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“I’ one hand

“You don’t look fine”

That lare The expression changed hi and ry marble I felt my shoulders tense up in the presence of a creature I kneas genuinely dangerous

He glared at ht around six feet tall, but I’e when looking down at hi in a depression in the sand

His voice was cool “Leave it, Harry”

“If I don’t,” I asked, “are you gonna punch me?”

He scowled at me

“Because you know I’o the way you assume it would”

He sneered “Please I’d hogtie you with your entrails”

I squinted at him Then I spoke carefully and slowly “If you don’t take care of yourself and act like a sane person,” I said, “maybe we’ll find out”

He scowled and started to speak, his expression darkening

“No,” I said sio into an est spiral over this Because that’s selfish, and you can’t afford to think that way Not anymore”

He stared at htful, then disturbed

Waves rolled in on the beach

“I have to think of them,” he said

“Good man would,” I said

His grey eyes stared out at the lake “Everything is going to change,” he said

“Yeah”

“I’m scared,” he said

“Yeah”

Soe relaxed, and suddenly he was just y I … don’t like to talk vampire stuff with you”

“You’d rather pretend ere just normal brothers, with normal problems,” I said

“Wouldn’t you?” he asked

I squinted down at s that are real just because they’re uncomfortable I’ll sit on you and make you take care of yourself if I have to But it’s probably better for them if you do it”

He nodded “Probably I have a solution in h?”

I raised both of my hands, palms out “I’m not your dad,” I said Then it wasto be an issue?”

“When aren’t they an issue?”

“Heh,” I said Silence stretched Over the lake, the sky began to sith the first faint band of deep orange It had already gotten to the skyscrapers behind us The light s’ sides

“So me”

“Maybe it’s time to work on that,” I said to hi you want to teach to a little kid”

He glowered at et deep?”

“Through experience, wisdom I have earned,” I said in Yoda’s voice But it tickledI dealt with that for longer than I should have needed to and was straightening up again when Thohter, “Harry”