Fic: Two Strangers on the Hogwarts Express
Author: lotus_lizzy
Title: Two Strangers on the Hogwarts Express
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Harry and Draco meet on the Hogwarts Express.
Warnings: Implied character death
Total word count: 3,012
Original prompt request number: 123
Disclaimer: This story/artwork is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's notes: This story came from a strange place, so please enjoy the strange ride.
Beta(s): Of course the ever wonderful thesamanthahope and my wonderful hubby catsociald.
Two Strangers on the Hogwarts Express
The landscape rushed by in a blur of green and brown. Harry was having trouble keeping his eyelids open, but something told him sleep was not a good idea. He leaned against the window, letting the coolness soothe his heated cheeks.
The train compartment was empty. The leather bench seats were familiar. There was the crack in the far corner that Harry always nervously played with on his way to Hogwarts, and the dark stain on the carpet where Ron had mashed up one of his chocolate frogs. It was familiar, yet different. Things were getting a little blurred around the edge.
Harry could feel the train stop, but he didn’t recognize the scenery outside. It just continued to be a blur of green and brown from the trees. He sat up straight and attempted to fix his clothing.
The door opened. Harry looked up, surprised, and yet unsurprised at Draco’s arrival. He always met Draco on the Hogwarts Express.
Draco looked a little nervous, unsure. Harry had felt that way too, at first, but then the constant trees and the rocking of the train had eased his worries.
Draco sat down on the edge of the seat across from Harry, his head hung low. Harry had the sudden urge to comfort the man, but that’s not how things worked. Draco was Draco. Harry was Harry. Or did that matter any more?
Harry decided to test it out, just to see if things were still the same.
“Hey.”
Draco didn’t respond. He continued to hang his head, his blond hair falling into his face. Harry shrugged, not too disappointed. This was just the Hogwarts Express, nothing else to worry about really.
The two sat in silence for a while. Harry tried to look out the window again, but the trees had stopped being interesting. Draco, with his blue pin stripe suit and white blond hair was much more interesting.
Finally Draco sat upright. He dragged a shaking hand through his hair and then let his hand fall into his lap with a thump.
“Of course. Potter.”
Draco sneered, but Harry didn’t take offense. Harry just smiled back. Draco looked at Harry strangely before continuing.
“So, this is it?”
Harry turned his head.
“What do you mean?”
Draco hissed and stood. He began to pace in the little compartment, his steps agitated.
“I mean, is this it? You and me, in this train compartment, forever?”
Harry stared at Draco, who looked more like a white tiger pacing in a cage. It was fascinating. He wondered if he too would begin to blur like the images outside. Draco began to swear under his breath.
“Of course. I knew it. I fucking knew it. Potter, always Potter.”
Harry was beginning to get dizzy, watching the white tiger. He reached out and pushed Draco back down onto the seat.
“Sit, please.”
Draco sat, but he didn’t look happy about it. He stared at Harry, who had returned to watching Draco like a particularly interesting piece of art.
“It’s not so bad.”
Draco snorted, “Not so bad, he says.”
Harry blinked, “You could be here alone. I’ve been here alone for a while.”
Draco sat back against the wall, his legs stretched out before him. Draco was no longer a tiger. Now he was a spider, with legs that stretched out far away from the body.
“Ah yes, wasn’t that the surprise of the century?”
Harry smiled softly, aware of the irony. He had railed in the past, but all it did was make his throat sore.
“Things happen.”
Draco crossed his legs.
“To you, yes.”
Harry looked over at Draco’s trousers that were crisp and ironed. His own clothes, dirty and dusty, seemed like a weight, slowly suffocating him. He began to panic until he saw Draco’s feet. They were bare, white, and knobby.
“You’re not wearing shoes or socks.”
Draco raised an eyebrow.
“Of course not, it’s traditional.”
Harry nodded.” I would have thought robes would be traditional as well.”
