atdoyoumean?”draostartstotakeastepbak,falters,andthenomesbaktowardsharryagain,beausehestinnotfathomthethoughtthatharrymightbetheohurthim,afterallhisworryaboutwhatstrangersmightbethinking.“idon’tuand.”

“iknow.”harrytakesadeepbreath,shakesawaythetensionthathadsettledinhisshoulders.“wejust—”

heintendstotellhimthatit’sover.that’swhathehadbroughthimtherefor,andthat’swhathewasgoingtodo,evenifitkilledhim,justassoonashegatheredupthenerve,butthenthestreetexplodedinwhathethoughtmusthavebeenhalfofgee’sstokoffireworks,andhefoundthathehadrunoutoftime.

drao

it’slikethewaragain,beausespellsareflyingbyhimandit’ssaryandheoulddieatanymoment,butitalsoisn’t,beausethistime,finally,heisfightingontherightsideofthings,withharrydisappearingsomewhereintothefray,swallowedupbythesmokeandthefshesoflights,andgeeleapingoutofthebusteddispywindowofhisshop,sleevespusheduptotheelbowsandrobesbillowingoutbehindhim.

(it’sagloriousentrane,wandspinningandredhairfshingthroughthesmokeandndinginarouh,asnarlinhisvoieandasmirkonhisfae,likeheouldnotwaittotearsomeopiees.itwasalmostterrifyingtoseehim,anddraowaskindofjealous.)

“youalrightmate?”geerossesthefewstepstohimlikethey’reseeingeahotherfromoppositeendsupofabar,nothingspeial,justtwofriendsrunningintoeahotherafteralongweekofwork.thegssrunhesunderhisfeet,andhiseyesaredartingaroundthestreet,andwhenhedrawseventohim,draoanseethatheisbleedingfromhisdaredevilleapthroughthewindow.

“i’mfine.you?”henodsdownathisarm,whihisutopenandbleeding,drippingdownhishandandathingathiswand.