Aging Can Be A Very Scary And Beautiful Thing

Aging can be a very scary and beautiful thing

CW minor character death

Aging can be a very scary thing. He saw his closest and most beloved friends freak out at the very first gray hair, panic at the wrinkles. Hermione buying and brewing any potion that could help slow the process.

He bare witness to Molly and Arthur slowing down through the years. First, it was the hair transforming from pure fire into a snow storm.

Molly, the star of the burrow, the homemaker extraordinaire taking longer and longer knitting the famous weasleys sweaters until one day she couldn't make them any more and used magic instead. Her once soft hands getting tougher, needing the care she once provided, now ached at the joints, her back arched, her trusty walker always by her side.

Arthur worked until the shaking became too much, claiming his friends would miss him and he wasn't lying, the fire shone green almost every day. He, well, aged faster. Magic can be wonderful, but there are things it can not undo. First came the cane, then the charmed fork and charmed chair. Then Mungo’s. Losing him slowly like that didn’t make the pain any less. His goodbye was a sea of red and all the adoptive kids that, like me, he guided in the post war world.

But time also gave him so very much, a career as a teacher is one, but the best one is a family that grew and grew.

Teddy, a grown man working endlessly to make a better world for people like his dad, Remus would be so proud. His little one, Amelia, is growing so fast. They always do.

Rose is a force to be reckoned with. Hugo is going to change the world of potions.

It also brought surprises, revelations and people he would never imagine be by his side when he lost Arthur. Pansy was his rock, Blaise took care of all arrangements.

And Draco, his Draco, was the best surprise time has given him. He morphed his meaning of home, of peace. By his side he learned what romantic love really is, to come together in double attention. To find meaning in meaningless things. And to fall in love, again and again.

Discovering the mutual bewilderment and genuine enjoyment of aging together was a surprise.

He threw a ridiculous party to celebrate his now fully gray head, but because they are old now the hangover lasted almost a month. They learn bingo, knitting and every old person activity they can think of. He treasures every smile line and gray hair and the liveliness of it all.

Aging is a precious thing when you never thought it would be for you.

Also on AO3

Rewrite our forever

I miss you too much sometimes. I shouldn't though because it's been over a year now.

Truth is, I love you and I'll always love you. I don't know how to define the love I have for you now.

I wish I wasn't in love with you but I might be because what we had was real and when it was over, when I wasn't by your side - that hurt.

Yeah, I deserve that because I hurt you just as much and it would be cruel if it didn't hurt me twice as hard as I hurt you.

We promised that what we had would be forever but truth is, forever is a story in itself and it's a story that you and I couldn't have.

But sometimes I wish we did.

The day we were over, that was hard but when I told you that I didn't love you - that was the hardest because it wasn't the truth.

Sometimes I wish I could rewrite our story.

Start over.

I wish I could turn back time and write a more better version of this, write a better end for you and I.

I wish we could rewrite our forever.

Together.

But we can't because some stories can't be rewritten.

Ours was a beautiful one.

I love you.

I do.

After all this time, always the same - Part 2 

Mild angst/ hurt comfort

Rain patted on the patio with the soft whirl of a wind making a peaceful sound. A residual of dead leaf floating over 1 inch of water and reflection of the flickering light of the place burning in a soft yellow. 

Harry revived in that rain, drinking his warm cup of coffee, away from everyone and gazing at the beautiful skyline of London. He drank another sip of coffee, the bitter aftertaste remaining but turned into a sweetness in given moments. 

“Out here alone again?” he heard. 

Harry didn’t need to turn around to know it was Ginny. He welcomed her in his presence; She came and stood next to Harry with her hand placed over the railing and in a soft physical touch Harry placed his hand over hers, rubbing it lightly. 

“We’ve lived here for 3 years and this skyline still amazes me.” Harry gushed. 

Ginny smiled, “The world is always changing, it’s something new everyday.” 

