faelikeasharm.hefumbledinsidehisloakforhiswand,momentarilydistratedwhenheheardfootstepsbehindhim.

“drao!”

ugh,whatdidpotterwantnow?

“letmetakeyouhome,”hesaid.drao’smindreeledasthewordspieredhim.theywereienough,andyet,histraitorousmindsuppliedhimwithimagesofpotter,grabbinghishand,apparatingthemtothemanorandpushinghimagainstawallwhilehebeggeddraototouhhimagain.forrealthistime.

“i’mfine,potter!gobakin,”hesnapped.

“whatifyousplinhyourself?”potterinsisted.

“iwon’t,”draorepliedftly.

“eon,letme—”

“i’mfine,potter,”hesaid,andwithadesperateflikofhiswandhefledthesene.hended,ratherungainly,faedownonhisbed.

chapter4:sinkanddrownanddie

sunday,5january2003

draowasjustabouttogodownstairswhenhefeltthewardsofthemanorwarninghimaboutanintruder.whothefukwasominghere,unannouned,atthishour,onasunday?itouldn’tbebiseorpansy,thewardsdidn’treattothem.

cursingunderhisbreath,draohurrieddownstairsandopenedthedoor.hewasmetwiththesightofastartledpotter,holdingseveralbags.

“what—whatareyoudoinghere?”draoasked.hewathedaspotter’seyesquiklydarteddownhisbodyandbakup,hismouthfallingopen.