hadomefullirle.

keepinghisfaeasstoiaspossible,henodded.

potterwashesitantasheliftedhishand.withatouhsofeatheryitalmosttikled,hetraedthelosarondrao’shest.

“ithoughtsnapemadesureitdidn’tsar,”hemutteredquietly.

“iguessitwouldhavebeenworseifhehadn’t—”hebrokeoffwhenpottersnathedawayhishandandlookedathiminhorror.“sorry.butiguessthere’snosugaroatingit.buthey,atleastyoudidn’tgetmyfae.younearlydid,though.”draoturnedhisheadandpushedhishairoutoftheway.heknewyououldonlyseeitifyoulookedlosely.thatsarhadfadedthemostanditwastiny.butitwasthere,onhisrightheek,righttohisear.

draoshiveredientlywhenpotter’sfingerbrushedhisskin.

“you’renotgoingtobeatyourselfupaboutthisagain,areyou?”hemuttered,suppressingtheurgetoleanintopotter’stouh.

“it’shardnotto,”potterretorted.

“likeisaid,potter,thesesarsarepartofthepast.butthey’realsopartofwhoiamtoday.they’reagoodreminder,youknow.”

hehopedpotterwasabletohearthefinalityinhisvoie.asmuhashewantedtohelphim,hedidn’twanttotalkaboutthisanymore.hehadalreadytoldpotterhedidn’tdeservehim.whatelsewastheretosay?

hedrewhislowerlipbetweenhisteethwhenpottershiftedloser.forabreathtakingmoment,hethoughthewasgoingtokisshim.instead,potterranhisfingersthroughdrao’shairandgavehimapieringlook.

“idothinkyou’rebeautiful,but…”hetwistedastrandofhairaroundhisfinger.“ilikeyoubeauseyou’reyou.”