HarrywathedMedusawathhimdisapprovingly.Afterafewminutesofthisstaringo,hespoke:
“Soareyougoingtoletmein?”
“WhyshouldI?”Medusaspat.“Youdon’tknowthepassword.”
“BeausebynowyoushouldknowthatIlivehere,”Harrypointedoutpatiently.“WehavethisoionevenwhenIdoknowthepasswordsoIdon’tuandwhyyouan’tjustopenupandletmein.”
“Nopassword,noadmittane.”
“Stupidbith.”Harrysnarled,unawarethatitameoutinParseltongue.
“Iknowwhatyou’resaying,”MedusaommentedinaboredtoneasthesnakeshissedbaktheirownhorusofobsenitiesatHarry.“Anditjustgoestoshowthatyoudon’tbelonghere.Onlyoneofinsignifiantbreedingwouldusesuhfowlnguage.”
Harrygroaned.“Soyou’regoingtomakeDraoannoyedatbothmeandyouwhenIbangonyourframeloudenoughtowakehiminthebedroom?”Hegraspedatthestideathathehadwhendealingwiththisobnoxiousportrait.
“Youwon’thavetobangloudly.He’sasleepontheouhwaitingforyoutodoso.”
Harryould,andwouldter,swearupanddownthatMedusa’svoietookonaompletelydifferenttonewhentalkingaboutDrao.
“Sowhydon’tyoujustletmeinsothatIwon’thavetowakehim?”Harryasked.
Theportraitonsideredthisforamomentortwobeforenoddingherassent.“Butyou’dbetterwathoutwhenDraogoeshomeforChristmasandit’sjustyouhere.You’llnevergetinfortheentiretwoweeks!”Shespatathim.
Harrybrushedbyherandintotheroomtofindthattheportraithadnotliedaboutitssleepinginhabitant.Thefirehadburneditselftolowembers,astingalmostashadowyglowontheroomanduponthefiguresleepingontheouh.Draowasedupintheomforterthatheobviouslyhadtakenfromhisbed,itsbkblendingwiththebksilkofDrao’snormalsleepwear.
Drao’seyeswerelosed,ofourse,ashewassleeping,buthisfaeseemedtoretainthatsameairofMalfoyishnessthatitalwaysheld,asifheweresomeuntouhabledeityorlordwhoselevelofperfetionmeremortalsouldneverhopetoasendto.Theglowfromthefireseemedtosinkintohishairandbringoutanetherealglowfromtheptinumstrands.HarrystoodtherejustwathingDraosleep,buttheserenityofthesenewasbrokenwhenDrao’seyesflutteredopenasMedusalosedherportraitratherloudly.
“Sheletyouin.Surprising.”
“I’dbearefulifIwereyou,IthinkMedusalikesyoutoomuh.”Harrytriedtoatnormalasherossedtheroomtothedoorwaytothebedroom.
“I’mnottooworried.”Draopaddedintotheroomafterhimandgraefullyfloppedonhisbed(muhtoHarry’samazement,thoughhehidit,thatitwasatuallypossibletoflopgraefully).DraowaitedforafewminutesuntilhewasertainthatHarrywasassumingthathewouldn’tsayanythingabouttheoionhe’doverheardearlier.SillyGryffindor,DraowasaMalfoy;ofoursehewouldsaysomething.“Iatuallythinkit’sironi.”
“What,thatasnake-hairedgirllikesaSlytherin?”