Title: The Well 16/?
Author: eidheann
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~800 (~11,800 total)
Summary: Where there is a wish...
Warnings: angst.
A/N: Many thanks for the comments and support.
Harry stood and approached Draco, his hand outstretched as if he were facing an angry hippogryph. Soon enough, his hand was back on Draco's arm, thumb rubbing in that maddening way that made the tears come faster. "I'm sorry, Draco. I'm so sorry. I didn't think"
"Why?" Draco pulled out of the loose grasp with a jerk. "Why did you leave? You said you loved me. I thought... I thought we were fine."
Harry let Draco go and moved back slightly, out of his immediate space. He rubbed his hand through his hair with a grimace. "I... I don't know what to say. We were." He moved back to the fire and stared into it. "We were. And then Hermione found out. You always said you didn't want people to know-"
"So did you!"
Harry turned, his expression frustrated, "And she said some things that made sense. About secrets. We couldn't have a real relationship if we were hiding from everyone, Draco, you know that. We were always hiding in Muggle London, hiding from our friends, our family, the Prophet... I was tired of hiding."
"So instead of discussing it, you ran off to Romania?"
"I wasn't intending to stay there..." Harry's voice raised, frustration obvious. "I was planning on going for a couple weeks, just to think. I just needed some space to think about relationships and my future in general. And-"
"And you fell for the dragon tamer's charms. Which made your family very happy."
Harry shook his head. "I don't know why you're obsessed with the thought of me and Charlie together."
"I read the Prophet! It was the only thing that told me where you had gone off to. Complete with pictures of the two of you snogging in the street!"
Harry looked confused. "I've only kissed Charlie once. It was a couple years ago, when I was in Romania right after the war."
"What?"
"It. Was. Years. Ago. Charlie is a friend, and a little to close to a brother to do... that."
Draco felt himself deflate slightly, as the anger that was holding him together started to fade. He just felt tired. "Then why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you owl? Why feed me that shite about..." Draco took a deep breath and looked up at Harry. "Why did you leave me?"
Harry collapsed into the chair, his voice quiet and rough. "I needed to think. I thought... It wasn't fair to you to leave you waiting for me and my issues. I wanted you to be able to move on."
"Move on? What kind of thrice-damned idiot are you? I loved you! Did you think I would get over you and hop into someone else's bed in a week? Maybe a month? You said you weren't planning to stay, did you think I couldn't wait?"
"I didn't think—"
"First smart thing you've said tonight."
"I didn't think it would take this long. But I didn't know. I couldn't be in a relationship with someone when I'm trying to figure myself out."
"No." Draco sighed and wiped his cheeks. "No, you're correct. You can't." The silence stretched, broken only by the occasional pop of the fire. "Hermione wasn't the only one who knew." Harry looked up at him, his expression as tired as Draco's. "Pansy found out as well. She told me it wouldn't work, but I told her I didn't care. Because you were worth it. I thought we were worth it." His face twisted into a grimace of a smile. "Hermione obviously still does your thinking for you, it seems. Or I was wrong, and what is worth it for me isn't for you... Pansy's been terribly generous withholding the 'I told you so's."
"Draco, I'm sorry."
"So am I. Thank you for helping my father."
Harry gave a faint nod. "I'll talk to Hermione, once he's gone. I'll get the Auror squad off your back."
"That would be appreciated. If you don't mind, these past few weeks have been exhausting. I'd like to say good evening to my father and go home."
He had made it to the door before the sound of Harry's voice stopped him. "Draco, wait." He turned to see Harry standing in front of the chair. "I do still love you. I never stopped. I'd... I'd like to try again. In the open. No secrets this time."
Draco froze. It was what he'd spent the past year desperately wanting to hear. "I... I don't know. I... You... I don't know if I can do this again, not expect you to leave me."
Harry nodded faintly. "I deserve that. But please, think about it?"
Draco bit his lip, but gave a faint nod. "I'll think about it. Good night, Harry."