“Hey.”Whenhegetsloser,thereisnomistakinghimforanyoneelse.“Waitaminute,willyou.”
Hegrabshimbytheelbowandyankshimbakward,themotiontohard,anditwrenhesDraoaroundtofaehim.“What?”
Draospitsthewordathim.Andwhyshouldn’the?ItwasHarry’sbestfriendwhothrewhimout,afterall.“I’msorry.”
“Youshouldn’tbe.”Draostaredatthesky,andHarryknewthattheshakywayhewasbreathingmeanthewastryingnottory.“Hedoesn’thavetofiveme.Ididawfulthings.”
“Butyoudidgoodthings,too.”Harrydidn’tknowwhythiswassoimportanttohim.Maybehejustwantsthesetwopeopletobeasimportanttoeahotherastheyaretohim.“You’regood.”
“Notgoodenough.Andyoushouldn’t…”Adeepbreath,onethatwasmeanttoforealm.“Youshouldn’tbehere,youshouldgoinside.”Itdoesn’tlooklikehereallymeansthat.“They’llmissyou.”
“Idon’tarewhattheythink.Idon’tareabouthim.”Itwastrue,suddenly,andHarryknewit,thatheouldturnhisbakontherestofthemiftheydidn’twantDrao,hewouldbewillingtomakethattrade.Hewasalsostandinglosetohimnow,solose,loseenoughtobegerous,butHarryannotmakehimselfstepaway.“Iwantthis.”Apause,wherehegotevenloser,hishandsonDrao’sshouldersandhisfingerstwistingintothefabriofthisshirtthatwastoothinfortheoldweather.“Iwantyou.”
Draoloseshiseyeslikeitpainshim,andthenbowshisheadsohisforeheadispressedagainstHarry’s.“Wean’t.”
“Wean.”Harrysays.‘Weandoanythingwewant,anddamntherestofthem.”
Theexmationfeltsogood,soperfet,thatherealizesthatitmustbetrueandlosesthosestfewinhesuntiltheyarekissing.It’sreallynoteventhat,justaghostofatouhagainsthisskin,butitouldbe,itouldbemore,untilDraoshovesthemapartandstartstoshakehishead.
“No,”Hestepsaway,andthemomentvanishesintoawkwardnessandunease,thetwoofthemstaringateahotheruainly.“Wean’t.”
Heshakeshisheadonesttime,thenaparatesleavingHarrytoturnbaktothepartyalone.
Chapter16
Drao
Thesilenebetweenthemisstifling.
NotthatDraothoughtthatheandHermionewouldbeabletomeetattheirusualtimeandpretendthatthingsarenormal,afterwhatRonhadsaidtohimandDraoleftherryinginthemiddleofherownapartment,buthedidn’treallyexpetittobotherhimallthatmuh.Apartofhimreallyhadfooledhimselfintothinkingthatthiswasjustasortofaademiarra,thatitwouldallevaporateonetheyhadfiguredouthowtomakethepotionswork.Likethiswasasortofwe’retheonlytwopeoplewhoandoit,solet’sallatruewhilewework,andthattheminutetheywerefinishedalltheshoolyardtauntinghehaddonewouldriseupbetweenthem.