Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling or Taylor Swift so I own nothing but the plot :)

Chapter 5

You call me up again just to break me like a promise. So casually cruel in the name of being honest. I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here 'cause I remember it all, all, all... too well.

The next day, Harry had a terrible feeling of foreboding that Draco would attempt to seek him out at work so he did what any responsible adult would do: he informed his boss that he was sick and wouldn't be in to work that day. Part of him felt ridiculous going to such lengths to avoid his ex, but he couldn't help it. He just wasn't ready for a confrontation yet. So after a quick breakfast of toast and tea, he allowed himself to crawl back into bed and sleep half the day away.

Harry woke around 1 o'clock that afternoon to yelling from his living. "Harry James Potter, you get down here this instant!" Hermione shrieked.

Harry winced as he dragged himself out of bed. He should have anticipated this, but he hadn't. "Be right down, 'Mione," he called back sleepily. A moment later, he found himself in his living room face-to-face with a very angry Hermione Granger. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"Oh, save the cheekiness," Hermione snapped. "This ends now, Harry Potter! Your drinking has gotten out of control."

Harry blinked in surprise. "What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion.

"I was fine letting you drink yourself into a stupor every night for awhile, but now that it has interfered with your work I simply can't allow it anymore," Hermione informed him sternly. "You just can't call in sick because you're hungover, Harry."

Harry shook his head in bemusement. "I didn't call in sick because I'm hungover," Harry responded, conveniently avoiding why he called off. "And last night was the first time since our night at the Leaky that I drank at all. It had been an awful day at work, and then I ran into Draco when I was trying to leave. I just needed some comfort, but I don't plan on making it an every night thing. I realized that sulking every night wasn't going to help me any. Honest."

Now it was Hermione's turn to blink in surprise, a slight flush rising to her cheeks. "So you're actually sick then?" she asked sheepishly.

"Well, not exactly. It's more of a personal day to avoid Draco," Harry responded with a shrug. "How'd you even know I was out today?"

The flush on Hermione's darkened. "Draco stopped by to inquire about your health as he had been informed you would not be in today when he went looking for you," Hermione explained, not meeting his eyes.

Harry flopped back onto the couch as he felt the blood drain from his face. He had honestly thought he was overreacting by not going to work. He had thought that it was just a bit of wishful thinking by his subconscious that Draco would try to track him down today. How wrong he had been. "Wh-what did you say?" he whispered.

"I told him that as far as I knew you were fine, but I hadn't spoken to you today," she relayed. And then after an uncertain pause, "He looked absolutely awful, Harry. And he...well as he was leaving he asked me to tell you he misses you."

Harry stared down at his hands, clenching his jaw to fight back the tears that threatened to fall. He felt the couch cushion dip as Hermione sat down next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Maybe you should just talk to him," she suggested gently. "Maybe it'll help you get closure."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Harry admitted sadly. "I don't want closure, 'Mione, I want him back."

"Well that's not going to happen if you won't talk to him," she pointed out, wrapping an arm around him.

Harry sighed. "I know. If he comes looking for me tomorrow, I'll do my best not to run away," he conceded.

Hermione chuckled. "That's all I can ask. Unfortunately, I have to get back to work. Are you going to be okay?" she inquired in worry.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I'll be okay. Thanks for stopping by."

Hermione pulled him into one last goodbye hug and then made her way to the Floo. After she was gone, Harry laid down on the couch, contemplating what the bloody hell he would say to Draco if he came looking for him the next day.

Several hours later, Harry was in the kitchen making himself dinner when he heard a knock on the front door. He froze, confused as to who could be here. If it was Ron or Hermione, they would have just Flooed or Apparated over, and he couldn't think of anyone else who would be coming over in the middle of the week. He made sure that his wand was tucked into his back pocket as he made his way to the door. He cautiously opened it and was shocked by the sight that greeted him: standing on his front step was none other than Draco Malfoy.

Harry was frozen in shock, and he was sure his face was probably very comical what with his wide eyes and gaping mouth. After a couple seconds, he managed to regain his composure. "Dr-draco...what are you doing here?" he asked, cursing himself that he stuttered on the other man's name.

