“Positive.Imean,hurtingHarry’sfriendshurtsHarry,soMalfoyan’tstartanythingwithuseitherright?Allwedoisignorehim.Easy.”
Hermionesmiled.“Exatly.”
LuiusMalfoyhadtunedouthisson’srantinghoursagoandjustletDraoontinuetalkinguntilhehadrepeatedhimselfthreeorfourtimes,wornhimselfoutpaingaround,andstormedofftohisbedroom.RaisinganeyebrowatsomeofDrao’sststatementsonhowitwasn’tfairbeausehewasn’tevengoingtobepunishedforbeingsostupidastohelpPotterbeauseitwasfollowingVeriaeinstint,Luiusjuststoredtheentirefewhoursawayastemporaryinsanityandreturnedtohisbook.
He’dknownthiswasgoingtohappenafterall.WhyelsehadhedesertedVoldemort?Holy,DraohimselfshouldhavesuspetedthatPotterwashissoulmateafterthat.Ohwell.Draowas,afterall,anadolesent,andadolesentssometimesouldn’tfindsomethingifithitthemonthesideofthehead,retionshipsbeingoneofthosethings.Whatwouldomewouldome,andDraowouldneveratuallytellPotterthathewashissoulmate,sowhatwasDraoworriedaboutanyway?
ByFridaym,Draohadarefullybuiltamanorontheleftbankof“denial”andwasomfortablylivinginitwithoutanythoughtwhatsoever.Thepotionhadbeenfinishedandhe’dgiventhestupidvialtobetestedtoPotter,sayingtotestitifhewantedtobutDraoknewitwasperfetandhadlefttheroombeforePottermighthaveswallowedit.SoPotterdidn’tknowanythingwhatsoeverabouttheauraofDrao’ssoulandbothboys(alongwithrespetivefriends/bodyguards)wereigneahother…butDraowasdreadfullywrongaboutonething.
OnThursdaynight,HarryPotterhaddumpedtheentirelearosofthevialoftheompletedpotionintohispumpkinjuieandhadwathedeveryone’saurasforexatlyonehour.He’ddelightedlytoldHermioneofheraura(applered)andhadtoldRonhedidn’twanttoknow(Slytheringreen)andhadthenlookedathisowntofinditwasebonybk.Whihhethoughtwasfitting,thankyouverymuh…andthenDraohadwalkedin.HarryhadfeltannoyanewhenherealizedthatDraoandhehadtheexatsameaura.Whodidthatgitthinkhewas,havingthesameauraashe?Thenhisbrainhadstartedw…maybeitwassomethingaboutbeingaVeriae.Hestillhadn’thekedout…er…”borrowed”thatbookonDragontonguefromtheRestritedSetion…andaresolutionwasmadetotransteexatlywhatthosewyvernshadsaidaboutDraoandhimselfonMonday.Afterall,hestillrememberedverylearlywhatthehissinghadsoundedlike…strangewhatonerememberedwithoutreallymeaningto.
Sohehadleftdinner,hadtrespassedintothelibrary’srestritedsetion,andpromptlyspentallnightlearningtospeakDragontounge.Hedoubtedheouldreallyspeakitfluently,buthewoulduandit.TherewereonlyafewdifferenesbetweenitandParseltongue,beausedragonswereapableofmakingasnarling“kh”and“rrrk”soundthatsnakesouldn’tdo.Soatexatly3:48a.m.onFridaym,Harrylookedatthetranstedsenteneonewyvernhadspokentoanother.
“Lukyboy.It’stoobadthatyou’retheintendedofaVeriae.”
IntendedofaVeriae?Whatdidthatmean?Hmmm.HermionehadthatbookonVeriae-peoplebefore,maybeshehekeditbakin.Butlookingrevealedthat,no,shehadn’t.Well,thenhewouldjusthavetoaskhertoseeit.
Hermionelookedathimforalongmomentbeforesmilingandfethingthebookfromherdorm,sayingsomethinglike,“What’smineisyours,Harry,youknowthat,”andlefthimtohisreading.Harrythoughtthatlookwasratherodd,buthewalkeduptohisdormandolpsedonthebed.Merlin,hewastired.Anapwouldbegoodrightnow.He’dskipwhateversshemighthavethismandsleepin,thenhe’dlookupwhatthat“intended”thingwas,andthengodowntoCareofMagialCreatures.Yes,verygoodpnHarry,hetoldhimself.Sleepingsurelookedgoodrightaboutnow.
HermioneandRonwerewaitingforHarryattheentranetothegrounds,astheyalwaysdidonFridays,towalkdowntotheirMagialCreaturesss.ButtheynotiedthatsomethingwasdifferentaboutHarrythisFridayashemadehiswayovertohim.
“Somethingwrongmate?”Ronasked.
“Sorta.I’lltellyouwhenwegettoss.”