never let me go

wait

M83 – Wait

"Give your tears to the tide

There's no end, there is no goodbye."

Every time he closed his eyes, Harry saw the blast hitting Draco and exploding back. When he couldn't take it anymore, he got up and made his way out of the infirmary.

It was early morning and the castle was still asleep, the halls empty and echoing. Harry headed for the Astronomy Tower. He regretted his choice once he reached the top, remembering that this was where they'd first kissed. He almost headed back down the stairs, but something made him hesitate.

He walked up to the edge and gripped the railing, watching the sun rise over the lake. It had been a full day now since he lost Draco. If he had done things differently, if he had told McGonagall about the Slytherins, maybe none of this would've happened. Or maybe everything would be the same. There was a pain in his chest that wouldn't go away, eating him up from the inside. He didn't know what to do, or how to go on.

"I wish you were here," he whispered, hanging his head.

"I hope you're not thinking of jumping," came a voice from behind him.

Every muscle in his body froze. He didn't want to dare turn around in case he had imagined it. But slowly, he spun, one hand still clutching the railing like it was an anchor.

There, standing across from him, was Draco. He looked battered and beaten, but he was fully formed and corporeal. Harry blinked, and he didn't disappear.

"Hey, Harry," Draco said, taking a small step forward like he was afraid Harry would run off.

"Draco... how?" His voice was raw with emotion. He didn't understand.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I have a theory." Draco took another tentative step forward. "I think when I took the cruciatus curse for you, and then you took it for me, it created a kind of shield."

"Like my mother..."

Draco nodded. "And then your magic amplified it and the killing curse bounced back."

"Hitting the Death Eaters but sparing me. But... you fell."

"I managed to apparate a safe distance away when I was pushed out of the building, but then I passed out."

Harry took this in, trying to process. He shook his head a little and ran a hand over his eyes. Draco was still standing before him, not crossing the distance, watching Harry wearily.

"You're really here?" It was a whisper, a desperate plea. He wanted to believe it was true.

Draco nodded again. "Yes."

Harry let go of the railing then and ran to Draco, who met him halfway. They crashed into each other, Harry holding him tight enough to hurt, crushing him against his chest. He felt his back, his head, his hair; he breathed him in, and it was the familiar scent that Harry knew by heart. He was real. He was alive.

"I'm here, Harry," Draco was saying. "I'm here."

Harry pulled back to look at him, hands gripping the sides of his face. He laughed once, the sound almost delirious, and kissed him. Draco's hands were clutching his waist, holding him close, and his touch spread liquid fire through his veins. Harry hung onto him as tight as he could. He felt every unspoken word and every emotion behind the kiss, felt all the passion and longing and desperation. He wanted to lose himself in it.

When they broke apart, Harry said the words he'd been wanting to say for so long.

"I love you."

"I love you, too," was Draco's breathless reply.

"Don't ever do that to me again."

Draco smiled, and the sight of it filled the gaping hole that had been in Harry's chest. He kissed him again, and he was home.