Late Nights

Part 1

6:02 p.m: Draco starts dinner. When he called Harry during his lunch break, he told him that he'd be home by 7. Harry worked really late nights (sometimes he even slept at his office), but Draco was adamant that Harry be on time tonight. Before then, Draco needed to make sure everything was ready and perfect.

6:26 p.m: He starts to set the table, making sure there is candles and flowers. Tonight was going to be special. It was their five year anniversary after all.

6:59 p.m: Draco pulls all the food out of the oven and places it on the table. He made Harry's favorite: steak and kidney pie. Of course, there's also treacle tart for dessert. Before Harry gets home, he settles everything down perfectly.

7:04 p.m: As he's waiting for Harry to walk in at any moment, he fidgets and looks everything over at least a hundred times. Constantly casting tempus charms to see the time, he strains his ears for the tell tale signs of the floo roaring to life.

7:18 p.m: As time ticks by, Draco starts to have intrusive thoughts. What if Harry isn't coming home? What if he forgot about their anniversary? What if he's out drinking with Ron and his other mates? What if...

7:45 p.m: He contemplates firecalling Harry. In the end, he decides against it. Harry wouldn't forget. He said he'd be home, so he would be.

8:21 p.m: Draco casts a heating charm over the food and then a stasis charm. Harry would be home any minute now...

9:13 p.m: His stomach growls, but he can't eat. It's their anniversary and he should wait for Harry to come home. It would just be a little longer.

9:56 p.m: A yawn escapes his mouth. He blames the early hours of his job. They always made him want to go bed early. Harry teased him mercilessly for it. Harry...

10:54 p.m: Draco blows out the candles on the table. The candles were melting done and he didn't want them to be completely disfigured when Harry came home.

11:39 p.m: They still had twenty-one minutes to celebrate their anniversary. It wasn't over yet. Harry will come home. He will.

11:59 p.m: One more minute. Surely, Harry wouldn't miss it, right? No, he'd come bursting in the room ready to celebrate. Draco was sure of it. Harry wouldn't miss it. it was so important to the both of them. Draco began to count down the seconds. 30 seconds...he held his breath... 20 seconds... he sat up straight and stared at the door... 15 seconds... he gingerly took his napkin off his lap and placed it on the table... 10 seconds... Harry should be coming right about now... 5 seconds... 4... 3... 2... 1...

12:00 a.m: Harry hadn't come home. Draco bit his lip and took a shaky breath. When tears threatened to spill, he shut his eyes tight and closed his hands into tight fists.

12:02 a.m; He pushed his chair back and stood up slowly. Every move was precise, even though he was upset. After taking one last look at what would've been a great dinner, he walked out of the dining room.He made his way up the stairs mechanically. When he entered his room, their room, he closed and locked the door with the strongest charm he knew.

12:32 a.m: After staring at the ceiling from the bed for nearly thirty minutes, he finally closed his eyes. However, sleep did not come. Instead his eyes filled with tears that streaked down his face even though he clenched them shut to stop the flow.

1:12 a.m: Finally, he falls asleep, one thought on his mind. How could Harry do this?