“Eleven?”HarryaskedwhenDraopulledaway.“Yousurehadafunnywayofshowingit.”
“You’reallIeverwanted,Harry.Iwasterrifiedofthatwant,Iwasterrifiedofyou.”
“YouweremuhsarierthanIeverwas,”Harrybreathed.
“Youwerealmostlike…anentity.Anidol.Youwerebiggerthanallofus.Andsomehow,Iwastheunlukydunethatwentandfellinlovewithyou,”Draoreplied.
“Unluky?”Harryaskedraisinganeyebrow.
“UnlukythatitwasyouthatIfeelforwhenIamwhoIam.WhoIwas.LuiusMalfoy’ssoninlovewiththeBoyWhoLived?Hewouldhavetornmeapart.Morethanhealreadydid,”Draoexpined.
“Iguessthatisprettyunluky,”Harryagreed.HeouldfeelhiswholebodytenseatthementionofDrao’sfather,butdeidednottoommentanyfurther.Draoknewhowhefeltabouthisfather.Hisownsesprobablyweren’ttoofarofffromHarry’s.
“Ithadawayofwitselfout,apparently,”Draosmiledathim,touhingHarry’shandthatstillrestonuponhisheek.
“Don’tgetallmushyandstarttalkingaboutfateandallthatkindofstuff,”Harryughed.
“Don’ttellmeyou,ofallpeople,don’tbelieveinfate.You’realivingprophey.”
“Itouldhavebeenanyone.Voldemortdeideditwasme.Notfate,”Harrysaid.
Draoshookhishead.
“Whatever,Potter.You’retheonethatbroughtfateup.ButmaybenowI’llsayitwasfatethatbroughtushere,justtoannoyyou.”
“Wouldn’tthatbejustlikeyou,”Harryanswered.
“Wouldn’titbe?”
Epilogue
“UnleHarry!”
RoseranupthewalkofGrimmauldPe,trippingoverhertoeswhenshegottothesteps.Harrysmiledasthetoddlermberedupthestairs,pikingherupandhuggingherwhenshereahedthedoor.
“Howareyou,Rosie?”heasked.
“UnleHarry,whereisPhantom?”Roseasked,peeringoverhisshoulderdownthehall.