“Iwon’tleaveuntilyoulisten.”
“Mudblood,getoutofmyrooms!”
“They’reHarry’stoo.”
Draofoughttoontrolhimself.“Youhavetenseonds.Talk.”
“IwantedtotalktoyouaboutHarry-”
“Igatheredthat.”
“—Andhisnewbehavior.”
Draoraisedaneyebrow.
“IwanttoknowwhatyoufeelforHarry.”
Draoblinkedather.Avoieinsidehisbrainwasbeginningtorantabouttheaudaityofsomepeoplewhowouldfirstwalkintoroomsthatdonotbelongtothem,barringfortheminutehowsheevengotthepasswordinthefirstpe,andwouldthendareasksuhquestionsthatshouldnotbeasked!
Hermionewaitedfortheexplosionthatshehopedwasoming.Arant,maybe,abouthowoneDraoMalfoyhatedoneHarryPotter.Butshedidn’tgetone.Allshegotwasastrained:
“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingaboutMudblood,nowgetout.”
Withagrin,Hermionelefttheroom.SoHarrywasn’ttheonlyonewiththesetypesoffeelings.Buttheywerebothverymuhindenial.Well,desperatetimes…
AssoonasHermionewasgonefromtheroomDraostalkeduptothepitureframe.“Medusa,NEVERletherintotheseroomsagain.Andpikanewpasswordthatyoulike.Youantellmewhatitister.”
Hedidn’tbothertoreallylistentoMedusa’sreplyasheheadedforthebedroomandhisPotionshomework.Hopefullythatwouldgetthiswholeexperieneoutofhisheadforawhile.
HermionefoundHarryafterdinner.(Againhe’dwathedDraoentertheGreatHallandsitdownwithhisfellowSlytherinsbeforeevenlookingathisownfood.)“Harry,Iwantedtotalktoyou.”Shesaidassheaughtupwithhimwalkingslowlytowardsthedungeons.
“What’sup?”
“IwonderedhowyoufeltaboutDrao.”
HarrylookedratherlikeDraodidwhenshe’daskedhimthatsametypeofquestionearlier.“Idon’tknow-”
“YoupaymoreattentiontohiminssesthatwesharewithSlytherinsthanontheatualsubjet.Hek,youwathhimwalkintotheGreatHallformealsaswell.Rontoldmeaboutwhatheaughtyoudoing.Something’sgoingonandasyourfriendIwouldliketohelp.”