GwL: Enough

Year One

He's not at all scared of her like he expected he would be.  In fact, he thinks she's pretty nice; and she has the prettiest eyes.

Year Two

He's scared, but then so is everyone else.  People are being attacked left and right; they say the
Heir of Slytherin is responsible.  He knows it's not Harri's doing, but he's still scared.  He can tell she is, too; he does his best to make her smile whenever he can.  It's not much, but it's the best he can do.

Year Three

It isn't until Hagrid has carried Draco back up to the castle that he realizes he's gripping her arm.
She smiles at him, assuring him that he has suffered no harm.  He doesn't know how to explain that wasn't his concern.

Year Four

He knows he has no chance.  After all, who is he compared to Cedric Diggory?  So he savors their first dance together, convincing himself that it is enough to be her friend.  It's enough.  It's enough.    

Year Five

He remembers the pain, the pain, the naked fear visible on her face as she reappeared in the stadium.  He knows he's not strong and he's certainly not brave.  But as he mounts the Thestral that only he, Luna, and Harri can see, he's never been more certain of one thing:  He never wants to see that look on her face again.  

Year Six

He knows he's gotten stronger, braver.  But when he watches her walk away from him that dreary June day, he's never felt more cowardly.

Year Seven

The Cruciatus curse is more terrible than he had ever imagined it could be.  Still, he endures it.  Again, and again, and again… because he has to.  He has to because he has to be there when she returns.  And she will return.  He has to believe it.  He has to.

Year Eight

He still has nightmares sometimes and occasional phantom pain.  She does, too.  There are dark days when they remember the ones they've lost, but they get through them together.  For Neville, and for Harri, that is enough.