Bittersweet Return

Harry sat at his desk, reading some of the essays that lay cluttered around him. He took off his glasses, lay them on the desk, and rubbed his tired eyes.

"Working hard I see?" Hermione said as she walked into the empty classroom. Harry looked up at her, picked up his glasses, and put them back on. Hermione walked over and sat in one of the desks in the front row.

"If it wasn't for your robes, I'd swear you were still a student," he said, smiling softly, after looking at her for a moment.

"Sure - I look much older than I did at seventeen. So quit trying to flatter me." She said sarcastically. She shifted slightly in the desk, arranging her robes. "I just wanted to tell you I want you to teach a class to seventh years next year dealing with the history of the war. But focusing on the dark magic of You-Know-Who."

Harry sighed and sat back in his chair. He ran his hands through his untidy, ebony hair. Hermione noticed that the scar on his forehead was just as visible as it was twenty years ago.

"Well, I can't exactly say no. I knew when I took the position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor years ago I would eventually have to do this."

"Well, as your friend, I am asking you to do it. But as your boss - I am making you, " she said, her eyes twinkling.

"I knew when they made you Headmistress of Hogwarts that I would be in trouble." Harry smiled over at his long-time friend. She got out of her desk and walked over to his.

"So - are you & Ron coming over tonight? Seamus is cooking a delightful dinner and we always love having you two over. Besides, we have to get back at you two for the poker game from last week."

"Yeah. I'll tell Ron. He should want to come. But with him, you never know."

Hermione turned to leave. "Well, I will let you get back to your grading. I don't know how Ron doesn't get upset when you stay her grading so late."

"The same reason Seamus doesn't get mad when you get called away in the middle of the night."

Hermione smiled and looked down at her hands. "Yeah - I guess so. Anyway - I will see you tonight," she said as she walked towards the door.

"Okay. Bye, Hermione," he called as he watched her turn and walk out of the door and went back to grading the papers that lie before him.

As Hermione left the classroom, she turned the corner and did not see the tall wizard standing in the shadows, waiting for her to leave. He had been standing there for awhile, debating on whether to go in and talk to Harry. He decided that if he had come this far, he might as well go ahead with it. He walked stealthily out of the shadows over to the door of Harry's classroom. He peered in and saw Harry hard at work, laboring over stacks of parchment. His breath caught in his chest as he realized how much time had actually passed, but looking at Harry sitting at the desk, it was like he was seventeen again.

* * * *

Draco Malfoy walked to the astronomy tower, carrying a big bouquet of roses and a large box of candy. It was his and Harry's two year anniversary. He was surprised. He had never dated anyone that long. He never would have thought that Harry Potter would be the one to change him.

He walked up to the top of the stairs and stopped. He was nervous. He was not sure why and he did not like it at all. He was a Malfoy. No one made him nervous...except Harry. Harry put butterflies in his stomach just at the mere thought of him. Draco hated himself for being so weak, hated Harry for making him feel that way, but he did love Harry and alls fair in love and war.

Draco opened the door to find the room lit with hundreds of red flamed candles. He looked around in surprise as Harry came up behind him. He put his arms around Draco and startled him. He turned around in Harry's arms and Harry placed a small kiss on his lips.

"Happy Anniversary, my love." Harry looked happily at Draco.

"Happy Anniversary, Harry." Harry let Draco out of his embrace and took him by the hand. Draco looked bewildered at where Harry was leading him. Harry led him over to the corner of the tower where there was a bed covered in rose petals.

Draco was in shock. This was clearly the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. He turned to face Harry. Harry was looking at him, his emerald eyes shining with love and adoration.

"You're welcome," Harry said, gathering all the gratitude in Draco's soft, cool-grey eyes. He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Draco melted into the kiss, as all his nervousness disappeared.

"I love you so much, Harry," Draco said, pulling Harry closer to him.

"I love you, too," Harry said, pulling him down onto the rose-covered bed.

* * * *

"I'm going to kill him! He missed our date for the second time this week!" Draco spat angrily as he stormed to the Gryffindor common room. He glared angrily at the Fat Lady who just stared pleasantly back.

"Let me in!" he roared. She shook her head in response.

