Iwasright,Harrythought.ItwasMalfoythatwasomingtoHogwarts.
LuiuswalkedquiklytowheretheteaherswerenowgatheredaroundsomethingonthefloorthatHarryouldn’tsee.MadamPomfreyrosefromwhereshehadbeenkneelingonthefloorandspoke.
“Heseemsforallpurposestobeasleep,Mr.Malfoy.”
“Ofourseheis.Hisbodyneedstimetoadjust.”LuiusturnedtoDumbledore.“Whendiditstart?”
“Dinner.”
TheelderMalfoynoddedandbentdown.Whenhestraightened,Harryaughtsightofwhat,ormoreauratelywho,hadbeenonthefloor.Drao.Harryfeltatwingeof…whatexatly?Jealousy?AtseeingtheareethedonDrao’sfather’sfae.No…sympathy?Couldn’tbe.Justsomething.ForMalfoy?Therewassomethingwronghere.Harryshookitoff.Heouldn’thavefeltatwingeofanythingforMalfoy.Justouldn’t.Theworlddidn’tworkthatway.
HarrywasbroughtoutofhisreveriebyLuiusspeaking.“WhereisDrao’sroom?”
Harryblinked.Draohadhisowndorm?Hesowled.Moneyreallyspoketoomuhthesedays.
“Mr.Malfoy,IthinkitwouldbewisertoputhimintheHospitalWing-”MadamPomfreystarted.
“AreyoustatingthatIannotlookaftermyownson?”Luiusutheroff,hissingslightly.
Snapewined,andHarryagreedwithhim.HehadonlyseenLuiusthisfuriousone…andatthattimehewassoooothankfulthatDobbywasiweenhimandtheelderMalfoy.etothinkofit…Harryhadn’tevenseenLuiusthatangryattheDepartmentofMysteries…maybetheelderMalfoywasn’tasloyaltoVoldemortashethought.
“It’sshoolpoliy—”
“HaveyouevertreatedaVeriae,MadamPomfrey?Iguaranteeyouhaven’t,”Luiussnarled.
“Draoisawizard,Mr.Malfoy,notaVeriae.”
AgainSnapewined,butthistimesodidDumbledore.Luiussmirked.
“YouthinkIdon’tknowwhatmysonis?”AslightrippingsoundwasheardashugebkwingseruptedfromLuius’sbak.TheyreaheduptowardstheeilingoftheGreatHall,tallerinfatthantwofullgrownmen.ThelightoftheGreatHallshoneoffthem,asiftheywereoatedinmetal.Theyevenlookedsharp,nothinglikethewingsinHarry’sdream.
SnapewhisperedsomethinginPoppy’searthatHarrydidn’thear,butthenursebakeddown.
“I’llshowyouwhereitis,”shemutteredinLuius’sdiretion.
TheelderMalfoynodded.Hiswingstwithedandthenreededbakintotheskinofhisbak,almostasifthefeatherswerefoldinginonthemselvesanddissolving.
SnapeandLuiuslefttheHall,theelderMalfoystillarryingasleepingDrao.Dumbledoreturnedtotherestoftheteaherspresent.“Weneedtohaveastaffmeeting.”
Manyoftheteahershada“duh”expressionontheirfaes,andHarryalmostughedatthethoughtofsomeoneelsenotknowingwhatwasgoingonforone.