Andyou,mother?Wherehaveyoubeen?Sittinginthisapartment,pretendingnothingeverhappened?
“Whatdoyouwantmetodo?”Heshouldn’thaveaskedthat.Shouldn’thavetakenthebmeontohimself,likehehaddonesomethingwrong.WhatDraoshouldhavedonewasdemandwhyhewouldwanttoseeamanlikethat,wholedhisonlysondownallthewrongpaths.Whyheshouldareaboutthemanwhoruinedhim.
“Helphim.”Shewasstillstrong,buthewasstronger.That’swhatDraorealized,sittingthere,asshereahedarossthetabletoluthathishands.Thereweretearsinhereyes,andheouldn’ttelliftheywererealoraharadetomakehimpybyherrules.“You’vegotpowerfulfriendsnow.Usethem.”
Hedoesnotwanttobethekindofpersonwhomakesfriendsonlytoolletfavors,butDraodoesnotbotherexpiningthattoher.Itisnottheworldshelivesin.
“I’llask,”Hepromisesher,pullingawayfromher.“ButIan’tmakeanypromises.”
IfDraohaslearnedonething,itisthatpromisesarerarelykept.
Harry
WhenhegetsbakfromoffeewithHermione,hefindsDraostandinginthekithen,holdingamugofteainhishandandstaringoutthewindow.
“Hey.”Hekeepshisvoieralonpurpose,whenreallyhewantstodemandtoknowhowtheafternoonmeant.“Didyougettoseeyourmom?”
Harryknowsthatthesituationwasompliated,sohewasn’texpetingDraotoomehomeandbehappyaboutit.Buthedidn’texpetDraototurnandputhisfistthroughthewall,either,orimmediatelyryoutanddoubleoverafterhemakesontat,luthingathishand.
“Holyfuk,”Draoswears,beauseDraolikestosaythef-wordalotwhensomethingsurpriseshim,thenshakeshishandout,ughing.“Ididn’tthinkit’dbeasolidwall.”
“Whatdidyouthinkwouldhappen?”Harry’salreadygettingawashragoutandingieubesupinit,beauseinhisheadheisstillthatmuggleboylikinghiswoundsonhisown,anditneverourshimtousemagi.Draoouldprobablygetridofthepaininamoment,butheistoonietoturndownHarry’shelp,sohejuststaresathishandindismayandthenaeptsthemakeshiftiepak.
“Ithoughtitwaspster.thatmyhandwouldgorightthroughit,”Hewines,ursesagain,andthenthrowstheraginthesink,keepingoneieubetorunoverhisknukles.“AndthenIouldjustrepairit.”
“Ah.”Harryjumpsupontotheounter,andDraoleansintohim.Healmostdoesn’tnotiewhenhishandgoesupintoDrao’shair,ardingthroughit.Evenwhenhedoesnotie,hedoesn’tstop.“SoItakeitthingsdidn’tgoaswellasyouwerehoping?”
“Theydid.”Drao’svoiewasverysurly.“AndthensheaskedifIhadbeentoseemyfather.”
Hehadn’t.Harryknewhehadn’t.Ormaybe(anditwashorriblethatthiswasthefirsttimethatHarryhadthisthought)hehadbeengoingtoseehimandjustnottellinganyone,beausewhowouldgiveupontheirfather,nomatterhowhorrible?
“And?”