A/N: This one is based on the song "Love Again" by New Hope Club. It's a bit different than the last few one shots, but I hope you like it.

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Staring at the black wooden door, Draco took a deep breath. He had not seen these people for more than a year. He did not know what to expect. Maybe everyone had changed. Or maybe nothing had changed, but Draco had changed too much and no one would understand.

Draco considered just turning around and leaving. But he was not the same cowardly Slytherin that had graduated a year ago. He was definitely not a Gryffindor, never would be, but running away from uncomfortable situations was not what Draco had done the last year, and he was not going to start now.

Inhaling through his nose, he pressed the door open. His hand subconsciously went to grip his wand, although this would barely be necessary. These people were not here to hold a dark meeting for a dark wizard, this was simply a birthday party for a two year old.

Draco looked around. The living room of the Tonks household was packed with people, mostly adults holding wine glasses. Carefully, Draco broke his way through the crowd, mostly unnoticed. He saw a few familiar faces, people from Hogwarts or family friends to whom he shot small smiles. But his aim was to get to the kitchen quickly where he knew his mum was together with her sister Andromeda. It was too overwhelming to see all these familiar faces at once.

Narcissa Malfoy had come out of Azkaban just three days ago. She was the reason why Draco had come back. Lucius would have to stay imprisoned for a few more years, but Draco's mum had gotten a lighter verdict. Draco was glad.

Reaching the door frame to the kitchen though, Draco spotted a head of black, messy hair. His heartbeat sped up. He still looked the same. Same messy hair, same stupid glasses, still no fashion sense, wearing a too big, washed out T-shirt.

Harry Potter was talking to Andromeda, nodding along whatever she was saying. As if feeling the stare on him, his head turned to Draco.

Draco's breath was knocked out of him when these bright green eyes locked with his. He had missed those eyes. And this smile. Harry was smiling at him. Just like he had all these month ago. This boy had meant the world to Draco. He had been so glad not to have lost him during the war...

Only to lose him afterwards.

His heart clenched painfully. Draco was familiar with this feeling, but he would have thought that it would have lessened after a year, two weeks and one day. It had not.

Draco ignored Harry's inviting smile, averting his eyes and turning around. He decided to go see the birthday boy first.

Teddy, the son of his cousin Tonks, would most certainly not remember him. But Draco had missed him dearly. He was a baby, not even one year old when Draco left everything behind to travel the world. Teddy was the one who made it the hardest to leave. The boy had already lost his parents during the war and Draco loved him. But he had his godfather, and loving grandparents so Draco hoped he was fine.

He went up the stairs to the children's room where a bunch of children were playing with DUPLO (some muggle bricks to build), a bunch of stuffed animals or some children sized plastic dishes.

Draco smiled at a few parents sitting around before he crouched down next to Teddy who was with the DUPLO children. "Hey buddy. Happy birthday." He shook a rattle in front of the kid, who grabbed it. It was wooden rattle with Asian red and yellow pattern and filled with grains of rice inside. He had bought it at a market in South India, one of his favourite places in the world.

About half a minute Teddy shook the rattle around with a "damm-damm-damm" loop. Then, the child next to him with a DUPLO horse seemed to get more interesting and the rattle was thrown into a corner. Draco laughed, watching as Teddy said, "Mine." trying to take the horse from the other child.

Draco grabbed a plastic sheep and held it in front of the children, where the other child took it, leaving the horse to Teddy.

But Draco knew he did not stand a chance against children of the same age, so he only watched a few more seconds, his heart swelling with love for this little boy and he promised himself to make up for the time he had lost with Teddy. It did not matter that the time with Teddy before the last year had the bitter taste of Harry memories, Teddy was worth more than Draco's heartache.

Draco left the children's room again.

After talking to Blaise, whose mother was apparently friends with Ted, Andromeda's husband, Draco was relieved to know that he had at least one friend left. There was still a bit of distance between them since they had not seen each other for a year. Their lives were now completely different from those they used to have at Hogwarts, but Draco was optimistic that they could work it out.

Even though the asshole sneaked away quickly when Percy Weasley had come up to them. Still Slytherin spirit.

Draco did not have anything against Percy Weasley, but he was not particularly ecstatic to see this Weasley first. Apparently, Percy had not changed much. He went on and on about his career in the ministry. He was already head of the Department for Post and Information Transmission. Draco honestly had to admire his ambition, but he did not seem to catch a breath and Draco's brain had shut down after the first three sentences.

