Inhishead,Harryisthinkingthatallheneedsistofindhim,tolearthedustanddebrisoffDrao’sfaeandrushhimtohishest,holdhimandneverlethimgo.Butwhenhedoesfindhim,halfpullinghimoutofthedisasterbeforeRongrabsHarryunderhthearmsandpullshimaway,itdoesnothelp,beauseeventhoughHarryhadseenalotofawfulthings,thismighthavetobetheworst.
Penelopeistryingtotalktohim.Harryknowsthat,dimly,evenreognizesherwords,buthedoesn’treallylisten.“Thisisajobforahealer,Harry,”Sheissaying,andPeryhasgrabbedhimbyonearmandRonbytheotherandtheyarepullinghimaway,butHarryisn’tooperating,beauseallheislookingatisDrao,withthebloodsnakingdownfromhistempleandthedustonhisfaeandhisbreathingsoharshandloudthatitmightbebetterifheouldnothearthebreathatall,beauseatleastitwouldnotsoundlikehewasinsomuhpain.“Letmedomyjob.”
HeonlystopsfightingwhenGeejoinshim.Hean’tsaywhy,really,exeptforthefatthatifthereisonepersonintheworldwhoknowswhatisliketolosesomeonethatissounbelievablyvitaltoyourownwell-being,itisGee.Harryan’timaginethathewouldaskhimtostepawayiftherewasawayforHarrytohelp.
“She’sgoingtotakeareofhim.”Perytellshim,hisjawsetandhisfaesmearedwithblood.Later,HarrywouldlearnthatitwasPery’sown.HeaughthimwithanelbowtothefaewhenPeryfirsttriedtopullHarryaway.“She’sthebestatherjob”
Forthefirsttime,HarryantrulyappreiatePeryandwhatheando.Despiteallhispomp,hereallyisoneoftherarepeopleinlifewhoareabletowalkintoanemergenyandontrolaroom,whoanlookatasituationandseewhatneedstobedone.Andhedoesn’tlie,andhedoesn’thavemuhpatieneforpeopleheonsidersi,sowhenhesaysthathisgirlfriendisthebestatherjob,itisn’temptyfttery,it’sthebestwordsofomfortheanthinkofgiving.
“Okay.”Harrysays,andsinksdowntotheground.ThereisahandonhisshoulderandheknowswithoutturningthatitisHermione,beauseheanreognizetheweightofitfromsomanyyearsofherholdinghimbakandholdinghimup.Heraiseshisownhanduptomeether,andannotfindtheenergytoaskifshewasalright,eventhoughhehopesthatsheis.“Okay.”
“Hey.”Ginnythrowsherselfdownonthegroundbesidehim.They’rebakinsomehallwayintheministrythatPeryhadledhimto,promisingtosendsomeonewhentheyhavenews.DraowasatSt.Mungo’sinamagiinduedoma,andwasnotlikelytowakeupanytimesoon,sonoonethoughtthatitwasimportantforhimtoheadoverthererightaway.“Thoughtyoumightwantthis.”
She’sholdinghiswandouttohim.Harryhadn’teventhoughttogoafterit.Ifsomeonewantedtohurthim,hewouldtearthemapartwithhisbarehands,ruinedastheywere.“Yeah.”Theweightofitmakeshimfeelbetter.
“We’regoingafterthem,ifyouwanttoome.”SheisdressedinwhatGeehadnamedherbattlearmor—ombatbootsandanoldjaketwithapathovertheelbow,fingerlessleatherduelingglovesandherhairpulledupinatightponytail.“Thepeoplewhodidthis,Imean.”
“Youthinkweangetthem?”
Hewasn’tiedinit,iftheyouldn’tgetthem,ifheouldn’tmakeoneofthemhurtliketheyhurtDrao.