“Exuseus,”Pottersaidwithahintofasmile.HekepthisarmaroundHenryastheywalkedoutofthekithen.
Exuseus?Yes,itwasveryleartheywerean‘us’;still,ithurthearingthatomeoutofPotter’smouth.
“Oh,hey,thereyouare,Iwasw—Areyouokay?”
DraoblinkedatLunawithoutreallyseeingher.
“Whywouldn’tIbe?”hesaidautomatially.
“Youlook—”Shepursedherlips,hergazeintensifying.“IsthisbeauseofHenryandHarry?”
Drao’svisionblurredatthementionoftheirnames.HenryandHarry.Itsoundedlikeajokewithoutapunhline.
“Itis,isn’tit?I’msorry,Drao.”
“DidyouknowHarrywasdatingsomeone?”
“No,Ihadnoidea.Holy,Ithoughtyouand—”
“Don’t,”Draointerruptedher.“Don’tsayit.”
“Drao.”Withoutwarning,sheedherarmsaroundhismidriffandputherheadonhishest.“I’msosorry.”Herurlstikledhishinasshespoke.Asmuhashetriedtoontrolhisbody,heouldn’tkeepitfromtrembling.Lunaseemedtonotieandpressedherselfmorefirmlyagainsthim.Itfeltstrangeandunfamiliar,beinghuggedlikethis.ButDraoouldn’tdenythesoothingeffetithadonhim.HehadnoideawhatLunasawinhim,whatmadehertrusthimenoughtoallhimherfriendandomforthim.Yes,theyhadgrownloserwhilewtogetherattheshool,butstill…Draoouldn’thisheadaroundtheideaofLunaonsideringhimafriend.
Astheseondstikedby,theinexpliableurgetojustlethimselffeelalltheawfulemotionshehadbeenbottlingupforweekswasgrowingstronger.Unabletofightitanylonger,heputhisarmsaroundLunainreturnandburiedhisfaeinherhair.Itsmellednie.Likepineapples.
“Oh,err,sorry.”
Draolookedup,feelingarushofadrenalineshootthroughhimashestaredintoonfusedgreeneyes.
“Ididn’tknowyouguyswere—”
DraofeltLunashiftinhisarms,beforesheslowlyletgoofhim.
“Youknow,Harry,IthinkyoushouldtalktoDrao.You’reupsettinghim.”
“I’mupsettinghim?”Potterblurted,butLunadidn’tbataneyeshasshewalkedpasthim.“Whatthefuk?”
“Justfetit,Potter,”Draodrawled,ionfollowingLuna.
Potterstoppedhimwithahandonhishest.