Draco bit his lip, a habit that Harry knew only manifested when he was very nervous. "I came looking for you at work today, but you weren't in. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. Can I come in?"

Harry's heart was beating so quickly that he was afraid that he may go into cardiac arrest so he simply nodded. He figured the less he talked the better. He opened the door all the way and gestured for Draco to come in. "I'm, erm, just making dinner. Are you hungry?" he asked awkwardly, leading the other man into the kitchen.

"No, I've already eaten, but thank you," Draco said formally. "Feel free to eat though."

Harry waved his hand dismissively and stopped the cooking with a wave of his wand. "It can wait." In all honesty, he had completely lost his appetite the moment he had caught sight of the blond. "Tea?" he offered politely.

"Yes, please," Draco answered. "So are you feeling better?"

Harry was glad that his back was turned to Draco so that he didn't see the blush that graced his cheeks. "Yeah. I didn't sleep very well last night and woke up feeling pretty horrible. Slept most of the day, and now I feel much better." Once he felt his blush was under control, he turned back to Draco, handing him his tea with a couple drops of honey and a hint of lemon like he liked it.

Draco nodded his thanks. "That's good. I...I was worried when I heard you were ill," Draco admitted, looking absolutely enthralled with stirring his tea.
"I appreciate the concern," Harry responded, inwardly cringing at how formal he sounded. He thought he saw Draco wince into his tea, but he could have easily imagined it. After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, Harry couldn't take it anymore. "What are you doing here, Draco?"

Draco finally lifted his eyes to meet Harry's. Hermione hadn't been lying when she said the other man didn't look well. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he just had the look of someone who was running on very little sleep. He set down his tea and began biting his lip once again. "I just...I just fucking miss you, and it's driving me insane. I could ignore it at least somewhat when I didn't see you, but yesterday when you were right in front of me, it all came rushing back," Draco explained in dismay, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

Harry melted at his words. "I miss you too," he choked out, his eyes welling with tears that he was trying desperately not to shed. "I haven't really been doing well."

Draco continued to stare at Harry, his eyes brighter than normal with unshed tears. After a moment's hesitation, he stood and settled himself on Harry's lap, wrapping his arms around his neck and burying his face in Harry's shoulder. "I'm so sorry," Draco whispered. "So sorry. I need you, Harry. I love you."

Harry wrapped his arms around the man in his lap, his heart bursting with so many emotions. "I love you too, Draco. My life is hell without you." He then gently lifted Draco's face up to look at him. The blond man's cheeks had a few tears rolling down them. Harry leaned forward and kissed each tear away before covering Draco's lips with his own. For the first time since the night Draco left him, Harry felt whole again. He poured every bit of love and longing into the kiss as he deepened it, sliding his tongue into Draco's mouth.

The kiss continued for several minutes in this manner, tears from both of them mingling on their faces. Eventually, the pair needed to come up for air so Harry pulled back slowly. He gave Draco a tentative smile, cupping both of his cheeks lovingly. "Harry," Draco rasped. "Take me back."

Harry felt his heart skip a beat and his smile widen. In lieu of answering, he leaned in and captured Draco's lips once again. He was so happy in that moment. When he pulled away, he looked up at Draco. "Does this mean we can tell people about us?" he asked, peppering kisses all over the other man's face until he felt Draco stiffen.

Draco paused for a minute before answering, "Haven't you already told everyone?"

Harry noted that this was not really an answer and started to get nervous once again. He shook his head. "Just Hermione," he responded truthfully.

Draco looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, I didn't want to out you when you had made it so clear you didn't want anyone to know. Hermione just knows because I had to tell someone, and she was worried that you would tip off the Prophet about my breakdown in the Leaky Cauldron that night," Harry informed him. "So…?"

Draco hesitated again before taking a deep breath to say, "I can't. I just can't risk going back to what I was dealing with after the war." He was looking at Harry beseechingly, obviously hoping that he would understand.

"Aren't I worth the risk?" Harry demanded, starting to get angry that his emotions were getting jerked around. He waited with bated breath for Draco's answer.

"No, you're not." And with those three words, Harry felt his heart break all over again, not sure that he would be able to recover this time around.