“Potter,”hesaidsoftly,strokinghisheekwithhisthumb.“Takeoffyourjumper.”
“What?”Potterdidn’tjustlooksurprised,helookedpaniked.
Draoleanedloser.“Doyoutrustme?”
Potterdidn’tanswer,hisexpressionturningmorepainful.Draoletoutasighbeforehepressedtheirforeheadstogether.
“Areyoureallythatstupid?”
Pottersowledathimbutsaidnothing.
“Fuk,Ian’tbelieveyou’remakingmedothis,”Draomuttered.
“I’mnotmakingyoudoany—”HefellsilentwhenDraopulledaway,removedhishandfromhisheekandgotup.Slowly,withoutbreakingeyeontat,Draostartedunbuttoninghisshirt.
“What—Whatareyoudoing?”
“Listenarefully,Potter,beauseI’monlygoingtosaythisone.”Hepeeledtheshirtoffofhimselfandthrewitonthefloor.“Youuand?”
Potterstaredathim,wide-eyed.Ittookafewseondsbeforeheslowlynodded.Draotookadeepbreath.Hehadneverfeltmorevulnerableinhislife.Notonlywashe,quiteliterally,exposinghimselftoPotter,hewasabouttoexposewhathehadsodesperatelybeentryingtohide.Buthehadafeelingitwasnowornever.
Hesatdownonthebed,faingPotter,butbeforeheouldsayanything,Potterletoutadreadfulgasp,hiseyesfixedonDrao’shest.
“Drao,this—this—Fuk!”HethrewbaktheduvetandjumpedoutofbedasthoughhehadjustbeenbittenbyanAromantu.Onehandwasmpedoverhismouth,hiseyesfullofhorror.“Ididthistoyou,”hewhispered.
Shit!Draohadn’treallythoughtthisthrough,hadhe?OfoursePotterwouldbmehimselfforthis.
“Potter.Potter!”
Hedidn’tseemtobelistening.Hismindseemedtobesomewhereelse.Draogotup,takingasteplosertohim.
“Potter!”
Hewasshakinghisheadfuriously.Helookedlikehewasabouttobesik.Draogrittedhisteeth.Potterwouldbethedeathofhim.Seriously,howmuhmoreofhimselfwasDraosupposedtoexpose?Ugh!
“Harry,”Draosaidquietly.Potterstilled.HiseyesfinallyfousedonDrao.“ehere.”Hestrethedouthishand.“Please.”
IttookanagonisinglylongtimeuntilPotterputhistremblinghandinDrao’s.Helethimselfbetuggedbaktothebedwheretheybothsatdown.
“I’mnottryingtotortureyou,”Draosaidsoftly,squeezingPotter’shand.“Ijustwantyoutorealise—Hey.”HeputafingerunderPotter’shin,unwillingtolethimavoidhisgaze.“Doyouknowhowironithisis?I’mtheonewithallthefws.”Hisfaetwistedindisgustathisownwords.“I’mtheone…whodoesn’tdeserveyou.”