“It’salright.”
“It’snot.”Harryturnedtohim,wantinghimtomakeitbetter,knowingthathewon’tbeableto.“Howouldthisstillbeathingthatsaresme?”
Beausethat’stheworstthingaboutit,really,howafterallhehaddoneitwaswhattheDursleyshaddonetohimthatleftthedeepestsars,andHermioneouldtalkallshewantsabouthildhoodandformativeyearsandrepressedmemories,Harryknowsthetruth:thisisweakness,pinandsimple,andallheeverwantedtobewasstrong.
“Beauseit’ssary.”Draosatdownbesidehim,butdoesn’ttouhhim,andHarryisgrateful.“BeauseHermioneissaredoffailingatestandRonissaredofspidersandI’msaredofheightsandthere’snothinganyofusandoaboutit,itjustis.Itdoesn’tmakeyoumoreorlessthananyoneelse,itjustmakesyouhuman.”
Weknewamanwhowasn’thuman,Harrythought,andmaybethat’swhyhelikedDraosomuh,beauseoutofallthepeopleinhislife,heistheonewhoreallyknowswhatVoldemortwaslike,howhismindworked.Whobeameobsessedwithonqueringhisownfear,thoughtthatitmeantthathewasweak.Don’tbelikethatman.
Heouldbringthatup,now,ifatanytime,buthedoesn’t.“ButyoupyedQuiddith.”
“What?”
“Yousaidyouwereafraidofheights,butyoupyedQuiddith.”Harrydidn’twanttotalkaboutVoldemortortheupboardunderthestairsorthatelr.“Why?”
“Mydadwantedmeto,”Draosaid,shrugging,andHarryisremindedofanotherthingthatHermionesaid,abouthowallparentsleavesarswhetherit’siionalornot.Hehadn’tbotheredtoaskwhatherslookedlike,butnowhewisheshehad.“I’ddoanythingtomakehimproud.”
Theysitinsileneforamomentmore,andthenDraospeaksagain.“Youdon’thavetohideit,youknow.Whenyou’reafraid.Atleastnotfromme.”Harryopenedhismouthtospeakbutouldn’tfindwhathewantedtosay,onlythathewantedtoargue.“Iknowyou’vegotthisthingwhereyouwanttoproteteveryoneyouareabout,butplease,love,letmetakesomeofthebmesometimes,okay?Believeitornot,Ianbehelpful.”
Theseofitthreatenstohokehim,sohegoesforajokeinstead.“Love?”
Draosmiled,knokshisshoulderagainstHarry’sbeforestandingup.“Don’tworryaboutthis.”Hewaveshishandattheelr.Harrydoesn’tlookatit.“I’llomefillitintomorrowm.”
Stupid,Harrythinks,butdoesn’targue.
Chapter40
Drao