Beautiful in our Imperfections
Title: Beautiful in our imperfections
Author: b_o_w_a
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Summery: They are beautiful in their imperfections.
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for 5_prompts .
“I am imperfect.”
“Imperfections make you beautiful.”
He cringes, turning away. “On the outside,”
Harry’s hand is soft against his, just a small brush, just to let him know that Harry doesn’t have any idea of leaving.
“Everywhere,” he whispers softly, “Inside and out.”
Draco moves, closer to the wall, away from Harry.
It’s all too much, too much pressing in on him, surrounding him, crowding him.
“You can’t know that,” he whispers, looking out at the cloudy grey sky that threatens to rain on the pedestrians below.
“I know you, don’t I?”
Draco shakes his head, “No, no, you don’t have a clue who I am, what I’ve done…the things I’ve seen.”
“Draco…do you remember who you’re talking to?” Harry’s footsteps are gentle, slow, like Draco’s a wild animal that he’s trying to calm.
And he supposes he is.
“You’re talking to Harry Potter, the one person who can probably understand everything you did.”
“I did unspeakable things.”
Harry’s behind him now, far enough away not to touch or to crowd, but still too close for Draco.
“It was war; we did unspeakable things to survive.”
“That doesn’t make it right.” The first tentative raindrops start to fall against the window.
“I never said that makes it right, I just said that you did what you thought you had to.”
The stand in silence before the window, watching as the rain comes faster and faster, starting to pour, listening as the rain echoes around his flat.
“Come out in the rain with me, Dray.”
He wants to say yes, but he can’t.
Not with things like this, not with Harry.
Not again.
“No,” he whispers softly, even as Harry’s fingers slid smoothly in between his - just like he used to wish they would do.
Harry moves closers then, his chest almost touching Draco’s back.
Too close, his body screams, too close, but he can’t breathe, can’t move.
“Let go Draco, it’s me,” and then he’s there, his chest pressed against Draco’s back, and Draco can’t stop the small whimper that escapes his mouth at the touch.
Memories flood his mind, memories he had forgotten, buried in the back of his mind because it couldn’t work, not with him like this, afraid of his own shadow.
Memories of wishing Harry was back where he is now, holding Draco closely, his chapped lips brushing softly against Draco’s forehead, his arms wrapped loosely around Draco’s waist, the feel of Harry sleeping next to him, the longing and the want and the love.
Everything comes rushing back.
“Yes,” Harry whispers.
“I’m not the same person anymore, I’ve changed.” His voice wavers and he hates it, hates the weak person that he’s become, too afraid to become the person he should be.
“We all changed with the war, it was impossible not to, but I can help you become Draco again.” Harry’s voice is understanding, gentle, full of memories best left forgotten.
“It isn’t as easy as that.”
“Sure it is. All you’ve got to do is believe.”
And then before he can protest again Harry is pulling him out the door. He could stop it, if he wanted to, could stop Harry in his tracks, retreating back to his flat and lock the door behind him. But he doesn’t.
Harry pulls him onto the roof after him, the rain harsh and cold and real against his skin.
And perfect.
He can’t remember the last time he went outside just to enjoy the fresh air. He goes to work and comes back, buying things when he needs too.
Harry’s laugh is pure and light, just like he remembers it.
Harry….
He still can’t believe that Harry found him, three and a half years after he disappeared into the muggle world.
But now he’s here, and Draco knows he has no intention of leaving.
“Why’d you come for me?”
Harry’s smile disappears, pain and anger in his eyes. “Because I love you and you just disappeared after the war…everyone else thought you were dead, they just gave up on you, even Blaise.”
“Why didn’t you give up like everyone else?”
Harry smiles a little, pulling Draco towards him. “Because I still love you, for whatever reason, and I’m not ready to give you up just yet.” Harry smiles again, his face a mixture of pain and joy. “Remember what I used to say about you?”
Yes, yes of course he does. “Harry….”
“You’re my true north, Draco love, after the war, after you disappeared, I wasn’t lost; I still had my north. I just had to find it, find you.”
Draco trembles, and it isn’t from the cold rain, but it snaps Harry out of it. “You’ve got to get inside, you’re just skin and bones, it was stupid of me to bring you out here.”
Harry turns to go inside, still holding on to Draco’s hand.
“No, no, let’s stay.” Draco turns away, looking up at the black sky, the rain falling, the beauty of it all. “I like it…it’s beautiful. I…I haven’t been outside in ages….it’s nice.”
Harry’s smiling when Draco turns back to look at him, his emerald eyes shining.
