heknowsit’shersbeauseit’sbrightyellowandhasapuffballonthetopofit.“whatanidoforyou?”

heannotstopstaringather,andthenimmediatelyfeelshorribleaboutit,sohelooksathisshoesinstead.greybakhadmauledherprettybad.“theministrysentmeletters.”herummagesinhispoketforoneofthem.“aboutthemanor.”

shelikshertongueandreadsovertheparhment,anditmakesdraofeellikeaprat,beausewhatkindofpersonhasamanor?butshedoesn’tseemtoare.“yeah,we’vegotthat.venderdidn’tgetup,justwheeledherhairarosstheroomandrummagedthroughabisuntilsheameupwithanenvelope.“here’sthekey.andyou’vejustgottosignhere,andit’syours.”

draofumbledforthepen,andshesmiledathim,asbrightasheouldrememberherbeingathogwarts,ifalittlelessgiddy.“right.thanks.”he’ddonewhatheamefor,tehnially,butitdoesn’tseemlikeenough.“howhaveyoubeen?”

“good.”sideringthatthey’veneverhadaniewordtosayabouteahother,sheseemedsurprisinglyreadytotalk.maybeitwasdepressing,hidingheredowninthedarkallday,justwaitingforsomeoimdeadpeople’spossessions.“heardyou’relivingwithharry.”

shewaggleshereyebrowsathim,anddespitehimself,draoouldfeelhimselfgettingflustered.“notlikethat.”whatwasitlike,then?yousleepinthesamebed.“courtorderedbabysitting,basially.keptmeoutofjail.”

hetriestoshruglikethatdoesn’tmeananything,butshesmileslikesheknowsbetter.andmaybeshedoesvenderdidalwayshaveanannoyinghabitofknowingeverythingabouteverybody.“that’snotwhati’veheard.”shegiveshimonesttiredsmileandrapsherquigainstthegssonesttime.“seeyouaround,drao.”