e,dad.”

“whatareyoudoinghere?”theyareinhesawayfromeahother.draoouldreahthroughthebarsandtouhhimifhewantedto,buthedoesn’t.

“iwantedtoseeyou.”itsoundslikeaquestion.“igotpermissionfromtheminister.”

“goodofyou.”hishandsaretrembling.therearenodementors,butitisstillnotahappype—it’sold,anddamp,thewaterfromthewavessoakinginthroughraksinthestoneandspillingoutoverthefloor,theonlyomfortsalumpymattressandthreadbarelothesthatdonothingtokeepoutthehill.he’sheardthatafewhavestillgonerazy,leftaloneforaslongastheyare.“butyoushouldn’thaveome.”

heturnshisbakondrao,amovethatwouldhaveonedevastatedhim,butitdoesnothavethesameaffetnow,notwhenheissoweakfromdisusethathestumblesashemovesbaktowardsthebed,almostsendinghimselfsprawling.ididnotdeservethis,draothinks,lookingathisfather,lookingatthisell,rememberingwhenhesatinfrontofthewizengamotanddidnotevenfight,butnothinghedidwasbadenoughtowarrantlivingthiskindoflife.buthisfather—draohadlongstoppedmakingexusesforthethingshehaddone.ifiwerehere,itwouldbebeauseofhim,notbeauseofme.

“iwantedtotalktoyou.”hethrowshisvoiethroughthebars,butluiusdoesnotmove.“totellyouthings.about—aboutharrypotter.”

there’sahissfromtheellbesidethem.draodoesn’tflinh.

“i’veheardaboutyouandharry.theguardsshowedmeaneerlipping.”it’sfunny,howevenwhenyouarethebetterman,evenwhenyouarestandingontherightsideofthebars,howeasilyitisforsomeoneelsetomakeyoufeelsmall.“thetwoofyouatae.shouldibeexpetingaweddinginvitationanydaynow?”