“Great,”Lunabeamed.Funnilyenough,herheerfulnesswasn’tasannoyingasDraowouldhaveexpeted.Itwasalmostontagious.
Monday,20January2003
“Thatwasfun!Ihaven’tbeenflyinginages.”
Draoquietlylearedhisthroat.SeeingPotterthishappyandexitedwasdoingterriblethingstohisheart.
“Yeah,Ifigured,”hesaidinhismosthaughtyvoie.“Youweren’tabletokeepupwithme.You’veletyourselfgo.”Drao’ssmirkslowlyfadedwhenheaughtthesuddenemptinessinPotter’seyesandthewayhewasluthingathisbroom.Whatjusthappened?Itwasn’tlikePotternottohaveaomebak.
“Iwaskidding,”Draosaid,feelingextremelyawkward.BikeringwithPotterwaseasy.This,however,whateveritwas,wasunomfortable.Potterseemedtothinksoaswellandvisiblytriedtoomposehimselfashefumbledwithhissarf.
“Howaboutaremathtomorrow?”hesaid,tryingtosoundlighthearted,butDraoouldtellhewasfakingit.
“Ian’ttomorrow.”
“Why?”
Draoinwardlysmirked.Potter’svoiewasdrippingwithdisapproval.“Ialreadyhavepns.”
“Withwhom?”
“I’msorry,wasIsupposedtogetyourpermissionfirst?”Draoquipped.HisheartskippedabeatwhenhesawhowflusteredPottersuddenlywas.
“Ididn’tmean—Iwasjust—I—”
“Merlin,Potter,”Draoughed.Thepratwastooendearingforhisowngood.“I’mmeetingLuna.”
“Really?”
“Iknow.It’sthestthingIwouldhaveexpeted.”
“So…isthis…like…adate?”
Potterwasn’tatually…jealous,washe?Andifhewas…washejealousofLunaorDrao?
“Isit?”Potterlookedlikehewastryingveryhardtokeephisool.
“Maybe,”Draoshrugged.“YouneverknowwithLovegood.She’svery…unique.”DraohadtoforehimselfnottosniggerwhenhesawtheshokonPotter’sfae.“Atually,I’mtakinghersomewhereI’venevertakenanyonebefore.”
Ohboy,washeoverpyingit?Potterlookedlikehisheadwasabouttoexplode.