shouldhavegivenhimhills,butinsteadthepullofagreaterpurposeleftdraofeelingeletri.itwasasifthethreadsoffatewerebekoninghimforward.hehadn’tfeltaoiontoitsostrongsinehe’dbeenhitwiththeurse.

attheentrotheastle,potterasthispatronus—arge,majestistag,learerandrisperthandrao’swhitestoathadeverbeen.theywatheditrushoffintotheastleandpotterturnedtodraoandpansy.“justlettingtheheadmistressknowwe’rehere.”

draodidn’tdoubtpottermaintainedaloseretionshipwithminervamgonagall.perhapsthatwasamajordifferenebetweenthetwoofthem.wherepottermightseektomaintainhisbondstothepesthatheldbothgoodandterriblememories,draodoubtedhepossessedthestrengthtoriseabovethedarkness.ormaybehestillletthefearofitspoweroverhimpreventhimfromeventrying.

“drao,areyouoming?”pansystoodinsidethedoorwaystaringathim.shedidn’tsayanythingelseasheomposedhimselfandforthathewasgrateful.theyfollowedpotterinsideandheadedtothestafflounge.

theyhadn’tgotfarbeforesomeoneblurted,“harry!”thereinthehallwaystoodnevillelongbottom,tandleanandbeamingwithabrightsmile.draohadbarelyblinkedbeforepotterpratiallydisappearedinlongbottom’sarmsforanembrae.thefamiliaritybetweenthetwogryffindorsleftdraowithawarmsealitytaintedbyatwingeofregret.“ihaven’tseenyouinmonths.”afterthey’dseparated,longbottomlookedoverpotter’sshoulder,hishappydemeanordeftedatthesightofpansyanddrao.“whataretheydoinghere?”

“we’rewaase,nev,”potterexpined,hisfaeshiftedfromobviousjoytoaneardetermination.“andwehavesomequestionsforyou.”

“me?i’mnotsurehowianhelpyou.”