Harry hummed along. She was right, the world keeps moving forward, we keep evolving, 

And yet some unspoken things remain the same. 

“I wanted to discuss about certain wedding plans, whenever you come inside can we talk about it?” Ginny asked. 

Harry gave her a warm smile and nodded, “I’ll be in a few minutes. Gotta finish my coffee.” 

She nodded along and with a small smile herself, she walked back inside. 

Harry watched as she walked away. He adored her, her silhouette, her long ginger hair, the sound of her footstep, the curve of her smile, the sound of her voice, he loved it, everything about her and he might be the luckiest man alive to marry the girl he had loved for so long, after all that is what everyone looks forward to one day. His one day was in 2 weeks and he couldn’t wait for it. 

He turned back to the face of London again and in the soft rain of October, he finished his coffee and went back inside to do the last minute discussions of the wedding. 

But when the night came, when the sun had set and the moon had risen with the dark clouds hazing the sky, day turned into night and another day yet to arrive, he still lurked in the darkness of the night over the one last moment from years ago over the branch of a Maple tree nobody knew had ever even been there. The moment locked there that nobody knew of. 

But now, everyone did. 

He had been trying to ignore what happened at the gallery, he didn't answer anyone's questions because he didn't feel like he needed to and even if someone pestered him too much, he would simply walk away. However, It bothered him and it was evident but he didn't want to think of those days or reminisce again in the lost moments. Those days were over but ever since that one look at the Gallery, Harry had been unable to forget him at all.

It was easier before when they had not met each other for years, when they only heard of each other through someone else or saw it in the newspapers but now, old wounds had been cut reopen and blood flew out of them and no bandage worked good enough. Harry found it hard to not think about Draco anymore and it was worrying to him because he didn't like thinking of him anymore, especially after what had happened in the past but when he's lying awake in the night, staring up at the ceiling, he would run little circles over his own hand and think of the forgotten days and mourn over the lost years.

But things had changed, he convinced himself, things had indeed changed.

________________________________

As days spent away, the date of the wedding remained not further than 4 more days and it was suddenly starting to hit Harry that he was about to be bound to someone for the rest of his life and love someone till his lungs give out and just for one last moment, he wanted to feel free again.

"Are you sure you want me to go?" Harry asked for the third time.

Ginny pushed him out of the door and smiled "I want you to go, more because I need time away from you. It's sort of like a before wedding ritual. Now go- shush."

And the door closed with a thud and Harry was left with no option but to leave, though he was quite relieved to do so.

He drove of miles without a destination in his mind but some track song playing on the radio and cool breeze circulating inside his car. It relieved him off so many things, almost feeling like an escape he didn't know he needed and it felt amazing. He finally got the opportunity to see the outskirts of London that he had never been to all this time, the river that comes down the mountains, and the highways he had never had the chance to drive upon. He kept driving with his windows down and the music still playing. He took his hand out of the window and let the air pass through his fingers, and he felt them untangle from something invisible. He felt the breeze travelling through his hand to his neck, to his head and his heart and it unclenched him off so many things and it made him feel happy.

But the moment he had taken a halt and stood outside, leaning against his car, he felt the heaviness in his chest, he felt it clog and unclog and he yearned for something he had been depriving himself off for so many years. He told himself he shouldn't do it, but London have never looked so beautiful and the sky had never been more clear and so he hesitantly convinced himself that he would drive off to a destination he was destined upon since he was 15.

_________________________________

The fallen leaves from old trees crunched under his feet as he walked past many trees, and the sound that seemed to have been sung by the trees when the air passed through them. It was all too beautiful, the smell of the forest, the light of the sun that made it through the canopies, the sound of animals from afar, the dried up leaves over the ground, it was all too beautiful, just like he remembered.

He might've walked a couple more steps and there he finally was, under the same Maple tree from years ago. He smiled as he looked up and searched around the trunk for the step be created to climb up. It took him a while but he found it and climbed upon carefully.

