Chapter 9 - The End
Harry leaned against the back of the lift as it carried him down to the second floor of the ministry. He never did understand why the main floor was half way up the place. Shouldn't the floor every door and fireplace opens to be the first floor... not the seventh?
Anyway, Harry hummed a bit. He couldn't wait to get back into the office. He hadn't seen Draco in three days. Despite telling Draco that the blonde would survive three short days without him, Harry had been the one missing the young Malfoy... with a burning passion.
He wondered how he should greet Draco when he got to work. 'Hey there, fluffy. You didn't chew up the furniture while I was away, did you?' Harry snickered to himself. Draco's hair really did look better un-gelled... but that greeting might get him more than just a headache.
The lift opened onto the auror department, and Harry stepped off. He was hardly four feet from it when Neville Longbottom passed him.
"Welcome back, Harry! Oh thank goodness you're here!" he nearly sighed out.
"Yeah.. Hi. Neville, what's wrong?" Harry asked, stopping the man from getting to the lift before it left.
"It's Malfoy... He's been acting weird ever since you left. The first day, he actually waved at me when I greeted him. Then he came in madder than an insulted Hippogriff a few hours later. Then he came back to work, and I swear he'd just been crying! I've never been this confused, even over a girl. Today, though, he's starting out antsy. He wont stop pacing between your cubicles," Neville explained.
"Alright. Thanks, Neville. I'll take care of it," Harry assured, patting his friend on the back.
"Okay. See you next Friday, yeah?" Neville asked. Harry nodded. Oh right. Next Friday was Neville's wedding, his marriage to Ginny, wasn't it? Harry had nearly forgotten. He still needed to get them a gift.
"Without a doubt," Harry assured him. Then Neville headed for the lift, and Harry prepared himself. Who knew what was making Draco go through such weird mood swings? Then the brunette walked forward and around the corner of the cubicles.
There was Draco Malfoy, pacing in one cube, vanishing from sight, then walking across the small hall into Harry's cube and vanishing again. Repeat. When Harry had seen this happen twice, he couldn't help but snicker. Draco stopped walking and stared at Harry with a mixture between shock and some kind of heartbroken sort of sadness.
"Sorry. I heard you were acting a bit out of character. You need to talk?" Harry asked. Draco stood in the center of the aisle for a moment and then let out a long breath.
"Yeah... Yeah, I need to talk," he admitted. He nodded his head and beckoned Harry into his cubicle. Draco walked to the side of the cubicle that would be harder to see from the opening.
"Neville said you looked upset when you came in," Harry began.
Draco nodded. He paced in a small circle and then turned on Harry. He seemed to want to say something. Then he pulled back into his circle. The second time he stopped, he rushed to stand right up against Harry. He pulled Harry close to him by holding onto his cloak. Then he pressed their lips together.
Harry didn't need to be told twice. He pressed back against Draco's lips until he was pushing the man back as well. Then Harry slid his tongue into Draco's mouth effortlessly. Draco felt his back gently press up against the wall of his cube, and his smile was evident. The quiet sounds of their breathing and making out thankfully attracted no spectators... thank god, indeed. Harry raised a hand to hold Draco's cheek. Then he broke the kiss and searched Draco's face for some answer to how this had all happened. How had Draco decided to kiss Harry so confidently, as though he knew Harry would accept him? Harry hadn't done anything obvious... had he?
"Draco?" Harry asked, voice breathlessly soft.
"You wouldn't believe the day I had, Potter," Draco sighed, leaning his face against Harry's hand. Oh, the warmth. It was a normal hand, not one ice cold with death.
"Oh?" Harry asked, a little laugh in his voice. Draco nodded. He placed his hand over Harry's on his cheek.
"Harry," he whispered, looking up into Harry's bright, green eyes. "I love you."
Harry's heart skipped a beat. Even Draco could tell how those words effected a Harry Potter not tarnished by Draco Malfoy's death. Harry felt like air... like he was flying without a broom. He smiled the most brilliant smile Draco had ever seen.
"Really?" Harry asked. Draco nodded.
"And don't worry.... I'll explain everything. Just... kiss me now, and we'll worry about the rest later," Draco ordered, still keeping his voice down.
