Obliviate [Drarry - english]

Chapter 09

Just like that, Harry found himself in Hogsmeade, the silhouette of the castle silhouetted against the dark sky. When he left home, he was motivated: he wanted to talk to Draco, hear his side of the story without judging him, and see how he really felt. Because being with him could be the craziest, most extraordinary adventure of his life, he was well aware.

Now that he was here, he realized that he hadn't anticipated how he could enter Hogwarts, in the middle of the night, uninvited. And he was also beginning to wonder whether it was really a good idea.

In the end, he decided that taking a butterbeer to think things over and build up his courage was probably the best thing to do. So, for the first time in a long time, he entered the Three Broomsticks. The tavern that had served as headquarters for Dumbledore's army and friends over the years.

Seeking calm at all costs, he ordered quickly, and headed for a discreet corner of the room. The last thing he wanted was to be noticed by the few people present, although he was almost certain that nobody was paying any attention to him. With his nose in his drink and his mind well away from where he was, Harry didn't see him for a moment.

And maybe things would have been different if Draco had chosen another place to settle. Taking the bench opposite would have been enough. But no, he'd chosen this one, and he hadn't seen the Savior enter the dingy bar.

And a burst of laughter was enough.

For Harry to come back to reality, and turn his head towards the voice. And see him. No matter how bad the angle, he couldn't see the expressions on his face, but he knew. That straight, blond hair could only belong to Draco.

There he was, not even a few yards away. Harry's heart raced, he didn't know how to go to him, what to say, if he had the courage to do everything he'd promised himself. Without even really realizing it, and he was already on his feet. Every step he took made him nervous. The blood pulsed in his ears, and his vision blurred. Only two more steps and he could touch it.

-Dra-

The return to reality was brutal. There, against Draco's lips, was another man. He didn't even understand how he'd managed not to see it before, because right now, it was all he could see. A man he didn't know, kissing his Draco.

Frozen, he still had hope that at any moment the blond would pull back, to refuse that kiss, to say he loved another, he'd turn to see Harry, he'd apologize, and they could talk.

But he didn't. Seconds passed and Draco didn't move. So Harry left. Fleeing seemed the most logical thing to do at the moment. He fled from the scene that had unfolded before him, he fled from the heart he could feel breaking, he fled from the tears rolling down his cheeks.

No matter how many times he told himself he wasn't in love with Draco, he still felt deeply betrayed. How could he, after all his grand declarations of their love, kiss another man, in a seedy bar, on the very night he'd come to talk to him.

Without wasting any time, he transplants to his apartment. The calm and cleanliness around him, the feelings he'd left behind when he left, were too much for him to bear. He collapsed on the floor, unable to stop the tears, and the panic attack that made his body tremble. Every fibre of his being ached, the air couldn't reach his lungs. On the cold floor of his apartment, Harry let himself drown in his tears, refusing even the possibility of finding a more comfortable position, and of thinking even once.

o0o0o0o

-I'll never listen to your advice again.

Blaise's face, silhouetted in the fire in the fireplace, rolled his eyes. Draco had called him as soon as he'd got home, completely dismayed by the way the evening had turned out.

-Well, if you want me to help you, you're going to have to tell me what happened, and why you're pulling such a long face.

-Because you really think I was going to jump through hoops?

-Honestly, yes! Then tell me what he said so I can understand!

Draco took another drink of whiskey, took a long swig, and then looked back at his friend.

-Nothing exciting, in all honesty.

-I don't get it.

-I made out with a stranger in a seedy bar, what more do you want to know?

Blaise's eyes widened as he began to understand what had happened.

-Draco, you're going to have to listen to me very carefully. What exactly happened tonight?

The blond sighed, but obliged his friend.

-I arrived at Three Broomsticks, ordered a drink, sat down and started drinking, alone, in a very pathetic way. A man came and sat down with me. We chatted, he kissed me, I pushed him away, I came home, to give a dressing down to the man who gave me this rotten idea.

-Shit, man... I'm so dead.

-You can say.

-I'm not screwed because of you, but Harry !

At the mention of the name, Draco jumped to his feet.

-I told you I didn't want to talk about him! I just can't...

-He was at Three Broomsticks this evening.

The blond paused to stare at his friend. His mind couldn't process the information. How could Harry be at the Three Broomsticks? And more importantly, why would he be there, tonight in particular?

-Blaise... What have you done?

-I wanted to fix my best friend's disastrously chaotic love life before he ruined everything!

-You told me to go for a drink to take my mind off things, and that I could meet a handsome stranger!

-And I sent Harry to talk to you!

-WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!

-BECAUSE YOU WON'T LET ME TO SAY HIS NAME!

Draco dropped back in the chair. It had been two years since he'd finally been able to be with Harry, and for them to trust each other enough. After losing everything, he'd really blown the only chance he had of reconciling. How could he believe they were together, after seeing him kissing another man?

-I'm so sorry, buddy. I didn't mean to... I didn't mean for things to turn out this way.

-It's not your fault. What kind of person am I if, as soon as my boyfriend forgets me, I start kissing other people.

-Why did you do it then?

-Because if he could forget me so easily, and make me suffer so much... I told myself it must have been easy to move on, our love must not have been as strong as I thought.

-Draco...

-I'm going to bed, I'm exhausted.

The fire died down, leaving the embers to light up the professor's tear-streaked face. Guilt and anger gripped him so tightly he couldn't breathe. So he did the only thing he could think of, and tried to drown them in alcohol.

o0o0o0o