“Wellgood,maybewe’llkeepher,”Draosaidfrombehindhim.HesmiledwhenHarryturnedtofaehim.“You’llbehappytoknowI’verepairedtheholeinthewardsyourippedwhenyouapparatedfromthebedroomthism.You’rewelome,bytheway.”
“Sorry,Iwasn’tthinking.”
“SomethingI’mverymuhusedto,believeme.”
Togethertheyenteredtheirbedroomandgotundressed,slidinginundertheovers.DraowastednotimeinpositioningHarryexatlyhowhewantedhim,usinghishestasapillowandhithinghiskneeoverHarry’sthighs.“We’llhavetothinkofsomethingnietobuyGinnyasathankyoupresent,”hesaid,pullingatHarry’swristuntilhebeganpyingwithhishair.“Ithinkourlittlemonsterreallyranherraggedtoday.Notthatthat’sunusual,she’sfartoomuhlikeyou.”
“Hey,”Harrypulledhishair,affronted.
“It’sprobablybeauseyouarriedher;shelearnedtobereklessandtojumpbeforeshelooksbeforeshewasevenborn.”DraodrewirlesontheskinofHarry’shestashespoke,hisshoulderstensingslightly.“Maybetime,itshouldbeme.”
Harry’sheartbeatwildlyinhishest.“time?”
Draoshrugged,butHarryouldtellthathewasnervous.“Wedon’thaveto.ButitmightbenieforLissatohaveasibling.”
TheimageunfoldedbeforeHarry’seyes,andtheyburnedwithunshedtears.Inthisfuture,hehadeverythinghe’deverdreamedof,apartner,ahome,afamily,andhewanteditallsogoddamnedmuhithurt.
“Ithinkthatwouldbenie,”hesaideventually,whenhethoughtheouldkeephisvoieeven.
Draoraisedhisheadtolookathim,hisgreyeyeshopeful.“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”Harrykissedhim,puttingallthewordsheouldn’tsayintothekiss;howmuhhewantedthis,howsorryitwasthatthiswasn’treal,howhewouldgiveanythingtobeabletostayandmakethishis.Whentheyparted,DraosnuggledbakdownontoHarry’shest,andHarryletthesoundofDrao’sevenbreathingsendhimofftosleep,wishingwithallhisheartthatheoulddoiteverynight.
ThefirstthingHarrybeameawareofwasthesmell;disiandlemons.Thenheheardthetell-talesubtlebeepingandheknewexatlywherehewas.He’dbeenhurtonthejobmanytimesonlytoawakenagaintothesoundsofmedialobservationharmsandthesentoffreshlysrubbedroomsinStMungos.
Hedidn’topenhiseyesstraightaway—hewantedtostayinthedreamhe’dbeenhavingforaslongasheould.Eventuallythough,heknewhe’dhavetofaerealityandheslowlyblinkedhiseyesopen,takinginthefamiliarviewofahospitalroomeilingabovehim.Heswallowedhisdisappoiandliftedhisrighthandtosrubathisfae—hisleftwasenasedinsomethingwarm,andhewonderedifhe’ddoneenoughdamagetowarrantastrongerhealingharmonit.Hedidn’tlook;heknewhe’dbeokayeventually,andhedidn’tneedtoseewhateverhadbeendonetohim.
“Harry,thankgoodnessyou’refinallyawake!”
HarryturnedtofindHermionesittingonhisright,holdinghisgssesouttohim.Hetookthem,andsheamefurtherintofous.Herhairwaslongeragain,pulledbakinamessypit,andshelookedtired.Booksandparhmentoveredherp,tukeddownthesidesofherhairandspreadarossthebottomofhisbed.