ThenumberofdaysdwindledasMondayturnedintoTuesdayandWednesdayfollowed.YetDraowasnolosertofiguringouthisdilemmathanhehadbeenonMonday.Hehadevenonsideredwritingtohisfatheraboutit,ithadgottenthatannoying,butwritingitdownwouldsomehowmaketheissuemorereal.Ifheneverwroteitdownandtheweekendameandwent,thenheouldjustorateonfettingthatthethoughteverourred.ButifhewroteitdownitbeamemoreoethanasimplethoughtthatourredduringHistoryofMagi.Soinsteadhetriedtoimaginewhathisfatherwouldsay.Ifreallywasn’thardatall.HisfatherwouldgivehimthislookandtellhimthathewasaMalfoyandMalfoysdidwhattheywantedtoandthatheshouldgetridoftheseinseurefeelings.IfhewantedHarry’sompanyheshouldrequestitandthatwasthat.Itshouldn’tmatterwhatitmightlooklikeifsomeoneatuallysawthem.Really,thinkrationallyDrao.Itallomesdowntoamatterofpride.SomeGryffindorsareallowedtohangaroundhimandyetyou,aMalfoy,annot?Youhaveasmuhrighttobearoundhimnowastheydo,onsideringthatyounolongerhateeahotherandouldevenbeonsideredfriends.Man,youaregoingtospendtherestofyourlifearoundhimsowhatismakingyouinferiortothem?
Gryffindorsmayhavetheirewhentheyneedit,butforaSlytherinitisamatterofpride.
HarryhadjustfinishedallhishomeworkforFriday.Ofourse,heouldn’treallyuseanyofhisfreetimeatthistimeofnight,butitwasstillfreetimeandthatwasagoodthing.Yethefelt…edgysomehow.tentthattherewasnomorehomework,butedgyallthesame…almostasiftherewassomethingheshouldbeonernedabout.Andhewasn’tonernedaboutanythingrightnow.Sowhywashefeelingthistense?
TheshowerturnedoffandinthehangeofnoiseHarry’smindshiftedtoDrao.
Theblondleftthebathroomsilently,thelookonhisfaealmostoive.That,Harry’smindrowedtriumphantly,iswherethosefeelingsamefrom!ButwhatwouldDraohavetobenervousabout?
“Hey,Drao?”
Draolookedoverathimfromhissideoftheroom.
“Areyouokay?”
“Yes.”
Well,thatdidn’tgetmeanywhere,Harrythought.
“Harry.”
“What?”HarrylookedoveratDrao.Theblondwasn’tlookingathim.
“YouknowthisisaHogsmeadeweekendright?”
“Itis?”Harryblinked.StrangethatRonorHermionehadn’tsaidanythingaboutit.
“Yes.”
SileneprevailedforafewminutesbeforeDraoalmlyasked.“WouldyouliketodosomethingwithmeonSaturday?”
Harryblinked,surprised.Wherehadthatomefrom?NotthathewasgoingtoturndownanofferlikethatfromDrao.