“You’redoingthatthingagain,”Pottersaidwithasigh.
“Whatthing?”Draosnapped.
“Thethingyouusedtodoinshool.”Heleanedagainstthebar,okinghisheadtotheside.“NoteverythingIsaytoyouismeantasaninsult.Well,notanymore.”
“I’msorelieved,”Draosaid,rollinghiseyes.Potterseemedtobeignhisomment,hiseyesroamingtheroom.
“Doyouknowwhoanisedthis?”heasked.
Draostiffened.“Whydoyouwanttoknow?”
Pottershrugged.“Apparentlythispersonanisedabunhofthingsbefore,butthisisthefirsttimetheyinvitedme.I’mjusturioustoknowwhy.”
“Right,beausepeopleneedareasontoinvitethemostfamouswizardalive,”Draosnorted.
Pottermadeafae.“Ijustthinkit’sstrange,beingherewithoutknowingwhoinvitedme.”
“I’vebeentoldthehostwantstostayanonymous,”Draosaid,tryingtokeephisvoieeven.
“Why,though?”Pottersaidwithafrown.“Ifthey’redoingsomethinggood,don’ttheywanttobereognisedforit?”
Draoouldfeelbeadsofsweatfonthebakofhisnek.“Oh,Potter,”hesaidwithadramatisigh.“Noteveryoneiskeenonrushingintothespotlightasyouare.”
“Youknowthat’sbolloks,right?”Pottersaid,hisfrowndeepening.“I’dgdlyexhangeallthe‘famousHarryPotter’rubbishforab,normallife.”
Draogavehimanappraisinglook.“Normalisn’texatlythefirstwordthatomestomindwhenyou’reonerned.”Orb,Draoaddedinhismind.
“Exatly,”Pottersaidwithaloudexhale.Heproppeduphiselbowonthebar,leaninghisheadagainsthishand.“Butdotellme,whatisthefirstwordthatomestomindwhenI’monerned?”Hisseriousexpressionturnedintoateasingone,athingDraooffguard.WhatwasPotterdoing?HelookedatDraoexpetantly,theornerofhismouthtwithing.ItwasthewrongnighttohallengeDrao.Twoouldpyatthisgame.
“Afewometomind,atually,”hesaidinhisposhestvoie.“Awful,unouth,dowdy,dense…”…handsome,mind-blowing…“…irritating…Doyouwantmetogoon?”
Potter’sgrindidn’tfadeatDrao’sinsults,buthewavedadismissivehandintheair.“That’salright,”hesaid.“Eventhoughthat’sthemosteainingthinganyonehassaidtomeallnight.”
“Whydidyouome,then?Whynotdeline?Don’ttellmeyou’resuddenlyafanofpretentiouspure-bloods?”hesmirked.
“Yourealiseyou’reapretentiouspure-blood,right?”Potterretorted.HearhedaneyebrowwhenDraoburstoutughing.
“Whowouldhavethought,outofthetwoofus,youwouldbeometheprejudiedone?”
Itfeltgood,seeingPotterstareathiminastonishment.IttooktheedgeofftheheatthatwasspreadinginDrao’shest.