He breathed sharply as he reached the bench and looked further ahead at the scenery and he was stunned to realise that nothing had changed, it was just like he remembered it, just the same that came in his dream so often, just like the one he had daydreamed of ever since he last came here.

He smiled as he grazed the bench next to his own and he felt the memory come alive in his head, the one from the last day.

"Are you scared?" He had asked

Harry nodded, "change is always hard,"

"Are you ?"

Draco nodded, "Change is always hard."

He didn't want to waste away time in pleasantaries or make small talks anymore, they already have lost a lot of it because of it, so he asked "Will you think about me?"

Harry kept watching ahead, not sparing a glance at Draco, he knew he would think of him everyday but he shook his head instead.

"I don't want it to hurt."

Draco nodded even when he was hurt, "I know I will."

Harry finally looked at him, his features so soft that wanted to caress his face but he didn't, he couldn't anymore.

"You will?"

Draco nodded, "I don't want to forget us."

Harry smiled, "We didn't really exist, did we though?"

But Draco had been far too serious and Harry knew it when he faced him and he saw the glitter of tears held back behind his eyelids.

"We did if only for a short while, it was everything."

Harry couldn't say anything, but he wishes he had, he wishes so much that he had that day.

Harry pushed himself upwards and took out his wallet from the back pocket and opened upto a picture of him and Ginny but today he didn't want to look at it. Today, he took out the hidden picture behind it and grazed over it with his fingers to the burnt corner of the picture that he had once tried to burn but had never been able to actually quite do it.

He flipped the photograph and noted the date "October 15, 1997", the same date of his marriage. It was the last of what he had been left of Draco. He had tried multiple times to throw away that picture that Colin had took but everytime he would look at it, his agony would flood inside him and he was push it away into secret.

He gazed at the Draco in the photo again, both of them cuddled together and he found himself giving out a giggle and he thought it was just that, but a tear blocked his glasses and he had to take off his glasses to wipe them off. His heart clenched in his chest a lot more than he had wanted it to and he pressed that photograph against his chest and he let out the tears he had never allowed to drop from 10 years ago, he finally let it hurt and it stung but he let it happen.

___________________________________

Ginny was helping Harry after dinner when she stopped him by holding his hand and made him look at her.

"Harry?"

"Yeah"

"I- wanted to say this, so just hear me out. I've been thinking and I am so happy that we're getting married In a day and I cannot ask for a better man but something have been worrying me"

"worrying you?" He asked confused.

"Ever since the day we came from the Gallery-"

"Not you too-" he huffed

"Please- just let me say. I've been worried that you've been different ever since. I just want to know if you're okay or if there is anything you feel like you want to tell me?" Ginny asked softly.

Harry held her hand softly and replied, "I am fine, you have nothing to worry about."

Ginny didn't look convinced but nodded anyways but she still went on, "Harry- we'll be together forever after a day. Like forever, you realise that don't you? It's not something that ends in a week or two years, it's gonna be forever. I want to know if you're absolutely sure about this ?"

"Gin, you're just getting cold feet about everything. I want to marry you alright. I've never wanted anything more." He assured her.

She smiled at Harry and then finally hugged him.

"I can't wait to be married."

Harry hummed and kissed the top of her head and yet, his mind lingered on the word forever. Together forever.

And suddenly he felt the heaviness in his chest again.

I had never quite planned on writing a part 2 to this but since I posted this on Instagram, i received a couple requests and thought as to why not.

Will have a part 3 though 😀.

After all this time, always the same

Prompt used- kissing the top of other's head| harry and draco finally meet each other years later at a memorial gallery, discovering some buried promises |

" I actually did not know Colin was this good " Harry said impressed as they walked the gallery

" really, who knew that kid was really good " Ron hummed.

