“Whatwasthat?”HestaredatthefirepebeforehiseyeswanderedovertoDrao.“Didyoujust—Wasthatyou?”
Draoswallowedaroundthelumpinhisthroat.Shit.
“Um…Itoldyou,mymagihasbeenabitoff,”hemuttered,mely.
“ButyoutookthePepperuppotion.You’refinenow.”
“Notompletely,itseems.”HelearedhisthroatwhenPottergavehimaseptiallook.“Shallwego?”
“Sure,”Pottermurmured,stilleyeinghimsuspiiously.“I’llgofirst.Justsayyouwanttogotomyft,I’llletthewardsdown.”
Draonodded,stiffly,andwathedPottervanishinthegreenfmes.Hetookafewdeepbreathsbeforehedidthesame.
ThefirstthinghenotiedwhenhesteppedintoPotter’slivingroomwashowemptyitlooked.Theessentialswerethere,asofa,ashelf…buttherewasnotraeofPotter.Nobodyouldhaveguessedhewastheonelivinghere.AsDraoponderedthat,hiseyesfellonthetableinthemiddleoftheroom;heimmediatelyfroze.
“But…youalreadymadedinner.”
“Idid.”
“Thatwasalittlepresumptuous,don’tyouthink?”
“You’rehere,aren’tyou?”
DraodrankinPotter’ssmile.Itwasteasing,butalso…somethingelse.Itmadehimwanttosmakhim…andthensnoghimsenseless.Ohboy.Thiseveningwasalreadydoomed.
“I’monlyherebeauseyoupratiallybeggedme,”Draodrawled.
“Youansaywhatyouwant,Drao,Iknowyoulikespendingtimewithme.”
Therewassomethingsodisarmingaboutthatomment,Draomomentarilylosthistrainofthought.IfPotternotied,hedidn’tletitshow.Heseemedoratedashelightedafewandles.dles!Asifthiswassupposedtoberomanti.
“bsp;youopenthewine?”heasked,lookingoverhisshoulder.
“Gdly.Youan’tbetrustedwithanimportanttasklikethat,”Draoreplied,walkingovertothetable.Hereahedforthebottle,sanningthebel,andfurrowedhisbrows.Itatuallywasn’tabadone.Ontheontrary.ItwasoneofDrao’sfavourites.
“Isitnottherightone?”PotteraskedwhenhesawDraofrowningatthebottle.
“It’lldo,”Draoshrugged.
“You’resuhanarse,”Pottersniggered.