“I forgot the last time I felt brave…all I can remember is insecurity…that’s why I left you, I thought you would find someone better, and I didn’t want to be around when you did, so I left you first.”
In a second the joy is gone from Harry’s eyes and he’s walking towards Draco.
“Never,” he whispers, pulling Draco’s wet body towards his own. “Even if I did want someone else, I would never find anyone better than you.” And then his lips are crashing down onto Draco’s and it’s too soon, too fast, but it doesn’t matter anymore because he’s dreamed about this for the last three and a half years.
And it’s perfect.
They still have issues to work out, but Draco knows Harry’s not giving up on him, and Draco’s not sure if he could let Harry go again, so they’ll find a way to make it work.
* * * * * Seven Months Later * * * *
Draco laughs softly, watching as Harry fumbles with his bow tie. “Honestly Potter, after four years of Ministry functions and parties, I would have thought that by now you would be able to tie your own bow tie.”
Harry’s grin is impish, his eyes glowing emerald green with laughter. “True, but you do it so much better than I.”
Draco pretends to sigh as he swiftly does it, ducking away from Harry’s kiss. “One of these days I won’t do it for you, and then what will you do?”
Harry’s grin changes, going from impish to lustful; Draco’s body tightens in response. “Convince you to shag instead of going to these blasted things.”
Draco’s laugh bubbles out of him, carefree and joyful, a sound that Harry’s tries his hardest to get out of him.
This time when Harry moves in to kiss him Draco allows it, loosely wrapping his arms around Harry’s neck.
Harry groans as they break apart, his eyes burning. “Would today happen to be one of those days?”
Draco laughs again, nuzzling against Harry’s neck, one of his many weak spots.
“No, today would not be one of those days; you promised Hermione that you would be there today, and you bloody well know if you don’t show up it is going to be me who gets yelled at in the morning.”
Harry bits gently at Draco’s ear. “Not if we disappear.”
Draco groans, breaking out of Harry’s arms. “As tempting as that sounds love, no. Now come on, if you waste anymore time we’re going to be late.”
Harry scowls. “I always knew there was a reason I called a bloody git like you my North…you always ruin my fun.”
Draco laughs, taking Harry’s hand to lead him out of the room.
Things between them are at an unsteady place ranging from perfect to imperfect, but its okay.
Because they’re beautiful.
Author: b_o_w_a
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy
Summery: They are beautiful in their imperfections.
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for 5_prompts .
“I am imperfect.”
“Imperfections make you beautiful.”
He cringes, turning away. “On the outside,”
Harry’s hand is soft against his, just a small brush, just to let him know that Harry doesn’t have any idea of leaving.
“Everywhere,” he whispers softly, “Inside and out.”
Draco moves, closer to the wall, away from Harry.
It’s all too much, too much pressing in on him, surrounding him, crowding him.
“You can’t know that,” he whispers, looking out at the cloudy grey sky that threatens to rain on the pedestrians below.
“I know you, don’t I?”
Draco shakes his head, “No, no, you don’t have a clue who I am, what I’ve done…the things I’ve seen.”
“Draco…do you remember who you’re talking to?” Harry’s footsteps are gentle, slow, like Draco’s a wild animal that he’s trying to calm.
And he supposes he is.
“You’re talking to Harry Potter, the one person who can probably understand everything you did.”
“I did unspeakable things.”
Harry’s behind him now, far enough away not to touch or to crowd, but still too close for Draco.
“It was war; we did unspeakable things to survive.”
“That doesn’t make it right.” The first tentative raindrops start to fall against the window.
“I never said that makes it right, I just said that you did what you thought you had to.”
The stand in silence before the window, watching as the rain comes faster and faster, starting to pour, listening as the rain echoes around his flat.
“Come out in the rain with me, Dray.”
He wants to say yes, but he can’t.
Not with things like this, not with Harry.
Not again.
“No,” he whispers softly, even as Harry’s fingers slid smoothly in between his - just like he used to wish they would do.
Harry moves closers then, his chest almost touching Draco’s back.
Too close, his body screams, too close, but he can’t breathe, can’t move.
“Let go Draco, it’s me,” and then he’s there, his chest pressed against Draco’s back, and Draco can’t stop the small whimper that escapes his mouth at the touch.
Memories flood his mind, memories he had forgotten, buried in the back of his mind because it couldn’t work, not with him like this, afraid of his own shadow.
Memories of wishing Harry was back where he is now, holding Draco closely, his chapped lips brushing softly against Draco’s forehead, his arms wrapped loosely around Draco’s waist, the feel of Harry sleeping next to him, the longing and the want and the love.
