It was too bloody windy out today. How Potter dealt with this crap day in and day out was anyone's guess. Then again, keeping things how they were was an enticing prospect. Having a nice chair to lounge in and getting to stare at the sea while coincidently not having to stare Potter in the eyes? Why do anything to change that?
“You think our kids want to fuck each other?”
That got a reaction from Potter, the almost forty year old too busy choking on his own spit to answer him promptly. “You'd think with your upbringing you could figure out what and what not to say. Well what about us Malfoy? We talk somewhat regularly. Does that make us gay for each other?”
Well damn.
The two watched as the sea went and back forth, never truly receding any great distance but neither was it advancing inland. Well it was but not by much. His old schoolyard rival wound up breaking their moment of respite. “Back where I grew up the beach was a commodity. Something my muggle family only got to see every summer or so. Something reserved for vacations."
“So?”
Harry looked a bit miffed that he had the audacity to cut him off. Well. Served him right. Not like anyone else was willing to interrupt the oh so great chosen one. “I never got to experience it. The beach I mean. Or vacations in general. I guess you could pick your poison. I don't even like the beach that much. The sand gets everywhere but it reminds me of that time."
Potter's wife should be hearing this crap, not him. “And that's a good thing why?”
A hum was his only response for awhile. The man seemed intent on staring at the waves, watching as a lone bird quietly flew over the body of water, intent on finding food. Finally after what seemed like forever, yes he was still a little impatient, the prick finally dained to respond. “Because it reminds me of how far I've come."
Both adults pointedly looked towards the sea rather than at each other. Even if they weren't out for the other's throat, talking like this was disturbing. Even at the best of times. “I saw your woman the other week-." A crinkling of very old magic seemed to envelop the both of them for a moment but went away as quickly as it came. “-she had to go and knock out my team. One of the only things that brings me joy and even now I find myself unable to get away from the Weasley family." That got a smile out of the other man.
“Why are you here Malfoy?”
“Never could flow anything by you. and im supposed to be cunning.” Why was he here? Life was, for the most part, great. He had a son that loved him more than most anyone else. He had Tori who was far better than his kind deserved. He still had his money for what good that did. Still had the peacocks surrounding his family home, still had both his parents alive even if one wasn't ever leaving Azkaban. He'd even got to keep his spot on the Wizengamot for Merlins sake! So why was he here? “Because I'm saying goodbye. I… I am leaving”.
Potter fully faced him now, whatever joy he'd found in the waters suddenly leaving him. “You know you aren't allowed to leave the island”.
It would've felt wrong to disappear while saying nothing. Maybe he shouldn't have come. “I'm not leaving Britain I'm dying you prick!”
"Damn."
It was so so so incredibly quiet outside. Odd that since it had been windy just a few minutes before. But then again this was Harry Potter he was speaking with and if anyone could silence the air itself it would be him. “Does your wife know?”
“I've always been a coward, Potter. I'm sure you already know the answer there”. An irritated frown adorned the man's lips because of course Potter would be affronted on his wife's behalf. Bloody Gryffindors.
“Why are you really here Malfoy?”
“To say goodbye?” Liar
“And to ask for forgiveness?”
Nope. “Maybe?”
“You know I can't forgive what you've done to other people.”
No shit. “I know.”
“But I forgive you.”
“That easy?”
“That easy.”
Standing up abruptly, Draco turned to leave but not before his old rival could give him one last line. One last comment.
“I hope you know what you're doing with that.”
The blood running through his veins froze. “With what?”
“Wizards who mess with time often don't get what they want.”
He shouldn't have come here. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Do you even know what you want?”
“Tori’s dead. She's been sick for a couple years now. If I stay I'll follow her soon enough.”
That got his attention. Quiet anger dipped with magic radiated from his voice. “So your risking all of us, Scorpius included by the way, just to be with a younger, different her for a few more years till she and you die again?”
The watch buriedin his inner left pocket didn't work that way. Seems Potter wasnt fully omnipresent after all. “This world won't die, Harry. I'll just…. go to a new one.”
A quiet grunt met his words. Acceptance of the truth in his tone. “Why are you really here Draco?”
“Watch out for my son. He's the only thing that made me hesitate.” Truth
“You didn't have to ask.”
“I wanted to make sure.”
“Go and be happy Draco.”
A whispered “thank you” escaped his lips along with a look, one final look of… being seen. Because that was Potter's real skill. Seeing people. Seeing them for what they were, not the other crap. Almost like Dumbledore but not so... abtrusive. His eyes didnt judge. They merely saw. As the watch started buzzing in his hand Draco held out a finger to his once sworn enemy. A final fuck you. For the road his eyes had tried to communicate. But time was fickle like that. He wasn't sure if Harry ever got the chance to see his eyes at that last millisecond, because he was much to busy crossing through worldines.