Draco wiggled his toes, watching Harry’s eyes as they followed the movement.
“I demanded this suit. I like this suit.”
Harry toed off his trainers and then pulled off his socks. It felt nice. His toes had freedom.
“I see the rumors were false then.”
Harry looked up from his feet.
“There were rumors?”
Draco put his arms up and behind his head, relaxing more into the seat.
“Oh yes. Most think you’re somewhere in Egypt, fighting an evil mummy or some rot. I always knew it was nonsense. I saw you go down there. I heard Hermione warn you.”
Harry sat up rigidly; he didn’t like to think about his mistake. Draco smiled at Harry’s agitation.
“What, did you think just because you survived the killing curse that somehow you would be immune? That was a lot different than a curse.”
Harry curled up a bit of his shirt in his hands. “I know. I knew that. I just thought…”
“You didn’t think.”
Now it was Harry’s turn to hide his head in shame. Trust Malfoy to pull that emotion out of him.
“Yes, I didn’t think,” he said softly.
Draco nudged Harry’s foot with his own, making Harry smile. Their feet felt nice, side by side.
“What about you, Draco?”
Draco began to unbutton his suit jacket, “What about me?”
“Why are you here?”
Draco pulled his suit jacket off completely and folded it neatly next to him. He uncuffed his shirt and rolled up the sleeves. Once done, he relaxed back against the wall, his feet still touching Harry’s.
“A simple misunderstanding, really.”
Harry really liked Draco’s feet. They were smooth and bumpy at the same time. He felt the knobs with his toes.
“People are always misunderstanding me.”
Harry giggled.
“You mock me? You know it’s true. You saw how it was for me during the war, and after. Everyone thought I was a Death Eater. Thanks for the testimony by the way.”
Harry sobered, “But it didn’t save you in the end.”
Draco shrugged, “Hey, it kept me out of Azkaban. But yeah, it didn’t save me.”
Harry felt like he swallowed a piece of lead and it had just landed on the bottom of his stomach.
“It wasn’t because of…”
Draco’s face turned icy. “Of course it was. Dumbledore was a beloved figure, so were you, and I wasn’t sufficiently punished.”
Harry swallowed hard. “Oh.”
Draco curled his toe against Harry’s.
“Hey, look at me.” Harry looked up and Draco looked directly into Harry’s eyes.
“You did what you could. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your testimony. You have no idea what it meant to me to see that you understood. You didn’t blame me. I never knew you were on the Astronomy Tower until my trial. It felt so good to know that you saw me pause, you saw me consider, because no one believed me. You could have dismissed it as fear, but you didn’t. And I don’t know how you knew about my time at the Manor, about how I didn’t want to torture and kill, but you did. That’s why I came to help. I had to. I wanted to help you, needed to. I needed to help you so badly.”
Harry moved from sitting opposite Draco to sitting next to the man. Draco raised his eyebrows, but Harry just shrugged and took one of Draco’s hands.
“I really appreciated you helping rebuild Hogwarts. It took a lot for you to come back, especially when no one wanted you there.”
Draco bent down and rested his head on Harry’s shoulder.
“Here you are again, helping me.”
Harry laughed, “I don’t think so. This is my compartment. I think this time it may be the other way around.”
Draco traced Harry’s hand with his thumb.
“I have no idea what to do. I should have followed you. I had been watching you closely the whole time, trying to find a way to repay my huge debt to you. Instead I let myself get distracted by the Weasel and fought with him instead of going with you into the tunnel.”
“Hush. What would you have done? It happened too fast. Plus, I kind of needed this time alone. I had a lot of thoughts to put together.”
Draco pulled their entwined hands to his face and kissed Harry’s knuckles.
“Like what?”
Harry basked in the slow, calm sensation of Draco’s lips on his hand.
“Like how your Hawthorn wand shouldn’t have worked so well for me.”
Draco smiled into Harry’s hand.
