He Breathed

He Breathed

He breathed...

...the delightful smell of honeysuckle and wet earth filling his nostrils and made him nostalgic for the one place he had ever truly belonged. His heart ached for Hogwarts, for his childhood... God, where had it all gone? Where were Ron and Hermione? Were they safe? What about Draco? Had he made it into hiding? What about Sirius? Professor Lupin? Dumbledore? Ginny? Why was he suddenly alone?

But he wasn't alone. She was there.

*~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...the intoxicating smell of lilac clouding his senses. He felt her warm body lying next to him. How the gossip had followed them everywhere they went, the audible gasps that were uttered the first time they held hands in the corridors. He remembered everything. As long as it involved her, he remembered. How he loved to hate her, loved to hold her. The many arguments that led to fury-fuelled kisses, until the arguments and anger ebbed away to be replaced with passion, and then love.

*~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...death and decay pervading his soul. How far the mighty have fallen, he thought, if only they could see 'famous Harry Potter' now. He could taste the rich, warm, thick blood that pooled in his mouth. He could feel the loose dirt crumble through his fingers as he clawed at the ground trying to get up. He could see constant red. His body exploded with pain and he heard himself scream. He wasn't surprised that he screamed her name.

~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...the fresh, sweet scent of victory flooding his brain and taking him to a higher level. He saw her through the crowd and quickly pried Ron off of him, handing him the cup. He met her halfway.

"Are you angry?" he asked

"Yes," she said, giving him a cold look, "but not surprised. Every time Draco thinks that he's finally learned all your moves you pull another trick out of your sleeve. It's what you're famous for." She paused and shrugged. "Among other things."

The thin, glossy lips slowly formed a smile. She was beautiful when she wasn't sneering.

"You'll play professionally one day."

"I hope so," he said smiling at her in return.

"I guarantee it."

She was reaching out for him and Harry went willingly into her embrace.

*~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...and he tried desperately to regain his composure; anger, hurt, and disappointment gnawing away painfully at his heart.

"Don't do this," he begged, "please."

The dark crystalline blue eyes that reminded him so much of the lake in waning light from the moon misted over briefly with sorrow. Harry's spirits lifted slightly at this, but he blinked, and in the same amount of time it took him to bat the long dark lashes, the eyes had regained their hardened look.

"I have to. It's my destiny," she said calmly

Harry scoffed. "That's the most stupid fucking thing I've ever heard."

"No it's not!" she said her voice rising slightly. "Why do you risk your life year after year trying to defeat the Dark Lord? Because it's fate! Because it's your destiny!"

She took his hands and looked deep into the emerald eyes. She tried to make him understand.

"I'm the daughter of Death Eaters. Joining them is my destiny."

Harry stared at her coldly.

"Fine. Then don't ever speak to me again." His voice was calm but still it shook with rage and pain. "Don't even look at me and don't...touch...me." He wrenched his hand from her grasp.

He took a steadying breath and forced out the words he knew would hurt her: "I never want to see you again."

Tears filled her eyes, sadness pouring from them so profusely that Harry suffocated in it . She ran from him and he stood there stupidly, watching her run. When she was out of sight he slid down the wall, its coarse exterior peeling the skin from his back, and the heartbroken sob he had been harboring since his fourth year finally emerged, his anguish reverberating off the walls.

Voldemort had finally stolen everything and everyone he loved

*~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...and the smell of sweat and flesh surrounded him. He willed his heartbeat to slow and his breathing to regulate. He buried his face in her chestnut coloured hair and smelled the fresh scent of her shampoo.

"That was..."

"Magical?" she suggested

"Delightful."

"Delightfully evil?"

"Absolutely," Harry said nuzzling his face into her neck and listening to her giggle childishly and foolishly.

He pulled away from her briefly to capture the look on her face. No smirk, no sneer, the freezing venom had left her eyes completely. She looked elated and beautiful. He lowered his face to hers and paused briefly, a raven lock falling in front of his eyes. She affectionately brushed it away before arching her body up to his and running her tongue gently over his lips. Harry gently pushed her back onto the bed and kissed her, using his thumb to slightly pull at her chin as he cupped her face, in order to experience all of her mouth.

When he finally and reluctantly pulled away he relaxed into the comfort of his mattress and pillows and pulled her close to him.

"I don't want to leave," she said softly, yawning.

"Then you're not going to," Harry whispered, placing a kiss on her temple. "I'll sneak you out tomorrow with the invisibility cloak after everyone goes to breakfast."

"What if we get caught?" she asked

"We won't." he said grinning "A simple silencing charm and you can scream as loud as you want and no one would be the wiser, besides I don't have to tell them who's in my bed if they ask"

"Sneaky, sneaky Potter," she said laughing, "I do believe I've had a bad influence on you."

*~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...a ragged gasp because the blow had badly winded him.

"Do you feel brave, Potter?"

The cold red eyes laughed mercilessly at him and the cold white fingers swung out and struck his face. Harry forced himself not to flinch.

