ninasmileandshesinkstoherknees.“isuppose.”

“shesupposes.”ronsays,hisvoiethattoneofunfathomabledisbeliefhealwaysuseswhenlunasayssomethingthathedoesn’tuand.“youhearthateveryone?”hehasturnedhisfaeupwardandsreamedittotheskylights.“shesupposes!”

“youeverthinkaboutthat?”theyarewalkinghome,eventhoughtheyouldapparate,beausethisisoneofthosenightswhereyoudonotwanttogohome,thatyouwanttoprolongforaslongasyouan.“marriage?”

“aboutasmuhasithinkabouttherestofthefuture.”it’saopoutkindofanswer,anddraoknowsit,sohetriesagain.“ianneverquitepitureit.thefuturegetsallfuzzywheneveriwanttoformalearimage,likemaybei’mstillnotusedtotheideathati’mgoingtogettohaveit.”

“butifyouwere.”harryinsists.heisshorterthandraonow,beausedraoisbaningontheurblikeitisatightrope,armsspreadoutintheairbesidehim.“whatwoulditbelike?”

“terrifying,ithink.”draodoesthinkaboutit,aboutahouseandkidsbutnoneofthedetailsomeinlear,otherthanthefatthathewouldhaveabrokendownoldshedforhispotionssuppliesandoneofhiskidsshouldbenamedafterhisfather,todorightwherehehaddonewronglikesometwistedformofredemptionthathisownfatherwouldnottrytoreahfor,andwheneverhethinksofthepersonheisgoingtospendhislifewiththeyhavestartedtohaveharry’sfae,now,sodifferentfromthelifehehadthoughtofafewyearsago,wherehewasthinkingintermsofappearaneandheirsandlegay.“totrustsomehatmuh.”

“wouldn’titbeworthitthough?”harry’svoieisquieterthanitshouldbe,likethewordswerebeingknokedloosefromsomewhereinhishest.“tohavesomehatyoulovesomuh?”