Draco did not like the ministry and politics in general. He had dreaded having to be a politician when his father still ruled his life. Thankfully, Draco was able to make his own decisions now.

He nodded along with Percy, although he did not really perceive a word he said, instead looking around. The Tonks' and his mum had hung up balloons and charmed some paper butterflies and owls to fly around the ceiling. The buffet also looked nice. Draco was starting to get hungry. Maybe he could use that as an excuse to get away from Percy. He did not mean to be mean, but it was no fun talking to someone who only talked about himself (or herself).

He could not catch a break through. Percy apparently had never ending breath. Draco imagined it came from having six siblings to stand up against.

"Hey Draco." Ginny appeared out of no where. Completely ignoring her big brother, she hugged Draco. "It's so good to see you. It's been a long time. How have you been? Since when are you back?"

"Hey." Draco smiled. Ginny was also someone he had missed while he was gone. She had a great sense of humour but was still extremely sincere. Draco had enjoyed a few holidays at the Weasley's household. "I'm good. How are you?"

"Fine, same old. Just graduated." Ginny smiled. She seemed genuinely happy to see Draco. Percy huffed and went to find someone else to tell his life story to. "But you have been travelling the world, Draco. Tell me all about it."

Draco laughed. Probably the first time at this party. "Maybe some other time. It's a lot."

"I imagine so." Ginny said.

"Draco." Fleur came up to them and also hugged him, followed by Bill. Draco had spent a few wonderful times at the couple's shared cottage. "'ow are you? I'm so glad to see you."

"You too." Draco smiled.

"So I 'eard you've been travelling." Fleur said. "'ave you been to France?"

"Oui, bien sur." Draco smiled.

"Don't start taking French now." Ginny interrupted. "I found him first!"

Draco just smiled. If he was even rudimentally into girls he would probably like her. "So what are you gonna do now that you've graduated?"

"Oh, the Holyhead Harpies already offered me a trial session. In two weeks." She laughed nervously.

"The top Quidditch team? Really? That's amazing. Congratulations. As a seeker?" Draco could barely believe it. This was a huge team in the Quidditch world. Draco had stopped following what was going on in the Quidditch world since it reminded him too much of a certain someone, but he remembered that the Holyhead Harpies had been third place two years ago.

"No, haven't you seen Janina Weber? She's too amazing to be replaced now." Ginny said.

"My little sister is gonna be a star Chaser." Bill said proudly.

"Bill." Ginny blushed. "Their not even sure if they take me yet."

"They would be mad not to." Draco smiled kindly. "So how's Gringotts, Bill?" Draco was desperate to stir the topic away from Quidditch. Too many memories.

"Oh, it's fine. Same old." Bill waved it off. "Fleur actually has a much more interesting position now."

"Oh, I am in cooperation with ze Goblins inventing more safety measures in ze bank." Fleur said. "Zere have been more tries to break in since last year. Probably because zey've seen zat it's possible wiz Ron, 'ermione and 'arry stealing 'ze 'orcrux."

Draco had successfully avoided talking about Harry this evening. But now, even if it was just the mention of his name, a huge wave of uncontrolled feelings filled his body. He did not hear anything else Bill, Fleur and Ginny were saying, just looked down at his glass. It was almost empty, only a small sip of butterbeer swimming at the bottom. He rotated the glass and watched as it moved along with the gravitation.

"How is he?" Draco did not look up. At first, the thought no one had heard his whispered question, but when he looked up, three pairs of eyes looked back at him. "Nevermind." He said, looking away. He could not stand seeing the pity in their eyes.

"He's fine." Bill said gently. "Much better than last year."

Draco nodded. Better was good. Even though it was kind of a punch in the gut that Harry had improved without him. It proved what Draco had always been scared of. Harry was better off without him.

"If you'll excuse me." Draco smiled tightly at the three of them. They nodded.

"We'll see you later, okay?" Ginny said. "And don't wait for another year to come into our presence again, I dare you."

Draco's smile became a little more real and he nodded. He went over to the buffet since he had not eaten yet. But as delicious as it looked, Draco's stomach felt like it would not accept any of it right now. Suddenly, he stood in front of some brown bushy hair. "Hermione?"

His guess was proved right when she turned around. "Draco! So good to see you. I didn't know you were back!" She hugged him.

"Yeah, my mum came out of Azkaban, so..." Draco shrugged, trying to ignore the pity in Hermione's eyes. He did not want that. It just reminded him of how pathetic he was. "So, you got your NEWT's right? Probably best result of the year?" Draco tried to lighten the mood.

Hermione blushed. "Well..."

