“Thenwhyareyouleaving?”
Hereyesarekind,andheisthepersonthatshesoughtoutjustbeausehedidnotstareathersars,andthisgirlwhousedtoturnheadseverywhereshewenthasnowhosentohideherselfinthedarkestpesheanfind,soDraofindshimselftellingher,abouteverything,howhedoesn’tbelongandhowheisforeveriedtoHarryandtheoffhandommentsthatHarrymakes,howheisnotsurewherethelimitsareorwhatlinesheisrossingorifheisexpetedtogo.“AndI’mterrified,”Heendswith,ursinghimselffromsayingsomuhtothisgirlhebarelyevenknows,butatleastsheisnotthinkingaboutthestaresorherskinorthewar,justhimandhistroubles.“Terrifiedthathedoesn’twantme,still,thatIreadthisallwrong,andIan’tevenaskhim,beauseI’msaredtheanswerisno.”
“Soit’sbettertorunaway?”
“It’sbettertobetheonewholeaves.”Thewordsareringinghollow,buttheyaretrue,heknowsit.“Leavebeforeyouangetleft.”
“It’snotmype,”Shesays,justlikeeveryotherpersonwhogivesadviewithoutbeingasked.“Buthelovesyou.Iknowhelovesyou,beauseI’vewathedhim,wathedthepeoplethathearesabout,andhelooksatthemallthesameway,likehewouldburnawayanythinginhispathtogettoyou.Andwhenamanlovesyoulikethat,he’snotgoingtowanttoleaveyoubehindforanythingintheworld.”Lavenderreahesarossthetable,andsheissomuhsmarterthanheremembersfromHogwarts.“There’snothingforyoutobeafraidof.”
“Butthere’ssomuhlefttolose,whenyouknowwhatit’slikeforsomeonetoloveyoulikethat.”Draosaid,thewordsrakinginhismouth,blisteringhistongueashesaysthem.“It’llburnyouup.”
“Trustme.”Herlefthandreahesupherrightarmandtraesthesarsingaroundher,likeshehadthemmemorizedthem.“Thereareworsewaystogo.”
It’sanotherhourbeforehefindshiswaybaktoHarry.
“Danewithme.”HedragsDraotohim,outontotheefloor.
“It’snotaslowsong.”Draoughs,buthestillwantstositdown,beausethisnighthasbeenexhausting.“Andyousaidyouhateanyothertype.”
“Itsoundslikeaslowsongtome.”Itwasn’taslowsong.Itwasheavymetal.Ginnywasthreefeetawayfromthemandatuallyheadbanging,withLunaswayingbesideher,avaguelybemusedexpressiononherfae.“Idon’tknowwhatyou’relisteningto.”
Helovesme,Draothinks,andherethetwoofthemare,slowinginthisroom,andit’sliketherestofthebuildingisfallingaway,burningaway,LunaandGinnyandtherestdisappearingbeausetheyjustdon’tmatter,really,onlythetwoofthemdo.