(Andthatpisseshimoff,whattheyouldhavebeenifUnleVernonhadn’tbeensuhanarse.)
“SoIwasthinking,”Dudleystarted,andHarrygroaned.WheneverDudleystartedtothink,theyalwaysfoundthemselvesintrouble.“No,really,IwasthinkingthatyoushouldometomybirthdaydinnerwithmumanddadthisThursday.”
Harryughed,butthenrealizedhewasn’tkidding.“What?eon,Dudley,theyhateme.”
“No,theyhatedmagi.Andtheyhatedyourdad.”Dudleytitledhisbeerbottledtowardshim,pausingtowaveatsomeguyarossthebarthatmighthavebeenhekingHarryoutbutertainlywouldn’tanymore.“Buttheytoleratedyou.”
“Gee,Dud.”Stupid.“Waytomakeaguyfeelspeial.”
“Listen,Iknowit’snotyourideaofafunevening,butIthinkweneedtomovepastthis.They’rewillingtotryifyouare.”Dudleyatedlikeitwasthatsimple.Maybeinhisworlditis.Like,okay,here’smyheklist:getintoollege,getagoodsummerjob,findagirlthatputsupwithmeandishotatthesametime,didallthat,nowwe’regoingtoreatewarmfuzzyfeelingsbetweenmyparentsandthekidtheyrepeatedlyabused.Soundslikeapn.“YouanevenbringDrao,ifyouwant.Iwanttomeethim.”
Harryalmosthokedonhisdrink,butsineDudleywasrummaginginhispokettopaythebartender,hemissedthelookonhisfae.“Really?Youwantmetonotonlybringawizardasmydate,butamalewizard?”
“Theywon’tarethatyou’regay.”Dudleyalmostlookedoffended.“Reallynow,whatdidyouthink?Wearen’tbigots,Harry.”
Theironyofitalmosthurts.
Drao
WhenHarryaskshimtogotodinnerwithhismuggleretives,Draohadsaidyes,fullyexpetinghimtoanelatthestminute.Butasitturnedout,Harrystuktohisommitment,evenifhegetsonsiderablyjumpierastheweekgoeson,pronetobeomingpaleatoddmomentsandbeomesostartledthathedropswhateverhe’sholding.
It’sastrangelookonhim,toseehimafraid,andforthefirsttimeDraoisabletoreallygetanideaofhowhorribleitmusthavebeenforhimtogrowupthewayhedid.Theymusthavebeenreallybad,ifhewasmoresaredtositthroughadinnerthanhewastofightdeatheaters.
“Youdon’thavetodothis.”Draosaid,afterthethirdtimethatHarrytriedtotiehistiebutouldn’tbeausehishandswereshakingsobad.Draostooduptodoitforhim,soheanseethewaythatitpainsHarrytothinkaboutbakingdown.“Youdon’towethemanything.AndI’mnotgoingtothinkanythinglessofyouforit.”
Hefinishesthetie,andthenworksattheuffsofhisshirt,buttoninguptheufflinksthathehadboughthimforChristmas,thenstepsbak.
“IpromisedDudley.It’shisbirthday,andhewantsmethere.”Hisvoiewastrembling,andhiseyesweredartingaroundtheroom,andDraowantedmorethanevertotellhimno,thatthisisonethingthathewillnotwathhimtorturehimselfover.“It’sonlyonenight.”