It was all the answer Draco needed. Of course she would be on top of everyone. "No need to be modest." Draco smiled. "What about Ron? Did he do the last year?"

"No, he's enrolling Auror training with Harry." Hermione smiled lovingly at the mention of her boyfriend.

"Oh..." Draco said, looking off to the side to hide his emotions. Why was the mention of this name having such an impact on him? It was pathetic. "So what are you gonna do now?" Draco asked. "Still want to try curse breaking?"

"No actually," Hermione said. "There are just so many interesting things. The university is offering a try out year where you can visit different courses to see it they're the right ones. Arithmetic sounds interesting, maybe also some kind of muggle science or..."

Suddenly, Draco could not hear anything Hermione was saying. It was like the whole room was quiet as he watched a black haired young man step out of the kitchen, laughing along with Ron Weasley. He really seemed much more himself than a year ago. Genuinely happy. Although Draco could see that he was still carrying some weight with him, but everyone did after the war.

Harry looked up and his eyes locked with Draco's for the second time this evening. He still looked at beautiful as Draco remembered him.

Quickly, Draco turned back to Hermione, trying to look like he had missed nothing she had said. Hermione looked from Harry at the other side of the room back to him. She went to say something but Draco shook his head quickly. Hermione nodded, getting that Draco did not want to talk about it and continued talking about all the things she was interested in. She also asked Draco a few times, but he only answered curtly, not feeling like talking.

So Hermione continued talking like nothing was wrong. "... but Ron said it isn't. It is very much so, don't you think?"

"Hm?" Draco asked, trying not to look like he had been sneaking the thousandth glance to his left.

Hermione did not say anything for a few long moments, just watched Draco, who shifted uncomfortably. Finally, Hermione said softly, "He has not been with anyone since you left, you know?" Draco looked down at his glass, avoiding her watchful gaze. But he said nothing. "It really hurt him."

Draco looked back up at her, letting out a dry laugh. "I wasn't the one to break up."

"That doesn't mean he wanted to lose you completely." Hermione said.

Draco let out another humourless laugh. Leaving was hard, yes. But being in Harry's presence and knowing this guy was done with him, that thought had been even less bearable. Hearing his name after a year was still difficult.

"It was a hard time for all of us, Draco." Hermione said. "But we're healing. He's healing too. There's still hope-"

"Don't!" Draco interrupted. He did not want to hear it. Harry did not want to have him a year ago when Draco needed him the most. He would not want him now. Full stop. "I need some air."

Draco turned away, ignoring Hermione's, "Draco..."

He needed to be away from all these people. Alone. And he needed his heart to stop clenching so painfully. It has been a year. Why did it not want to stop hurting?

There were considerably less people outside. The cool air felt refreshing as Draco continued distancing himself from the house. Over and over again, Draco tried to swallow down the painful lump that was forming in his throat.

Draco had not cried since the awful night in Kenia where someone had stolen all his possessions, even his wand, and he had walked and walked, trying to find some help in the dark streets of Nairobi. He knew he had been in an extremely dangerous situation. It was scary and frustrating and all the bad feelings and memories came back to the surface. Thankfully, he had found a small wooden house which acted as a small vegetable shop during the day.

As the sun rose, he felt much safer walking around. He recognized a wizard because he had a wand, asked him for help and the guy showed him to an office that muggles could not see and wizards and witches could find via a password. The nice witch working there hexed him a Portkey with which he went to Diagon Alley, got money and supplies and was off to Uganda.

It was a scary night, but Draco was happy he had made that experience. Somehow, it woke some kind of new found bravery and thirst for adventure inside him. He was more careful from then on, but he decided to appreciate the good things that happened even more, and the things he had.

Now, he sat down leaning on a tree trunk, far from watchful eyes. Not that he could see much, his vision was blur with the tears breaking out. He had not expected it to still hurt so bad. It was just like the day Harry had announced it was over.

Everything had been fine. Or as fine as it could be with them having to hide the relationship from Draco's dad. But they had a wonderful relationship. Harry helped Draco break out from his old habits that he had learned from his father. He had introduced him to wonderful people, especially the Weasleys. They had sneaked around at Hogwarts together, helping each other out with homework, sending each other stupid notes...

But everything had changed after the war. Harry became distant, thinking it was his fault everyone died. Draco also had his losses, but he tried his hardest to be there for Harry. Naive as he was, he thought they could help each other through this, heal each others wounds, just be there for each other.

He was wrong.

