How Could This Be

How Could This Be?

It had been many years since Harry was at Hogwarts. He and Ginny divorced now. She took all the kids, the house, the car. Everything. Harry was on his own. He sat in is small apartment. Living among the Muggles. He couldn't afford much and this small apartment seemed to be the best fitting for his budget. He just sat there. He thought about Ron and Hermione and wondered how things were going between them. He hadn't talked to them is such a long time. He didn't even know if Ron had moved out of his parent's house yet.

"Maybe I should visit them," Harry said. "What do you think?" He looked over at his owl who just hooted. "Yeah, your right. They probably wouldn't remember me." He stroked the bird's feathers and got up walking to his desk. "Where did I put their address?" He said to no one in particular. His bird hopped up to his with a piece of paper in its mouth. "Ahh here we are," he looked to the owl. "Thanks."

Harry unfolded the piece of paper and looked at the words written on the letter for the first time.

Harry, Ron and I have been quit fine lately. We have just moved into our own place. We want you to come down and visit. It would bring us much pleasure. We haven't spoken in a long while and it would be great to see you again. Our address will be written on this letter but incase you would like more in depth directions I will include them in the letter. Ron says he misses you and it would be great if you could come down. He's done nothing but talk about you. Seems he should have just married you instead. Which reminds me, how are things with you and Ginny? Last we knew you two had some children of your own. Ron and I haven't gotten there yet but Ron keeps trying to pursue it. Well, I hope everything is going well for you and hope to see you sometime.

With Love,

Ron and Hermione Weasley

Harry couldn't believe how old the letter had been. He wondered why he had never read it and looked around for a second piece of paper containing their address, but found none.

"Well, it looks as though I won't be able to visit them for a while," he said to himself as his owl came up with the second half containing the address. "Oh, all right. First thing in the morning," his owl did a bit of a hop in joy. It was a bit funny to see it hop and it made Harry laugh. "Okay, okay. Now, I have to get some rest but your going to stay up aren't you," Harry smiled at his bird and stroked its back. He had gotten very close to it since Ginny left him. It was his one true companion.

Harry walked into his room, his owl perched on his shoulder. He sat him on his nightstand and began to change into his pajamas and shut his light off.

In the morning, Harry followed his regular routine. He would take a shower, get dressed, comb his hair, and brush his teeth. Then he would grab some breakfast. He rarely cooked one unless someone was over, or it was a Sunday.

Harry finished his bowl of cereal and then grabbed the address and head out the door.

It had taken Harry an hour just to make it to Diagon Alley. He couldn't remember the last time he had been there. He stood a moment taking in the scenery. He remembered his first time being there. He was so young. The memory didn't last long. Harry was instantly knocked off his feet and fell to the ground with something or someone landing on him.

"Watch where you stand, you idiot," Harry recognized the voice instantly. He had been tormented by that voice every year at Hogwarts. He turned and saw Draco Malfoy.

"What the hell were you-"Draco stopped short when he saw who he had bumped into. "Potter?"

Harry stood up recuperating himself, and looked over at him. "Malfoy."

"What brings you back Potter. Shouldn't you be living you're perfect little life with your wonderful wife?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but Ginny and I are divorced now." Harry said in a soft tone.

Draco thought hard about what he had heard and looked up at Harry then back at his feet. "So sorry to hear that," he said with sympathy in his eyes.

"Well you don't need to rub it-" Wait, had Draco just said he was sorry for Harry? He was speechless.

Draco forced himself to look up at Harry. "You've been gone a long time you know."

Harry thought a moment. "I know," He wondered why Draco cared about his absence.

"Everyone missed you," he said. Then he whispered, "Even I did." Draco ran. He wasn't going in any particular direction, he was just running. He didn't stop.

Harry watched him frozen a moment by his words. He finally kicked into action and began to chase after him, trying his best not to lose him in the crowd of witches and wizards.

Draco stopped in an empty corridor and leaned against a wall. He hit it with his fists as he began to cry. "How could I be feeling this way," he thought.

Harry pulled around a corner and stopped when he saw Draco slumped against the wall. When Draco say him he quickly wiped his eyes, brushing away any evidence of tears. Harry slowly approached him.

"Draco?" Harry said cautiously walking up behind him. He thought of something to say. "Why did you run?"

"I didn't run," Draco kept his face hidden in the corner.

Harry did his best to catch a glimpse of his face. He stood behind him looking over his shoulder. Draco could feel his breath against his cheek and could smell his breath. Mint and cereal mixed together. Draco just kept his face hidden.

"Can you look at me?" Harry asked.

Draco turned to face Harry. There was hardly a distance between the two faces.

"Why did you run after saying you missed me?"

"I told you I didn't run."

"But you did run Draco."

