rerightnow.”slowly,draolethishandglidedownandurledhisfingersaroundpotter’sforearm.“andhearingtheoriesfromlunaisn’tthesameasyoutellingmewhathappened.iwanttoknowwhatyouwerethinkingwhen…weweretogether.”

potterlookedtorn.ittookseveralmomentsuntilhefinallyspoke.“ireallylikeyou,drao,”hewhispered.

whateverdraohadexpeted,itertainlyhadn’tbeenthis.hetriedtotuneoutthesuddenwhooshinginhisearsandorateonpotter’sraspyvoieinstead.

“it’salmostlike…wheni’maroundyou,thingsdon’tfesbad.”

draowasgratefulpotterpausedafterthat.thatwasalottotakein.

“i—ithought—”hefeltthemuslesinpotter’sarmlenh.“ithoughtiwouldbeokaywith—ithoughtiould—”

“couldwhat?”draosaidsoftly.potteronlyshookhishead.“whatareyousoafraidof?whatouldbesobadyouan’ttellme?”

“i—ikeptthinking—”

seeingpotterstrugglinglikethismadedraowanttopunhsomeone;potter’smuggleretives,thoseawfulreporters—hewouldhexthemallifthey’deverrossedpaths.

“whatwereyouthinking?”hesaidquietly,hopingitwouldenepottertofinallysayit.

“howouldsomeoneasbeautifsyou—”

draofroze.potterwasn’tgoingtosaywhatdraothoughthewasgoingtosay,right?beauseifhedid,draowouldhavetoshoutathim.again.knowingthatpotterwouldimmediatelyloseoffifhedidthat,hetriedtostayalmandwaitforpottertoontinue.whenhedid,hisvoiewasbarelyawhisper.

“howouldsomeoneasbeautifsyouwanttobewithsomeone…someonelikeme.”