This Used To Be My Playground

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This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Draco stared at the castle stretching out before him. Seven years since he had last stepped onto these grounds. A bitter war had tainted the once pure memories of these hallowed halls. A war that had turned something once so beautiful, so very ugly.

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

~~~~Flashback~~~~

Soft music flowed around the couple as they danced at the 7th year Final Fling. One last chance to be with your friends before exams, NEWTS and graduation. The shock of their coupling had finally wore off, and after much conjoling, their friends actually spoke three words in kindness to each other.

Harry smiled at Draco, brushing an errant lock of hair from his eyes. Draco tilted his head up for the kiss he knew was coming and grinned as their lips met and the world melted away.

~~~~Present Day~~~~

Live and learn
Well the years they flew
And we never knew
We were foolish then
We would never tire
And that little fire
Is still alive in me
It will never go away
Can't say goodbye to yesterday

"Draco." Dumbledore said softly, taking the younger man's hands and giving them a squeeze. "I thank you for coming, I know how hard it is for you to...come back here."

"You needed me headmaster, I couldn't refuse, no matter that..."

"It's hard for all of us Draco." Snape said softly from the staff table. "Despite what our feeling were...it's hard."

Draco nodded and turned away from his old teacher and headmaster. His gaze fell on the Gryffindor table and it was almost as time had never passed, voices ringing loud and clear though his memories, laughter as carefree as a child's dreams.

He hurried from the great hall, tears streaming down his face as he struggled against the memories crowding his mind.

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday
Those are words I'll never say

~~~~Flashback~~~~

"He's coming!"

"What? Now…how?!"

"I don't know but he's coming...him and everyone else is his little band of masked maniacs."

"But...not today..."

"Harry, the Dark Lord doesn't care if today is the Quiddich Cup game, HE'S COMING!"

Harry stared at Draco, tears sliding down his face. This was too much, just...too much. Why now, why not a week ago, or months ago, why two days before they were nearly free.

"We're not ready...it's going to be a slaughter." he whispered brokenly.

"I know." Draco whispered, pulling Harry into his arms. Harry held tight to his lover, closing his eyes tightly. Their world was about to fall to pieces around them, their friends were going to die, but in this moment, in this time, nothing mattered.

This used to be my playground
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy

~~~~Flashback again~~~~

"In this aftermath of war, we must remember those whom stood bravely against He-Who-Would-Have-Destroyed-Us-All," Dumbledore said to the gathered students.

Hermione cried into Ron's shoulder as he held her. Ron himself stared stiffly at the hole in the ground that his best friend would lay in forever.

Fred and George both pulled fireworks and dungbombs from their suits, ignoring their mother's glare. They were going to send their friend off in the proper way, in a way he would have loved damnit! And no one was going to stop them.

Ginny held Neville's hand as the boy sniffled, handing him a tissue. Her gaze landed on Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, both of whom seemed to be holding each other up lest they sink to their knees in their grief.

Seamus and Dean both sniffled and squeezed each other's hand, the caged snitch that was waiting to go inside the casket making it a bit difficult. Severus Snape stood apart from the other teachers, his head bent to hide his tears.

Only two people were missing from the service...

~~~~Slytherin 7th year boys dorms~~~~

Books, papers, quills, clothes, a pair of ducky socks and various other items flew around the room in a mad fury as Draco tore apart the dorm, tears steaming down his face.

"Draco?" Pansy asked softly, cautiously peering around the doorframe. "What are you doing?"

"His glasses...I need to find his glasses."

"Draco," she said, stepping into the room, avoiding flying books that nearly took her head off. "Draco, it's okay."

"NO! Nothing's okay! I need...I just need to find them. He left them on my nightstand before...He needs them." he yelled, throwing a Remembrall over his shoulder, shattering it.

"Oh Draco," she said and wrapped her arms around him. Draco's knees gave out and she sunk to the floor with him, holding him, cradling him as he sobbed.

"He...He can't see without them. He needs them Pansy, I need to find them for him."

"Shhh, we'll find them Draco, I promise."

~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~

Draco knelt in the cold mud, not even noticing it. He laid his head against the cold marble headstone, tears flowing from his cheeks into the grooves of Harry's name.

He pulled away after a few minutes and slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out a black leather case. He kissed it softly, and stood, walking away from the gravesite.

The air shimmered slightly and a pale, translucent hand picked up the glass case and pulled out the glasses. With a smile he slipped them on, shouldering a HeavenBow3000 and heading off towards the Quiddich field.

As he walked closer to the group of pale, shimmering figures he turned back and blew a kiss towards the pale haired boy before joining his team, ignoring his father's teasing as they faded out of sight.

Fin