lhiseyesonhim,thesympathythatwasprobablyshiningbrightlyinthem.“butithinkit’sremarkablehowyoumadeitthroughthatandbeamethepersonyouaretoday.”

draoletoutahumourlessugh.“yeah,apompousgitasyouliketoputit.”

“youknowi’mjustteasing.youseemo,that’swhati’mtryingto—”

“ihavenightmares,”draoblurted.“notasoftenasiusedtobut—”assoonasthewordshadlefthislips,hewishedheouldtakethembak.healwaystriedsohardtonotletanybodyseehowmuhhewasstillhurting,howdamagedhewas.hedidn’tlikehowhisbrainseemedtoignorethatpartiurpreaution,seemedtobeompletelyshuttingdowninpotter’spresene.

“igetthem,too,”pottersaidquietly.“it’sreallynotfair,isit?voldemortisgone,butthebattleisn’tover.”

draosaidnothing,histhroatquiklylosingup.

“butiguesswe’retrying,right?”draofeltpottershiftbesidehimandsawhimgrabthefirewhiskeyoutoftheornerofhiseyes.“anotherone?”

wordlessly,draohandedpotterhisgss.hopefully,thealoholwouldmakethistalkeasier.orbetteryet,itwouldleadtoadifferenttopientirely,ahappierone.draoshouldhaveknownheshouldbearefulwhattowishfor.halfofthatbottleter,theiroionhadturnedintoagerousbaningatforhim.

“howinmerlin’snamewereyouabletokeepthataseret?”heshrieked,ed.pottergiggled.heatuallygiggled!

“believeme,itwashardwork.weneverwentoutinpublitogether,”pottersaidwithasigh.“ultimately,itwastoomuhpressure.wewerebothunhappy,soweendedit.”

draoshookhisheadandtookanothersip.“iannotbelieveyoudatedoliverwood!foralmosttwoyears!withoutanyoneknowing!”