Inwardlygroaning,Draodownedtherestofhiswineandshookhishead.HisgazeroamedPotter’sbody,heatrisinginhishest.Eventhoughhisrobesdidn’tgiveawaymuh,DraoknewfromthepitureshehadseenintheProphetthatPotterhadfilledout.Itsuitedhim.DraolikedthefatthatPotterdidn’tlooksodeliateanymore.HealsolikedthefatthatPotterwasstillshorterthanhim,evenifitonlywasbyafewinhes.
Beforeheknewit,hiseyesweregluedtoPotter’slipsagain,unabletoshakethesuddenurgetotouhthem.Forthelotimehehadwantedtotouhthem.Itwasthemostfrustratingthing.Drao’sgazemomentarilyflikeredtoPotter’sgss,whihhehadraisedtohismouth.Butbeforehislipstouhedit,histonguedartedoutandheslowlylikedtherim.Draofeltaviolentshuddergothroughhim,notonlybeausethiswasfarmoresensualthanshouldbeallowed,butmainly,beauseherealisedPotterwaslookingathim.Hadhedonethatonpurpose?HadheseenDraostaringathim?Fuk!
PaniwashedoverhimashewathedPottermumblesomethingtothetwowizardswhowerestillstrokinghim,andmarhovertowhereDraoandBisewerestanding.Draowantedtoboltbutfoundhimselfrootedtothespot.
“Ifeellikeyou’reavoidingme,”Pottersaidpoint-bnk.Draowasn’tsureifheshouldbrushitoffwithaughordenyit.Beforeheoulddeide,Bisesniggeredbesidehim.
“Takeitasaompliment,”hesaid,touhinghisgsstoPotter’s.Drao’smouthdroppedopenandittookeverythinginhimnottoshoutathisfriendtoshutthefukup.
“Take—What?”Potterlookedonfused.Good.He’dalwaysbeentoodensetopikuponthingslikethat.
“DoesthegreatHarryPotternotfeelpamperedenough?”Draodrawled,hisheadswimming.Assoonasthewordslefthismouth,however,heinwardlyringed.ThiswasanotherreasonwhyhehadavoidedPotter.He’dbeenafraidsomethingstupidlikethatmighttumbleoutofhismouth.Butwhatthehellwashesupposedtosaytohim?PotterhadsavedhimandhismotherfromAzkaban,showingthemmoresympathythantheyprobablydeserved.Thatinitselfwasproblematienough.Therealproblem,though?Itwasn’tinDrao’snaturetosimplyreiproatesuhsympathy.
“Don’tbeadik,Malfoy,”Pottermuttered,ablushreepingontohisheeks.“Ijustwantedtotalktoyou.Isthatsobad?”
Yes,Draowantedtoblurt.Instead,hestupidlyasked,“Why?”
Potterjustshrugged,promptingDraotonarrowhiseyesinsuspiion.
“Youknowwhat,Idon’twanttokeepyouguysfromathingup,”Bisesaidheerfully.“Ta-ta!”Withinseonds,Draolostsightofhim,leavinghimhelplessanddizzy.
“Okay,um—”Potterlookedunsure,tappingafingeronhisgss.“Howaboutwegetanotherdrinkfirst?”
Draothoughtheprobablyalreadyhadenoughatthispoint,butsomethingaboutPotter’sexpressionmadehimagreewithanod.Hewassmiling…almostshyly.
“Alrightthen,”Pottersaid,andgesturedforDraotoleadtheway.Assoonashestartedwalking,hefeltahandonthesmallofhisbakandalmosthoked.HisheadwhippedaroundtoPotter,whogavehimanilookandthen…anothersmile.Drao’seyesdarteddowntohislipsandthenbaktohiseyes.