"Password?"

"You know I'm a Slytherin! I need to see Harry!" he yelled back.

"No password, no entrance," she said cooly.

"Good God!" he growled as he threw his hands into the air. He decided just to hand out by the portrait hole, in hopes some Gryffindor, or Harry, may come by. He did not wait long before the Fat Lady's portrait swung open and Harry climed out, followed by Ron and Hermione.

"Draco! What are you doing here?" Harry said, throwing a curious gaze at Draco.

"We had a date, remember?" Draco said angrily, ignoring Hermione and Ron staring interested at him. Harry turned to them, mouthed for them to leave, then turned back to Draco. His gaze had not relented. "This was the second one this week," he spat angrily.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just...It's getting harder to find time for us and all now days. I mean with graduation and all..." Harry stammered out. Draco knew instantly he was lying.

"Don't give me that shit, Potter. What the hell is wrong? I am your boyfriend!" He stared intently at Harry, his eyes full of fury.

"Draco - you know I love you. I really do. But I don't think that things are going as well between us and well...I'm not so sure staying together is the best idea." Harry was not looking at Draco as he said this. He had suddenly found his shoe-lace very interesting.

"What? After two and a half years, its not a good idea? What the fuck?" Draco was livid with rage. He kept throwing his arms up as he paced back and forth in front of Harry.

"Draco, in a few weeks I'm going to go off to the European mainland to become an Auror. You are going into the Ministry of Magic. It's easier this way. This way we won't grow apart and prolong the pain." Harry moved in to put his arm around Draco. He slapped his arm away and stormed off down the corridor, leaving Harry shocked and full of tears.

* * * *

Draco hoped he had not arrived too late. "He cannot go through with this, I have to stop it." He ran through the double doors quietly to see the entire room filled with people. He slinked into the back row to avoid drawing attention to himself at the moment. He was not late. He could hear it clearly now.

"And do you, Harry Potter, take Ron Weasley to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Harry looked at Ron and smiled broadly. Even from the back row, Draco could see that the emerald orbs behind those round glasses were full of love, passion, and pure joy.

Draco's entire resolve fell when he heard the words "I do" come out of Harry's mouth. He knew that tone. Harry had used that tone with him so many times before. Draco smiled slightly. Bittersweet, he thought. I can't ruin it for him. He's too happy. Weasley makes him happy. Even I can't take that away from him.

He was dying inside. He was so lost in all his thoughts he missed the end of the ceremony. The room was filing out to attend the reception. Draco blended with the other guests and hid in the shadows as he watched Harry with Ron. He watched them cut the cake, laugh with their friends, steal quick kisses, and dance. Draco's heart ached to be that man, dancing so close in the loving embrace of Harry Potter. But it had not happened like that. Fate had other plans for him.

He blinked back the tears he felt stinging his eyes, secretly gave Harry his blessings, and left out the door, disappearing into the darkness.

* * * *

Now, standing at the door of Harry's classroom fifteen years later, he could not help but painfully realize that Harry had been the only one he had ever truly loved. Draco had tried to love other people, but no one seemed worthy enough. And a Malfoy does not just fall in love with anyone.

Draco stook silently in the doorway, watching Harry, who was too wrapped up in his work that he did not notice.

Draco finally entered the classroom. Harry did not notice anyone was in the room with him until Draco was standing right in front of him. He looked up over the rims of his glasses from the parchment he was reading. He dropped the quill he was holding.

"Hey there, Potter," Draco said, showing no emotion in his even voice. Harry stared up at him, stunned, but managed to gather his voice.

"Draco Malfoy. I never thought I would see you again."

"Don't sound so disappointed." He eyed Harry very carefully, noticing the surprise written all over Harry's face.

"I'm not disappointed, Draco. Just shocked." Draco sat down on the edge of the desk. Harry noticed how good he looked.

"Congratulations on your position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I'm sure you are doing a superb job."

"The kids seem to like my classes." Harry sensed Draco's tension and wondered what this visit was all about. He decided to be blunt with the questions plaguing his mind.

"You didn't come to my wedding. Why, Draco? I wanted you to be there. I wanted your blessing." Harry looked directly at him. Draco could see the pain deep in his emerald eyes. He silently cursed the power in those eyes.

