DumbledoresaidnothinguntilthedooropenedandProfessorMGonagallenteredtheroom.ThedeputyHeadmistresshadthetotalountofmissingstudents.NotountingHarryandDrao,thirteenSlytherinsweremissing,alongwithfiveRavenws,twoHufflepuffs,andthreeGryffindors.Allofthestudentswereeithersixorseventhyearstudents.
Dumbledoreneededonlytothinkforamomentbeforeissuingtheorders.Filhwastopersonallywaththefrontdoorsandleavethemopenforanystudentswhowereeousenoughtomarhinafterbeingmissing.AllstudentsweretoremainintheironRoomsuntileverystudentfromthatHousewasaountedfor.TheHeadsoftheirrespetiveHousesweretostaywiththeirstudentsintheironRoom.DumbledorehimselfwouldovertheSlytherinHouseinProfessorSnape’sabsene.HermioneandRonweretogobaktotheGryffindoronRoom.
“Harry,”DumbledoresaidthroughDrao’smuffledsobs.“Whydon’tyoutakeDraobakdowntoyourrooms.Itrustyouwillbothstaythere.”Thetwinklewasgonefromhiseyesashespoke,adiretorder,notasuggestion…thoughHarrydoubtedherDraonorhimselfwouldbedoingmuhofanythingatleastuntilbreakfast.
HarryhelpedDraogettohisfeetandthenewMalfoypatriarhwalkedsolemnlyoutoftheroom.HarryhadtoadmireDrao’sstrength.IfhehadbeeninDrao’spositionhedoubtedhewouldbeabletothinkstraightrightnow,muhlessbesomewhatdignified.Harry,Ron,andHermionewalkedoutofDumbledore’soffietogether,pausingatthefootofthestairs.
“Youaregoingtotelluswhathappenedright?”Ronaskedtentatively.
Harrynodded.“WhatIsawofitanyway.”
RonseemedsatisfiedandstartedofftowardstheGryffindoronRoom,notrealizingthatHermionelingeredamomentlonger.
“He’sgoingtoneedyoursupportHarry.”Hermionesaidquietly,asifunsurehowtoapproahthesubjet.“Youmightnothavegonethroughthesamethinghedid,soyouannotfeelhissameemotions,butyouanmakesureotherpeoplestayawayfromhimuntilhe’sreadytofaetheworldagain.”ShestartedwalkingtoathupwithRon,turningbakwhenshethoughtofsomething.“AndknowingMalfoy,itwillbebeforehe’strulyreadyforit.”ThenshetooleftHarrytowalkafterDraotowardstheirrooms.
MedusawaslividwhenHarrygottotheportrait.
“Whatdidyoudo!”shenearlysreamedathim.
Harryignoredherandspokethepassword.ThegonontinuedtorantaboutwhateveritwasthatHarryhaddonetomakethepoorMalfoyboysomiserableassheopenedandHarrywassurethatheouldhearherontinuingtospeakaboutit,nowinParseltongue.
“You’restartingtorepeatyourself,”Harrymuttered,butheknewshewouldn’thearhim.
HefoundDraointheirbedroom,urleduponhisbedinwhatmugglesalledthefetalposition.Hiswingswereurledaroundhimasiftoprotethimfromtheworld,buttheyopenedasHarrydrewnear.
Theboywasthepersonifiationofgrief,andHarrywishedatthatmomenttoneverseesuhasightagain.Strandsofblondhairstuktohisfae,heldbythedryingandstillwettears.Hiseyeshadlosttheirluster,moreofadullgraythanavibrantsilver.Hisfingerstrembledastheyheldhiskneestohishest.
HarryhadneverwishedVoldemortdeadquitelikehedidrightnow.
Harryapproahedthebedautiously,slowly,unsureifDraowouldpushhimaway.MaybeDraowouldn’twanthimtobeseeninthisstate.Yet,asHarrysteppedloseenoughthatheouldhavereahedoutandtouhedhim,awingenirledhimandpulledhimloser.Drao’sarmsfollowed,andHarryfoundhimselfagainwithapfullofaryingMalfoy.