“Oh, I always wondered about that myself.”
Harry linked their calves together, trying to get closer.
“Yeah, I’ve disarmed plenty of other people and their wands never worked for me. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and the best theory that I came up with is that you and I aren’t as different as I thought before. Actually, we’re quite similar. So it would only make sense that our magic would be similar too.”
“Mm, and you know what such similar magic means, don’t you Harry?”
Harry laughed and kissed Draco on the cheek.
“Yeah, I know. As Lavender would say, we were meant to be.”
Harry curled his hand around Draco’s chin, feeling his soft skin.
“I wanted you to have more time before I saw you again.”
Draco could feel the tears beginning to fall.
“It was hard. It was really hard to be by myself.”
Harry nodded and placed a small chaste kiss on Draco’s lips, just feeling how silky they were, before pulling away.
“Draco, I don’t understand why I’m on this train.”
Draco kissed Harry’s hands again and caressed them with his cheek.
“I don’t know either. It was so empty, and then the train just showed up and I got on.”
Harry put an arm around Draco and spoke into his hair.
“Last time Dumbledore was at the station, but he wasn’t there this time. I got on the train too. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Draco jerked a little. “You’ve been through this before?”
Harry tapped his forehead, “This happened, remember? But that time, Dumbledore sent me back.”
Draco squished closer and squeezed Harry’s hand.
“Draco, please tell me what happened.”
“Happened with what?”
“With everything. With life,” Harry whispered. “With you.”
Draco looked out the window, sucking in a breath.
“A lot happened. Things went crazy for a while. Hermione blamed herself. A lot of people blamed me, even though Ron told everyone he could that I wasn’t anywhere near you when it happened. He turned out to be a decent fellow, in the end. No one knew that tunnel was so unstable. The destruction was so great, and when they couldn’t find a body, well, that’s when the rumor and sightings started. Someone swore they saw you at the Three Broomsticks just last week.”
Harry laughed, “Like Elvis.”
“Who?”
Harry snuggled closer. “No one. Continue, please.”
“But then, things just calmed down. Life went on for the next ten years. Well, at least for most people. Hermione and Ron married. They had a daughter, Harriet.”
“Oh.” Harry felt Draco’s fingers brush a tear from his face.
“And me? Well I just went back the Manor.”
Harry let the guilt wash over him. He knew he was letting people down, but he had stopped blaming himself long ago.
“Please tell me you did something: got a job, met someone, fell in love.”
Draco sat silently.
“Draco, please.”
“How could I, Harry? Not when I saw your face every time I closed my eyes, felt my arms circling your waist. I know nothing ever happened. I know I had no right to hope, but I did, especially after you testified for me. You were so kind to me during the rebuilding of Hogwarts. We had such long talks, just you and me and the stars. And remember that broom ride? The fight to the Snitch? I finally caught it, Harry. I finally caught it, and then you were gone.”
The man began to sob, wrapping his long arms around Harry, holding him tight.
“Shh, I’m here. I’m here.”
Harry brushed the hair away from Draco’s face, peppering kisses along his hair line.
“Draco, what happened? Please tell me what happened.”
Draco shook harder and sobbed louder. Harry brought him into his lap and cradled him until his sobs quieted.
He began to speak, but quietly into Harry’s chest.
“There was a group of them. I didn’t recognize any of them. They surrounded me and started yelling. I yelled back. It was all nonsense and it happened so fast. They had rocks, so many rocks. They just kept throwing them, one after another. No one helped me. No one saved me. I woke up at the station and then the train arrived. I figured it out when I saw what I was wearing.”
Harry rubbed Draco’s feet.
“I really like your feet.”
Draco laughed a watery smile, it made Harry feel lighter.
“Thanks, Harry.”
Draco moved to get off Harry’s lap, but Harry would have none of that. He held onto Draco tighter and pulled Draco’s head to his chest. They sat for a while. Harry listened to Draco’s heartbeat. It matched the movement of the train.