Everything comes rushing back.
“Yes,” Harry whispers.
“I’m not the same person anymore, I’ve changed.” His voice wavers and he hates it, hates the weak person that he’s become, too afraid to become the person he should be.
“We all changed with the war, it was impossible not to, but I can help you become Draco again.” Harry’s voice is understanding, gentle, full of memories best left forgotten.
“It isn’t as easy as that.”
“Sure it is. All you’ve got to do is believe.”
And then before he can protest again Harry is pulling him out the door. He could stop it, if he wanted to, could stop Harry in his tracks, retreating back to his flat and lock the door behind him. But he doesn’t.
Harry pulls him onto the roof after him, the rain harsh and cold and real against his skin.
And perfect.
He can’t remember the last time he went outside just to enjoy the fresh air. He goes to work and comes back, buying things when he needs too.
Harry’s laugh is pure and light, just like he remembers it.
Harry….
He still can’t believe that Harry found him, three and a half years after he disappeared into the muggle world.
But now he’s here, and Draco knows he has no intention of leaving.
“Why’d you come for me?”
Harry’s smile disappears, pain and anger in his eyes. “Because I love you and you just disappeared after the war…everyone else thought you were dead, they just gave up on you, even Blaise.”
“Why didn’t you give up like everyone else?”
Harry smiles a little, pulling Draco towards him. “Because I still love you, for whatever reason, and I’m not ready to give you up just yet.” Harry smiles again, his face a mixture of pain and joy. “Remember what I used to say about you?”
Yes, yes of course he does. “Harry….”
“You’re my true north, Draco love, after the war, after you disappeared, I wasn’t lost; I still had my north. I just had to find it, find you.”
Draco trembles, and it isn’t from the cold rain, but it snaps Harry out of it. “You’ve got to get inside, you’re just skin and bones, it was stupid of me to bring you out here.”
Harry turns to go inside, still holding on to Draco’s hand.
“No, no, let’s stay.” Draco turns away, looking up at the black sky, the rain falling, the beauty of it all. “I like it…it’s beautiful. I…I haven’t been outside in ages….it’s nice.”
Harry’s smiling when Draco turns back to look at him, his emerald eyes shining.
“I forgot the last time I felt brave…all I can remember is insecurity…that’s why I left you, I thought you would find someone better, and I didn’t want to be around when you did, so I left you first.”
In a second the joy is gone from Harry’s eyes and he’s walking towards Draco.
“Never,” he whispers, pulling Draco’s wet body towards his own. “Even if I did want someone else, I would never find anyone better than you.” And then his lips are crashing down onto Draco’s and it’s too soon, too fast, but it doesn’t matter anymore because he’s dreamed about this for the last three and a half years.
And it’s perfect.
They still have issues to work out, but Draco knows Harry’s not giving up on him, and Draco’s not sure if he could let Harry go again, so they’ll find a way to make it work.
* * * * * Seven Months Later * * * *
Draco laughs softly, watching as Harry fumbles with his bow tie. “Honestly Potter, after four years of Ministry functions and parties, I would have thought that by now you would be able to tie your own bow tie.”
Harry’s grin is impish, his eyes glowing emerald green with laughter. “True, but you do it so much better than I.”
Draco pretends to sigh as he swiftly does it, ducking away from Harry’s kiss. “One of these days I won’t do it for you, and then what will you do?”
Harry’s grin changes, going from impish to lustful; Draco’s body tightens in response. “Convince you to shag instead of going to these blasted things.”
Draco’s laugh bubbles out of him, carefree and joyful, a sound that Harry’s tries his hardest to get out of him.
This time when Harry moves in to kiss him Draco allows it, loosely wrapping his arms around Harry’s neck.
Harry groans as they break apart, his eyes burning. “Would today happen to be one of those days?”
Draco laughs again, nuzzling against Harry’s neck, one of his many weak spots.
“No, today would not be one of those days; you promised Hermione that you would be there today, and you bloody well know if you don’t show up it is going to be me who gets yelled at in the morning.”
Harry bits gently at Draco’s ear. “Not if we disappear.”
Draco groans, breaking out of Harry’s arms. “As tempting as that sounds love, no. Now come on, if you waste anymore time we’re going to be late.”
Harry scowls. “I always knew there was a reason I called a bloody git like you my North…you always ruin my fun.”
Draco laughs, taking Harry’s hand to lead him out of the room.
Things between them are at an unsteady place ranging from perfect to imperfect, but its okay.
Because they’re beautiful.