Icarus

The war was finally over.

And here he was. Alive.

God, he felt like the happiest man alive. He was alive. His mother was alive. His father was alive. His entire family was alive, and best of all, the Dark Lord was not.

He turned to face the sky, not wanting to look at the Hogwarts grounds which were still covered in the carnage of magical battle.

The sun's warmth seemed to carry him through the sky. Careful, boy. You will fall if you get too close to the Sun. It'll burn off those wings, it seemed to whisper to him and it seemed to caress his face. Freedom is so close, just don't get too close. Don't rush into the Sun like a desperate madman.

How likely was it that he'd be carted off to the looney bin, joining the other crazies?

He glanced at his mother and father; they just seemed stunned. Should he talk to them? What would he even say? What do you say to the fallen? Those who supported a madman, but fell out of his favor as well? He choked back a strangled laugh.

He sat down. His parents walked towards him, looking like they had the weight of the worlds lifted off of their shoulders. The sun still seemed to shine on him. Is it not exactly that? You will survive, just do not fly too close to the Sun.

Draco closed his eyes and groaned. There was no way he wasn't going completely crazy. This one last thing that he had needed to go through had seemed to fry his brain.

No, not yet.

He really was barking mad. Nothing made sense anymore. First, he had to live through a war with a Dark Lord hovering over him, ready to kill him to set an example almost every day, and now, just now, right now, right as soon as he was gone, right as soon as he could move on, he had to become saddled with an annoying voice in his head that came from the sun.

"Draco," his father started to talk to him, laying a hand on his shoulder, "I apologize."

Draco blinked his eyes open and stared at the man, his father, who he had never thought he'd hear those words from.

"Are we running this time, father?" Draco tried to say the words in the most hateful tone he could but it just came out tired. God, he was so so tired. Tired of a stupid war that had erupted so many times in this community. Would there ever be peace?

Soon. Just keep flying. Do not soar too high. Be careful, you will ruin your wings and fall to your death.

"No."

None of them said anything after that. They weren't in a very secluded area of the castle, but it was strangely quiet. The sun continued to shine. So brightly, that Draco felt he could not survive once he left the warmth.

Eventually, someone walked past them. He wasn't able to recognize who it was. But clearly, whoever it was, recognized them.

"Miss Granger?" His mother's voice asked in a polite tone. Like they were here for tea, Draco snorted to himself.

"Yes."

Well, what was she doing? Here to arrest them, perhaps Draco thought. Lifetime in Azkaban coming right up for three Malfoys.

Accepting your fate, or throwing yourself to die recklessly?

Draco almost shook his head to rid the Sun from talking.

"Is there anything you need?" Draco almost sneered at her.

She blinked. "Harry wanted to talk to your mother."