“I liked you, at the end.”
Harry pulled his fingers through Draco’s hair as he spoke.
“I didn’t understand it. I’d never really liked a boy before, but that’s how I felt. I hadn’t thought much beyond that at the time. There was a lot on my plate, with rebuilding Hogwarts and trying to figure out my future. But it was nice, to have you around. I missed you, a lot. Maybe I’ve grown delusional and you’re a figment of my imagination.”
Draco pinched him.
“I’m here, you prat. I’m real.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“Harry, can I ask you a question?”
Harry breathed in Draco’s smell: cinnamon and vanilla.
“Anything.”
“Have you ever tried to get off the train?”
Harry frowned.
“What do you mean? The train never stops.”
Draco sighed. “It did. It stopped to let me on.”
Harry thought for a moment.
“That was the first time. It was the first time it stopped in ten years and I didn’t even think about getting off. It will probably be another 10 years before it stops again.”
“Harry, the train is slowing now.”
Harry looked out the window, and sure enough the trees had begun to slow.
“What should we do?”
Draco sat up, but Harry kept his arm around his waist. He didn’t want to let go.
“Harry, I think we should get up.”
“No!”
Draco pressed his hands against Harry’s face.
“Harry, I think we should try to get off the train.”
Harry began to panic, sweat collecting on his forehead.
“No! I’ll be taken away again! I know it! I don’t want to be alone, Draco, not again. I haven’t seen anyone, not my parents, not Remus, not Sirius, not Dumbledore. No one. Just you. Don’t leave me! I couldn’t….I can’t….”
Draco wrapped his arms around Harry. He could feel Harry trembling, his body shaking violently.
“Harry, I’m here, I’m here. Shh. I won’t let you go. Do you think I would let you go? We’ll get up. We’ll leave the train together. I’ll keep a firm grip on your hand. Just try to pry us apart. It won’t happen.”
Harry looked into Draco’s fierce eyes and a small bundle of hope began to spring in his belly.
“You are real, aren’t you?”
Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry with all he was worth. Their wet lips glided together, their tongues melded, sending sparks around their bodies. Draco put everything he had into the kiss, and then some. Draco reluctantly pulled away, but the train was almost at a full stop.
“Harry, we don’t have much time, but know this. They put us on this train together. Don’t you see? This is my time to save you. I can do it. I can pull you from this fire. Please let me. Please come with me.”
Harry felt Draco’s hair, his face, his chest, before taking Draco’s hand and nodding.
“I never understood people’s obsession with this train.”
Harry smiled wistfully, “It always meant I was going somewhere magical.”
Draco blinked and then his smile grew. He pulled Harry towards the door.
“Wait! My shoes!”
Draco turned and sneered down at the old and dirty trainers.
“You don’t need them, it’s traditional.”
Harry smiled and followed Draco out of the compartment and finally off the Hogwarts Express.
August 22, 2008
Draco Malfoy, son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, was found dead this morning outside Borgin and Burkes. Autopsy reports list his death as murder. He was stoned to death. Draco Malfoy had been linked to many previous crimes, such as the death of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and the mysterious death of Harry Potter. The Aurors believe this death to be an act of revenge or retribution. Calls have been made to the public for any knowledge they may have about the crime. Sources say the Auror Department is not optimistic.
August 22, 1998
It is with a sad heart that we announce the death of Harry Potter, only a short time after his own heroic battle and victory against the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Harry Potter had been working with volunteers across the nation in rebuilding the historical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen structural break, Harry Potter fell victim to a cave in. The damage was too much for any rescue attempts to be made. Estimates say that Harry Potter was buried under several tons of rubble.
A memorial service will be held on August 23, 1998 in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. A monument will be erected near the Forbidden Forest in lieu of a grave. All are welcome.
Harry Potter will remain the Boy Who Lived in our hearts and we pray that he has found peace at last.
