“Inotied,”Draosaidurtly.“Yououldhavejusttoldthemtoleaveyoualone.”
“I’mnotverygoodatthat,”Potteradmitted,rubbingthebakofhisnek.
“Inotied,”Draorepeateddryly.
“It’sjust…somanypeopleometomeandtellmetheirstories,howtheysurvivedthewar,howtheyneverstoppedbelievinginme…Sure,therearealotofrazypeopletoo,but…Ian’tjusttellthemtobuggeroff.”
“Ofourseyouan.”
Pottersighed.“Believeme,I’velostmytemperenoughtimestoknowhowthatends.Aslongasthey’rebeingfriendly,”heshrugged,“it’sokay.”
Draoshookhishead.Potterwassuhagoodytwo-shoes.
DiagonAlleywasbuzzingwithpeople,alldenwithshoppingbags.SomestoppedandstaredasDraoandPotterwalkedpastthem.Itwashighlyunomfortable.Draodidn’tevenknowwhyhehadpulledPotterawayfromthosepeople.Itirritatedhim,thewaytheypratiallymauledhimbutthatwasnoneofhisbusiness,wasit?Hehadn’teventhoughtaboutit,butnow…nowhewaswalkingdownDiagonAlleywithPotter,whohehadtriedtostopthinkingaboutsineBisesenthimthatartile.Hestillflinhedwheneverhethoughtaboutthewayhehadbeenlookingatthepratinthatpiture.Hedidn’tevenwanttothinkaboutthewaysPotterwasprobablygoingtoteasehimaboutit.
“DoingsomestminuteChristmasshopping?”Potterasked,peekingatDrao’sbag.
“Notexatly,”Draoreplied,avoidingPotter’sgaze.“Justsomenewrobes.”
“Ah,”Pottersaid.“Isthereanywhereelseyouneedtogo?”
Draohesitated,wifthiswassomekindoftrap.“No.Atually,Iwasjustonmyway—”
“Good.Howaboutwegetadrink?”
Draostopped,almostdroppinghisbag.Adrink?WithPotter?Washeserious?
“Why?”wastheonlythinghefoundhimselfapableofsaying.
“Whynot?”Pottershrugged.
“Beause…”Draodidn’tknowwhatelsetosay.
“eon,”Pottersaid.“Let’sgototheLeakyCauldron.”
Draofollowedhimsilently,notsurewhethertobeexitedormortified.BumpingintoPotterwasonething,spendingmoretimewithhimthanneessary,ontheotherhand,wasverygerous.Draoalmostfeltlikeateenageragain;inseure,angry,foolish.Itwasn’tagoodombination.
Tomshowedthemtoatableand,assoonastheypedtheirorderswithhim,atorturoussilenestrethedbetweenthem.
“Ireallyenjoyedthega,”Pottersaidafterawhile.Draolearedhisthroatandsimplynodded.HerefrainedfrompointingoutthatPotterhadlookedutterlyunomfortablethewholeevening.“Younevergotbaktomeaboutanotherdrink,”Potteradded.