iend’sparty.”

“ah,”pottersaid.“anyonespeialthere?someoneyoukissedatmidnight,perhaps?”

draoopenedhismouth,onlytoloseitagain,withoutbeingabletosayanything.hisgazeflikeddowntopotter’slips.therewasabitoffoamabovehisupperlipfromhisbeer.oh,howmuhdraowantedtolikit.hehatedbeer,butyoualwayshadtomakesarifiesinlife,right?hisfingerstwithedwiththedesiretoreahupandtouhpotter’sfae,hislegstremblingatthethoughtofleaningintohisbody…itonlygotworsewhenhiseyeslokedwithpotter’s.therewassomethingaboutthewayhewaslookingatdraothatmadehisbreathhith.

“so,didyou?”potterasked,hisvoiebarelyawhisper.

“huh?”

“kissanybodyatmidnight?”

“oh.”draoswallowedaroundthesuddenlumpinhisthroat.“no?”hehadnoideawhyhisanswersoundedlikeaquestion.hismindwastoofargone,apparently.

potter’ssrutinisinggazeintensified.“good.”

good?what?why?

“yeah…good,”draobreathed,oblivioustothefatthathewasslowlybutsurelyleaningforward.

“merlin,getaroom,youtwo,”hesuddenlyheardpansyall.atthat,draonearlyjumpedoutofhisseat,immediatelydrawingbakandsmoothingdownhisshirt.heatoursedthroughhim,leavinghimflusteredandonfused.hesneakedapeekatpotter,wholookedompletelyundisturbedashesippedathisbeer.internallygrumbling,draonarrowedhiseyes.damnpotter!washeevenrealisinghowmuhheaffeteddrao?apparentlynot.

shortlyafter,potterexusedhimself,anddraofinallyfeltlikeheouldbreatheagain.