" i miss that kid " Harry said as he drown in reminiscents of everyone who died in the war

" I am sure it would mean a great deal that you're here Harry. He always looked upto to you, he lived a nice life " Denis smiled at harry before he departed to he other batch of visitors. It was almost 10 years after war when one day a bunch of Hogwarts student's had received an invitation to the colin memorial gallery. Dennis, his brother had managed to construct certain photographs Colin had taken before he died and decided to put it into his memorial. Apparently Colin always wanted something like that, but his gallery Would've been incomplete if the people he had photographed had not shown up, so this was the reason why a bunch of Hogwarts student's had been given a free pass as a contribution to his memory. Harry was however saddened by the absence of colin. After all this time he still misses all those who died a lot. He learnt it the hard way that he will probably never forget any of them but he can manage to live with it.

It was however surprising how amazingly brilliant Colin's skills were. Nobody knew he had even taken their pictures secretly and it were all too great.

" hey, theres us " Ron said a little too loudly, much to anyone's liking. Harry gave them all a small apologetic smile before he joined Ron to see the photograph hanging over the wall of him, Ron and Hermione.

" seems like a different era, doesn't it ?" Ron nostalgically said.

Hermione nodded besides him as she put her head over Ron's shoulder. 10 years and they're still in love like they were when they were kids. Harry had always been fond of their relationship, not because it's his friends but because of everything it was built upon, the love they have is just for each other, and there probably had never existed other who had walked upon earth who they'd love them more than they loved each other.

" there's you " Ron suddenly pointed a small picture on the bottom

" oh yeah- that's me " harry carefully looked at his solo photograph. He wasn't particularly attentive, looking in some other direction as if he was watching out for something.

" that's forbidden forest " Hermione peeped carefully at the picture

" It might be the courtyard " Harry interjected as he took a few steps away to look at a few more pictures to avoid their questions.

" but harry I'm sure it's forbidden forest, it's the same place where sir- where you fought those dementors, I'm sure " Hermione egged on

" I'm not saying it might not be, might be. I wandered off a lot during 5th year but I'm pretty sure it must've been just the courtyard, Colin wouldn't probably enter the forest " Harry made a point with raised eyebrows. Hermione didn't seem to believe yet nodded forcefully, dropping the matter.

" there's a tons of pictures of you guys here " Someone said from behind Harry and before he had time to register to who it was, his fingers were already intertwined with someone and by the touch, he just knew it was Ginny.

" well he was quite a fan of me " harry smirked at his fiance.

" but still. It's like you were his personal models. Gotta agree though, he was great " Ginny said as she looked at the wall in front of them.

" he was " Harry hummed and walked alongside the rest of the gallery with them.

It wasn't until Ginny got bored of looking at plain walls just with pictures, she left to chat with other people. Hermione and Ron had collected themselves to the other part of the gallery, conversing with a few people. That meant Harry was left alone and he found it quite relieving even if he loved all of them.

He had reached the last of the gallery when his eyes fell upon the same blonde head he had abstained himself from seeing in years. Hundreds of flashbacks flashed back as he tried not to stare at him. It had been years yet even now if Harry passed by him, he'd know he still smells the same. As if he too had sensed Harry's presence, he looked away from the picture to his direction. They only locked eyes for a moment, a moment of weakness before Harry nodded and walked away. He sighed as he walked away, it has been so long, so long yet this feeling doesn't change. He thought staying away would change but it hadn't helped, not a lot to be precise.

Harry walked away deeper in the gallery until he reached the last of halls and stopped there, right there at the last picture. It was the last picture Colin had clicked after which only his broken camera's were set. Harry would be lying if he said he wasn't stunned to see the last picture. It was so weirdly ironic how the last photograph from Colin's collection was the picture marked with the symbolic representation of end of certain other things. Harry longingly stared at the picture, the moment running on his mind like a music reel

" this seems nice doesn't it ?" He asked

" it's more than nice Draco " Harry had replied

" Harry- i-" but he closed his mouth

" what ?" Harry asked him to continue when he was rendered speechless

" nothing " Draco sighed as he leaned back on the tree

" go on, tell me " Harry said as he climbed forward towards him

Draco stared at him long enough as though he was memorising harry deep within his heart.

