drao gave potter a little nudge, sio be frozen in pe.
“it’s good to see you both. even though, i must admit, i’m a little surprised,” mgonagall said after drao had pushed potter down i. drao remaiaill on potter’s shoulder.
“now, what’s this about, malfoy? you were very ominous about wanti sent.”
drao leared his throat, hoping potter wouldn’t hate him for what he was about to do.
“yes, well, it’s ly my pe to tell,” he said. his eyes flikered dower ressing his palms against his thighs. “but i thio be said.”
potter looked up, over his shoulder, his expression full of anguish. “i an’t believe y me do this,” he hissed.
“it will eat you alive if you don’t tell her noered. he turo mgonagall, athing them losely. “potter has something to tell you, headmistress. i’ll be waiting outside.” before he ould withdraotter’s shoulder, he felt trembling fingers url around it.
& go,” potter said quietly.
drao blinked. “are—are you sure?”
“i an’t do this without—” he broke off, obvi not to hoke. warmth, like he had before, washed over drao. nobody had ever needed him. his.
i down to potter, who did go of his hand.
the followi very unomfortable. drao ould pratially feel potter’s pani.
“pood’s the matter?” mgonagall asked, her voie soundihan before.
“um…”
draave a painful squeeze wheened his grip on his hand.
&ress, i—” his voie was shaking. “i—i let you down. i’m sorry.”
drao peeked at mgonagall. one of her eyebrows was raised, making her look more stern. a ssi mgonagall move.
“what in the name of merlin are you on about, potter?”
potter exhaled loudly and drao ould hear all the dread he must have been feeling.
“i—i’m his eyes on their joined hands. “i—i quit the aurram.” his fae twisted, as though he ain. “i’m sorry.”
mgonagall’s fae was uudied p moment, her eyes flikering to drao every now and then.
“oh. i see,” she finally said. “aly does that orrespond with you ‘letting me down’?” she said, putting emphasis o few words, to stress that those weren’t her words.
“isn’t that obvious?” paping at her.
“potter, i don’t like beied as slow or inane, so you’ll have to be a bit more speifi.”
even drao shuddered at her words. merlin, did she know how sary she ould be sometimes? she probably did.
“you, um…in fifth year, err…when umbridge said—you…you said you’d—”
“potter, stop mumbling,” mgonagall ihough her to as snappish as her words. “unless you’re here to tell me you murdered somebody, it an’t be as bad as you obviously think it is.”
pulped. “but it is bad. you helped me get intram and i—i—”
drao felt pettiy. when it was lear he wasn’t going to ontinue, mgonagall leared her throat.
“may i speak freely, potter?”
slowly, potter nodded while squeezing drao’s hand so hard it was beginning to be painful.
“you ted intram beause of what you did to save the ey of the wizarding world. and also,” she raised her voie when potter’s expression darkened, “beause you are aional wizard. all i did was eo work harder while you were here at hogwarts.”
“but headmistress—”
“potter, i didn’t storm iry ahey make you an auror. you did it by yourself.”
“still, i—you must be disappointed in me.”
“disappointed?” mgonagall ehoed. she pressed her lips into a tight line before she spoke agai me ask you this, potter. why did you quit the aurram?”
“i—it’s not—it’s not what i thought it would be. i just—” his shoulders slumped. “i don’t want to beome an auror anymore.”
“there you have it, then,” mgonagall said, leaning bak in her hair. potter stared at her, iy written all over his fae. mgonagall sighed. “potter, you really think i’d be disappointed in you? after everything you did? it’s not your duty to beome an auror. it’s your duty to fihing you want to do.”
potter’s eyes wide—but—”
“potter!”