“Luna.”
Potterstilled.“Whatdidshetellyou?”
Draoouldseetheuneaseinhiseyes.HesuspetedPotterdidn’trealisehowmuhLunaknew,howsheandtherestofhisfriendshadputthepieestogether;butheseemedtobeoingthepossibilitytheymighthaveaughton.Itobviouslyterrifiedhim.
“bsp;Isitdown?”Draoasked,pointingataspotbesidePotter.Heseemedrelutantbutslowlymovedasidetomakesomeroom.AsDraowalkeduptohim,Potter’sexpressionhardened.Heavoidedhisgaze,hugginghiskneeslosetohishest.
“Thisisn’tanintervention,”Draosaid,arefullysittingdown.“Ijustwanttotalk.IneverwouldhavesaidthosethingstoyouifIhadknown…”Hebrokeoff,unsureofhowtophraseit.WhatLunahadtoldhimsoundedpusiblebuthewantedtohearitfromPotter.“Igenuinelythought—IthoughtitwasabouttheDarkMark.Oraboutyou…notreallywantingme.”Ittooksomuhtosaythesewordsoutloud.Theywereeasilyyelledinafight.ButnowthatheknewPotterwasbattlingdifferentdemons,hewasmoreinlinedtoshowPotterhisowniies.
“It’sgotnothingtodowithyou,”Pottermurmured,staringathisknees.“Well,it’sgoteverythingtodowithyou,butthat—”Hesighed.“Ijust—IhatethatIfeelthisway,but…Ian’tdoanythingaboutit.”
“Howdoyoufeel?”
“Idon’twantto—”
“Iknowyoudon’twanttotalkaboutit.ButhowamIsupposedtouandifyoudon’ttellme?”Potter’sfeaturestwistedintosomethingtortured.Whenitwaslearhewasn’tgoingtosayanything,Draoadded,“Ineedtoknow,Potter.Otherwise,wereallyaredone.”
Itsoundedharsherthanhehadmeantit.Whathehadwantedtosaywasthattheywouldn’tstandahaneiftheyweren’tompletelyhowitheahother.Thethoughthorrifiedhim,buthedidn’twantPottertogoonlikethisandheknewassoonasPotterwouldopenup,he’dexpetthesamefromhim.Itwasn’tsomethingDraowaspartiurlylookingforwardto,buthewaswillingtotry.
“That’snotfair,”Pottermurmured,hisfaesetinastubbornsowl.
“Noneofthisisfair,”Draoretorted.“Look,youtoldmeyouwereworriedaboutdisappointingpeople,butfetaboutthat.Youshouldn’tareaboutwhatotherpeoplethink.”
“Iknowthat,”Pottermuttered.“But…Iareaboutwhatyouthink.”
Draopaused.Thiskindofsealitywasn’texatlysomethinghewasusedto.AndwhilehementallyadmittedhefeltthesamewayaboutPotter,heouldn’tshaketherushingsenseofresponsibilityPotterhadjustburdenedhimwith.So…whatnow?Thiswasgettingthemnowhere.DraowonderedhowfarheouldgowithouthurtingPotterunneessarily.Healwaysatedsostrongando,buthehadshownDraoglimpsesofhisvulnerablesideandifthatwasn’tanindiationhetrustedDrao,whatwas?
“So…”Draobrushedtheduvetwithhisfiips,searhingfortherightwords.“Lunashowedme…themagazines.”
Heinstantlyknewhedidn’tneedtoexpinanyfurther.ThelookonPotter’sfaesaideverything.
“Sheknows,”hewhispered,resignationringingloudlyinhisvoie.
“Yeah.She’sworriedaboutyou.”Tentatively,heputhishandonPotter’sknees.“I’mworriedaboutyou.”
Apparently,thathadbeenthewrongthingtosay.Potterlookedup,hiseyesfullofdefensiveness.