" you're going to love me the same, right ?" He finally asked.

Harry stared at him, more confused than ever before he cupped Draco's face and said " of course Draco, always the same way "

" even if I do the most wrong in the world ?" Draco asked a strange shadow of sadness covering his eyes, obstructing Harry from reading his eyes.

" you- I- I-"

" it's hard to say ?" Draco asked almost hurt

" Draco, I believe you. I love you, I'll always love you the same way but the definition of most wrong depends on a lot of things but I believe in you, I know you wouldn't do anything that would be the most wrong thing to me in the world" Harry gave him a comforting smile . When Draco didn't say anything he climbed into Draco's lap and rested his head against his Chest, hearing the rapid heartbeats.

" you're afraid of something Draco " Harry said as he analysed his heart rate

" I'm afraid of the ruins " Draco truthfully answered because he was aware of everything he was supposed to be doing.

" ruins ?" Harry asked confused, craning his neck up to look at him, only to find Draco looking far away. He seemed lost.

" we can never be wholly together Harry, I'm always afraid, every moment of my life when I'm with you..I'm afraid you'll wake up from this dream and realise it's all ruins " Draco answered, his lips trembling a bit. Harry snuggled in closer to his chest, he knew he was right..

" you're not a ruined man Draco and this isn't ruins to me " Harry Answered

" am I not ?" Draco asked looking hurt

" y- you're not a ruined man but even if you are, you are my ruined man and I promise to love you the same way, everyday even if this doesn't work out, you get me ?" Harry asked empathetically.

" you must be a fool to fall in love with me " Draco finally said after a few minutes smiling down at harry.

Sensing the light tone Harry smiled up at him " then I am your fool "

" I'd rather never wake up from this dream " Draco smiled at harry lovingly then kissed on the top of his head and just then they heard a shuttering sound, startling them awake from their moment.

If only harry had known what was to happen, he'd had never gotten up and ran for the sound but he had and it had ruined millions of memories that could've been made.

" it's a beautiful picture" a familiar voice said behind Harry. He didn't need to turn around to know who it belonged to, he had grown up Being fond of it.

" while It lasted " Harry replied turning his head to find Draco was now standing next to him

" broken promises, some thing huh"

" I know I kept mine " Harry whispered avoiding looking Draco in the eye

" did you ?" Draco retaliated

" I always did " Harry replied more seriously now than before.

" oh hey, it's the same picture from your albums Harry- didn't see you there malfoy, g-good to see you " Ron suddenly appeared from behind them

" you never really talk about him. One boyfriend huh " Ron added Patting Harry on his back.

" it's because of the ruins " Harry replied smiling at Ron.

Draco turned his head towards Harry that it almost snapped. Harry had already been looking at him when he did, and for a moment just for a moment, everything had vanished from the room except them. The people here didn't matter, it was just them, finally away in their isolation Just with each other without their ruins. It was a moment of weakness where they smiled at each other knowingly that after all this time, always the same.

" Harry, it's your boyfriend from sixth year, the one in the album-"

" Draco, it's the picture from the album, your boyfriend-"

Astoria and Ginny's simultaneously said.

Requests open

Day 25- perfect birthday plans | Day 27- Harry's dance partner

an ache i still remember

Here, have some angst! inspired by the gotye song "somebody that i used to know" CW: post-breakup, unhappy ending

One moment I'm minding my own business, just going about my day, through the motions. It's easy enough, especially this time before the late afternoon when my mood drops and everything turns gray and I forget that not everything is shit.

But the next moment, after the reprieve of fineness, I see your name in the paper, your smile—or worse, hear your voice, your laugh, close enough to make me step involuntarily toward you but far enough away to remember why I can't. I won't.

