Always

Always

By Andrew Ulderman

"I hear a voice," Draco whispered, his eyes closed and forehead pressed hard against the cold glass of the lone window in the dark, abandoned classroom, "say 'don't be so blind.'" He turned away from the window, eyes still closed. "It's telling me all these things that you would probably hide." His eyes opened and landed on the other person in the room. "Am I your one and only desire?" he asked Harry, reaching up and cupping his lover's face with both his cold hands.

Harry examined Draco's face through squinted eyes. He wished fleetingly for his glasses, which were across the room on one of the old desks, because he could have sworn he saw tears running down Draco's face. Green eyes widened with realisation. "Am I the reason you breathe?" he asked Draco, "Or am I the reason you cry?"

They kissed, arms and legs twining together, for what seemed like forever. Draco broke away, "Always," he murmured into Harry's ear, pulling the boy's glasses off, "Always."

Harry took the glasses and placed them on the nearest desk before dragging Draco back down to the floor and devouring his mouth. "Always, always, always, always," Draco mumbled between kisses, "I just can't live without you..." And Harry, fool that he was, believed him.

"I love you," Draco told Harry, "I hate you."

Draco often confused Harry with the way he spoke, but this confused the brunette more than anything his lover had ever said before.

"I can't live around you," Draco continued, turning back the window. "I breathe you, I taste you..." tears were beginning to fall down Draco's face, slipping from his chin and hitting the windowsill with a little plop. "...I can't live without you."

Harry reached out and placed a hand on his lover's shoulder, but Draco shook it off. "I just can't take anymore," he muttered, again turning away from the window, "Of this life of solitude."

Harry squeezed his eyes closed. "I guess that I'm out the door," he said, his voice quavering a lot more than he wanted it to, "And now I'm done with you." Draco gasped and reached out to grab Harry's arm. Harry shoved the other boy's hand away roughly and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. "I feel like you don't want me around," he told Draco. "I guess I'll pack all my things," he motioned to the picnic basket and blanket he had brought with him for what was supposed to be a very special night, "I guess I'll see you around. Inside, it bottles up until now..."

"Always, always, always, always..."

"I just can't live without you."

"Always, always..."

Harry froze in the doorway, remembering what had happened just hours ago. "I love you," he whispered to Draco, hoping against hope the boy was still listening, "I hate you." He turned back around. "I can't live around you," he said, and that was true. He couldn't live around Draco. It was only times like this, when they were alone, that they truly could get along. "I breathe you, I taste you," he choked out, eyes closing, trying in vain to stop the tears from cascading down his cheeks. He wiped his face roughly with the back of his sleeve. "I can't live without you."

"Always, always, always, always..."

"I just can't live without you."

"Always, always..."

"I love you."

"I hate you."

"I can't live without you..."

Harry decided to stay that night, and many nights after that... because of a promise made in the heat of passion...

"Always..."