Always Loving You

Chapter ten

Harry sat on his bed in the dark bedroom. He regretted shouting at Draco. How could he even consider that a drunken fool would understand a word he said?

How could Draco think that he would not notice his drinking? Harry had only so little alcohol in this house that he would notice when it started to disappear. He hardly ever drank himself, but sometimes a glass of brandy or whisky made him feel good.

Shaking his head to clear his thought, he picked up his wand and cast a warming spell on his bed. He could not understand how the house could be so cold at night, and yet almost sweltering at day.

His thought returned to the present eventually as he shivered under the blankets. Merlin help him if he could know what in earth ten years ago made him trust the fake Aurors.

He had always known. Always, that Draco was alive. He had spent numerous nights hoping and dreaming that someday he would come back to him and everything would be alright.

Now he had to face the reality. Life was not a fairy tail; it never was or would be. Now it seemed that the faithful night, when Draco was taken away, was light years away, but his feelings had not changed.

He still loved Draco, but there was something that kept them apart, even when they were right next to each other.

Harry could not grasp what it exactly was, but he had a good hunch. It was time to make compromises. They both had to learn to love each other again. They could never go back to what it was before; even then, it had been some vague idea of a relationship.

They didn't fully trust each other, which was obvious by the out come, and they didn't communicate as much as now, but it was not enough.

Maybe it would be best if they didn't live together, but where would they go? Harry didn't want to send them to live with Severus, although maybe Hannah would be happier living with a person she knew.

Harry shook his head. This was going nowhere. He couldn't make a decision like this alone. He had to talk with Draco when he was sober. He hoped that Draco's drinking problem wouldn't get any bigger. Maybe he should ask Severus for help?

Nah, he would handle this with Draco. He had been in a tougher spots before, right?

***

On Saturday morning attempting to speak with Draco, he found a note on the kitchen table.

Harry,

I've taken Hannah to see Severus.

We'll be back in a few hours.

Yours,

Draco

Sighing, Harry turned around and made his way to the fireplace. Now was a good time as ever to visit the Ministry about rebuilding Hogwarts. He had to find financiers and persuade the Ministry of Magic to aid him. Furthermore, he had to find teachers and give an interview to the Daily Prophet in order to spread the word about his plans.