It was hard for Gabe not to simply pull Drew into the vee of his legs. He hated it; hated the tip-toeing and the lurch in his stomach every time he thought he was ready to just leap again. This was Andrew, the boy he'd protected, then befriended, then loved. But the same Andrew who'd walked away when things got darkest, to protect him. Gabriel got tired of telling people he didn't need protection. The words were made a lie, too, when it took illegal measures to keep him out of prison. Like he'd said to Vieve, mostly sarcastic, he wasn't some wilting flower. He had some skill with a wand, and if nothing else, the benefit of brains to go with his brawn. So what if he worked too much or worried too much? That only meant he cared. Turning his palm up against Andrew's dispelled some of the frustration bubbling out of nowhere. They were giving things a second chance - if the two of them could leave the past where it belonged. He wondered, looking at him, if that would be possible for Andrew.
"I'm good," Gabe said. "Need some air. Seems to be a recurring thing lately." His smile tilted to one side. "I meant to tell you I wasn't staying in the Hufflepuff dorms any longer. Benjy and I found a set of rooms off the hospital wing and sort of took the place over. Transfigured desks and such." He didn't need to explain to Andrew the way he tended to get lost in work or books, which was what happened once they'd settled in. Benjy wasn't in very often, so Gabe was left to his own devices. "You can come up any time you want."
Which made him realize he wasn't sure exactly where Andy was staying. Hadn't though to ask, and just assumed the Slytherin dorms, though when he let himself think about it, made Gabe uneasy. He kicked his heel against the wall slowly.