overharry’s,pressingitagainsthishestharder.

“andi’veaheartbeat,don’ti?”draoasked.

“yes.”

“doifeellikeaghost,potter?”

harryshookhisheadintheive.

“andwhataboutavision?”draoasked,studyingharryarefully.“isthisthatyou’dseeinthemirror?”

drao’stonewasflippant,butharryouldseeinhiseyesthathewanted.hewantedtheanswertobeyes,hewantedtobethethingharrylongedformostintheworld.andofoursetheanswerwasyes,butoldhabitsdiehardandhewasn’tgivingdraoanyeasyvitories,nomatterhowsmall.

“no,”hesaid,pausing,anddrao’sshouldersfell,onlyslightly,beforeheomposedhimself,abitmoreguardedthanbefore.

“theni’mnotavision,obviously,”hesaid,hisvoietightaroundhisnonhane.

“ifthiswerethemirror,you’dbeshorter,”harrysaid.

draosnorted,thetensionfallingfromhim.

“what?ifiwerehavingtoonjureyouupfrommemory,doyoureallythinki’dgiveyouthismanyadvantages?theheight,thehair,the—”harrytrailedoff,andinamadmomentofbravery,ranafingeralongdrao’sheekbone.thosehadn’thangedmuhinthetimesinehe’dstseenhim,buttheywerestillbeautiful,andunfairlyso.“ithinki’dimagineyoumoreinmyleague.”

“asifieverwas,”draosmiled,pressinghisheekintoharry’shand.

harrypaused,seeinghimselfasiffromtheoutside,onehandondrao’shest,theotheronhisheek,andhewasstrukwiththeimprobabilityofthisverymomenteverbeingreal.andyetitwas.