Draco still remembered the night. He came to visit Harry at Grimmauld place. Living in the Malfoy Manor alone was not comforting, especially given the events that had happened there and the memory haunting Draco. He and Harry had talked about moving into the Grimmauld Place together once they had graduated, but every time Draco had tried to bring it up, Harry had dodged it.

So as Draco went there that night, he knew him and Harry were not completely fine, but he thought they could work it out. Harry just needed more time.

He was wrong.

After weeks of being nothing but passive towards Draco's attempts to keep their relationship alive, Harry told him that he could not do this anymore. That he needed change. That Draco deserved better. And that nothing was ever going to be the same. Draco had cried, but Harry had not. He had just stared at his, then, ex- boyfriend before turning away and telling him to leave. It was a painful night.

Draco had talked to Hermione about it. She had become one of his closest friends and he enjoyed their mostly intellectual conversations. That time, she had told him that it was not Harry's fault that he did not cry. To process the trauma and the constant feeling of guilt, Harry suppressed his feelings. All of them.

Before Draco left, Hermione promised that she would take care of Harry. And Draco trusted her and the Weasleys that they would. He had felt guilty that he did not try to go through this together with Harry anymore, but the boy was opening his wounds more than he was healing them by not showing his own support and comfort.

Additionally, Draco told himself that Harry was right. His ex-boyfriend was better off without him and maybe Draco could do with a little change himself. Staying at the Malfoy Manor, reliving the events of the past few years over and over again was not healthy.

So he took his beloved broom and started to fly, only with a tent, a bit money and a few necessary supplies. It had been quite a ride. Draco was happy he had done this journey. He was a far cry from the boy who hid behind his rich father every time something went above his comfort zone.

He was pulled out of his musings by a crack of a branch and a hiss as someone seemed to hit his toe on a rock. Draco did not need to turn around to know who it was. It was confirmed when a pair of washed out dark blue converse landed in his line of vision. This guy was still wearing the same old shoes as a year ago.

Draco quickly wiped his eyes as the boy sat down opposite of him in the grass. Draco did not look up. "You've never been very sneaky."

Harry gave a short laugh. It almost made Draco look up. He didn't.

"You didn't come." Harry said after a few beats of silence. "To the kitchen." Draco stayed quiet. "I was waiting for you, you know?" 

Harry was waiting for Draco to come and talk to him. Did he forget that Draco was a coward? He may have gotten a bit more courage during the war and the year around the world, but going to talk to his ex-boyfriend that he could not look at without getting a cocktail of good and bad feelings was not a thing he needed.

Did Harry not feel the same? Of course not. Why should he? He was the one who broke up with Draco. And he was the one who decided he was better off without Draco. And he was visibly happier now than the last time Draco had seen him. Which was a good thing. But it still stung.

"Draco..." Harry sighed. It was the tone he used to have when Draco was giving him silent treatment, after a fight or just because Draco was stubborn. Or both. "Look at me." Draco ignored him, concentrating on the grass his fingers were toying with. "Please."

Draco took a deep breath but still did not look up. He did want to though. The plea was genuine, Draco could tell, and he was curious how Harry had changed. The brief glimpse in the kitchen did not show much. Harry did not say anything, knowing Draco was struggling with himself.

Finally, carefully, Draco lifted his head and looked at Harry. At the first look, Harry had not changed at all. Same messy, black hair, same face, same smile, and these gorgeous green eyes. But then again there was so much difference. His hair was a bit longer, his face contours seemed a bit sharper, manlier and grown up...

But his smile was the same, although it was more unsure. It was the smile that their friends used to call the Draco-Smile. Draco had not seen this smile since the night after the battle of Hogwarts. They were nothing but relieved that night, the shock had not caught on with them yet.

It took Draco's breath away that Harry was still looking at him like that. Or more like, again.

He could not stand it. So he looked down again, noticing how his hand was rolled into a tight fist, and loosening it, watching his already dirty hands find the dark soil again.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked gently and Draco heard how he leaned forward. Draco did not react. It bothered him that Harry was so carefree and normal with him. And that he thought it should be just as easy for Draco. "Say something." Harry entreated.

Draco gave a short humourless laugh. "Want do you want me to say?"

"I don't know." Draco heard how Harry shrugged. "Make a snarky comment."

A small smile made its way to Draco's lips and he glanced up at Harry's anticipating face before quickly looking down again.

When Harry realized that Draco was not going to answer, he commented. "You've gotten even more beautiful, you know that?"

Draco's head snapped up, his stony expression meeting Harry's. He was smiling affectionately. Draco's expression remained blank as he asked, "What are you doing, Potter?"

