he paused in his stride, fightio go bak. he ouldn’t go bak, he really oulded prall was still up, but the possibility that drao alled her down was too great. not that his presene would hahing. he would eat his own shoes if he wasrain bak to king’s cross at the end of the summer. he muked it up. but didn’t he always.
he resumed his walk of shame bak towards his orridors. he would begin paking to knoould go. well, bak to grimmauld pe, obviously, but he didn’t knoould do. the hope, or rather the fantasy, that drao had wanted him, even in a small way, had really beehe only thoughts he had taken soe ihe war. and no that drao, alive and well- well, alive ahihan dead, if ly well—wa wouldn’t have him. or wanted him, but not enough. or had wa some point, but didn’t anymore.
he marvelled at the fat that it didn’t make him feel ao know that iime of drao malfoy’s life, he had felt something for harry. but he supposed that was beause the knowledge made all of his imagihe awkward first few meals they would have shared after the war, both worried that the other was just gh the motions of being ivil to help move alo-war uhe first few autious touhes that would lead them both to overthink, beause surely, surely he had had he? ahey realized that the other had meahey would be faing all the rebuildio do, personally, globally, together instead of separately and so inredibly alone. ahey’d have fought, sreamed at eah other until they were hs, made aip of grimmauld pe with the small wars they waged every night, hat everyone eted. but maybe they would have been happy. harry liked to think they’d have been happy.
but drao had been dead. he had beehere was beyond a doubt no possibility of these thoughts beihan a fantasy. but now he was alive, and if only drao wasn’t so sared, if only mgonagall wasn’t so areful, he ould try. it didod, he wished they ould try.
chapter 7
“mr. potter, it is rather te.”
“i’m sorry, professor, i realize this is an i weren’t important, i would have waited until m,” harry said, fidgeting nervously oher side of mgonagall’s desk. “i o make this right.”
“mr. potter, i haveest idea as to what ould be s that it warranted making right at two in the m,” mgonagall sighed. “i was uhe impressiou meetings of ours would end with y to behave like an adult.”
“that’s what i am trying to do, professor. in telling you.”
“telli?”
“i love him, professor. i love him and for his safety, i feel like it would be better that i left,” harry said. “i’m sure you agree.”
mgonagall froze.
“i’m sure i don’t know what you mean.”
“the wolf. he’s not so muh white as he is blo he? have you ever seen a blonde wolf?”
“i’m not partiurly well versed iion patterns of wolves, mr. pall replied slowly.
& a body,” harry ontinued.
“what do you mean a body? do you suspet the wolf of having killed someo a student, there are he grounds.”
“professor, you’re smarter than this. dohe disservie you aren’t. his mother’s testimony was the only reasoo believe the pile of ashes was him. there was ifiable body.”
“how?” mgonagall asked, her fae darkeni she utting on fell away.
“i just knew,” harry lied. he didn’t want drao to get ihis, for his living arra to beome a than it already was. he just wao be happy, as happy as he ould be living as a ghost. beause that’s . a man living in the walls, venturing out into the dark, soul. a phantom of his former self. “if the person you had falleh was lose by, wouldhem, professor? wouldn’t you just know?”
“mr. potter. harry. you uand how important it is that no one knows he’s alive?”
“yes. i don’t uand why you two have do you’ve do must have beeed. i just want him to be happy.”
“if that truly is your maihen you must also uand why you leaving puts a bad taste in my mouth. i trust you, potter. impliitly. but one slip up, and his safety is in jeopardy. measures must be taken,” mgonagall ontinued.
right, harry thought. she’ll want to obliviate me.
“you must uand that mr. malfoy’s happiness ay is also my first a oer all, i risked life and limb even bringihe first pe.”
“of ourse,” harry replied, pushing down the sik feeling in his stomah.
obviously, fetting would be the best ourse of ation for all parties involved. he ould go bak to his fa knowing there was even a mihem oming to fruitionagall would remain out of harm’s way. everyo a winner. maybe wi a word.
&o onsult mr. malfoy. i trust i ao do that without having to worry about you doing anything rash?”
“of ourse.”
“then i will see you in a few hours, mr. potter.”
and with that he was dismissed.
“.”
drao was startled out of his sleep by someone shaking his shoulder.
&o talk,” mgonagall said, promptly exiting his bedroom.
she had o his apartments before whil