Almost
**Draco**
He hadn’t slept well in days.
Not since she came back. Not since Harry’s smile started flickering between past comfort and present confusion. And certainly not since Harry came to the tower and said—
"You’re in the picture now."
Those words hadn’t left Draco’s mind.
It was terrifying. Thrilling. Impossible.
He wasn’t used to being wanted. Not like that. Not genuinely.
So he did what he always did: pushed it down. Pretended it didn’t matter.
Until Harry cornered him again.
**Harry**
“Draco, wait—”
Draco rolled his eyes. “You really need a hobby that isn’t following me.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“No, you need to figure out what you want,” Draco said, his tone clipped. “Because I’m not going to be the shadow of your old flame, Potter.”
Harry exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. “You’re not.”
Draco’s arms crossed. “Then why are you still acting like she matters more?”
“She doesn’t!” Harry burst out, louder than he meant. “She never did, not like this.”
Draco flinched.
Harry stepped closer.
His voice dropped. “I don’t know when it changed. I don’t know why you — of all people — got under my skin the way you did. But you did. And now you’re in there, and I can’t ignore it.”
Draco stared at him, speechless.
The air crackled.
And suddenly… they were too close.
**Draco**
His heartbeat was ridiculous.
Loud. Wild. Hopeful.
Harry was looking at him like he wanted to say more. Like he might actually do something about it.
And Draco—Draco wanted it.
He didn’t realize he was leaning in until they were breathing the same air.
Fingers brushed.
A pause.
One second more…
—
“Harry?”
They both jumped.
Ginny stood at the corridor’s end, blinking, her expression unreadable.
Harry stepped back like he’d been burned.
Draco's chest hollowed out.
Of course.
Of course.
Ginny
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said quietly.
She looked between them — eyes sharp, calculating. Not angry. But not surprised either.
“I just… wanted to talk.”
Harry swallowed hard. “Can it wait?”
She nodded slowly, gaze lingering on Draco. “Sure.”
But they all knew it wouldn’t.
Not really.
**Draco**
He didn’t say anything.
He turned and walked away before Harry could make excuses.
Before Harry could run after her.
Before his heart could break in front of both of them.
He’d been right all along, hadn’t he?
He’d gotten too close to something he was never meant to have.
**Harry**
He didn’t go after Ginny.
He stood there in the empty corridor, staring at the space where Draco had just been.
And for the first time in a long time… he felt like he was losing something he wasn’t ready to lose.
Not again.
Not this.