Harryfeelsvitorious.
Andthat’showtheyspendtheirtimetogether.Draogetsbetterinthemsafterthat.Itstilltakeshimawhiletoreallywakeupandbepresent,butitdoesn’ttakehimhoursnow.
Thedaysarequiet.Peaeful.Undemanding.
Draodisappearsinthemiddleofoions,sometimes,buttheypikitupassoonasheomesbak.Sometimes,ittakesawhileforhimtoremember,butHarrywaitspatiently,everytime.
Thedayspassbyinahazeofbreakfastandsmalloions.
ThreeweeksafterDraowasreleasedfromAzkaban,Harryentershisroomandpeersatthefoodonthetable.“What’sforbreakfasttoday?”
“Bananapanakes.”
Harrybeamsatthetstakontheservingpte.Besideitlieabowlofthinlysliedbananas,anotherbowlofrushedashewnuts,andanotherofbutterubes.“Oh,that’salot.”
“IhadBinkymakeextra.Youkeeponeatingmine.”
Harryughsthen,asudden,surprisedbarkofughter.ThereiswarmthspreadinginhisbellyatthethoughtofDraothinkingofhim.“That’sbeauseyoudon’teatthem.It’sawaste.”
“HowamIsupposedtoeatthemwhenyoushovetheminyourmouththefirsthaneyouget?Fukingmanners,Potter.”
Anotherroundofughter.“Sorry.Sorry,I’llasktime.”
Draorollshiseyes,buthislipsaretwithingandhe’slookinglivelierandhedoesn’tlooksosikanymore.Maybeithelpsthatheanmovehisarmsandfingersbetternow.He’sbeenjoiningHarryeatforthepastweek,andthat’sdefinitelynierthanHarryeatingalonewhileDraowathedwithasneerofmokdisgust.It’salsodefinitelynierthaneatingaloneinGrimmauldPe,onthelongtablewithalotofhairsbutnomorepeopletositonthem.
“Well?Sitdown.Idon’tthinkyouameherejusttowathmeeat.”
Harrydoesastold.“No,Iameforthepanakes.”Hetransferstwopanakesonhispte(AfterthreeweeksofeatingintheManor,he’smanagedtodivesthimselfofhisbashfulnesswiththefood),soopsasmuhsliesofbananaasheanwithhisfork,andsprinklesthatontopalongwiththerushedashews.Heunstopsthebottleofmaplesyrup.
“Youalwaysomeforthepanakes,”Draoreplies,gettinghisforkandreahingoverthetabletowardstheservingpte.HisnosesrunhesupatthesightofthepuddleofsyruponHarry’spte.
Harryignoresthat.“Well,ifitmakesyoufeelbetter,I’malsoheretoaskhowyou’redoing.”
“Whatthehellfor?”
“Didyouhaveagoodsleep?”
“Don’tbesopolitearoundme.It’sdisgusting.”