“Potter,Iamimmenselydispleased,”hepratiallyhissedasherealizedwhohadrunintohim.“Doyouknowhowmuhthisshirtost?”
Harry’seyesdidn’tevenbothertosantheshirt,thebakofwhihwasinshreds.“Whatisgoingon?”hemanagedtoforeoutthroughhisvoalords.
“Oh,youmeanwhyyou’reinpain?HolyPotter,whatwereyoudoingtomakethebondkikinlikethat?”DraosurveyedHarry’sslightlyhunhedoverform.
“Make.It.Stop.”Harryrasped.
Draorolledhiseyesandsteppedforward,hishandgrudginglyfindingitswayunderHarry’sshirttotheskinjustbelowhisbellybutton.
Harryblinkedasthepaindisappeared.“Gdthat’sover,”hemuttered.
“Areyou?”Draoquipped,raisinganeyebrowinannoyane.“Ihopeyoukeepthatattitudeforthehourandahalf.”
“What?”
“Wehaveanewlyformedbond,Potter.Itwilltaketimeforthattobepaifiedenoughtoletusleavetheotheralone.See,I’llshowyou.”
Andnotevenbtohidehisglee,DraoslippedhishandoutfromunderhHarry’sshirt.Saidboybnhedastheslightburningsensationappearedagain.HelookedatDraowithanexpetantlookastheotherboyhesitatedtorepethehand,buthefinallydidsowhenHarry,nonetooniely,kikedhim.
“SeewhatImean?”Draodrawled.
“Whywasn’tIinformedofthis?”Harryspoke,histoneausing.
“Beauseit’sinformationthattheVeriaeknowsandothersdonot.”Wasthesimpleandhaughtyanswer.“Now,Potter,doyouthinkyoumightbeabletostartmovingbaktowardsmyroomasIdonotrelishtheideaofmyfellowssmatesfindingusinthisposition?”
HarrynoddedandthetwobegantowalkinmeasuredstepsbaktowardstheMedusaportrait.
Onebakinside,Draomovedthemtowardsoneoftheouhesinhisstudy(greenleatherofourse).“Starttalking,Potter,you’vegotanhourandtwentyminutes.”
“Talkingaboutwhat?”Harryshotbak.
“Expinwhatgotyouintothissituation,”wastheanswer.
“Well,letmethink…nope,Idon’tthinkIknowenoughabouttheMalfoylinetoanswerthequestionofhowVeriaebloodgot—”
“Notaboutthat,Potter,aboutthis,”DraomovedhishandawayfromHarrymomentarilytoaentthepoint.
Harrysighedslightlyandfiguredthatitouldn’treallyhurttoexpin.“IwasinthemiddleofaDAmeeting—”
“What?”