LuiusMalfoyburstintotheinfirmary,wingssnappinginanger,followedbyasomewhatiratelookingProfessorSnapewho’dbeensenttofeththeelderMalfoy.Alleyesintheroom(whihinludedanystaffwhoweren’tteahingatthemoment)weretrainedontheboylying,deathlypale,onthebed.
“Idon’tknowwhathappened,”MadamPomfreysaidworriedly.“AtoHagrid,hejustfainted.Therewasnoause.Hedoesn’thaveanyharateristisofbeingsik…hejustwon’twake.”
Luiusradledhisson’shandinhisown,hisfingerstraingtheveinbakuptheboy’sarmtothepointwhenitwasthesurfae.Drao’sbloodwasasoldasie.WhathadPotterdone?Forthefirsttimeinhislife,theMalfoyfaadethreatenedtorumble.
“Dumbledore.IwillbetakingDraotohisroom,”hespokeabruptly,hiseyessearhingoutthoseoftheHeadmasterandthenthoseofSnape.ThePotionMaster’sowneyeswidenedinreognitionasDumbledoregavehispermissiondespiteMadamPomfrey’sprotests.
AfterLuiushadleft,radlinghisson’sbodytohisownasifhewouldneverhavethehanetodosoagain,Snapespoke.“Don’tbothertryingtoprotest,Pomfrey.Draoshouldatleastbeabletodieinhisroomwithhisremainingfamily.”
“Die?”
ShroudedeyeswidenedasHermionemadeherwayoutoftheroom.DraohadheardHarry.NowallshehadtodowasgettoHarrytotellhim.ButwouldHarryareenoughtosavehimeventhoughthatmeantpratiallyhaininghimselftoDraoMalfoyfortherestofhislife?
Chapter8:FlightatMidnight
LuiusstoodatthewindowinDumbledore’soffie,wathingtherainpeltdownmournfullyagainstthegss.
“Natureknowswhatisoming.ItantiipatesthedeathofaVeriae,anditpreparestomourn.”Dumbledore’svoieamesoftlyfrombesidehim.TheHeadmaster’sgazefollowedLuius’sarossthegroundsofHogwarts,towardstheForbiddenForest.“Youknewtheyweredestinedtobetogether,didyounot?”
“Idid.IwasaquiringDrao’sshoolbookswhenDraowasbeingfittedforhisrobesforhisfirstyearhere.IreturnedbeforeNarissaandhappenedtoseebothDraoandPotterwerebeingfittedinthesameroom,mysonhattingawayasusual,bothsurroundedbyaurassosimiritsaredme.WhilemysondidnotreognizethefabledHarryPotter,Idid.IknewtheDarkLordwouldstopatnothingtoreturn,soIfearedformyson’slife.ItseemsmyfearsweremoreorretthanIwishedthemtobe.”
“YoutoldyoursontobefriendHarry.”
“Yes.Butthatdidnothappen.IhopeRonaldWeasleyishappywithhimselftoday,foratmidnightDraodies.Hisfather’sgrudgeagainstmyfamilyanthenbefinallyputtorest.”
“Luius,yoursonandyourgrudgepyedargepartinHarry’sdeision.”
“Butoutofthetwofamilies,itistheMalfoyswhowillregretit.”
Luiusturnedtoleave,hisfaeimpassive,hisemotionsonlybetrayedbyasinglerystaltearthatfelltotheplushrugofDumbledore’soffie.