ᵒⁿᵉ 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ʷᵒˡᶠˢᵗᵃʳ/ᵈʳᵃʳʳʸ (ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ)

January 14th, 1992 and January 15th, 1992

It's been 2 weeks since the mirror left. Sometimes, it hits me I'll never see my parents again. It feels like a sharp pain in my chest, like I can't breathe. I do my best to control it, but it's hard. It was easier when I hadn't ever seen them.

That morning, I walk with Draco by the lake.

"I feel like I should make up with Ron." I say.

"Ron is the one who should be apologizing, Harry." Draco says, annoyed. "Don't go to him, he should be coming to you."

I sigh. "But I did part of it too."

"What?" Draco says sharply. "Being friends with me?" Tears well in his eyes.

"NO!" I say. "No, of course not! I meant hiding you from him."

Draco bites his lip. "That's not half as bad as what he did to you." He says quietly.

"But Draco," I say. "It's partly my-"

"Harry, don't you even start." Draco says, cutting me off. "It was not your fault. Just forget about him."

"He's basically my brother, Draco!" I say

"Well, if that's true, then he'll come around." Draco says, grabbing my hand. "Brothers always do, I hear."

I chuckle softly. "But you don't have a brother, you wouldn't know."

"Whatever." He says. "It doesn't matter."

I smile. "It kind of does."

Draco rolls his eyes, grinning. "Ugh, Potter, leave me alone!" He says, chuckling.

That afternoon, I walk around the castle. Then, I feel the pain in my chest. I try to ignore it, but I can't breathe. I sit shakily down on a bench. I think about the mirror. My breath catches. I try to shake the memory out of my head. My breathing is now forced. I squeeze my eyes shut to stop myself from crying. I shake my head roughly. I shove my face in my hands. My breath shakes. Why do I care so much? I never even met them.

"Harry?" I hear a voice, but it isn't Draco's. I look up. It's Ron.

"Ron." I say.

Ron sighs and sits next to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" I cry, my voice higher than normal. "I'm great." It's taking all my energy to keep my breathing normal.

"Okay..." Ron says apprehensively. "Listen, I'm sorry...for everything."

I nod. "Ron, it's okay. It was partially my fault."

"No, no it wasn't." Ron says, shaking his head.

I bite my lip and shove my hands into my pockets so he can't see them shaking.

"It's okay." I sigh shakily.

"Friends?" He asks.

"Of course." I say. "I have to go." I say.

Ron nods. "See you later."

I run down the hall and into an empty classroom. I shut the door and sit down on a desk. My breath starts shaking again. I take my hands out of my pockets. They're shaking really hard. I squeeze the desk, hard. I try to take deep breathes, but it doesn't work. This is really becoming a problem.

The next day, I sit by the tree, alone. I trace my parents names. And it hits me; once, they were right here, where I am sitting. My jaw drops and tears fall down my face, but this time, they're happy tears.

"Harry!" I hear Draco call.

I brush away my tears and look to him. "Hey, Draco. Guess what? Ron and I made up."
Draco smiles. "That's great." He says, grinning. "I"m so glad."

I take his hand.

"You okay?" He asks me.

I smile. "I'm great."

"Good." Draco says. "I'm glad."

That night, I sit up in bed when Draco's owl flies through the window. It gives a soft hoot and I remove the letter from it's leg.

Harry,
I'm glad you were okay at the lake, but you seem to be having a hard time lately. Do you want to talk about it? I know that seems to help you, though for the life of me I can't figure out why.
Draco

I chuckle. I take my quill and write back.

Draco,
I...I'm fine now. I don't have to bore you with emotions. Thank you, though.
Harry
P.S. what is your owl's name? I know, off topic, but it just occurred to me.

I send it away with his owl. I roll over in bed. Yeah, that'll do for tonight.