talkingaboutthis,butpotter’storturedexpressionpulledathisheartstrings.henodded,tryingnottobetooobviousaboutwathingpotterasheutintothepotroast.

“oh,”heblurtedasheswallowedhisfirstbite.“thisis…good.”

potter’sfaeimmediatelylitup.“didyoujustgivemeaompliment?”

draosnorted,distratinghimselfwithanotherbite.“don’tgetusedtoit,”hemuttered.outoftheornerofhiseyeshesawpotterhesitantlyliftingaforkfulofpotroasttohismouth.hisheartgavealittlejumpwhenpotterstartedtohew.heneverwouldhavethoughtwathingsomeoneelseeatouldfeelthatsatisfying.wasthatweird?probably.

“youknow,i’vebeenmeaningtoask,”pottersaid.“doesn’tyourmotherwantyoutomovetofrane?”

draoletoutahumourlessugh.oh,thedisussionsthey’dhadaboutthat.

“i’mjusturious,”potteradded.

“lookingforawaytogetridofme?”draoquipped,eventhoughhefeltalittlestabtothehest.pottergettingsikofhimwassuhahorriblethought.

“firstofall,it’snotlikefraneisn’tjustaportkeyaway,”pottersaidinanamusedtone.“seond,i’dmit,i’m…nottoomadyoudidn’tmovetofranewithyourmum.”

huh.washesaying—

“sowhydidn’tyou?”potterasked.

“itwouldhavelookedlikei’mrunningaway,”draoresponded.“notthatibmemother,butijust…ijustwantedtostay,”heshrugged.

“nottakingtheeasywayout,”pottersaidwithanapprovingnod.“ithinkthat’sadmirable.”