rmaybeit’sunderpotter?”

“vernon?”she’sgotverywhiteteeth,whihmakesthelipstikstainstandoutthatmuhmore.harryan’tseemtostoplookingatit,butdraodoesn’tseemtonotie.

draolooksbakforonfirmation,andharrynodsmutely.“that’stheone.”

hekeepsupasteadystreamofhatteronthewaytothebakoftheroom,andharrytakesamomenttogatherhisbearings.thisisnothingthathehadn’tdonebefore.heheldhistongueandpyedhispartforseventeenyears,heouldstoneeveningfordursley’ssake.andthistime,draowaswithhim.hewouldhavesomeoneinhisorner.

“hello.”draosmiled,winningly,givingnosignthathehadheardanythingbadaboutthedursleys.dudleystandsupfirst,andafterexhangingalook,auntpetuniaandunlevernonfollowsuittoshakedrao’shand.“youmustbethedursleys.i’mdrao.”

(harryanpratiallyfeelthemalutingtheprietagondrao’ssuit,andforone,eventhoughitdoesn’tmatterandharrydoesn’tareaboutthesuitoutsideoftheoofhowgooddraolooksinit,he’shorriblygdthatitostmuhmorethaneitherofthemwoulddarespend.)

“i’mdudley.heardsomuhaboutyou.”harrywines,butotherthanaslightsmileinhisdiretion,draodoesn’tomment.“andthisismymother,petunia,andmyfather,vernon.”

harrystayssilentthroughtheintrodutions,wathing.auntpetuniaisinagarishlygreendressdottedwithpinkflowers,hernekjustaslongandbonyasever,butherhandslookedworndown,theskinpaleandrippedraw.unlevernonwasjustasgruffasever,dressedtoimpress,likeheouldbullyhiswaythroughdinnerjustlikehedideveryotheraspetofhislife.

“andyou,boy?”boy.thewordstillstings.evennowhedoesn’tdeserveaname.“seemslikeyou’redoingwellforyourself.”