"Little do you know, Potter, I was there. And I gave you my bloody blessings. Though it was selfish even to think I would give them." Draco placed his cold, level gaze on Harry. He noticed the pain in Harry's eyes turned to anger.

"You were there? And selfish? You never came wanting me back. You were just as hateful and vindictive as always."

"What did you expect, Harry? After you break up with me to just act like nothing happened? No! I wasn't going to crawl back to you when you broke up with me. And then you started dating Weasley of all people. If that wasn't a slap in the face."

Harry stood up angrily. "Just what in the hell do you want Draco? You come in, insult my husband, and seem to have no purpse than to be the bastard you always were. Now, if you don't have a purpose other than to bring back painful memories, then I suggest you leave." He was shaking with anger.

Draco walked around the desk and stood face to face with Harry. "This is why I came back." Draco leaned in and kissed Harry fully on the lips. Harry was shocked and was torn between feelings of rage and passion. Kissing Draco was strangely sweet, and so when Draco began licking along the bottom of his lip, he parted his lips and eagerly responded.

He kissed Draco with the fervor he had been suppressing for years. All the years of questioning his decision to end his relationship with him twenty years ago came pouring out of his lips into the mouth of his former lover.

Draco hungrily kissed Harry's lips, remembering the sweet taste. He was silently glad he had come back and thought there might be hope he and Harry would be together at long last.

Harry then abruptly pulled back from the kiss. He looked Draco in the eyes and searched long and hard in the steel grey eyes for the answers to all the questions he had pondered over the years. Deep within the gaze he finally found the answer he had been secretly dying to know for twenty years. He smiled softly and lightly touched Draco's cheek.

"Thank you," he said, slightly caressing his face. Draco looked at Harry with a quizzical look on his face. Harry noticed and brought his hand back to his side.

"I have been secretly wondering for twenty years if I made the right choice that night I let you go. It had been eating at me, not allowing me to fully love Ron the way I should. But now I know the answers to all my questions."

Draco, not sure how to read the look in Harry's eyes, said, "Harry, I have loved you since the day we met. I have not stopped loveing you in the past twenty years. I came back solely to see if you still loved me and if we could build a life together." Draco looked cautiously at Harry. He simply smiled sadly.

"Draco. I know how hard this was for you. And I admit, a part of me still loves you and always will. But kissing you here today only allowed me to realize Ron truly is my soulmate and that I can finally let you go."

Draco's eyes turned as cold as ice and he stood up with a great air of superiority.

"Then you are no longer who I thought you were. To think I risked myself for you. But Draco Malfoy will be made no fool. It will be a cold day in hell before I set eyes on you again." And with that, Draco turned to leave the room, his black robes flowing behind him. And as quick as he reappeared, he was gone out of Harry's life forever.

* * * *

Harry walked into his house to find Ron dozing on the couch. Harry walked over to the couch and looked down at the love of his life. He silently thanked the starts for allowing such a wonderful creature into his life. He was also thankful for his encounter with Draco earlier because it made him free to love Ron with his entire soul.

Ron opened his eyes and looked up at him.

"Where have you been? We were supposed to go - " Harry bent down suddenly and kissed Ron. Ron was surprised at this sudden show of affection as Harry kissed him passionately and freely. He finally had nothing to hold him back, nothing to prevent him from giving his entire soul to Ron.

He finally pulled away from the kiss to find a very confused Ron lying beneath him.

"What in bloody hell was that for?" Ron asked very confused.

"I realized today that I truly love you, with my entire being. No reserves or restraints, just pure love. I realized that you possess my entire soul." Harry sat up on the edge of the couch and ran his hands through Ron's red hair. "You are the only one, Ron Weasley. After fifteen years you are still the only one."

Ron was shocked, but touched very deeply, and blinked back tears. Harry took him fully into his arms and placed another kiss on his lips.

"Let's forget about Hermione's tonight. Tonight the only thing I want is to be one with the love of my life, then fall asleep in your arms." Harry leaned down to kiss Ron again, as Ron whispered the words, "I love you too, my eternity."

The End.

* * * *