"I'm not afraid of you," he said defiantly, hatred shining brightly in the normally kind green eyes. "There's nothing left for you to take away from me."

"Oh, but there is, young Harry." A cruel smile formed on the lipless mouth. "Your life."

Wandless and powerless Harry straightened up to meet his fate. He would die like a man, with honor. Just like his father. He closed his eyes and waited as Voldemort raised his wand.

"Crucio!"

Harry's eyes flew open. That was a girl's voice!

"I hope you don't get us killed!" she yelled over Voldemort's screams.

"Not today!" Harry yelled back, running to her and then careful to avoid the wand's aim he stepped in front of her, hiding her face from Voldemort's view. Then, gripping her tightly, he Disapparated.

*~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...stealing her breath from her lips as he crushed his mouth into hers. He wasn't sure how it had happened, how it had all led up to this, but he supposed it had begun when they were paired together in Potions class. Malfoy had been absent, so Snape had punished Harry by pairing him with another Slytherin who had just happened to be her. He wasn't happy, and she seemed just as angry about it as he did. They fought, they argued, she cursed him. He had spent four days in the hospital wing while Madam Pomfrey shrank his horns.

Then he had run into her accidentally, and if he recalled correctly she had said "Watch where you're going your highness, you should try not to tread on the commoners." He had waited until she had dismissed him before casting a charm that caused her bag to split in two. Then they had been paired together in Care of Magical Creatures to take care of the same unicorn foal for a week. Hagrid had honestly thought he was doing him a favor.

"I thought you liked her," Hagrid said honestly. "Yeh're always staring at each other."

"Glaring at her, Hagrid! I hate her!"

"Oh."

But it had all come to a head one day as they were arguing in the paddock and she had said, "You think you're so great! Just because you're perfect and handsome and- " She stopped and her eyes widened with horror and realisation at what she had just said.

Harry smiled disbelievingly. "Did you...?"

"No!" she said quickly.

"I think you did." His grin widened.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said huffily.

"Fine," Harry said, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall. Then, in a fit of daring: "Fine. Then I won't tell you you're beautiful."

She stared at him, the sapphire eyes glittering with happiness. However, it was quickly replaced with anger.

"You... you... Gryffindor!" she sputtered.

She couldn't even insult him properly. Harry couldn't help but laugh. Unfortunately all his laughter did was fuel her anger and she swung her arm out to slap him. Harry nimbly caught her wrist and pulled her to him. Then, very quickly, he kissed her. He wasn't sure why, but it had just seemed like the right thing to do.

She just stood motionless, gawking at him in disbelief, her mouth hanging open in a most unattractive manner. He smiled and said, "that's twice today I've left you at a loss for words."

Then he slowly jogged away from her, shooting one last smile over his shoulder as he went to see how Hermione and Ron were doing. After that they had dated secretly for two months before announcing their relationship to the school. The mayhem it had caused when he suddenly walked across the Great Hall and sat down next to her at breakfast. The obscenities from Ron, the insults and threats from Malfoy, and Hermione staring at him as if he'd gone insane. Hagrid had chuckled from the teachers' table and Dumbledore's eyes had sparkled with what looked like merriment and delight. Snape had looked as though he had just swallowed a goblet full of hemlock and McGonagall's hand had flown to her mouth.

No one in Gryffindor besides Hermione would speak to him for days, but it was worth it. She was worth it.

*~*~*~*~

He breathed...

...and the sweet scent of her skin engulfed him. He held her close and she still shook with fear despite her brave face.

"What made you change your mind?" he asked softly, stroking the chocolate coloured hair.

"You."

It was the only thing she said, but it was enough.

~*~*~*~*~*

He breathed...

...but with difficulty. It felt as though someone were holding a pillow over his face.

"W...wha...wha' happened?" he gasped.

"Nott," she whispered tears sliding down her pale cheeks. "After you killed the...the Dark Lord...he sneaked up and he...he shot you."

"A g..gu..gun?" She nodded. "How M...M...Mug...gle."

She smiled at his feeble attempt to lighten the mood.

"Shhh," she cooed. "Dumbledore will be here soon. You're going to be alright."

"D....don't...don't think so," Harry said, tears spilling from his eyes without him even blinking. Harry grabbed her hand to kiss it and saw that it was covered in his blood.

"Don't say that!" she yelled "You'll be fine! You'll be fine..." It was almost as if she were trying to convince herself. Harry had accepted his fate a long time ago.

"L...l...love you B...Blaise," he whispered.

"I love you too, Harry."

He breathed...

...she kissed him, as if hoping to breathe life into him. It was unsuccessful, but nonetheless, the pain seemed to be leaving him as he concentrated on kissing her. She pulled away and tenderly stroked his cheek.

"Love you," he said again.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice conveying every ounce of her pain. "More than anything.

He exhaled...

...he wouldn't breathe before he saw her again.

fin