There's a Hero

There's a flower in the smallest garden reaching for the light.

There's a candle in the darkest corner conquering the night.

You were that flower. You were always moving on. I remember the end of our sixth year, when Azkaban was broken into. Your father escaped along with the rest, and yet you joined the ranks of light; never flinching at the accusations. The Order whispered about you behind their hands, beyond closed doors, yet you were adamant about joining the fight. I admit I was concerned as well. Sure your insults had slowed a bit, but no one seemed to notice. Until Hermione noted, I hadn't realized the decline. I was lost in a world of guilt, sorrow and grief. My candle was extinguished. But there was a candle there to light my own again.

There is amazing strength in a willing hand.

Had I ventured to the darkest corners, I would have seen your light. But I chose to toss my candle in a wastebasket, for to me I was nothing but waste. Until you. You see, on the eve of the summer holidays I'd gone to "visit" Dobby, and deftly stolen a knife. I'd retreated to a far corner of a dark and dingy dungeon. I haphazardly set the weapon on a desk that was littered with parchment. In my state of mind, I pushed the papers out of my way. Who cares who they belonged to? They were probably gone. I'd probably led the person to their death. I was thinking manic thoughts. I reached for the knife. I don't remember much, except I know it seemed painless. I do remember a hand. Strong, yet gentle, cradling my chin. When the owner lowered their face to my own, everything went black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I awoke in familiar surroundings; the hospital wing had become my other home. What with Quidditch and such, I'd managed to procure quite a few injuries. Most scars I could handle, but I'd never had ones like these. Ones I'd inflicted upon myself. I recalled the silence I felt in the room as I examined those scars. I looked away, suddenly ashamed; suddenly angry. I'd lived yet again. But how? The answer came in the form of smooth fingers tracing a pattern on the frosted glass of the window. The moonbeams shone through your hair, onto your face. I suddenly longed to run my hands through the platinum locks; to look into silver orbs; to intertwine my hand with the one so childishly drawing a moon and stars on the frost. You turned, and your smile was genuine. "Hey."

I tried to form an answer but my brain was jumbled. Words such as "hello", "how are you?" and "Malfoy" came to mind. Yet none of those made it to my mouth. "Why?" I choked out.

To my surprise, you laughed. Again you smiled, eyes shining. But this was no trick of the moonlight. There were tears fighting against your lashes, fighting to stain your pale skin. Those normally cold eyes followed the lines up my wrists to my elbows, finally connecting with my own. Your smile was one I'd never seen before; your words ones I'd never heard from your lips;

"Goodnight, Harry."

There are victories you've never planned.

At meetings for the Order, you were so quiet. You gave your opinion only when it was wanted. And then you surprised them all; by first asking to stay for dinner, then asking to stay for the summer. What surprised me most was Molly saying you had always been welcome, and always would be. So Ron (grumbling the whole time) and I moved an extra bed into the already cramped room we'd shared during the summer before 6^th year. I purposely "forgot" to tell Ron I'd been told to move the bed into the attic. I'd felt bad leaving you alone. I knew that feeling all too well, and it was one I had despised. So the bed was moved to mine and Ron's room. In the time it took for you to ask to stay, and the half hour it took to move the bed, you gained your first two victories; one over Molly. The other?

My heart.

There's a hero in everybody's heart.

And you were mine.

There's a fire inside of everybody burning clear and bright.

In a world of darkness, your fire stood out. During that summer, we became friends. Better ones than Ron and I had ever been. We'd both spent so long observing the enemy, we knew each other pretty thoroughly. Although we knew nothing of the other's pasts. You marveled at how Dudley had treated me like dirt, and yet the dirt I walked on was sacred to wizards. I was shocked to find you always hated your parents. I had no idea your father would put you under the Cruciatus Curse if you failed in his eyes. I'd always thought your parents had been your idols. Our late night talks were so special; two friends being just that; friends.

Go on and trust yourself, you can ride the wind.

You're gonna take your dreams where they've never been.

So I did. I put my trust in you as a friend and told you things I'd never told a soul. I also let my heart take over. I noticed a smile reserved only for me; the way your hair was just long enough to fall into your eyes; how those eyes sparkled when you laughed. I thought it was just friendship. Until the dream.

I dreamt that you and I were in a forest, wands out. You turned around and said, "Harry, I love you no matter what happens."

I woke up in a cold sweat. Looking at your bed, I saw a smile playing across your lips. I suddenly longed to kiss those lips, to trace them with my fingers. I shook the feelings and the dream from my mind. When I awoke, it was nothing but a figment of my imagination.