Why was it easier to be friends just after we ended it? Why didn't it hurt, back then, to Owl you about mundanities or make small talk? We'd just broken up. That should've been the hardest part. Why has time made it worse?

I find myself resenting you more and more every time I see you, hear you. And for a while, I didn't know why. You aren't doing anything wrong, nothing rude, nothing mean or callous.

But that's just it: you aren't doing anything.

You do nothing. You ignore me. You let go of me like a balloon in a supermarket, let me drift away to float and collect dust in the rafters of the ceiling until someone takes pity on me and manages to pop me, somehow, or I fall slowly, inevitably, to the ground in crumbled, deflated plastic.

I can't even draw on the hatred I had for you in the past. I can't summon the old animosity you burned from my heart with every touch, every whispered word. I want to hate you. Gods, I want to. I almost wish you'd do something to actually hurt me so I'd have a reason, but no. You remain perfectly neutral, silent.

Is that reason enough for me to hate you? To turn this ache into anger? You don't seem to notice me enough for me to have confirmation that you're purposefully brushing me off, but I can't help but feel snubbed when you have every opportunity to talk to me and you don't. When I find out breadcrumbs of your life from people who I know could never know you like I do. When you acknowledge everyone in a room but me after you used to make me feel like I was the only one who mattered.

You made me feel more than anyone else in my life ever has. And I don't know what to do now that I can't love you or hate you. I can't forget about you either, at least not for long. You're in the songs I hear on the wireless, you're in the books I read, you're in the conversations I have with your and my—no longer our—friends.

But if anything you told me was true, if any of it was rooted in what you felt, there's no way you're much better off than me. You can ignore me all you want, Draco, if it makes you feel better to not acknowledge what you lost. I will always be the one you let slip through your fingers.

But that's none of my business.

The predator wants the prey

⚠️- NSFW

There's something sensual in the way I want you. It's in looking at you and wanting the whole damn world with you, I want to pace across the room and kiss you till the daylights are knocked out and want to take you to corn fields and see you smile and giggle and hug you but then there's this wild, raging, lustful part of me who sees you under the lights of shades of red and green, with a glass of neat Scotch in your hand and you look entirely too handsome that even the single fringe of your hair gives me existential crisis. It's evil for you to exist when people like us exist. You're the walking proof of why people like us are never going to forget why we need you, be it our lustful desires, but we need you.

I love you, the whole of you with the whole of mine, I love you till thinking of waking up early in the morning just to brew a cup of coffee for you and bringing it to the bed with a newspaper in hand but then I love you also in the way that I want to wake up next you and run my hand over your body so you know what I want.

And then there is your eyes that looks at me through the wild crowd. There are bodies around me, dancing and I'm swaying to whatever is on the record and you're watching me, every little move I make and you're smirking because god your infamous smirk, steals my heart everytime-smile and the next I know is you're putting your glass down and walking across the room to me and your hands rolls on my body. It squeezes on spaces that wants to be worshipped only by you, and you roll your tongue on my neck like you've been thirsty for so long in the long summer day and now you finally have it, right in the palm of you hand. But its not enough. My ass fitted into the front of your body and your hands possessively holding onto me, that's not enough for either one of us. It's so not enough. What's enough is the people in the room, the blinding songs in the room, the drinks in our veins, that's what's enough but the predator inside you who wants to latch onto the prey in me, that's not enough.

You lean ever so closely towards my ear and you're whispering those filthy thing's of what you want to do to me and I know I want to be tied up to your bedpost with the grey silver tie you wear, I want that. I want my hands tied, I want my legs spread, I want my throat dry and all because I want you, No, I need you and you need me.

"Let's get out of here."

And then I'm walking behind you, hand in hand and I realise I'm living the fantasy that came true.

MASTERLIST

This is like a last 5 minute work before I go to sleep but I don't know what the hell this is.

Re-edited- adding tags for reach. Kindly ignore if you please <3

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