tene,malfoy.”

“iknow,iwasthere,”draoreplied,thewordsaslongaswebothshallliveehoingthroughhismind,hisheartbeatpikingupagainasherepyedharry’sanswer,aslow,deliberate,andaboveallelse,inrediblyoiwill.

“so.thatmeansi—”

“don’thateme.iknow.you’vementioned.”

“iwasgoingtosaydon’tmindbeingaroundyou.mightevengosofarastosayiwouldliketobearoundyou,”harryontinued.

“thanksverymuh,kindofyoutosay,”draosaid.hedidn’twanttosayit.notsopinly.notyet.

“soiguesswhatiamsaying,drao,isisthatalbumwhatithinkitis?”

draosuppressedtheleaphisheartmadeatharry’suseofhisgivenname.itwasn’tthefirsttimehehadsaidit,butheseemedtoonlyreserveitformomentslikethis,momentsthattugatdrao’shest,threateningtomakehimspilleveryserethe’dheldloseforthestdeade.

“whatdoyouthinkitis?”

“evidhatmaybeyou’dliketobearoundme,too.”

“maybeiwould.seeingaswe’reasgoodashanduffedtogetherforever,itseemslikeitwouldbeinmybestitoliketobearoundyou.”

“youjustan’tstoopsolowastoadmityoudon’thatemesomuh,either,anyou?”harryughed.