As seventh year progressed, so did our friendship. We studied for NEWTS together. No house dared defy our friendship. It was a civil friendship, until we were alone. Then we would joke and laugh like the past summer. It wasn't more than friendship.

Or so we thought.

One night, I couldn't sleep. I felt I had to go somewhere. Grabbing a pillow and a blanket, I hurried down the stairs and out into the dark corridors. My feet lead me to the Northwest Tower. I heard footsteps on the stairs. Cursing, I'd retreated to the shadows. you had my invisibility cloak. No one came through the door. I stayed hidden, in case it was Filch attempted to trick me. A letter fluttered to my corner. Squatting, I quickly read the sloppy writing. Muffled sobs reached my ears. I looked from the letter to the sobs, and it clicked. I grabbed you around the shoulders and pulled you to safety. You struggled to get to the edge. I straddled you to hold you down. I couldn't let you take what you'd tried so hard for me to keep. We both stopped fighting long enough to realize our position. Then it was mad scramble to far corners.

Slowly, we inched closer. After what seemed like ages, we joined together in the center of the room, our backs to the cold stone of the tower wall. I turned and looked into your silver eyes. You smiled a wry smile.

"Hey."

There's a hero in everybody's heart.

And I was yours.

Go on and trust yourself, you can ride the wind.

You're gonna take your dreams, where they've never been.

When I was with you, I was truly soaring. That night, our friendship grew. It was more than friendship now. Now it held an understanding. We had each other. We could make it.

And we did. NEWTS came and went. Graduation remains a blur to me. You were head boy and Hermione head girl. I think that was a blur because my eyes were brimming the entire time.

After we left Hogwarts, I took up residence at 12 Grimmauld Place. As the new Master of the house, I ordered a sprucing. The freed house-elves I employed leapt into action. I wanted the rooms ready; the kitchen stocked should the Order stay overnight. It remained headquarters. You remained a permanent guest. The room we'd once shared now contained a large four poster with midnight blue hangings. Ron and Hermione occasionally visited from the flat they now shared in London. So it was now our room. I vaguely remember decorating the place for Christmas. Sirius had so loved this time.

And so began my downward spiral.

For weeks I moped. I thought morbid thoughts. On the anniversary of my last attempt, I'd scoffed. Wouldn't it be funny if tonight, I did the same thing? And succeeded? I'd laughed, and then cried. I lay sobbing, wishing to die, when a knock made me start. I opened the door.

A single red rose and a platinum band were presented to me. I cried. We kissed. I remember laughing afterwards. You looked hurt. "What's wrong?" you'd asked.

"Why are all my kisses wet ones?"

There's a hero in everybody's heart.

And you were mine.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So time went on. That fall, we learned the whereabouts of the villain we so despised. Forces were sent to attack after careful planning. You and I were to hide and join when needed. We grimly stalked the darkened groves of a wood. You turned to me with fear in your eyes, a fear you rarely showed. "Harry, I love you no matter what happens."

My mind reeled. Where had I seen this before? I shook away the thoughts. We waited. Out ranks were thinning. We joined the battle as Voldemort joined. I took him head on, the words of the prophecy echoing in my head. The two of us dueled; a test of wits. You were busy fending off the approaching Death Eaters. Voldemort raised his wand. "I've had enough play time Harry. Avada Kadarva."

I waited for the beam of green light to hit. A large shape obscured my view. I saw your body hit, and my rage welled. "You'll pay."

I charged. The red eyes opened wide; he wasn't prepared for a physical attack. My hands made contact. I wanted to beat him to death. Strangle him. Hurt him as much as what his actions had hurt me. The sheer love the two of us shared, combined with your taking the spell for me, killed him. He would never bother the world again.

I knelt beside your body. Your skin was cold to my touch. My fingers traced the lips I'd so loved to kiss. No breath hit my fingertips. You were gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I don't know how long I cried. I still don't. It's been five years. I bring a single red rose on our anniversary to a grave that was filled too early. Our dreams of living together forever were slashed. It seemed a promise broken by fate. I still wear that band, one I knew you still wore. We'd be together in eternity.

I arrive here this year as I do every other. My fingers trace the letters in cold stone. Stone as cold as my heart. A gentle breeze whips my hair into my eyes. It smells faintly of chocolate and honey. I knew you were there.

"I love you Draco." I speak to the wind, to the world, to you. "No one will ever replace you."

There's a hero in everybody's heart.

And you were mine.