Don't Go Away

Harry's throat felt tight. The plane's engines revved mercilessly as they turned into a taxi and started onto the runway. He looked out the window and saw the airport, and he swore he could see him.

He turned around and tried to focus on the attractive stewardess who was telling them about safety regulations. But he couldn't help it. He wanted to get off this plane. Suddenly, the stewardess was sitting in a seat at the back, and the plane was leaving ground, and Harry felt like screaming. He turned, and saw the port, the large windows, and the people standing at them. He searched through them, and saw him. He wished their eyes could meet, he moved a hand and waved goodbye at the shrinking port.

Then he turned. It was over now. He was leaving, hopefully forever. He had other things to worry about. Other things to do and see. But he wanted to do them alone. And now, as the flight commenced and they climbed higher into the clouds, he wished he hadn't left. The sun was rising and Harry watched it mark the clouds iridescent colors, like opals in an ocean of sunlight. Mist sprinkled on the plane's windows and Harry gripped the seat.

So, it was real. He really was leaving.

*~*

Draco stood there for a minute, feeling sick. This wasn't happening, was it? Harry couldn't be leaving. No! But the plane he'd watched Harry board, the plane was in the sky. Number sixteen. The number was imprinted. The number that the one he loved had left on. The plane that brought Draco's future to a crashing halt.

He turned. He couldn't stay here forever. Harry wasn't coming back, he knew that now. Harry was going to places he'd always wanted to go, and that was it. He wasn't going to stay with Draco.

Draco understood Harry's reasons to leave. He really did. Wanting to go to new places, see new people... and not take a sniveling runt with him, a whiny, overprotective man. No, Harry's journey to America was one to be taken alone.

And even though Draco understood, he was angry. Because Harry wasn't coming back. Harry never would come back. And yet Harry still held Draco's heart. And he always would.

*~*

Harry had to get off the plane. Just, he had to. Because now was not the time to play games or leave. He loved Draco Malfoy, and that was it.

Suddenly, his reasons to leave seemed desperately illogical. Even though the six hour flight to New York was halfway done, he was ready to turn around and go straight home.

He couldn't back out now! He'd come so far! The fights and arrangements were all laid out, and nothing could stop him from turning back and running back to England to be back with the person who had totally changed his life, had turned it upside down, and then right side up again. The pilot on the intercom reported their destination, they would land in about an hour.

Harry flagged down the stewardess.

"One martini, if possible."

*~*

Draco threw the car keys onto the table and went into the bedroom and flicked on the light. The unmade bed was the result of Draco snapping awake, realizing Harry was leaving that day, and running to the airport to save him.

It hadn't worked. Harry was gone.

With a sigh, Draco set to fixing the sheets and covers. He let out a quivering breath and once the bed was made he sat on the edge and looked at his hands. His life line was still marked with that mark Harry had given him, the one that looked like a phoenix. It wasn't as strong now, it was fading slowly.

It was a mark of love that was losing its color.

*~*

The hotel was nice. Harry leaned onto the bed and then just released his emotions. Grabbing a pillow, he buried his face in it and screamed out, "I love you, but I don't!" as loud as he could, as many times as he could, until his voice was hoarse and transparent and even then he whispered it into the pillow.

Harry never cried. Not even when Draco almost died or when he got his heart broken by Hermione. He hadn't cried, his emotions were locked.

Oh, how his conscience hated him. His mind burned.

But it was too late. New York was his home now.

*~*

"I love you, Draco."

Draco smiled lightly and wrapped his arm around the woman next to him, who simply kissed his neck.

"How come you never say it back, Draco?"

He couldn't tell her the truth. He couldn't tell her he was still deeply in love with the one, the only Harry Potter, who was now in a New York apartment working somewhere, he assumed. He hadn't heard from him the entire summer. It felt like his heart was being smashed by a hammer.

"Are you alright?"

"Of course," Draco said, faking a smile and hugging her. "I'm just thinking, s'all."

The girl smiled and leaned against Draco. "I am so glad I met you."

Draco, with great effort, with too much pain, managed to squeak, "Me too."

*~*

"I can't take it anymore."

Harry's hands shook and the pen drew scribbly lines on the pristine paper he was writing the report on. Wait, no, not scribbles. Just DRACO over and over.

Damn that... that... that perfect, handsome, kind man! All that was on Harry's mind was Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and no matter how much he tried, there was no getting rid of him. Not even tits and strip clubs managed to rid Harry's pain.

It wasn't a "one-fling-thing" as some Americans lovingly called relationships like Harry and Draco's. It was more of a "devotion" thing, a "loyalty" thing.

And then, it clicked. And the paper was crumpled in front of him as his mind went frenzied. How stupid could he be? Loyalty, Gryffindor... it all made perfect sense. A loyalty thing... if loyalty was a Gryffindor trait, what was Harry doing to Draco? He knew his ways, he loved Draco Malfoy, and as his hands shivered when they hit the receiver of the phone, it was all Harry could do to pray that Draco felt the same.

*~*

Ring, ring.

Draco put the coffee pot down and wandered aimlessly around his flat to the phone.

Ring, ring.

"Hold it," Draco muttered as he picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Draco?"

The receiver slipped and Draco nearly dropped it, but he caught it with his other hand and whispered, "Harry?"

"I... I bought some tickets, Draco. I'm coming home." Harry sounded relieved, yet nervous.

Draco's heart stopped, and he fell to his knees and sobbed quietly, "Hurry."

The two hung up, and Draco knew that the plane would come the next day. He sat down and couldn't contain his happiness. He didn't care about his girlfriend, he didn't care about the date they had that day. He was going to stay here and wallow in his joy.

Because Harry Potter was coming home.

~ Fin ~