Harry smiled. He stroked Draco's cheek with his thumb and leaned down to reclaim his lips. What a beautiful day for the expressing feelings. Draco turned his head to the side, attempting to stop the kissing for a moment, but Harry started kissing down his neck and whatever wasn't covered by Draco's shirt.
"H-Harry," Draco panted out. He hadn't meant to say it like that, but it certainly caught Harry's attention. The brunette paused his assault on the Malfoy heir's creamy skin. "Tell me how you feel," Draco ordered, gripping Harry's shoulder.
Even the Harry who had come back in time hadn't said it. He'd admitted to lying about NOT loving Draco, but he'd never told Draco 'I love you'. The Harry who had come back to save him had not kissed him like this, had not shown this much passion towards Draco. Then again, that Harry had been distraught with one death too many, with trying to focus on saving the person he loved, while attempting not to ruin everything with overbearing feelings.
Draco understood the why's... but he still wanted to hear Harry say it.
"I love you." Right by his ear, whispered in the most loving fashion Draco could have imagined, Harry's voice complied with Draco's order, with his thoughts. "I've loved you for so long, I can't even remember what started it."
"Yeah," Draco agreed. "Same here... only I know when the crush began. I don't know when it turned to love... but when you, someone new to the wizarding world, blew me off... that was when."
Harry pulled back a bit. Draco saw the confusion in his eyes.
"I know. It doesn't make much sense to you, does it? But it was obvious I was from an important wizarding family, yet you pushed me away like common trash. I had never seen anyone give me such a determined look, a look of defiance. No one but my parents had ever opposed me so openly. I found myself filled with fire about it all. At first I thought I hated you for it. I mean, how dare you, of all people, treat me like an inferior? Then, as I teased you, ragged on you, insulted you, incriminated you... I began to realize... I was craving for your attention.
"I was trying everything I could to make you see me as strong, powerful, talented, amazing. I was trying so hard to win your approval, but everything I did only made you hate me more - or.. so I thought," here Draco paused to smile and run his finger down Harry's cheek.
"I hated myself for how I was acting, but I couldn't stop. It was the only way I knew to get you to look at me. After our first year, I was already okay with you just looking at me, whether it was during one of my attempts to make you admire me or not. Name calling, accusations, trickery, even laughing obnoxiously loud... anything at all to get you to look in my direction... I never would have guessed you liked me too. I always just figured it was your pride and loyalty to your friends that made you react so easily," Draco admitted.
Harry smiled. He leaned in and kissed Draco softly.
"You know... it makes me feel better... knowing all that. Now I don't feel like I was such an idiot for crushing on you and pining over you for so many years," Harry said and laughed.
Harry leaned in again to capture Draco's lips. However, a soft knock on the wall outside the cubicle caught both their attentions and they separated quickly... not that Draco could make it far. He was against a wall. Still, he acted like he'd been merely leaning casually against it.
"Didn't want to interrupt anything. Thought knocking was the best idea, you know?" a familiar voice called. Draco's heart sped for a moment as he remembered the other Harry's last requests.
"George?" Harry asked, a smile on his face. The red head walked into view and then into the cubicle. He ruffled Harry's hair, but Draco could tell George was trying to figure out which Harry this was.
"He's the original, Weasley... the other one is gone. He saved me... He wanted me to tell you that," Draco said.
"Oh, did he? Congratulations. And I see he got to explain himself as well... Congratulations again," George said, motioning between Draco and Harry to insinuate they were a couple. Draco smiled. Harry was confused.
"Anyone mind explaining? What did I miss when I was in Germany?" Harry asked, slightly annoyed that he didn't follow this conversations. George grinned like he knew a terrible joke.
Draco walked over to Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I died," he said. Harry's expressions was concerned and confused. Was he looking at a ghost then? Draco didn't seem see-through or ghost-like to him, but maybe it was a spell?
The blonde and the red head exchanged looks of understanding. Then they sat Harry down in the chair the other one had used to stare at Draco for hours. The story began, with each one telling the bits they knew until they had a complete story and time line.
George was silent while Draco recapped the events at his house, like Harry crying and how he, himself, had torn up everything he could get his hands on after Harry had rejected him. Then Draco was sitting in a heart-pounding mute state as George told of Harry's talk with him. The description of Harry shaking made him want to hold onto the Harry sitting in front of him. Then George told the story of how he tried to save Fred again, since neither of the people listening had heard it yet... technically.
