HP Fic: And Here, You Return (Harry/Draco)
Title: And Here, You Return
Rating: PG
Word Count: 427
Betas: nursedarry and kayoko
Summary: Draco tries to get away; Harry knows just where to find him.
Author's Notes: Written as a thank you to lilyginny27 , for her charity v-gift donation. She prompted me with "I can't stay mad at you." lilyginny27 , dear, I hope you like this. With a prompt like that, you were probably expecting fluff. This is what happened instead; I hope you enjoy.
Draco looked across the crowded room, searching for an escape route. He did not want to be here. In fact, he could think of few places worse than this right now.
He had nearly made it out of the room, murmuring 'excuse me's and making polite apologies as he pushed past witches and wizards dressed in their finest robes. Just before reaching the doorway that signalled his blessed escape, he looked over his shoulder. Bright green eyes locked with his. He swore to himself and ducked out of the ballroom.
Walking quickly down the hallway, Draco listened for the sound of someone following. The only sound he could hear over his own rapid heartbeat was the slapping of his leather-soled shoes on the marble. The sharp sound echoed off the high ceilings, creating an echo. After awhile, Draco spotted the loo and ducked inside to hide.
He was standing at the basin, looking at his haggard face in the mirror, when the door to the loo flew open and the one person Draco had hoped to avoid barged his way in. For a fleeting moment, pain flared across Draco's chest in a pattern reminiscent of scars long-faded.
"Thought you might be hiding in here," Harry said, staring at Draco's reflection in the mirror.
Draco's voice failed him. All he could do was stare at Harry dumbly and hope this wouldn't be too painful.
Moving slowly, Harry approached until he was close enough that Draco could feel Harry's breath on the back of his neck. "I know you're avoiding me," Harry said quietly. Draco tensed, forcing himself to turn around and face Harry like a man for this.
"I know what you're going to say already," Draco managed, his voice cracking on the last word. "Please, just don't." He just wanted this to be over. He couldn't take this again. He'd made yet another mistake. Wasn't he done paying yet?
Harry's eyes seemed to bore a hole into Draco. "You don't, though." With a very deliberate movement, Harry reached for Draco's hand. He paused, his grip so firm it nearly hurt. "I can't stay mad at you," he said softly, finally dropping his eyes.
The panicky little bird inside Draco's chest fluttered and then went still. "You can't? Even after everything I've done?" He couldn't feel relief. Not yet.
Harry gave Draco's hand a squeeze and laced their fingers together. "I don't care anymore."
Daring to hope, Draco looked steadily at Harry. "Prove it."
Smiling, Harry kissed Draco long and deep, his touch nearly desperate.
Draco believed him.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 427
Betas: nursedarry and kayoko
Summary: Draco tries to get away; Harry knows just where to find him.
Author's Notes: Written as a thank you to lilyginny27 , for her charity v-gift donation. She prompted me with "I can't stay mad at you." lilyginny27 , dear, I hope you like this. With a prompt like that, you were probably expecting fluff. This is what happened instead; I hope you enjoy.
Draco looked across the crowded room, searching for an escape route. He did not want to be here. In fact, he could think of few places worse than this right now.
He had nearly made it out of the room, murmuring 'excuse me's and making polite apologies as he pushed past witches and wizards dressed in their finest robes. Just before reaching the doorway that signalled his blessed escape, he looked over his shoulder. Bright green eyes locked with his. He swore to himself and ducked out of the ballroom.
Walking quickly down the hallway, Draco listened for the sound of someone following. The only sound he could hear over his own rapid heartbeat was the slapping of his leather-soled shoes on the marble. The sharp sound echoed off the high ceilings, creating an echo. After awhile, Draco spotted the loo and ducked inside to hide.
He was standing at the basin, looking at his haggard face in the mirror, when the door to the loo flew open and the one person Draco had hoped to avoid barged his way in. For a fleeting moment, pain flared across Draco's chest in a pattern reminiscent of scars long-faded.
"Thought you might be hiding in here," Harry said, staring at Draco's reflection in the mirror.
Draco's voice failed him. All he could do was stare at Harry dumbly and hope this wouldn't be too painful.
Moving slowly, Harry approached until he was close enough that Draco could feel Harry's breath on the back of his neck. "I know you're avoiding me," Harry said quietly. Draco tensed, forcing himself to turn around and face Harry like a man for this.
"I know what you're going to say already," Draco managed, his voice cracking on the last word. "Please, just don't." He just wanted this to be over. He couldn't take this again. He'd made yet another mistake. Wasn't he done paying yet?
Harry's eyes seemed to bore a hole into Draco. "You don't, though." With a very deliberate movement, Harry reached for Draco's hand. He paused, his grip so firm it nearly hurt. "I can't stay mad at you," he said softly, finally dropping his eyes.
The panicky little bird inside Draco's chest fluttered and then went still. "You can't? Even after everything I've done?" He couldn't feel relief. Not yet.
Harry gave Draco's hand a squeeze and laced their fingers together. "I don't care anymore."
Daring to hope, Draco looked steadily at Harry. "Prove it."
Smiling, Harry kissed Draco long and deep, his touch nearly desperate.
Draco believed him.