edmindwouldonjureup.analternateuniverseofsomekind?harrydidn’tknowifsuhthingsexisted,butiftheydid,thenmaybehermione’srelutotellhimmuhmadeabitmoresense.maybeifhelearnedtoomuh,hewouldn’tbeabletogetbaktohisownworld?

harrysighedandsrubbedathisfaewithhishand,pausingwhenhefeltsomethingunfamiliarmovingarosshisskin.hestaredathislefthand;onthethirdfingersatasimple,whitegoldband.

harrythoughthemightbehavingaheartattak.

okayno,hejusthadtotakesomedeepbreaths,andthink.whereverharrywas,analternateuniverse,amentalbreakdown,amassivebonktotheheadandasubsequentoma,whatever,learlythingsherewereverydifferent.heseemedtobemarried,forastart,andwaslivinginwhatseemedtobeaverybeautifulhouse,andhadhadahild…

harryfeltlightheaded.

so,hewasmarried,livinginahouseratherthanaft,withahild—lissa?that’swhatginnyandhermionehadbothalledthelittlegirl—andheseemedtobedoingallofthiswithdraosoddingmalfoy.

“finallydeidedtograemewithyourpresene,isee,”malfoysaidbehindhim,andharryjumpedsohardheslippedoffthesofa.malfoysneeredathim.“i’msobloodyhonoured.”

harrystaredathim.malfoyhadputsomelothesonbynow,andwaswearingapairofdeliiouslysoftlookingfadedjeansandanuntukedwhiteshirtrolledtotheelbows.hestaredatthepewheretwooftheshirtbuttonswereundone,showingahintofskinandthewaymalfoy’sthroatmovedasheswallowed.

“gotnothingtosay?”

malfoystareddownatharry,hisgreyeyesold.andalittlebithurt,harrywassurprisedtonotie.whathadhermionesaid?trynottoattoosuspiious.rightthen.harrylearedhisthroat.