“MaybeIshould.”Heturnstoleave,andthenhesitates,beausehedoesnothavetobeafraidanylonger.“ButIouldomebak.Later.Whenyou’vehadsometimetogetusedtotheideaof.”
Whenyou’vehadmoretimetobealone,iswhatheissaying.Whenyourealizethatyoureallydomissme.
Draowaitsamoment,buthisfatherdoesnotanswer.Andthat’sokay.Draoisn’ttheonethatneedssomeonetoareabouthim.
Chapter41
Harry
Theyarepakinguptoleave.
Hean’tbelieveit,holy.Eventhoughhehadbeentheonetosignthepapersfortheottage,apartofhimmusthavethoughtthatitwastoogoodtobeomereality,likehehadbeenlivinginhalfadaydreamforthesepastfewweeks.Harryhadspentsolonglivingalifewherehappyendingsareentthathemusthavebeenonstantlypreparinghimselffortheothershoetodrop,butnow,withonlyafewdaysuntilthemoveindate(andbeforeLunaandGinny’swedding)hefinallyisabletoaeptthathemightbegettinghishappyending.
“That’sitthen.”TherewasaloudrippingsoundasDraotapedoverthetopofthebox,lookingaroundthelivingroom.Hedespiseddoingthingsthemuggleway,butdespitehowmanytimeshehadtried(andMerlin,hadhetried,allstnight,thetapetwistingandbunhingandsometimesgettingsoedaroundDraothatHarryhadtoomeuthimoutofit),heouldn’tlevitatethetapedispenserinawaytogetittoylyoverthefoldsofthebox.“Didwegeteverything?”
“Ithinkso.”Draopikeduphisnotebookandleafedthroughituntilhefoundtherightpage.Hehadmadelistsforeveryroominthehouse.WhenRonsawit,hehadgivenalowwhistleandsaidthatitwasashamethatDraoandHermionehadn’tbeenfriendsbakinshool.Imaginethestudyshedules,Hehadmutteredwhentheirbakswereturned,andHarrythoughtthatthatwasagoodenoughreasonforthetwoofthemtoneverhavebeenallowedinthesameroomtogetherbakinshool,hadtheynothatedeahother.“Atothelist.”
“Andthelistisalwaysright.”Harrytuggedthenotebookoutofhishandandthrewitdownonthetable,distratinghimwithakiss,beauseifhedoesn’theadthisoffbeforeitstarts,Draowillspendtheeveninghekingandrehekingandrehekingtherehek,whimselfintosuhastatethatHarryhastorunthrougheverythingtheyhadpakedbeforeheanwalkawayfromtheboxes.“Itseemssmaller,now.Allpakedup.”
Thewholehousedid,really.HarryhadthoughtaboutturningitovertotheministrylikeDraohadsuggestedinthebeginning,turnitintosomesortofmuseum,buthedeidedagainstit,beausehedidnotthinkthatSiriuswouldhavelikedthat.Hisgodfather,whohadspenthiswholelifewantingnothingmorethantobreakfreeofthispe,wouldhavewantedtostrikeamathandburnthewholepedownhimself.Itfeltlikethebestwaytohonorhim,makingsurethatGrimmauldPedieswiththeoneswhohadlivedinit.