A Possibility

"Are you going to let me in or not?" Harry asked a very confused Draco a week after his last visit.

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked in return as he stepped back, allowing entrance. Harry walked in careful to keep a little bit of distance between them.

"I was hoping to see the garden. It was my favorite place in this manor," replied Harry. Draco pictured how terrible the garden looked and couldn't help but wince at what Harry's reaction would be at the sight.

"You know the way," Draco gave in, knowing that Harry would not be the happiest wizard when he finds what happened to the garden.

Harry walked down the corridor that led to the door to the garden. When he finally opened the door, his eyes met the desolate area that used to be known as a garden. A small chuckle escaped his lips before escalating to a full laugh. It was a cruel and sarcastic laughter, not one a person would do in joy but one someone do when he felt so terrible that he couldn't think of anything else to do. Harry's arm wrapped around his waist and the other hand covered his mouth but it did nothing to muffle his laughter. Draco stood behind him, gaping with his mouth open wide. That was not the reaction he was expecting at all.

"I used to think this was a garden of our love. I sound like a girl, I know," he said and shook his head at his own foolishness, before turning around and facing Draco. "I took such good care of this garden, even if I knew nothing about ninety percent of the plants. This garden was a place I could express my love without words, without anything and you would be able to see it whenever you wanted." He inhaled a deep breath, closing his eyes until he finally let it out. "Seeing it all dead and rotten like this, it's ironic isn't it?" Harry took a few steps back and looked around the garden one last time before pulling out his wand. He was about to flick it to Apparate but Draco stopped him.

"Wait!" Harry looked at him, wand in the air. "I," he choked out and then cleared his throat and tried to speak again. "I want to show you something." Draco stretched out his hand to Harry who shook his head at the hand but lowered his wand allowing Draco to lead him to the spot he found the last time Harry was there.

This time there were more green leaves on the branch and many on other branches. These leaves proved the tree was still alive, still ready to fight the overriding feeling of death surrounding it. Harry stumbled forward, intent on the branch. Slowly he reached out his hand, cautious to touch the leave. He looked as though the leaf would crumble in his fingers when he finally caressed the live green bit. Slowly he stroked the leaves with hands that shook ever so slightly. After about a minute he threw he hand back to his side and turned to walk past Draco.

Quickly Draco snatched the hand that almost brushed his and pulled Harry back to look him in the eyes. Harry either flinched at the surprise or at the touch itself, neither reason making a difference to Draco.

"Why? Why are you really here again? You know you didn't have to pay any mind to that letter, and you wouldn't if you didn't want any more do with me." Harry couldn't resist looking into cold grey eyes. He didn't even pull against the hold Draco had on his arm, and instead chose to stand still. "Did you want to come back and see me as the same cruel heartless man in your thoughts who everyday shared a bed with some new guy, not having a care in the world? Wake up Harry. I'm a man living in his own guilt and regret who can't seem to forget about the life he lost five years ago."

The last sentence broke the gaze that Harry held and he finally pulled himself out of Draco's grasp. Then he turned his back to Draco who heard a few deep breaths coming from the otherwise silent figure before Harry decided to speak.

"Yes. Yes I did want to come back and see you up to your old ways. That way," he paused taking in a deep breath, trying to calm the shaking in his voice. "That way I wouldn't be able to fall in love with you again."

"What?" Draco asked as soon as he recovered from his stupor.

"You weren't the only one who felt guilty, and couldn't stop thinking about that night. Deep down, I wished you didn't listen to me, I wished that you would have ran after me when I left and never let me go again."

"What?"

"I'm saying," Harry drew in a long breath before shouting the next three words without a pause between. "Iloveyou!" He collapsed to his knees looking down at the ground, his hands reached up to cover his face.

"What?" At the repeated word, Draco almost slapped himself in the head. Harry pulled his hands away in order to look up at him, green eyes wide and hopeful. At that moment Draco didn't think Harry ever looked more beautiful as he knelt down to level himself with the man he loved. Slightly trembling, Harry pulled Draco's hand to his cheek and leaned into it closing his eyes.

"I love you," he whispered and Draco just leaned in closer keeping his hand on Harry and pulling his head till their lips were only an inch away.

"I love you too," Draco whispered onto Harry's lips before pressing his own lightly against them. Other than his hand on Harry's cheek, he held him in no other way, letting Harry decide if he wanted what was happening. Apparently he did, because a few seconds into the chaste kiss he parted his lips wanting more, and who was Draco to deny him?

His other hand reached up to hold the back of Harry's neck and Harry's arms wrapped around Draco's shoulders. Taking that as his cue, Draco smoothly slipped his tongue into the warm mouth and Harry softly mewled into his mouth. His tongue traced every single bit of Harry's mouth making sure he was well reacquainted as the familiar taste locked onto his taste buds. The sweet and minty taste of Harry that he missed so much. The kiss was soft, gentle and really slow. Draco wanted to reassure Harry that he changed but Harry had other ideas.

A small wave of surprise swept over Draco as Harry pushed his tongue out of his mouth and followed it with his own. Harry tried to make the kiss more passionate, by swirling his tongue around Draco's and by trying other tricks but Draco wouldn't let anything get to him. Harry soon found out Draco took things at his own pace.

With lips and hands, Draco released Harry and was about to pull away when strong arms kept him from doing so. Grey eyes met half lidded green ones.

"I... I want you," Harry whispered and leaned his head down to rest on the shoulder in front of him.

"I can't." Two words made the warm body holding him pull back and the skin pale to white. Draco cringed at the reaction but didn't move to comfort him.

"Why?" Harry scooted back but a hand caught his own and brought it up to pale pink lips.

"Because I can't trust myself not to hurt you again," Draco whispered against Harry's palm. Shock was the first emotion that Harry wore before it changed to something much softer and a smile spread across his lips.

Harry didn't say a word, just leaned forward and brushed his lips against Draco's. With the gentle movements of lips on lips Draco finally understood what he was implying and pulled Harry back into his warm embrace.

Author's Note: Well, there's the fifth chapter! Think everything is going great? *Evil laugh* just wait till the next chapter... Geez... I think I've had too much caffeine. Getting three hours of sleep each night is going to kill me sometime, that or I'll pass out at a terrible time. Oh well. Review or PM, please! Thanks so much to the people who already have!