eighteen → drarry

i. hold me

[PART ONE - HOLD ME]

••

AFTER THE WAR, the wizarding world had rejoiced. Shops were booming with business, people leaving their houses for the first time in months. It was like a weight had lifted off the shoulders of every witch and wizard across the country. Those that had been involved in the war, bar the students of Hogwarts, had been punished accordingly, most being sent to Azkaban for their wrongful doings.

Some families held their heads in shame as they walked through the streets, acknowledging their relatives wrongdoings. One of these people, however, was so ashamed of the part his family played during the war, scarred in his mind , he regretted every inch of what he and they did, especially when he secretly cared so much for the boy who lived.

Draco Malfoy didn't know how to cope after the war. He returned to school, along with very few others in his house, to finish the school year. Harry Potter had decided to go back too. Harry Potter. Draco admired the Gryffindor. He didn't know if it was his determination, his bravery, or something else that attracted him to the boy.

The returning seventh years had been housed together in one common room, albeit the entire returning pupils could also fit in that room. Still sceptical, parents had chosen to pull their children from the school that summer, choosing alternative options to teach their children magic. With Ron heading off to work in the Ministry, Harry and Hermione had returned together, promising to focus on their studies and forget about the events that happened in May.

••

A few weeks after term had started, Harry had noticed the change in Draco.

"Harry." Harry stopped dead in his tracks, hearing the boy he knew all too well say his name in such a pleasant way. There was no malice, no disgust. Draco made eye contact with Harry. His heart pounding. He was sure the thump of his heart could be heard by more than just him. It was time.

"Draco?" Harry questioned, wondering what the boy wanted. He had changed a lot since coming back to Hogwarts. He had changed his thought on blood purity, apologising to Hermione and many other students for all the pain he had caused them since their first year. Hermione was the first to notice his change.

"I wanted to say something. Something I mean from the bottom of my heart." He paused, taking a deep breath and swooping his hair away from his eyes. Harry noticed how the boys appearance had changed. His eyes were rimmed with dark circles, tiredness had etched itself across his face. "I wanted to not only apologise on behalf of my family, but I want to apologise to you, myself. I did so much more wrong than good, so much so that you see me as a terrible person. I want to put everything behind me. I don't want to be the Draco I was before. In times like this, it is important to have people to stick to. I haven't been the best of people and I shouldn't treat people the way I do. I'm sorry for everything, Harry. I truly am." Had it not been for the darkness in the corridor, Harry would have noticed a small tear leave the Slytherins eye.