Title: Two Strangers on the Hogwarts Express
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Harry and Draco meet on the Hogwarts Express.
Warnings: Implied character death
Total word count: 3,012
Original prompt request number: 123
Disclaimer: This story/artwork is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's notes: This story came from a strange place, so please enjoy the strange ride.
Beta(s): Of course the ever wonderful thesamanthahope and my wonderful hubby catsociald.
Two Strangers on the Hogwarts Express
The landscape rushed by in a blur of green and brown. Harry was having trouble keeping his eyelids open, but something told him sleep was not a good idea. He leaned against the window, letting the coolness soothe his heated cheeks.
The train compartment was empty. The leather bench seats were familiar. There was the crack in the far corner that Harry always nervously played with on his way to Hogwarts, and the dark stain on the carpet where Ron had mashed up one of his chocolate frogs. It was familiar, yet different. Things were getting a little blurred around the edge.
Harry could feel the train stop, but he didn’t recognize the scenery outside. It just continued to be a blur of green and brown from the trees. He sat up straight and attempted to fix his clothing.
The door opened. Harry looked up, surprised, and yet unsurprised at Draco’s arrival. He always met Draco on the Hogwarts Express.
Draco looked a little nervous, unsure. Harry had felt that way too, at first, but then the constant trees and the rocking of the train had eased his worries.
Draco sat down on the edge of the seat across from Harry, his head hung low. Harry had the sudden urge to comfort the man, but that’s not how things worked. Draco was Draco. Harry was Harry. Or did that matter any more?
Harry decided to test it out, just to see if things were still the same.
“Hey.”
Draco didn’t respond. He continued to hang his head, his blond hair falling into his face. Harry shrugged, not too disappointed. This was just the Hogwarts Express, nothing else to worry about really.
The two sat in silence for a while. Harry tried to look out the window again, but the trees had stopped being interesting. Draco, with his blue pin stripe suit and white blond hair was much more interesting.
Finally Draco sat upright. He dragged a shaking hand through his hair and then let his hand fall into his lap with a thump.
“Of course. Potter.”
Draco sneered, but Harry didn’t take offense. Harry just smiled back. Draco looked at Harry strangely before continuing.
“So, this is it?”
Harry turned his head.
“What do you mean?”
Draco hissed and stood. He began to pace in the little compartment, his steps agitated.
“I mean, is this it? You and me, in this train compartment, forever?”
Harry stared at Draco, who looked more like a white tiger pacing in a cage. It was fascinating. He wondered if he too would begin to blur like the images outside. Draco began to swear under his breath.
“Of course. I knew it. I fucking knew it. Potter, always Potter.”
Harry was beginning to get dizzy, watching the white tiger. He reached out and pushed Draco back down onto the seat.
“Sit, please.”
Draco sat, but he didn’t look happy about it. He stared at Harry, who had returned to watching Draco like a particularly interesting piece of art.
“It’s not so bad.”
Draco snorted, “Not so bad, he says.”
Harry blinked, “You could be here alone. I’ve been here alone for a while.”
Draco sat back against the wall, his legs stretched out before him. Draco was no longer a tiger. Now he was a spider, with legs that stretched out far away from the body.
“Ah yes, wasn’t that the surprise of the century?”
Harry smiled softly, aware of the irony. He had railed in the past, but all it did was make his throat sore.
“Things happen.”
Draco crossed his legs.
“To you, yes.”
Harry looked over at Draco’s trousers that were crisp and ironed. His own clothes, dirty and dusty, seemed like a weight, slowly suffocating him. He began to panic until he saw Draco’s feet. They were bare, white, and knobby.
“You’re not wearing shoes or socks.”
Draco raised an eyebrow.
“Of course not, it’s traditional.”
Harry nodded.” I would have thought robes would be traditional as well.”
Draco wiggled his toes, watching Harry’s eyes as they followed the movement.
