11AM

7AM

Harry wakes, not to the sound of the shower, or bacon frying in the pan, but to the sound of a garbage truck.

Harry snorts at the irony and mushes his head into his pillow. 'The things we throw away...'

~

"Just say you love me." Draco's eyes are desperate, pleading.

Harry's mouth opens, but he is silent. He turns his head to look out to window; to look at the stars. Their brightness pales when compared to Draco's eyes, but Harry pretends not to notice. He does not want to watch as a single tear makes its way down Draco's cheek, nor does he want to hear the choked sob that escapes Draco's throat.

Draco leaves quietly, but Harry doesn't notice. He is staring at the tiny wet spot on the bedsheet where Draco's tear had fallen. 'I'm only a man...'

~

Harry pulls his blanket over his head. He knows how easy it is to block out the world, but suddenly he wishes he could block out himself.

~

9AM

Harry gets up to use the toilet, drearily stumbling into the bathroom. He inspects his face in the mirror, noting the stubble and bloodshot eyes...

He reaches for a toothbrush, and sees Draco's lying alongside his own. It is yellow, with absurdly cheery ducks patterned on it.

When he stumbled back to sleep, Harry is clutching the toothbrush to his chest. He sleeps on the left side of the bed, being careful not to take up too much of the blankets. For a little while, he forgets he doesn't have to.

~

"Oof. Get off my side of the bed." The words are slightly jumbled being spoken into a pillow, but Harry can make them out well enough. He smiles and shuffles closer to Draco.

"Your side? The whole bed is mine."

"I always get what I want." Draco smiles playfully and drags Harry down for a kiss.

Harry pulls away and regards him seriously. "I know that now."

~

11AM

The sun shines in Harry's eyes, and he pulls a pillow over his face.

It is Draco's pillow, and Harry can still smell him on it. When his eyes begin to sting, Harry pretends it is because of the light.

~

Harry scans the crowded room, searching desperately for the familiar blonde hair in the sea of strangers.

"They all here for you, you know." Draco's breath tickles the back of Harry's neck, and he turns around with a grin.

"What's it like to know you saved the world?" Draco asks. He is smiling, but his eyes are serious.

"I didn't do it for the world," Harry replies soberly, "I did it for you."

Draco kisses him on the nose, and they both laugh.

~

12PM

The phone rings, breaking the tense silence Harry has kept with himself. Harry answers it slowly. He hopes again hope that it is him.

It's him.

~

1PM

Harry stumbles to answer the door, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He opens the door, and gasps as Draco crushes him to his chest.

"I love you, I love you..." Harry chants it like a mantra, sobbing into Draco's shoulder.

Draco loosens his grip and wipes away Harry's tears, kissing him on the nose.

"I know that now."