Verus Amor

Prologue

' There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery.'

Dante Alighieri

Harry had a profound acknowledgement for the fact that alchohol never did him any favors. But what else was he supposed to do with the emptiness in his chest? He had to fill it somehow, and since thoughts of those grey, stormy eyes always made their way into his head, his lips would find their way to the amber liquid that filled his crystal glass.

It had been 4 years since he had last seen of Draco. He had vanished from his life like a gust of wind. Last time Harry had seen Draco was when he had defended him in his trial. Last he had talked to him, was maybe the first time they had been civil towards each other. It was when Harry had gone to meet him in his holding cell 2 days prior the trial.

Flashback

Harry was pacing back and forth in his living room in Grimmauld place. He had never been this conflicted in his life, he had always known what he was supposed to do in his life, but now with the daily prophet laid open in front of him, with the news of Malfoy family trials, he did not know what to do. He wanted the world to know how Narcissa had saved him on that day in the forest with her little lie, sure it was for Draco's sake but nonetheless she still saved him. Afterall, a mother's love is the greatest force of all. And Malfoy, oh what was Harry to do with him, he still doesn't know why Malfoy had refused to identify him that day in Malfoy Manor. No way was Harry going to believe that Malfoy didn't recognise him. Both of them knew that even in a room full of thousands of people they can always sense each other's presence, no matter what disguise they opt for, they still know who they truely are. Afterall, they had been obsessed with each other for half their lives. 'One should always know thy enemy from head to toe in order to best them'- or at least that's what Harry had always told himself.

But Malfoy was his enemy, right? Who defends their enemies, and with the past they had shared, all the rude comments, hexes and whatnot, they weren't supposed to help each other. But they had helped each other even after all that. No matter how much of a git Malfoy was, Harry is not gonna let him rot in Askaban for life. Above all Harry needed him in his life, or who else is harry supposed to fight with. Life would be too dull without that slimy git, so Harry made a decision to talk to Malfoy about his trial and help him once more.

That's how Harry found himself in Malfoy's holding cell the next day. Draco was shocked to see Potter, well that was an understatement. "Come to mock at my misery,Potter","As tempting as it sounds, Malfoy, no I am not. Infact, I am here to save your arse once more". Had Draco seriously gone mad, or has his hearing been impared after all the blows that the aurors had taken on him, they sure hurt like hell. "Has your hero complex finally made you go insane", "Believe me Malfoy when I say this surprises me more that it does to you." "I don't need your saving, Potter. I am a criminal who has done terrible shit, I am the reason Dumbledoor is dead, I am a death eater, Potter". Listening to Malfoy made Harry laugh, he could see Malfoy looking at him incredulessly-"Have you truely gone insane, Potter". Malfoy did look a little concerend, or was it just Harry's imagination."How many people have you actually killed, I mean with your own hands?"- Malfoy sure looked confused-" None....But I"- Harry cut him off-"with all that big talk you sure make a pretty crappy death eater". Harry air quoted, that made Malfoy clench his teeth. He really wanted to punch Potter in the face, this jerk coming here to rub salt in his wounds by proving that he is all high and mighty meanwhile Draco is nothing but dirt. Gone were the days of his elite aristrocracy, now all that was left was shame and broken pride, whereas Potter was literraly the symbol of pride. "I can manage myself, Potter I most certainly don't need you."