“No.Morelike,he’sretirednow.”Harrymuttered.
“Mental.Thewholethingismental,”Ronmurmured,andHarryprivatelythought,Ronyouhavenoidea.
“SowhatdidhesayabouttheDA?”Hermioneasked,tohangethesubjet.
“Oh,yeah,didyouaskhim?”
“Hesaidweouldaslongasall‘priorommitments’wereupheldorsomething.”
“Inotherwords:sswork.”Ronrified.
“Right.Healso…requestedweaddanothermember.Onewhomayormaynotshowup.”
“Whowouldthatbe?”Ronaskedquizzially.
“It’sDraoMalfoy,isn’tit?”HermioneaskedandRonlookedatherasifshewasrazy.
“Itan’tbeFerret,Hermione—”RonstoppedatthelookonHarry’sfae.“ItISMalfoy?Youdidn’tsayyes,didyou?”
“Heprobablywon’tome,”Harrymuttered.
“You’reabsolutelyright,”Hermioneagreed,lookingpointedlyinRon’sdiretion.“Hewon’tome.”
“Butwhatifhedoes?”Ronasked.“Thenwe’llhavetoatallnie-”
“Notifwe’reduelinghim,”Harryputin,andRonaughtontowhatHarrywasimplying.
“Ilikethatidea,Harry.”
DraoMalfoyreturnedtossestheday,lookingforalltheworldasifhehadnotfainted,orbkedout,orfallendowngraefullyatsupperthenightbefore.Infat,DraoMalfoyhimselfouldn’tremembermuhaboutthebkingoutpart,sohebrushedoffanyinquiriesabouthishealth(alongwithinquiriesaboutwhyhehadn’tbeenintheHospitalWing).AllwasgoingalonglikeanormalshooldayforDraoMalfoysowhenRonWeasleyhappenedtobrushbyhimafterlunh,hewasn’texpetingashoutingo.
ForRonWeasleythedaywasnotgoingsowell.Itseemedtobeoneofthosedayswherenothingwentrightandeverythingthatouldpossiblygowrongdidgowrong.AndRonassumedthatifhehadbeeninPotions(whihhethankfullywasn’t)hisauldronwouldhavemeltedonhim,justtomakethedayworse.Andhisfriendsweren’thelpingeitherasHermioneseemednevertohaveabaddayandthereforewasn’tatall,andHarryseemedpreoupiedwithdreadinghisupomingPotionssstoworryabouthowbadRon’sdaywas.SowhenhehappenedtorunintoMalfoyleavingtheGreatHallafterlunhandthelittleFerrethadtheaudaitytosnipe‘wathwherehewasgoing’Ronletitallout.
“Oh,andI’msurewe’regoingtoallhavetowathwhatwedoaroundyounowMalfoy,wewouldn’twantyoufaintingagain.”Hespokesnidely.