dhishead,lookingattheemptyspae,maybethinkingofhowheshouldredotheapersoyouannoteventellwherethepiturehadbeen.“toomanymemoriesheretojustwalkaway.”

“idon’twantit.”

theideaofkeepingitwasmetwitharevulsionsostrongthatifharryhadhadanydoubtsaboutmovingoutbefore,hewouldn’thaveanynow.

“thendonateittothehistorialsoiety,letitbeturnedintoamuseumformerlin’ssakes.”draoluthedharry’sfingersinhisown,likethatwouldmakehimlisten.“alli’msayingisthatyoudon’towethispe,oranythinginit,anymoreofyou.youdon’thavetofigureoutanythingnow,andyoudon’thavetodoitalone,remember?i’mhere,forgood.”hewashere.here,anddespiteeverything,notrunningaway.harrykeepsexpetinghimto.“don’tletthiswartakeanotherpieeofyou.”

harrywishesitwerethateasy.

chapter34

harry

draogetspardoned.

harry’snotsurewhyitomesasashok,really,espeiallyonsideringhowheandhermioneandgeehavebeenshowingupattheministryoneaweeklobbyingforahangeinhisriminalstatus,butnowthattheproofofthehangeisstaringupathiminbkandwhite,harryan’thelpbutfeellikethegroundhadfallenoutfromunderhhim.

“it’sover,”draosays,andhe’sgottearsinhiseyes,andharrypullshimselfoutofhisownheadlongenoughtonotiethetearsinhisboyfriend’seyesandthewaythathishandsaretrembling,justalittle,themosttheyhaveindays,andrealizeshowgreatthismustbeforhim,tonotbeamarkedmanforthefirsttimeinfiveyears.there’sadifferenebetweentellingyourselfthatyouareieverynightbeforeyougotosleepandhavingthegoverproimittothewholeworld,asthedailyprophetwouldsurelysayintomorrow’spaper.“it’sallover.”