Draco knew he did. He just didn't like being told he had. He didn't want to tell him why he really ran. He just wanted to be left alone. He wanted to tell Harry how he felt. Tell him everything. He just couldn't bring himself to. So he stood there, looking into Harry's eyes. He brought his face a bit closer, opened his mouth a bit got close, and just stopped. He began to cry again and his head fell into Harry's shoulder. Surprised, Harry looked down at Draco's snow white hair. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and squeezed tightly. Harry flinched but didn't throw Draco away. This was the first time Harry had ever seen Draco open up. He just wrapped his arms back around him and rubbed his back.

Draco fell to his knees and Harry went with him. Harry sat against the wall rocking Draco in his arms. No matter how hard Draco tried to stop, he kept crying. So they sat there. In silence except for Draco's sobbing and Harry's clothes scraping the brick wall behind him.

After a while of crying Draco looked up at Harry. There eyes met once again. This time Draco didn't hesitate. He went straight in. Shaking from crying, yet not hesitant. Then bam! They're lips collided. In shock, Harry quickly let go of Draco and smacked the ground. Wide eyed and breathless, his heart beating quicker. Harry stood up and Draco fell back on the concrete with a hard thud.

"I have to go."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I…"

"No. Uh, it's not you. I, umm. I just have to go."

"Where?"

"I, I'm visiting Ron and Hermione."

Draco was silent a moment and looked up at Harry. "Can I come?"

"I don't-"

" I know the way," Harry thought about it. Honestly the directions were very complicated for Harry. He would rather have he-who-must-not-be-named lead him instead of read them. He decided having Draco show him wouldn't be much different.

"Sure," he finally let out.

Draco slowly got up and stood next to Harry. "Thank you."

Harry nodded and handed him the piece of paper. "These are the directions."

Draco quietly took them and began to show him the way.

The whole walk had been a silent, awkward moment. Harry kept repeating the scene in his mind. "Did he really do that? How did that happen? Why would he fake that? Did I lead him on?" All these questions and ones like it popped into his head. Draco continued to read the directions to himself and point to street signs until they finally ended up at a vine covered building with a sign swinging from it that read "The Old Shack." Could this dump really be where Ron and Hermione lived?

They walked silently up the stairs to the front door and rang the buzzer to their room.

"Who's there?" Harry heard Hermione's voice over the speaker.

"It's Harry," He yelled into the small microphone.

"Harry! What a surprise. Come on up" There was a buzz, then click and the door creaked open.

Harry stepped in with Draco behind him. The inside was nothing like the outside. It was large and spacious. There were elevators, stairs, and glass chandeliers. In the middle of the floor was a humongous red carpet that crept up each of the stair cases. There was a welcome desk in the right hand of the building. Harry and Draco walked to the elevator and hit the button to floor 3B. The elevator rattled and then went up. After hitting the '3' mark it went to the left until the 'A' changed to a 'B' and it opened on the opposite end it shut. The two boys exited and Draco read the paper that said the room number and they waked down the hall until they met their door. Harry gave a slight knock and the door flew open. Standing in front of it was a bloated Hermione with messy red hair and a long flowing dress.

"Harry!" Hermione threw her arms around him and saw Draco. "Draco? What is bloody hell possesd you to bring him?" She quickly let go and glared at him.

"What?" Harry heard Ron's voice and then he appeared at the door. "What the hell is he doing here?"

Draco looked at the ground. As much as Harry would hate sticking up for the enemy, he couldn't let this continue. "It's okay. He helped me find the place."

"So he knows where we live! Are you mad?" Hermione yelled in Harry's face.

Though frustrated with anger Harry continued to keep calm. "Don't worry. I know for a fact he won't be doing anything. "

"And how is that?"

Harry lowered his voice. "I know something he would hate to be known." In reaction to hearing this Draco raised his head instantly and turned red. "He wouldn't dare tell, would he?" Draco thought.

Everyone now sat in their living room with a cup of tea. Draco sat with Harry on the love seat and Ron with Hermione on the couch.

"So, Harry, what have you been up to?"

"Oh, not much."

"I expected to see Ginny."

"Yeah, where is my little sister?" Ron asked.

Harry hung his head. "We're divorced."

"Oh that's awful Harry. What happened?" Hermione asked.

"Things, they didn't work out so well."

"Oh, I'm sorry Harry." It was silent a while.

"So, Malfoy, what have you been destroying lately?"

He sat silent.

"Earth to Malfoy. Come in Malfoy," Hermione teased.

"Leave him be. He's had a hard time today," Harry looked at him.

Draco looked at Harry, thanking him with his eyes. The only thing he had been doing lately was trying to track down Harry to tell him everything he needed to say. Now that everything had been done, he had nothing to do. All he ever wanted was to tell him and expect him to feel the same. They would leave everything behind and live together. Draco doubted that would happen now after Harry's reaction to his kiss. Draco hated himself for that.

"Really now?"

"Yes." Silent, yet again.

"So, you're finally having a baby?"

"Yeah. Took us a few tries but we got it. I should have a beautiful baby boy in a few more months." Hermione rubbed her pregnant stomach.