Then two barely breathed during Draco's soft and sad explanation of how he'd walked toward the dragon, fully prepared to take his anger out on it... perhaps, just maybe, he'd had some sort of a suicidal thought in his mind. He'd picked the most dangerous job on the wall, after all. But then... out of nowhere, panting, sweating,... dying.. Harry had come out of nowhere and stopped him from continuing. Harry's begging confession...
"Then he fell on the ground... slipped right down my robes. I thought you'd died. He wasn't moving, and I didn't move to help him at first. I thought he was toying with me. Then, after a minute, I got worried. I knelt by him and shook him, but he didn't respond. I really started to panic. I thought my stupidity had caused you to run until your heart burst!" Draco explained. "Then I called out your name, and he finally opened his eyes again. I was so relieved, but you know I don't show that very well."
The story followed Harry struggling to survive and explain everything to Draco. Draco toned down how much he'd wanted to cry, but did not leave out how much it hurt to think of leaving Harry there to die. The only consolation he got was from knowing there was another Harry out there somewhere, just like Harry had said to him. Draco summed up his defeat of the dragon by multiplying the clanker and catching the dragon behind the ear with a stunning charm while it shied away in fear of the clankers. That part wasn't important.
"This morning I couldn't sit still. You saw me pacing, right? If you hadn't shown up, I was going to... I don't know. Maybe it would have been my turn to use a time-turner," Draco finished with a half hearted shrug.
Silence ruled for almost five minutes before Harry finally broke it. He had listened quietly through the whole tale, no interruptions, no questions at all. It seemed now he had something to contribute.
"I don't know what to say... but today makes a little more sense now. I almost can't believe I did all that, but I believe almost anything these days. Magic truly is amazing... and I have no doubts I would react like that... I almost wonder what I would have done if you hadn't given me the time-turner," the brunette thought aloud.
"Harry, don't even go there," Draco warned critically. He advanced a step towards the man he loved. Harry held his hands up in defense. Draco stopped moving, and Harry stood up. He took Draco's hand in one of his own and put his free hand on George's shoulder.
"I'm just saying it could've been a lot worse," he explained in his defense.
"Yeah. Then I would've been lost for two costumers, mum would've had two less mouths to feed, and the department would be left wanting for two of the best aurors in the business. Not to mention we'd been losing our next minister of magic," George joked to lighten to mood, a small but joking smile on his face.
Harry laughed and that's what really alleviated the tense atmosphere. Draco smiled, and George's became large and more befitting of a Weasley twin.
"I don't think I will ever be Minister of Magic, but thanks," Harry said after he finished laughing.
"Uh, well I don't know. I think you'd make a fine replacement someday. You know the minister doesn't have a set time in office. Maybe we'll kick Kingsley out after another twenty years and you'll think differently," Draco mused. Then he elbowed Harry in the side. "Assuming you aren't too stressed and useless from doing your real job by then."
"My real job?" Harry asked suspiciously, almost worriedly. Draco smirked, as did George. He had a feeling he knew the answer.
"Keeping me happy, of course. A Malfoy only settles for the very best, you know," Draco announced. George snickered. Harry did too.
"I'll try my best, Draco. Honest to goodness, I will," Harry swore with a chuckle. And Draco believed him... after all, he'd risked everything to save Draco's life with a time-turner. Harry had battled dragons, death eaters, and taken down Lord Voldemort himself. There was probably nothing he couldn't do. The best thing, though, was that Harry was a damn good kisser and loved Draco - maybe almost as much as Draco loved him.
"Draco," Harry inquired after this moment of internal reflection.
"Hm?" the blonde asked, leaning his head onto Harry's shoulder.
"You have a room covered in pictures of me?"
Oops. Maybe he should have left that bit of stalker-ish information out of the story.
The End
A/N: That's the end. Guess I'll see you guys in the next story... or not. My reviewers don't seem to transfer over to new stories very well. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it... even if you didn't review. Thanks to those who did. I'm glad to see you took the time to show me you enjoyed reading my work. Oh, and did anyone notice the similarities in the chapter titles? TTYL, bye!