Draoshouldhaveprobablyknowtoletitgo,thatGeewaswthroughsomethings,buttalkingtoHarry’sfriendswaslikepikingyourwaythroughaminefield—mostpeswereperfetlysafe,butonewrongstepandyoufindyourworldinpiees.
“Whynot?”
“Whatdoyoumeanwhynot?”Hegestureswildlyatthesideofhisheadwiththebottle,attheshinymessoftissuewhereanearusedtobe.“Ilostmyear.Ilostmybrother.Whatmoredoyouwantfromme?”AndofourseitwouldbeaboutFred,everythingthathashappenedwithGeeoverthepastyearhasbeenaboutFred.
“Youdon’thavetostopjustbeausehe’snothere.”
Hemeantthattobe.
(Atually,sraththat,hedidn’tmeanittobe,hewasjustthinkingaboutthefmesandGoyle,andSnapebeingdeadandhailedasaherowithoutonewordtothepeoplelikeDraowhowouldatuallymournhim,andhisfatherinAzkabanwhowouldbehorrifiedtoseehowhissonturnedout,abouthowheouldnotstopjustbeausetheyaregone,andthenthatfelloutofhismouth.)
“YouthinkI’maoward,”Gee’svoiewassoftandquiet,andDraowasforiblyremindedthathewasRon’sbrother,beauseitseemedlikealltheWeasleyboyswouldliketopunhtheirfeelingsinsteadofwthroughthem.Draowouldadmireit,ifitdidn’tkeepmeaningthathefoundhimselfthrownupagainstthewallwiththeirfistsinhesfromhisfae,handsraisedinsurrenderandtryingtofixwhateverhehadbroken.“ThatIshouldneverhavewalkedaway.”
“Idon’tthinkanything.”Therewasarowdaroundthem,allthesemuggleswathingwithworriedfaes,andallofthemonGee’sside.“Really,man.Whatever’sgoingonwithyou,it’soolwithme.”
Geesnarlsathim,faetwistedinawaythatmakesDraothinkhe’sabouttory,andthenshovesaway,stalkingoutthedoor.Draopauseslongenoughtothrowmoneyonthebarandthenhasesafterhim,ignthepeoplewhotellshimheshouldletitgo.
Itdoesn’ttakelongtofindGee,whodidn’tgetveryfar.Hehadonlyturnedtheorner,andnowhewashunhedoverbehastreetlight,handsonhisknees.Helookedlikehewasabouttobesik.
“Areyouhavingapaniattak?”Astupidquestion,beausehewas,andevenstupiderbeauseeventhoughHermionewasfthemalltoreadupontheirpartiurtraumas,knowingthelingoandknowinghowtohelparen’tthesamethings.
Geedoesn’tanswer,justwipeshismouthwiththebakofhishandandstoodup.“Iwasgoingtokikyourass.”
“Youwouldn’thave.”
(Lie.It’seasiertofeelowhenthey’retenfeetapart,butbakthere,withthetensionrunninghighandnoonemovingtostopit,hewasso,sodead.)
“I’vepunhedyoubefore.”Gee’smouthtwithedintoasmileashesaidit,andDraohadanunomfortablefshofhimurledontheground,tryingtoprotethimself,GeeandHarry’sfistsflying.Ithadhurtquitealot.
“Ideservedit.”