Chapter Nine
— Sometimes, the pain seems so real. So real that it seems palpable. — Harry confessed. — As if the rest of the world didn’t matter. Only the suffering… and the desire to escape.
Draco nodded, holding Harry’s hand tighter.
— I understand. — he paused, staring into space. — Have you ever felt like dying? — Draco asked, looking at their clasped hands.
Harry stared at him in silence.
— I have. — he continued, not really expecting an answer. — Sometimes I think about what it would be like to throw myself out of that window. Death seems really cozy. — Draco smiled, still staring at his hands with their intertwined fingers. — It seems calm and peaceful.
— Do you feel bad? — Harry asked.
— Not bad… But I feel anxious. Sad. I don’t know. It’s a bad feeling. Sometimes I get scared.
— Scared? Why?
— I don’t know… I just feel scared. Scared and anxious. As if something was going to happen. As if something was going to hurt me.
They were silent. Draco stared at his hands fondly.
— Me too. — Harry said in a tired voice.
Draco looked at Harry, finding those green eyes that were always bright and now gray.
— I also sometimes feel like something is going to hurt me. Well, more like someone. And I also feel like dying. — he said with an empty voice and look.
Draco squeezed the other's hand.
— Why? — Harry stared into his eyes, silent.
— It's... It's complicated… — he looked away to his hands.
They were silent, Harry staring at his hands and Draco staring at Harry's face.
— I love you, Draco. — the dark-haired boy said, looking up from his hands.
Draco smiled, showing his teeth and his eyes shining with joy and happiness. An incredible feeling took over his chest, making him laugh foolishly.
— I love you too. — he said, still laughing.
Harry gave him a small but sincere smile, bringing their faces closer together. One of his hands held Draco's face affectionately, bringing their faces closer and closer until their lips met.
Draco held his breath for a moment, trying to control his smile and the explosions of happiness in his chest. He felt Harry smile against his lips too. They both laughed, still without separating their lips. Harry licked Draco's lower lip, asking for passage.
Their mouths fit perfectly, sharing kisses of love and affection slowly.
Harry moved closer to Draco, climbing onto his lap, one leg on each side of his body, and holding his face firmly, deepening the kiss. Draco let out a moan, hugging Harry and pulling him closer from behind.
They separated, looking into each other's eyes as they caught their breath.
Draco smiled.
— What's your name? — he asked, looking into those beautiful green eyes.
The handsome boy gave him a sad look.
— Harry. — he answered.
— Harry. — Draco repeated, smiling. — It's a beautiful name.
Harry smiled, letting out a laugh.
— Your name is very beautiful too, honey. — Harry caressed his cheek carefully, smiling at him fondly, his eyes shining and kissing Draco's cheek.
I'll ask again, for those who haven't seen the last chapter: I recently discovered that it is not common to use — for English speech and that this can be a bit strange for English readers.
Do you guys prefer me to use quotation marks or leave it like that?