(ThoughafterthatdisasterofthedinnerwiththeDursleys,Drao’sprettysurehewouldifheould.)
Turnsout,though,thatDraodidmind,enoughthatwhenthepeoplefromtheoldDAstartshowingupinhislivingroom(Ron,Ginny,Hermione,Deanusheredinthroughthedoor,howareyou,anItakeyouroats,trynottolethimdietonight),hehastobitehisliptokeephisonernstohimself.Intheory,itwasn’tanythingthatHarryhadn’tdoneamilliontimesbefore,butinpratiethiswashimgoingtofaedownsomeprettybloodthirstypeoplewithnobakupandnooffiialtraining.Theywerestilljustallkids,vigintestryingtotakedownpeoplewhoweren’tgoingtopulltheirpunhes.
“You’reoolifLunarashesherewithyou,right?”Ginnyshoutsthequestionathimfromoutinthehallway,pokingherheadaroundthedoorway,andDraojumps.He’dbeentoobusywathingHarrytonotie.
“Yeah.”Notthatitsoundedlikeitwasatuallyaquestion.He’sprettysurethatifhesaidnoGinnywouldgivehimabkeyeandLunawouldendupwaitingoutthenighthere,anyways.“That’sfine.pany’llbenie.”
Anditwillbe.Heknowsfromthewarthathedoesn’ttakewelltobeingleftbehind,andwhenHarryhadshruggedoffhishalf-heartedofferofhelp,Draohadresignedhimselftoonelong,lonelynightpaingthehallwaysforHarry’sreturn.
“Itoldyouitwouldbefine.”Harryomesupfrombehindhimoutofnowhere,andDraoleansintothehandhehadpedonhisshoulder.“Draowillkeepaneyeonher.”
“I’dratherkeepaneyeonyou.”He’dpromisedhimselfhewouldn’tdoit,beauseHarrydoesnotowehimanything,hedoesnotbelongtohim,andanyways,savingthedayisasmuhapartofHarryashislightningboltsar.Selfsarifiingtendeniesarejustoneofthosethingsyouhavetoputupwithifyoupnonaringforhim.“’tyouletsomeoneelsedoit?”
Hedoesn’tsayhaven’tyoudoneenough,whihiswhathe’dbeenthinkingsineHarryfirstannounedthathewasgoingtobegoingafterthesepeople.FinishwhatDumbledorehadstarted,andallthat.
“I’mgoingtobefine.”Harry’sgothishandedaroundDrao’snek,thetwoofthemfaetofaewithonlyinhesbetweenthem.HethinksofhowitmirrorsthegoodbyeseneHermioneandRonhadgonethroughonlyafewminutesearlierandstepsaway.“It’snotlikethesttime.”
“It’sworse.”Draotuggedonhishands,tryingtokeepHarry’sattentionfousedonhim.“Thistimethey’vegotnothingtolose.”
Andtheydon’t.Noneofyou-know-who’soldsupportersdo,they’rejustontherunfromtheministryandtryingtoregainsomeofthepowertheyusedtohave.Forthem,they’reonlyhoiesaretokeeprunningandhopetofindsomeonewholetsthemwtheirwaybakintopower,orgotoAzkaban.Drao’sgotafeelingtheywouldratheritbethefirsthoie,andtheywouldn’tmindmurderingafewkidstodoit.
“I’mgoingtobefine.”Harry’seyessearharosshisfae,andDraolooksaway,notwantingtohimtoseehowworriedheis.“Ipromise.”
Don’tmakepromisesyouan’tkeep,hethinks,andthendeideshe’lltakewhatreassuraneheanget.
“It’sabunhofDurmstrangrebels,”Ginnysaid,smilingsoftlyatDrao.She’sprobablyhadtobethegirlleftbehindonetoomanytimes,andknowsexatlyhowthisfeels.“We’llbebakbymidnight.”