“Idon’tthinkyou’reallowedtodothatinhere,”Hesays,finally,whenshe’sgonethroughhalfapakandthebuttsaresuretobelitteringthegroundoutside,fallingontounsuspetingmuggles.“Seemslikeahazard.”
Hefounditdisgusting,atually.Itsmelled,andevenifshethoughttoleavethewindowopen,thesmokewouldstay.“That’sfunny,Drao.”Shestaredathimoverthetopofhermagazine,andhenotiedforthefirsttimehowmuhheavierhermakeuphadgotten.Stillpretty,butnowshewasmakingitnotieable,likeglitteringwitheverytwistandturnwasherversionofarmor.“ButIdon’trememberasking.”
Penelopeheksinonhimpersonally,andLunaomestoshowhimtheeditiontotheQuibbler(shehadtakenoverintheabseneofherfather,andduetosomeinflueneofbothHermioneandGinny,itwasnowsomethingofanaademimarvel,printingallkindsofthingsaboutnewspellsandmedialadvasandreportsongerousreaturesthataren’tatuallythatgerous),spreadingthemagazineoutinfrontofhimandaskingforhisadvieontheformatting.“Hagrid’sarespetedbreedernow?Ofwhat?”
“Bstendedskrewts,”Sheanswered,lookingupfromdrawingonhisdarkmark,sonowthatinsteadofasnake,itlookedlikeitwasspittingoutmouthfulsofflowerpetals.“They’vebeomequitepopuroverinEgypt.”
LeeJoromesforaninterview,whihDraosaysnoto,andthenstaystoeathiswaythroughthepileofhootefrogsonDrao’sbedsidetable.DeanandSeamusshowuptopopinandwishhimwell,butleavetoofastforarealoion.EvenGinnydropsin,holdingasquawkingTeddyonherhipanddroppinghimintoDrao’sarmsthefirsthaneshegets,imingthatshe’stootiredtodosoforevenanothermoment.
Geeomes,too,eventhoughhedoesn’ttalk,justsitsinthatsamehairandstares,oasionallyansweringwhenDraoaskshimadiretquestions,butthat’salright.Draolikesthequiet.
It’sthethirddaybeforeHermioneshowsup,herhairpulledbakintoabraidthatwasalreadystartingtofallout.Shedoesn’tsayanything,justedgesintotheroomwithherhandspreadarossherribs,andDraowasremindedofeveryone’smentionsofhowsoreshewas.“Hey.”Hesootsbakintothebedsoheisrestingagainsttheheadboard.“Howareyoufeeling?”
“Oh,Drao,”Shesays,movingherhandfromherribstooverhermouthandstaringathim,eyeswide.Hebarelyhastimetothinkabouthoweasilysheriesbeforesheisburstingoutintears,sinkingdownintothehairbesidehisbedandbawlingintoherhands,lettingouthithinglittlegaspsthatremindedhimofhowmuhitmusthurthertobreathe.“I’msorry—”Sheshookherhandsoutinfrontofherlikethatmightalmherdown,winingatthemovement.“IpromisedIwouldn’tdothis,Itoldmyself,Isaid,hedoesn’tneedthis,Hermione,you’rejustgoingintohaveanievisit,but—”Sheletsherselflookathimagainandburstsintotears,thistimewheezingwiththeeffortofontinuingtotakeindeepbreaths.“Oh,Drao.”
Hewasstupidnottohaveexpetedthis.“Hermione.”Heholdsanarmouttoherbutsheistoofarawaytogiveherahugandheannotbringhimselftogetupfromthebed.Itwouldjusthurttoomuh,andhe’sprettysuretheeffortwouldmakeherburstintotearsagain.“It’snotyourfault.”
“Howoulditnotbe?”Shewailed,andthevolumemakeshimwine.“YouonlygothurtbeauseIwastoostupidtonotiewhatwashappening.”
“Whywouldyouhaveexpetedanythinglikethattohappen?”Draodemanded,hisownvoielimbingandbeominginreasinglyhigherpithed.“WewereintheMinistryofMagi!”
“It’snotlikethey’vestoppedbadthingsfromhappeningbefore!”Sheshotbak,andthiswasfamiliar,easy.“They’reallterribleattheirjobs,holy.”
Herommentwasderisive,andfunny,andthenDraowasughingandouldnotstopeventhoughithurt.Afteramomentofwathinghim,Hermionesmiled,justasmallesttwithofthelips.“Youarealright,aren’tyou?”Sheasked,whenitwasalloverandhehadalmedhimselfdown.“Iwouldfeelterribleifyouweren’talright.”