“Why?”
“Noteverybodywantstobeinthespotlight,”Draoshrugged.
“Yeah,”Pottersaidthoughtfully.“Butstill,whatyou’redoing—”
“Let’snottalkaboutthatanymore,”Draoied.ThewayPotterwaslookingathim,almostawestruk,wasmakinghimunomfortable.
“But—”
“MaybewhatMGonagallsaidwasn’ttheworstidea.Weouldneedmorehelp.”
Potterstilllookedfbbergasted.
“Whowouldhavethoughtitwouldometothis?”Draoquipped,shakinghishead.PotterseemedtoregainhisomposureatDrao’swords.
“Ian’tbelieveyoudraggedmehereand—”
HestoppedtalkingwhenDraosqueezedhishand.
“Don’tyoufeelbetternow?”heasked.
Pottershothimadarklook.“Maybe,”hegrumbled.“Still,yououldhaveatleastwarnedme.”
“Ithoughtitwasbetterthisway.Youalwaysdidyourbestworkunderpressure,”Draosmirked.“Iwouldn’thavedoneitifIthoughtyououldn’thandleit.”
Potterbrieflylosedhiseyesandtookadeepbreath.
“Iguessitwasaprettyniethingtodo,”hemurmured.Whenheopenedhiseyes,theyweresosoftandwarm,itfeltlikehewasseeingrightintoDrao’sheart.“Youknewwhatshewasgoingtosay,didn’tyou?”
“ObviouslyIdidn’t,”Draosnorted.“Otherwise,Iwouldhavebeenpreparedtobeexposed.”
“Butyouknewshewouldn’tbedisappointedinme.”
“ThatIknew,”hemurmured.“Ihopethismakesyourealisethatmostofthepressureyou’vebeenfeelingwasputonyoubyyourself.It’syourlife,yourhoies,nobodyelse’s.”
Potterlookedlikehewasabouttotearup.Hewasobviouslytryingveryhardtoholditbak.Hismouthurvedintoagratefulsmilebeforeheleanedforwardandbrushedtheirlipstogether.
“Thankyou,”hewhispered,squeezingDrao’shandagain.
“Yeah,sure,I,um—”