YueHiiro03 I agree with you! I've never been much of a fan of Ginny and Harry together; but since I want to be as "canon" as possible in that regard, I start with them like this. But yeah… definitely not a couple I greatly adhere to ! Thank you for your review :)

GeneralUnicornDuckPudding Your reviews are definitely encouraging ! I enjoy constructive criticism but a "vibe check" is just as good and helpful! More angst in this short chapter but I think you'll like chapter 17!

KaMyaBrower Thank you for your review ! I hope you enjoy how it goes :)

Chapter Sixteen

Draco felt around himself with an ease and sense of lightness he hadn't felt in months. The cold wind blew into his face and his hands touched the bark like a caress. He moved with such slow deliberation he barely tripped over the sprouting roots.

The experience of walking through the forbidden forest at night, blind, felt surreal.

With the loss of his sight, and the habitual darkness of his daily life, he couldn't jump at shadows around him. He couldn't interpret creatures in the vague shapes of his leaves. He couldn't see the minute mouvements in the trees. A calm settled over him.

Being in a dangerous environment, one that was meant, seen and known to be such, felt liberating; as opposed to being in a place he had always known to be safe but that he lately felt to be a constant threat.

He stopped by what seemed like a clearing, judging by the echoes of his steps, and leaned against a tree. He hadn't a clue as to what time it was but knew he had left sometime after Madame Pomfrey had retreated for the night. He hadn't taken his wand as it was of no earthly use to him.

He wasn't entirely sure what had brought him here in the dead of night.

He had been lying in bed, thoughts of many memories and projections haunting him.

He thought back to his summers at the Manor, when he waited every evening by the balcony of his room for his father to come home. Every night he had hoped, in vain, that his father would show the same joy he did upon seeing him. Every night, he had hope.

For the past weeks, creeping slowly into his veins - or had it been there all along? - he had felt some of that hope return. In the looks Potter gave him, the way he held him, the draw that pulled them towards each other.

And yet, he couldn't help but agree with him.

About things being easy.

Potter had grown up in the muggle world, not just unknown regardless of his fame amongst wizards, but treated as less than human; given a space barely the size of Draco's sanitaries, forced to cook and clean like some medieval serf. If joining Hogwarts had quite literally opened his world, it had also forced him into a position of savior, the prodigal child. Every year he had defended himself, and in turn, the wizarding world, against a madman set on total domination. He had never had a moment of peace or comfort. He had given hope, been hope and lived in hope.

He had lived enough for a lifetime.

And deep down, Draco wanted things to be easy for him. He wished for him to have the house of his dreams, with a job that satisfied without tiring him. He wished for him a partnership that fulfilled him and made him feel secure.

Draco had never been secure in his way. He tore him down more than he lifted him up.

It was a realization that hurt him, but also eased him in a way. Because it was easy; that, he could understand.

He could ease Potter by choosing this for him. Potter, naive and clueless as he is, wouldn't reach this conclusion before it was too late.

So, Draco left.

Alone with his nagging thoughts, with the burns spreading rapidly over his arms, the light in his eyes growing dimmer as he advanced. He felt but couldn't see the threads that twisted around his hands, like a thin string wrapping itself around his fingers in a chokehold.

He leaned against the tree and let himself fall slowly down until his back was against the trunk and he could pull his knees to his chest.

Even in that moment of surrender, of giving up, he had hope.

The cold settled into his bones.

His mind halted.

His heart settled.

He let himself sink into an oblivion he accepted he wouldn't come out of.

And yet, he still had hope.

Very short… I wanted to publish an "in between" chapter so you know I'm still working out; just been an insanely busy week! The next chapter should be out on Tuesday !

Hope you enjoy xxx