was going to spend the night somewhere else. He could borrow a pillow and a set of spare robes from Ron, but that simply wouldn't do for a Malfoy.

He shoved a set of robes and his toothbrush into a bag, and threw some floo powder into the fire to go back to Hermione and Ron's place. Remembering the wine he had bought for Harry's return home, however, he decided a bit of alcohol would do him good.

As he poured the wine, he looked out the kitchen window. Despite the stormy weather earlier, it was a clear night, and the stars shone brightly above the lake. He re-corked the bottle and took his glass outside, and nearly stumbled over Harry.

Harry was sitting on the edge of the porch, staring out at the lake. He turned his head when Draco came out, however, then turned back without saying anything.

Draco desperately wanted to go back inside and avoid this whole awkward situation, but sucked up his courage, his anger, and his pride (which was an amazing feat, actually) and sat down beside Harry.

Harry was surprised, but didn't show it. He was too busy being upset over the letter.

"Harry…" Draco ventured.

"Draco?" Harry looked up, as if he hadn't noticed his boyfriend- ex-boyfriend- sit down.

They sat in silence for a few moments, neither sure what to say. Draco wanted to yell at Harry, make horrible accusations that he knew now were his own fault, and make the seeker hurt just as much as he did. Then he realized that Harry probably already hurt like he did, and figured the whole activity would be a pointless display of emotion, and would only serve to make them both angry. 'Angrier,' he amended.

Harry spoke first. "Your eyes aren't dull gray."

Of all the things Draco was expecting to hear, this wasn't one of them.

"You kept saying your eyes are dull, and mine are so much prettier, but yours are just as beautiful." He waved a stack of parchment in front of Draco.

Draco obediently took the papers, lit the tip of his wand, and skimmed through them.

"Your eyes shine silver when you are happy or excited, and they take the swirling colors of stormy rainclouds when you are upset, or planning something," Harry said. He smiled, remembering. "I love looking into your eyes."

Recognition dawned on Draco as he realized that he was holding the letter he had written to Harry when he was in St. Mungo's. He didn't know whether to be relieved because now he wouldn't have to say these things to Harry, or appalled because the git had read it without his permission.

"How did you get this?" he demanded.

"I found it when I was packing," Harry replied.

"You had no right to read this!" Draco said.

"If I hadn't, would you ever have told me all of this?" Harry demanded.

Draco paused. The answer was no, of course. "You broke the lock to get it."

"You should have used a stronger locking spell," Harry said.

"Well I didn't think my boyfriend would show such disregard for my personal property!" Draco exclaimed.

"Ex-boyfriend," Harry corrected sadly.

"Right," Draco agreed.

Silence enveloped them once more. They sat together, staring into the distance. They seemed so far apart.

"I meant every word when I wrote this," Draco said finally, bridging the gap. "I'd hate to give this all up."

"So would I," Harry agreed softly.

"But I don't know if we can trust each other," he said.

"We can try. I can promise to make the effort we should have made months ago, if you can too," Harry said.

"Okay," Draco said slowly. "But what about Wood?"

"I'm done with Ollie. He wasn't really what I wanted to begin with, I just got so caught up in it all… I'm sorry. There's nothing I can say to justify that to you. You'll just have to trust that I deeply regret it, and I would much rather be with you," Harry tried to explain.

Draco felt like he should confess something too. "I should have seen how unhappy you were, but you're right, I'm selfish. I didn't think."

They were both quiet for a moment while they processed this.

"I think I'm also done with Quidditch," Harry said. "It was fun, but if it hurts our relationship so much, it's not worth it. And besides, I don't really want to be around Ollie."

"Do we even have a relationship anymore?" Draco asked.

"If you say yes," Harry said.

"Yes to what?" Draco asked.

"Draco, I can't lose you again. I love you with all of my being, despite what's happened recently." Harry looked up at Draco with a hopeful smile. "Marry me."

"You arrogant prick, what makes you think I'd accept that proposal after you hurt me like that?"

Harry shrugged. "I think we've both been hurt, and we've learned our lesson, so can we please move on?"

Draco smiled and kissed Harry. Merlin, that felt good. "Yes," he whispered against the familiar lips.