Ripped Away from the Altar

His family and friends watched as he stood before the altar. It was a cold crisp winter morning and quite frankly, Hogwarts had never looked so beautiful. His emerald eyes gazed deep into silver ones. Soft pale hands held his as he waited to hear those words. After a moment he heard them. "I do." In that moment, the happiest moment of his life, his heart leapt in his chest, bringing with it a warm smile and he felt a familiar gut wrenching sensation in the pit of his stomach. Closing his eyes in surprise, he stumbled but managed to stay upright. Upon re-opening his eyes he found he was no longer staring at the man he loved, but at a cold grey wall. A familiar cold voice spoke and he felt a chill run down his spine. "Welcome back Mr Potter." Slowly he turned and his eyes met red ones. The red eyes, the colour of the blood of the innocents held him for a moment before everything went black.

Draco spoke those soft words and watched, horrified as the one he loved disappeared. Shocked murmurs spread throughout the people watching, and all he could do was stare at the spot where Harry had just stood. He heard chairs being pushed back and he could hear the footsteps of a heavily pregnant Hermione rushing up to him and Ronald Weasley following close behind. But his mind registered none of it. All he could do was stare as his world crashed down around him. Panic ensued around him and he stood there, staring. He felt a hand touch his back, but he ignored it. "Harry." His whispered plea was only audible to the girl whose hand was on his back. "Harry!" His voice got louder. "HARRY!" The people rushing around him stopped trying to figure out what happened and turn to look at him with wary eyes. A strangled scream ripped from his throat as he broke down, tears finally coming to his eyes. To his knees he screamed Harry's name one last time. Firm Hands pulled him to his feet and he collapsed against a shoulder of bushy brown hair. A firm hand wrapped around his shoulders and he was steered away from the prying eyes of the people that had come to watch the wedding of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.

Red puffy eyes opened to the sound of an owl at his window. Leaning over to wake up Harry, Draco paused and remembered. Tears attempted to reach his eyes, but he had none left after crying them all out last night. Dejected he tried to fall back into a cocoon of feeling nothing, but the persistent tapping brought irritation, then a trembling lip as he remembered how Harry never refused on owl entry, just in case it was carrying an important letter. The tears finally came. Harry had left him. Harry SMILED as he abandoned the man who loved him, the man he obviously didn't love in return. The owl continued tapping. Draco sat up in a rush of sudden hope. Maybe the letter was from Harry, maybe saying he was scared and regretted what he did and asking Draco for forgiveness. He ran to the window and grabbed the startled owl, suddenly desperate to read the letter. His heart was wrenched from his chest. It wasn't from Harry. It was from Voldemort. It was telling him that he would never see Harry again. It was telling him that in punishment for refusing the mark, he would be the first to know that Harry was dead.