HermionewinedandRontriednottolooksympathetiforhislongtimerival.
“WhataboutyouandMalfoy?”Hermioneaskedafteraminute.“Whyaren’tyoutwointrouble?”
“Idon’tknow.Dumbledoredidn’tsay.”Harryshrugged.“ButifIhadtoguess,Iwouldsaythathedidn’twanttodrawattentiontoit.”
“Hmm?”Ronfrownedinthemidstofdrinkinghispumpkinjuie.
“OhIgetit!”Hermioneeximedbeforeaddinginamuhquietertone.“AslongashekeepsyouandDraooutofit,thennothingaboutVoldemortisexposedtotheshool.”
“KindalikehedidwhenMalfoy’s…dadshowedupinHogwarts?”Ronasked.
“Exatly.”
TherewasarustleofwingsthroughouttheGreatHallasthemailbegantoarrive.Harry’seyessnappedtowardsDrao,buttheblondelooked…well,helookedlikehedidnormally,yethewasmuhtootenseforhimtobeatingtrulynormal.Also,hislothesmadeanypretenseof“normality”disappearfasterthananinvisibilityspell.
DraoworewhatHermionehadinformedhimastraditionalmlothingintheWizardingWorld.Underhhisoutershoolrobes,heworelothingoftheolorsfoundontheMalfoyfamilyrest,olorsthatrepresentedtheMalfoyfamily.Clothingofthoseolorswouldonlybewornonthreeoasions,Hermionesaid:whentherewasabirth,whentherewasawedding,andwhentherewasadeath.Theoasionwasspeifiedbythearmbandswornontheuffsoftherobesblueorroseforabirth(dependingonthegenderofthebaby),whiteforawedding,andadarkbloodredforadeath.Drao’suffsweresodarkredthatitwashardtotellwherethebkofhisrobesendedandtheredbegan,andlookedsobloodythatitseemedasthoughhehaddippedhisrobesinhisownblood.
DraohadgonetoSnapethatmtogetpermissiontoviotetheshooluniforminsuhaway.Snapehadlethimwithouthesitation.
“Harry…youshouldlookatthis,”RonsaidinavoiethattoldHarrysomethingwaswrong.
HarrylookedatthepaperinRon’shandandgroaned.“Iguesstheymadethedeathpubli?”
“NotjustthatHarry,”Hermionetoldhim,lookingoverfromwhereshesatperusinganotherstudent’spaper.“Lookatthefirstandseondpages.”
WiningHarrytookthepaperandsannedtheheadlineonthefirstpage.
LuiusMalfoyFoundDeadWithDarkMarkBzingOverMalfoyManor
Hopingthatthepagedidn’talsohavetodowithLuiusMalfoy’sdeath,Harryopenedthepaper.Whenhesawthetitle,hesuddenlywisheditdidhavetodowithLuiusMalfoy’sdeath.
ASeretLoveAffairRevealed:DraoMalfoyandHarryPotter
“Ohno.”
“Ohyes.”Hermionelookedlivid.“WhenIgetmyhandsonher,I’llsquashherlikethebugsheis!”
Harry’seyesfelltothenameofthewriteroftheseondartileandhepratiallyhissedatthename.RitaSkeeter.
RontookthepaperfromHarry’sshakinghandsandbegantoreadtheseondartileforhimself,ringingeverytwominutes.“Youwanttoknowthedamage,mate?”