"What?" Harry laughed nervously. "Come on, don't call me Potter again. I like when you call me by my first name."

"No." Draco jumped up quickly. "No, you don't get to break up with me, not give me any sign of life for the whole year, and then flirt with me the first time you see me again. It's not fair. You have a new life now. Stick to that."

Draco was angry and confused, and when he turned away, he felt another lump in his throat. Why was he so pathetic?

"Draco!"

He felt Harry grab his sleeve and he had no choice but to turn back to him. Draco masked his need to cry again with an annoyed eye roll. Draco was the master of masking his feelings with annoyance. But he knew Harry did hardly fall for it.

"I- I'm sorry. I didn't meant to upset you." Harry was obviously struggling with knowing what to say next. Draco was not going to help him. He just stared at him blankly. Draco knew there was nothing unsettling Harry more than not knowing what Draco was thinking. "But that you didn't hear from me the whole year was not my fault. You were off wherever. How was I supposed to reach you?"

Draco rolled his eyes again. How was this the point of argument? "I'm gonna go." Draco said and turned to leave.

"Draco." Harry apparated directly in front of him, stopping Draco's walk. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay? But please don't be mad. I just want to talk to you again."

Draco crossed his arms. "Why?"

"Why?" Harry asked like he could not believe that was even a question. "Because I lo- I mean. Just because we broke up doesn't mean I don't like you anymore. You still mean a lot to me. You should no that."

"I should?" Draco said. "Well, not likewise." He went to pass Harry but the boy held him back by his arm again.

"Draco... I'm-"

"Sorry?" Draco said. "Well, you're one year to late."

They looked at each other, Draco masking his vulnerability behind his anger and Harry not masking his vulnerability at all. He was genuine, Draco could see that. It didn't mean that he wanted to forgive Harry.

"What do you want, Harry?" Draco asked the question that was bothering him the most at the moment.

"I- I want..." Harry hesitated. Draco gave him time to think. The boy needed to know before he pulled Draco into another roller-coaster of feelings. "I want you back in my life. I really..." Harry took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he was going to say next. "You mean a lot to me, Draco. And I get that I hurt you, I really do. I hurt myself to. And if... you know, you don't want me again like... you used to, I mean, that's okay. But I really... I would love if we, you know, tried again."

Draco watched Harry. He seemed genuinely nervous for Draco's answer. But Draco stared at him blankly for a while. First, because he wanted him to suffer (he was still a Slytherin), and secondly, he did not know what to say.

"It's gonna take a lot of work." Draco finally said. "To go back to where we used to."

"We're never going back to the way it used to." Harry said. "We're different people now."

Draco nodded. He knew. He could see Harry had grown up a lot. He had processed a few traumas and he did not seem like the boy who carries the whole world on his shoulders anymore.

"We're going to have a lot to talk about." Draco said.

"So we're going out again?" Harry asked hopefully.

Draco snorted. "I'm not going to make it that easy for you. Who do you take me for?"

Harry shrugged, but there was a fond look on his face. "Alright. Challenge accepted."

He took a step towards Draco and went to kiss him, but Draco pushed him back by his chest. "I'm not kissing you. We're not together."

"That didn't stop you before." Harry smirked.

Draco rolled his eyes and turned to strut away. Like anticipated, Harry stopped him again by apparating into his way.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow at six." Harry said.

"I'm busy." Draco said. He was not. But like he said, he did not want to make it easy for Harry. That guy had a whole lot to make up for.

"Then the day after that." Harry said.

"Nope." Draco said.

"The day after?" Harry tried.

"Busy." Draco said.

Harry knew Draco well enough to know what he was playing. "Tomorrow then."

"Did you ever consider that I don't want to go out with you?" Draco rolled his eyes, hoping to distract Harry from the blush that was creeping on his cheeks.

"Yes." Harry said. "I've been considering this whole year. But now that I've seen you again I decided it doesn't matter what you want. I'm gonna get you back."

"Well, I feel honoured." Draco said sarcastically.

Harry laughed. It put a small smile on Draco's lips. Harry calmed down and grinned back at Draco. And for the first time, Draco felt like Harry had missed him just as much as he had missed Harry.

"Can I kiss you now?" Harry asked, already stepping closer.

Draco would love that. He really would. But he was Draco Malfoy. He was not going to let Harry win this easily. So he stepped back. "No." With that, he apparated away and in front of the Tonks' door to return to the party, leaving Harry staring into the air.

They were going to be alright.