“I demanded this suit. I like this suit.”
Harry toed off his trainers and then pulled off his socks. It felt nice. His toes had freedom.
“I see the rumors were false then.”
Harry looked up from his feet.
“There were rumors?”
Draco put his arms up and behind his head, relaxing more into the seat.
“Oh yes. Most think you’re somewhere in Egypt, fighting an evil mummy or some rot. I always knew it was nonsense. I saw you go down there. I heard Hermione warn you.”
Harry sat up rigidly; he didn’t like to think about his mistake. Draco smiled at Harry’s agitation.
“What, did you think just because you survived the killing curse that somehow you would be immune? That was a lot different than a curse.”
Harry curled up a bit of his shirt in his hands. “I know. I knew that. I just thought…”
“You didn’t think.”
Now it was Harry’s turn to hide his head in shame. Trust Malfoy to pull that emotion out of him.
“Yes, I didn’t think,” he said softly.
Draco nudged Harry’s foot with his own, making Harry smile. Their feet felt nice, side by side.
“What about you, Draco?”
Draco began to unbutton his suit jacket, “What about me?”
“Why are you here?”
Draco pulled his suit jacket off completely and folded it neatly next to him. He uncuffed his shirt and rolled up the sleeves. Once done, he relaxed back against the wall, his feet still touching Harry’s.
“A simple misunderstanding, really.”
Harry really liked Draco’s feet. They were smooth and bumpy at the same time. He felt the knobs with his toes.
“People are always misunderstanding me.”
Harry giggled.
“You mock me? You know it’s true. You saw how it was for me during the war, and after. Everyone thought I was a Death Eater. Thanks for the testimony by the way.”
Harry sobered, “But it didn’t save you in the end.”
Draco shrugged, “Hey, it kept me out of Azkaban. But yeah, it didn’t save me.”
Harry felt like he swallowed a piece of lead and it had just landed on the bottom of his stomach.
“It wasn’t because of…”
Draco’s face turned icy. “Of course it was. Dumbledore was a beloved figure, so were you, and I wasn’t sufficiently punished.”
Harry swallowed hard. “Oh.”
Draco curled his toe against Harry’s.
“Hey, look at me.” Harry looked up and Draco looked directly into Harry’s eyes.
“You did what you could. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your testimony. You have no idea what it meant to me to see that you understood. You didn’t blame me. I never knew you were on the Astronomy Tower until my trial. It felt so good to know that you saw me pause, you saw me consider, because no one believed me. You could have dismissed it as fear, but you didn’t. And I don’t know how you knew about my time at the Manor, about how I didn’t want to torture and kill, but you did. That’s why I came to help. I had to. I wanted to help you, needed to. I needed to help you so badly.”
Harry moved from sitting opposite Draco to sitting next to the man. Draco raised his eyebrows, but Harry just shrugged and took one of Draco’s hands.
“I really appreciated you helping rebuild Hogwarts. It took a lot for you to come back, especially when no one wanted you there.”
Draco bent down and rested his head on Harry’s shoulder.
“Here you are again, helping me.”
Harry laughed, “I don’t think so. This is my compartment. I think this time it may be the other way around.”
Draco traced Harry’s hand with his thumb.
“I have no idea what to do. I should have followed you. I had been watching you closely the whole time, trying to find a way to repay my huge debt to you. Instead I let myself get distracted by the Weasel and fought with him instead of going with you into the tunnel.”
“Hush. What would you have done? It happened too fast. Plus, I kind of needed this time alone. I had a lot of thoughts to put together.”
Draco pulled their entwined hands to his face and kissed Harry’s knuckles.
“Like what?”
Harry basked in the slow, calm sensation of Draco’s lips on his hand.
“Like how your Hawthorn wand shouldn’t have worked so well for me.”
Draco smiled into Harry’s hand.
“Oh, I always wondered about that myself.”
