A head of dark curls stood at the top of the steps, looking over the grounds.
"Granger," he muttered, announcing his presence.
"Malfoy," she responded without turning around.
He stepped up to the railing next to her. "How are you?"
"I'm...fine," she breathed.
"Hmm."
A pause. Then:
"Fine as in...?"
She turned to look at him for the first time. "As in I'm doing my best to hold back tears."
He nodded. "I know that feeling."
She reached out and grabbed his hand. "How are you?"
He shrugged. "Coping."
She nodded, understanding. "It's hard, isn't it?"
His grip tightened on her hand. "Yeah."
"Especially since we were just kids," she continued. His head rotated towards her, his eyes meeting hers. Those grey orbs were filled with sorrow.
"And our lives are permanently fucked by it," he concluded.
She nodded once more, saying quietly, "It's hard to remember the people we used to be."
And she moved closer, leaning her head against his shoulder. They stood there in silence, two broken people finding comfort in each other.
A/N short and sad