Chapter7
Drao
“eon,”Harryhadsaid.HewastuggingonDrao’shand,hairstillmessyfromsleepandasmilepyingoverhisfae.“It’llbefun.”
Draodidn’twantto.Hedidn’twanttobeauseHarrywasmakinghimgooutside,andtoDiagonAlleynoless,wherehewouldbereognized,wherepeoplewouldstareandmutterandsnarlawfulthingsbehindtheirhandsandmaybeevensendtrippingspellsathisfeet,andhewouldbewithHarry,andifHarrysawallthathewouldrealizewhatanawfulmistakehehadmade,whatkindofpersonhehadinvitedintohishome—butHarrywassmilingdownathimandtouhinghimandDraoisquiklylosinghisabilitytosaynotothingswhenHarryislookingathimlikethat,sohethrowstheboffofhim(Idon’tsleepverywell,Hermionesaidwhenshegaveittohim,thrustingabundleofblueintohishands,soIthoughtI’dmakeyouonetoo)andgettingtohisfeet.
“Alright,”Hehadsaid,eventhoughthethoughtofsteppingfootoutsidethishousemakeshisstomahurlinonitself,andHarry’ssmilegetsbigger.“I’llgo,youbastard.”
Therewasnobiteinhiswords,andtwohoursterhefoundhimselfwalkingthroughtheLeakyCauldron,listeningtoHarrysayhitoOldTom,whodespiteeveryonewhohadbeenlostinthepastfewyears,wasstillputteringaroundinhisbarandhurningoutpotsofwateryoffee.Whentheywalkoutintothealley,Draohastosquintagainstthesuddenburstofsunlight,androwdsintoHarrywithoutnotiingit.
“Alright?”
Draoknew,withoutHarryneedingtoreallysayit,thatifDraotrulywasn’talright,theywouldturnaroundandapparatehomeandnotmentionit,andHarrywouldspendhisdayofflikehehadspenteveryotherdayoff.Butsuddenly,Draowantedtobeabletowalkthroughthisalleywayandsqueezehiswaythroughtheothershopperswithoutdrawingseondgnes,wantedtobeafreemanwhodidn’tfeellikeheneededtobeinhains.Andmaybetheonlywaytodoitistofaethingslikethisheadon.
Andbesides,Harrywaswithhim.It’snotlikeanythingwasgoingtohappenwhenHarrywaswithhim.
Draotakesadeepbreath,foreshimselftobetheoneandtakethefirststepintotherowd,evenifhedoessearhbehindhimandkeephisfingerstouhingHarry’swrist,likeHarrywasalifebuoyandhewoulddrownifheletgoforevenaseond.
“Alright.”Anditwas.
Theygointotheapothearyfirst.Thatwasthewholepointofthetrip,beauseheandHermioneneedednewingredientsfortheirexperiments,andwhenDraohadgivenHarrythelist,hehadlookedfaintlyembarrassedandthenonfessedthathehadnoideawhattolookfor.