Harry linked their calves together, trying to get closer.
“Yeah, I’ve disarmed plenty of other people and their wands never worked for me. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and the best theory that I came up with is that you and I aren’t as different as I thought before. Actually, we’re quite similar. So it would only make sense that our magic would be similar too.”
“Mm, and you know what such similar magic means, don’t you Harry?”
Harry laughed and kissed Draco on the cheek.
“Yeah, I know. As Lavender would say, we were meant to be.”
Harry curled his hand around Draco’s chin, feeling his soft skin.
“I wanted you to have more time before I saw you again.”
Draco could feel the tears beginning to fall.
“It was hard. It was really hard to be by myself.”
Harry nodded and placed a small chaste kiss on Draco’s lips, just feeling how silky they were, before pulling away.
“Draco, I don’t understand why I’m on this train.”
Draco kissed Harry’s hands again and caressed them with his cheek.
“I don’t know either. It was so empty, and then the train just showed up and I got on.”
Harry put an arm around Draco and spoke into his hair.
“Last time Dumbledore was at the station, but he wasn’t there this time. I got on the train too. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Draco jerked a little. “You’ve been through this before?”
Harry tapped his forehead, “This happened, remember? But that time, Dumbledore sent me back.”
Draco squished closer and squeezed Harry’s hand.
“Draco, please tell me what happened.”
“Happened with what?”
“With everything. With life,” Harry whispered. “With you.”
Draco looked out the window, sucking in a breath.
“A lot happened. Things went crazy for a while. Hermione blamed herself. A lot of people blamed me, even though Ron told everyone he could that I wasn’t anywhere near you when it happened. He turned out to be a decent fellow, in the end. No one knew that tunnel was so unstable. The destruction was so great, and when they couldn’t find a body, well, that’s when the rumor and sightings started. Someone swore they saw you at the Three Broomsticks just last week.”
Harry laughed, “Like Elvis.”
“Who?”
Harry snuggled closer. “No one. Continue, please.”
“But then, things just calmed down. Life went on for the next ten years. Well, at least for most people. Hermione and Ron married. They had a daughter, Harriet.”
“Oh.” Harry felt Draco’s fingers brush a tear from his face.
“And me? Well I just went back the Manor.”
Harry let the guilt wash over him. He knew he was letting people down, but he had stopped blaming himself long ago.
“Please tell me you did something: got a job, met someone, fell in love.”
Draco sat silently.
“Draco, please.”
“How could I, Harry? Not when I saw your face every time I closed my eyes, felt my arms circling your waist. I know nothing ever happened. I know I had no right to hope, but I did, especially after you testified for me. You were so kind to me during the rebuilding of Hogwarts. We had such long talks, just you and me and the stars. And remember that broom ride? The fight to the Snitch? I finally caught it, Harry. I finally caught it, and then you were gone.”
The man began to sob, wrapping his long arms around Harry, holding him tight.
“Shh, I’m here. I’m here.”
Harry brushed the hair away from Draco’s face, peppering kisses along his hair line.
“Draco, what happened? Please tell me what happened.”
Draco shook harder and sobbed louder. Harry brought him into his lap and cradled him until his sobs quieted.
He began to speak, but quietly into Harry’s chest.
“There was a group of them. I didn’t recognize any of them. They surrounded me and started yelling. I yelled back. It was all nonsense and it happened so fast. They had rocks, so many rocks. They just kept throwing them, one after another. No one helped me. No one saved me. I woke up at the station and then the train arrived. I figured it out when I saw what I was wearing.”
Harry rubbed Draco’s feet.
“I really like your feet.”
Draco laughed a watery smile, it made Harry feel lighter.
“Thanks, Harry.”
Draco moved to get off Harry’s lap, but Harry would have none of that. He held onto Draco tighter and pulled Draco’s head to his chest. They sat for a while. Harry listened to Draco’s heartbeat. It matched the movement of the train.
