𑁍︎What if we were real𑁍︎

Prologue

Harry’s POV

I stare up at the maroon canopy, unable to sleep once again. My eyes not wanting to close and my mind not wanting to shut off. I swear to Merlin. I know what I need to do. I roll my eyes. I told myself I would stop, but maybe just tonight I’ll do it for the last time. Yes, that sounds nice. I sit up, fully decided, and swing my legs off the bed, slipping my feet into my slippers. I grab the invisibility cloak, wand, and the marauders map and head off. As I head off, I keep swearing to myself that this is the last time. It is. No more after tonight. I finally reach the forest, and with a deep breath, I walk in for the last time with this intention. I walk to the left, touching each red marked tree-like always. Finally, I make it to the entrance. The moss-covered rock entrance that is actually a glamour. I whisper the dreaded words and walk in, the magic of it all filling me with the sense of calm that always comes to me when I enter the space. I can’t help but smile as I walk into the magical clearing. I wander to the middle, where the tree stands. Every time I have visited, I have avoided it but it’s time for me to say goodbye. I walk up and rest my hand on the now fading carved initials in the tree. “Goodbye,” I whisper. I rub my eye only for my hand to come back wet and I realize that I had been crying. I shake my head in irritation. I won’t cry over this anymore. Over him. I laugh to myself, giving me a moment to remember. With a last breath, I rest my hand one last time on the names of 2 small boys, who never would have thought they would end up where they are now. I turn around to leave, and lock eyes with the last person I would have expected to see. He looks at me in confusion, the look in his eyes making me feel emotions I had repressed for a while. He opens his mouth to say something but I beat him to it “No, don’t. We both know what will happen if you speak and I won’t have it happen. I told myself I wouldn’t let myself be vulnerable like that again.” he looks down at his feet in shame, and I can’t help but feel for him. But I shake off the feeling. I can’t, not ever again. “I won’t be back,” I say, breaking the silence “too many memories here that I would rather forget. So, don’t feel like you can’t come here because I’ll be here. Unlike you, I won’t take something you care about away from you” I finally find it in myself to move my feet. I try to move around him, but end up brushing my shoulder against his. I trip a bit and instead of face-planting like I thought I would have, he caught me. Eyes wide, and face flushed, he stands me back up. 

“Harry, please. Please allow me one thing?” he whispers, eyes full of desperation. And despite what I told myself, I respond. “What do you want,” I say, trying to sound irritated, the break in my voice betraying me. 

He takes my hand and leads me back to the tree and leans me against it. “Please, can’t I kiss you this one last time?” speechless, I nod, not trusting my voice to get out what I so desperately need. He leans and kisses me, innocently and dare I say, full of love. I can’t it, I kiss him back. My lips part in a soft gasp, allowing his tongue to enter. Our tongues wind together as one, and we don’t stop, can’t stop. Far too soon, we separate, gasping for far more than just air. I full my walls back up and force myself to wipe my mouth. I slowly push him back a bit and walk back to the exit of the clearing. When I reach it, I can’t help but turn around. 

We lock eyes before I say “Leave the past in the past, Malfoy. I know it was something you were never good at but it will be the best for both of us if you do. Goodbye,” I turn around and walk the red marked tree path back to the castle. As soon as I slip into bed, I draw the curtains close and cast Muffliato before letting out the sobs I had been holding back the entire time. I shouldn’t have let him kiss me, but I guess that’s just my own stupidity. After a little while, I finally compose myself and dry my eyes. From now on, no more thoughts about him. No more thoughts about Draco Malfoy in that way. It is time to move on. With Ginny. I force myself to smile as I think of her, even though it pains me to move on this fast. But i need it, it is the best for the both of us. After all, its what everyone expects of the savior of the wizarding world.