Drarry AI Oneshots

The Confessional Booth (Part 2)

Draco frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly. "About what, exactly?"

Harry's heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was it. There was no going back now. He had to confront what he had learned, and he had to be honest-not just with Draco, but with himself.

"About... yesterday," Harry began slowly, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of nerves inside him.

Draco's eyes flickered with confusion, but his expression remained guarded. "What are you talking about?"

Harry swallowed hard, leaning forward slightly. "I know you came to the booth."

Draco's face paled, the slight flicker of surprise quickly masked by a cool, defensive expression. "What are you talking about?" he repeated, his voice more clipped now, as if daring Harry to push further.

Harry hesitated for a brief moment, but he couldn't back down now. "The booth. The one where people can come and talk... anonymously."

Draco's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything, and Harry could see the tension in his posture.

Harry's voice softened, his heart racing. "You didn't know it was me behind the curtain, did you?"

Draco's eyes widened ever so slightly, and for a brief second, Harry could see the vulnerability behind Draco's defenses. But then, just as quickly, Draco's mask snapped back into place.

"So what if I did?" Draco's voice was sharp, but Harry could hear the panic hiding just beneath the surface. "It's supposed to be anonymous, isn't it? So why does it matter?"

Harry leaned in closer, his gaze steady and unwavering. "It matters because... you said something that I think we need to talk about."

Draco's eyes darted to the door, as if he was considering bolting from the conversation entirely. His shoulders tensed, and Harry could see the conflict playing out in his mind.

"Don't," Harry said quietly, his voice almost pleading. "Don't run from this, Draco."

Draco let out a harsh breath, his expression twisting with frustration. "What do you want me to say, Potter? That I made a mistake? That I shouldn't have said what I said? Fine. There-happy?"

But Harry shook his head, his heart still pounding. "That's not what I want."

"Then what the hell do you want?" Draco snapped, his voice cracking with emotion. "I told you how I feel, and now you've come to... what? Gloat? Make fun of me?"

"No," Harry said firmly, cutting through Draco's spiraling thoughts. "I'm not here to make fun of you."

Draco blinked, the anger in his eyes wavering. "Then why?"

Harry took a deep breath, his next words heavy on his tongue. "Because I feel the same way."

Draco stared at him, his expression frozen in shock. "What?"

Harry swallowed, his throat dry, but he forced himself to keep going. "I feel the same way. I've been trying to figure it out for a while, but when I heard you say it... everything clicked."

Draco's eyes searched Harry's face, as if trying to find any sign that this was some kind of cruel joke. But Harry's expression remained open and honest, and slowly, Draco's defenses began to crumble.

"You're not... messing with me?" Draco asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Harry shook his head, his gaze soft. "I'm not messing with you. I promise."

Draco's breath hitched, and for the first time since Harry had sat down, Draco looked truly vulnerable. He looked like someone who had spent too long hiding behind walls he'd built to protect himself, only to find that those walls had become a prison.

"I didn't think you'd ever notice," Draco murmured, his voice raw with emotion. "I thought... I thought I'd just have to live with it."

Harry's chest tightened at the sight of Draco-the Draco Malfoy-so open, so exposed. He wanted to reach out, to close the distance between them, but he held back, waiting for Draco to make the next move.

"I noticed," Harry said softly, his voice filled with a mixture of affection and relief. "I just didn't know what to do with it."

Draco let out a shaky breath, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I've been trying to avoid you all year, you know. I thought it would make things easier. But it didn't."

Harry smiled slightly. "Yeah. I think I've been doing the same thing."

For a long moment, they sat in silence, the fire crackling softly in the hearth as the weight of their unspoken feelings settled between them. The tension that had always hung in the air between them-fueled by years of rivalry, misunderstandings, and unacknowledged emotions-was still there, but it had changed. It wasn't tense or uncomfortable anymore. It felt... like something new.

Finally, Harry spoke, his voice gentle. "You don't have to hide it anymore, Draco."

Draco looked up, his eyes locking with Harry's. "And what happens now?" he asked, his voice uncertain.

Harry hesitated, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "But I think we'll figure it out."

Draco swallowed, his gaze softening. "Yeah?"

Harry nodded, and this time, he didn't wait. He reached out, his hand resting gently on Draco's. The touch was tentative, but it was enough. Draco didn't pull away-in fact, he shifted closer, his fingers curling around Harry's in response.

The silence stretched between them, but it was comfortable now, filled with the unspoken understanding that they were no longer alone in their feelings. It was the beginning of something new, something neither of them had expected but both of them were ready to explore.

And as they sat there, hands intertwined, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him.

Maybe healing wasn't as simple as opening a booth and letting people talk. Maybe it was about being open to your own feelings, even when they scared you.

And with Draco by his side, Harry realized that maybe-just maybe-he was ready to heal, too.