ds,now.“okay.andi’msorry,again,abouttoday,ididn’tmean…”longerpause,asniff.“yeah.youtoo,dudley.”

therewasabang,andthensomethingsmakedagainstthewall.probablythepadofpaperhehadbeenwritingon,butmaybethephone.draodidn’twanttogofindoutyet.

peoplesuk,hethought,strainingtohearwhenharrywasapproahinghim.butnooneanhurtyouquitelikefamily.

draogiveshimanhourorso,longenoughforhimtogetashowerandsettledowninthelivingroomandlisteningtoleeandgee’snightlyradioshow.

(lee’snightlyradioshow.geeisaverysporadiguest.)

“ididn’tknow.”draostayedbythedoorway,lettingharrydeideifhewantedtotalkornot.panywasn’talwayshelpful.“howbaditwas.”

“ididn’ttellyou.”harryaeptedthegiftofhothoote,anddraotookthatasaninvitationtositdownbesidehim.“ididn’ttelotofpeople,outsidetheweasleysandhermione.mgonagall,one.”

draonodded,lettingtheinformationwashoverhim.hedidn’twanttopry,butpartofhimthoughtthatharryneededtotalkaboutit.ormaybethatwasjusttheselfishpartofhimselfthatwantedtoomparesars.“howoldwereyouthefirsttime?”

“five.”harrytookadrinkandhelditinhismouth,eventhoughdraohadwarnedhimitwasstillmuhtoohotforthat.“ihaddrawnapitureofamagiian.youknow,themugglekind—bigwandwiththesparksthatflewout,pointyhat,thelongbeard.theylokedmeinthelosetforaweek,onlyletmeeatoneaday.liketheyouldstarvethemagioutofme.”

itwasawonderthattheyhadn’tkilledhim.draowantstosaysomething,butsorrydoesn’tquiteutitwhenyoulearnsomethinglikethat.