Title: Summer to Autumn
Author: Karabou )?
Summary: War is hell.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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Notes: This is my first posted HD fic. I was content with being a lurker, and hadn't planned on writing for the seasonal fic challenge, mainly and simply because I don't write! But last night this bit of H/D popped into my head, and so I decided to write it out. This is my first fic, and will most likely be my last. I have a funny writing style sometimes.. so expect things like fragment sentences. I suppose this would be 5th year. Ah... and.. not much else to comment on. Read at your own risk. :)
It was a bitter cold autumn day; the sky was a mass of gray clouds. The wind stung Harry's face as he walked away from Hogwarts, the weather mirroring how he felt. The sound of dry, dead leaves crunching under his shoes seemed magnified somehow in the empty grounds. It was close to noon, and most students were inside and in class. Harry and Ron had a free hour between classes and were supposed to be studying last minute for a test, but instead of going to the library he found himself wandering outside. He just couldn't concentrate. Nothing seemed to matter lately. Nothing... except Draco.
A few months ago, right in the middle of summer, Harry had been walking a worn path to the lake. It was a cloudless, hot day, but a gentle breeze helped with the heat. Harry's thoughts on his last Quidditch game were interrupted as he noticed a familiar blonde haired boy sitting with his back to a large rock, staring out across the water. He wanted to leave, to turn around before one of their usual arguments started, but he couldn't. He felt strangely rooted to the spot, and a moment later he realized why. Draco looked... sad, almost. He looked introspective, troubled. Harry had never seen him like this. Draco's usual expressions were smug... anger... smirking triumph. His facial expressions always had a certain harshness to them. Harry had never seen him look quite so relaxed. He looked human. Harry's reverie was broken as Draco looked up and straight into his eyes. His once soft expression hardened, his gray eyes resuming their cold glare. The usual exchange of insults followed until Harry turned and walked away, disgusted. What had he been doing staring at Malfoy like that and thinking there was even a shred of decency in him?
As Harry walked he hardly noticed the sound of leaves under his shoes, or the chill wind blowing against his uncovered skin. Instead he thought back to the last few months, they had passed in a blur. He couldn't remember an exact moment when he knew they had come to a sort of understanding. When they started enjoying each other?s company. And their friendship was fragile, tenuous at best. It started small, as most things do, and grew with each day. It began when Harry thought to himself that there must be more to Draco than the insults. Than his Slytherin attitude. Than his family. In fact, the more Harry thought about it, the more Draco seemed lonely. Except at meal times Harry only ever saw Draco with Crabbe and Goyle. And, he thought, it must be terribly hard to hold an actual conversation with those two. He also doubted Draco had a warm relationship with his family. He could commiserate with him in that aspect. And so Harry decided to try and get to know Draco. It was a challenge, and Harry liked challenges.
Harry shook his head, trying to rid his mind of thoughts of Malfoy. He stopped walking with a sigh. He had ended up at the lake. But Draco wasn't here this time. "Are you really surprised?" A voice in the back of his mind asked. "No," he muttered aloud.
Somewhere during their growing friendship, Harry had fallen in love with Draco. He denied it, tried to ignore it, but it was always there.. that ache. Two days ago it had rained hard. It would probably be one of the last rains of the season, until rain turned to snow. Harry was in the library with Draco. Snape had given the class a list of poison symptoms, and they were to figure out what poison was used, and research the antidote. Both boys were sitting lazily on the floor, several books laid out in front of them. But Harry couldn't concentrate, because his gaze kept falling on Draco. He couldn't help it, Draco looked so good. Bent over the books, wearing a soft gray sweater that brought out his eyes, Harry was fighting to not stare. And that's when it happened. Mumbling Draco's name so he would look up, Harry leaned over and kissed him. Just like that. And just like that, Draco pulled away, looking wide-eyed, and then angry. He accused Harry of being a repulsive pervert, and left the library quickly. Harry was devastated. He had been rejected, he felt like a fool... and worst of all, he had ruined the friendship with Draco that had meant so much to him. The following two days passed slowly and uneventfully. Harry wanted to apologize; hoping there was a chance to rebuild the fragile bond they had formed. But Draco was avoiding him, and with a feeling of bitter emptiness, Harry knew it was over.
The sound of leaves crunching came from behind him. Startled, Harry turned to see who was there. His mouth parted and his eyes widened with surprise.. it was Draco. Harry stood still, staring. Draco's silvery blonde hair was combed back neatly, perfect as always. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and his cold gray eyes matched the cloudy autumn sky. He wasn't wearing his scarf, just his Hogwarts robes over his clothing. Harry waited. It was a moment; it felt like an eternity. He expected an insult, a snide remark, a look of disgust... but Draco just stood there.
"Malfoy, what do you--?"
"Harry..."
Harry paused, in all their time together, neither of them had stopped calling each other by their last names. The use of his first name surprised him almost as much as the look on Draco's face. He looked...
"I'm sorry."
Harry was taken aback. He was almost moved to tears. These were two words he had never heard Draco say, never would have expected him to say. And he sounded so sincere. He -looked- so sincere. Harry stepped forward, absently unraveling his own scarf.
"I'm sorry, too... here.. you look cold..."
He wrapped some of his crimson and gold scarf around the other boy's neck, still keeping part of it wrapped around his. They stood close, their breath visible in the crisp air. Neither said a thing. Harry was overjoyed to be forgiven, but unsure of what to do next. He studied Draco's face... was he imagining it, or did he look yearning? His eyes looked bright with desire. Unable to find his voice to ask, Harry closed the distance between them, chancing another kiss. Draco's lips were soft, despite the cold, and responsive. This time he didn't hesitate or pull away, and kissed Harry with the longing he was too scared to admit or return the other day. Their arms instinctively wrapped around each other, and they remained embraced after the kiss. Harry thought to himself... He knew this would never be easy, or simple. He knew most people wouldn't even understand it. Sometimes he wasn't sure he did. But he knew one thing for certain, he never felt more complete than when he was with Draco. Standing like this by the lake, the wind gently blowing the fallen leaves around their shoes. It felt right. Harry looked up and into Draco's eyes, and saw a warmth they only seemed to hold for him. They kissed again, and the wind blew against them, but neither noticed. Harry was conscious only of Draco, and knew in his heart that this was meant to be.
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