“I liked you, at the end.”
Harry pulled his fingers through Draco’s hair as he spoke.
“I didn’t understand it. I’d never really liked a boy before, but that’s how I felt. I hadn’t thought much beyond that at the time. There was a lot on my plate, with rebuilding Hogwarts and trying to figure out my future. But it was nice, to have you around. I missed you, a lot. Maybe I’ve grown delusional and you’re a figment of my imagination.”
Draco pinched him.
“I’m here, you prat. I’m real.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“Harry, can I ask you a question?”
Harry breathed in Draco’s smell: cinnamon and vanilla.
“Anything.”
“Have you ever tried to get off the train?”
Harry frowned.
“What do you mean? The train never stops.”
Draco sighed. “It did. It stopped to let me on.”
Harry thought for a moment.
“That was the first time. It was the first time it stopped in ten years and I didn’t even think about getting off. It will probably be another 10 years before it stops again.”
“Harry, the train is slowing now.”
Harry looked out the window, and sure enough the trees had begun to slow.
“What should we do?”
Draco sat up, but Harry kept his arm around his waist. He didn’t want to let go.
“Harry, I think we should get up.”
“No!”
Draco pressed his hands against Harry’s face.
“Harry, I think we should try to get off the train.”
Harry began to panic, sweat collecting on his forehead.
“No! I’ll be taken away again! I know it! I don’t want to be alone, Draco, not again. I haven’t seen anyone, not my parents, not Remus, not Sirius, not Dumbledore. No one. Just you. Don’t leave me! I couldn’t….I can’t….”
Draco wrapped his arms around Harry. He could feel Harry trembling, his body shaking violently.
“Harry, I’m here, I’m here. Shh. I won’t let you go. Do you think I would let you go? We’ll get up. We’ll leave the train together. I’ll keep a firm grip on your hand. Just try to pry us apart. It won’t happen.”
Harry looked into Draco’s fierce eyes and a small bundle of hope began to spring in his belly.
“You are real, aren’t you?”
Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry with all he was worth. Their wet lips glided together, their tongues melded, sending sparks around their bodies. Draco put everything he had into the kiss, and then some. Draco reluctantly pulled away, but the train was almost at a full stop.
“Harry, we don’t have much time, but know this. They put us on this train together. Don’t you see? This is my time to save you. I can do it. I can pull you from this fire. Please let me. Please come with me.”
Harry felt Draco’s hair, his face, his chest, before taking Draco’s hand and nodding.
“I never understood people’s obsession with this train.”
Harry smiled wistfully, “It always meant I was going somewhere magical.”
Draco blinked and then his smile grew. He pulled Harry towards the door.
“Wait! My shoes!”
Draco turned and sneered down at the old and dirty trainers.
“You don’t need them, it’s traditional.”
Harry smiled and followed Draco out of the compartment and finally off the Hogwarts Express.
August 22, 2008
Draco Malfoy, son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, was found dead this morning outside Borgin and Burkes. Autopsy reports list his death as murder. He was stoned to death. Draco Malfoy had been linked to many previous crimes, such as the death of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and the mysterious death of Harry Potter. The Aurors believe this death to be an act of revenge or retribution. Calls have been made to the public for any knowledge they may have about the crime. Sources say the Auror Department is not optimistic.
August 22, 1998
It is with a sad heart that we announce the death of Harry Potter, only a short time after his own heroic battle and victory against the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Harry Potter had been working with volunteers across the nation in rebuilding the historical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen structural break, Harry Potter fell victim to a cave in. The damage was too much for any rescue attempts to be made. Estimates say that Harry Potter was buried under several tons of rubble.
A memorial service will be held on August 23, 1998 in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. A monument will be erected near the Forbidden Forest in lieu of a grave. All are welcome.
Harry Potter will remain the Boy Who Lived in our hearts and we pray that he has found peace at last.