Try Again (H/D drabbles, G)

[sesheta66]

Title: Try Again
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: G
Word Count: 100 (x 3 drabbles)
Challenges: hd100's prompt of "war."
Summary: The end of the war opens up a world of possibilities.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.



No more war, Harry thought. He listened to the celebrations around him, but just couldn't bring himself to join in. Yes, he was relieved it was over. Yes, he was glad Voldemort was finally gone. Yes, he was pleased that most of the Death Eaters and other followers had been either killed or rounded up, so they couldn't avenge their master.

But everyone had paid the price, a high price. Loved ones were lost, ideals shattered, friendships ruined.

As that last thought poured over Harry, he thought back to a potential friendship that was ruined before it had ever begun.

---

Harry excused himself from the celebration outside and went back into the school, into the Great Hall where he had seen the Malfoys huddled.

"Draco, may I have a word?" he asked. Draco looked up at him in surprise, but nodded his assent.

"You will not harm my son!" Lucius said, getting up and looking ready to continue the war with Harry right there.

"Relax," Harry responded. "I just want to talk to him."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"You don't, but given the circumstances, I'd say it's fairly likely I am."

"Father, never mind. It's fine."

---

"What did you want, Potter?" Draco said, his tone defeated.

Harry smiled at his former rival, the young man he had made it his mission to hate, the young man who had been a thorn in his side for so long. "Friends?" he asked, as he held out his hand in greeting. When he received a gaping stare in response, he elaborated. "Nearly seven years ago, you offered your hand in friendship, and I turned you down. War ... a lot has happened since then, and I thought perhaps we could try again."

Smiling, Draco took Harry's hand in his own.

Comments

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

You know, your fic gives a closure to the story (the circle comes to the end) and at the same time opens everything to the future in a way far, far better than the original. Not only for the shake of slash-lovers, but for the whole series of books, this should have been the end of them.
And when I say that, I mean it should be the 'final' end, without any kind of epilogue (epilogues should be for readers to make as a law).

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a perfect icon!!!! Damn, I wish I had room for more. May I scoop & use as a pic within it?

Thanks for your lovely comments. Much appreciated. ♥

Epilogues are all well and good when they aren't just there to patch things up and wrap them in a little bow to appease the masses (sorry ... that's just how I viewed this one). It didn't seem to really DO anything. To me, it just didn't add value ... there was nothing in it that made me go, "hmmm" - whether in a good or bad way. It just did NOTHING for me, and fell far short of the standard JKR set for herself in the seven books. Now, if it actually told us something, that'd be okay. It seemed like a few pages of " ... and they all lived happily ever after - the end," y'know?

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Of course, the icon is all yours to do what you like. I know about not having room for them, because I've a basic account (and really don't want to give LY any money updating the it). I stored the lot in my IJ (http://winter-june.insanejournal.com/profile/) page, and change them as I need them, which is the reason they change to the default after a few days.

As a rule, I don't like epilogues. I don't want them. I’d like the possibility of make my own finals, or better, my own ‘go ons’. I think that universal characters (from Sherlock Holmes, to Alice, to Jim Hawkins, to Harry Potter & Cia) evolved to belong to the public, leaving behind their creators. By giving them this kind of end, JKR established her total property over them (which is her right, when all is said) but I feel cheated, 'stolen' of something I've feel was a little mine to play with. I can simply go on as if the epilogue wasn't there, but it is not the same not knowing than forgetting. Forget implies a conscious effort from me, and it's something I've preferred not having to do.*sigh* But if I don't have another option, I'll use my selective memory for good. Fics like yours are really what all of us need.♥

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks much. To whom do I give credit if asked? Is it yours, or did you scoop it from elsewhere?

Thanks again for your lovely comments. ♥

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

I make it from photomanip of two Shutterstock Archive photos here (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2354/1518928310_aef80fe5c1.jpg?v=0/) and here (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/1518073509_92e8e1c960.jpg?v=0/).

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Nice job.