DraogavePotteralittlenudge,sineheseemedtobefrozeninpe.
“It’sgoodtoseeyouboth.Eventhough,Imustadmit,I’malittlesurprised,”MGonagallsaidafterDraohadpushedPotterdowninhisseat.Draoremainedstanding,onehandstillonPotter’sshoulder.
“Now,what’sthisabout,Malfoy?Youwereveryominousaboutwantingtoseeme.Itsoundedurgent.”
Draolearedhisthroat,hopingPotterwouldn’thatehimforwhathewasabouttodo.
“Yes,well,it’snotexatlymypetotell,”hesaid.HiseyesflikereddowntowherePotterwaspressinghispalmsagainsthisthighs.“ButIthinkthisneedstobesaid.”
Potterlookedup,overhisshoulder,hisexpressionfullofanguish.“Ian’tbelieveyou’remakingmedothis,”hehissed.
“Itwilleatyoualiveifyoudon’ttellhernow,”Draowhispered.HeturnedtoMGonagall,whowaswathingthemlosely.“Potterhassomethingtotellyou,Headmistress.I’llbewaitingoutside.”BeforeheouldwithdrawhishandfromPotter’sshoulder,hefelttremblingfingersurlaroundit.
“Pleasedon’tgo,”Pottersaidquietly.
Draoblinked.“Are—Areyousure?”
“Ian’tdothiswithout—”Hebrokeoff,obviouslytryingnottohoke.Warmth,likehehadneverfeltbefore,washedoverDrao.Nobodyhadeverneededhim.Notlikethis.
Nolongerhesitating,hesatdowntoPotter,whodidn’tletgoofhishand.
Thefollowingsilenefeltveryunomfortable.DraoouldpratiallyfeelPotter’spani.
“Potter,forgoodnesssake,what’sthematter?”MGonagallasked,hervoiesoundingmoreseriousthanbefore.
“Um…”
Drao’sheartgaveapainfulsqueezewhenPottertightenedhisgriponhishand.
“Headmistress,I—”Hisvoiewasshaking.“I—Iletyoudown.I’msorry.”
DraopeekedatMGonagall.Oneofhereyebrowswasraised,makingherlookmorestern.AssiMGonagallmove.
“WhatinthenameofMerlinareyouonabout,Potter?”
PotterexhaledloudlyandDraoouldhearallthedreadhemusthavebeenfeeling.
“I—I’mnot—”Hekepthiseyesontheirjoinedhands.“I—IquittheAurorprogram.”Hisfaetwisted,asthoughhewasinpain.“I’msorry.”
MGonagall’sfaewasunreadable.ShestudiedPotterforalongmoment,hereyesflikeringtoDraoeverynowandthen.