BehtheheadlinewasapitureofPotterinaafé,eatingtrealetart.AllofthemagazineshadpituresofPotterthatseemedtoathhiminaratherunftteringlight.
“Theyseriouslyprintedthis?”Draoasked.Whyhadn’theseenthesebefore?
“Theartilesinsideareevenworse,”Lunasaid.“Ikeptthem,inaseweneededthemtoprovetheinvasionofHarry’sprivay.Lukily,Hermionegotthemalltostopsellingthemafterafewdays,althoughnoneofushaveanyideahowshedidit.ButIguessitwastoote.Thoseartilesreallygottohim.Harrydidn’tadmitit,ofourse,butthat’swhenhestoppedeatingwhenanybodywasaround.”
Drao’sheartgaveapainfulsqueeze.“Thosebastards,”hegrowled.“Ian’tbelievethis!”
“It’sawful,”Lunaagreed.“Rontriedtotalktohimaboutitone,butheimmediatelylosedup.Wetriedtoeasehimbakintoit,wethoughtitwouldbeokayforhimifonlylosefriendswerearound,buthefoundwaysaroundit.He’dshowupteintotheevening,tomakesuredinnerwasalreadyover,thingslikethat.”
Drao’smindraedashetriedtoproesseverythingLunahadjusttoldhim.NeverinamillionyearswouldhehaveexpetedthatPotterwashidingsuhanawfulseret.HestartledwhenhefeltLuna’shandonhiswrist.Hehadn’trealisedhishandswereshaking.
“That’swhyIwassosurprisedhemadedinnerforyou,”shesaidwithaghostofasmile.
“Yeah,well,wedidn’treallygettoeatit.”
“Still,Drao.”Lunasqueezedhiswristreassuringly.“He’sobviouslytrying.Youmustbeveryimportanttohim.”
Drao’sstomahrumbledunomfortablyatthat.Wasitreallytrue?HadPotterbeentrying?Thiswholetime?Butthewayhehadatedonthedayofg’swedding…Whyhadhe…
“Oh…Ohno.”RealisationhitDraohard,likeaBludgertothehead.“I’msuhanidiot,”hemurmuredtohimself.
ButhowshouldDraohaveknown?Withallthisnew-foundinformation,itwassuddenlypainfullyobviouswhyPotterhadaskedtoturnoffthelights,whyhehadwantedtokeephisshirton.
“Luna,I’msorry,butIhavetogo!”Hejumpedoffthesofaandstumbledtowardsthefirepe.
“AreyougoingtoseeHarry?”
Draonodded.HewathedasLunaapproahedhim,awarmsmileonherfae.Shepulledhimintoatighthugandpattedhisbak.
“Bepatientwithhim,Drao,”shewhispered.
Draoedhisarmsaroundher,lettingherwarmthseepintohim.
“Thankyou,Luna.Thankyouforyourhelp.”
Shepulledaway,hersilvery-blueeyesglistening.
“Ofourse,Drao.That’swhatfriendsarefor.”
Chapter9:You’veRuinedMyLfe