“ButyouknewHarry—”
“YesIknewHarrylikedhim,MerlinknowsIwalkedinonthemkissingbefore,butthat’snotliking—whatIsawdownthere.”Ronsighed.“Ijustneverthoughtanythingrealwouldomeofit.”
“DoyoutrustHarry’sjudgment?”Hermionewhispered.
“ItrustHarry.Idon’ttrustMalfoy.IfitwereanyoneelsebutMalfoy,I’dbehappyforhim!”
Hermionesmiled.“I’msuretherearesomepeopleyou’dhaveaproblemwith,Ron.”
Despitehimself,Rongrinned.“Yeah,I’dhaveaproblemifitwereVoldemort…orSthatstilldoesn’thangethefatthatIjustdon’tlikethis…ommitmentthey’regettinginto.”
Hermionethoughtforamoment,staringintothefirepeandrokingRonbakandforthslowly.“Well,ifyoutrustHarrytomaketherightdeisionaboutwhathisheartwants,thenIthinkwhatyouhavetodoistalktoMalfoybeforeyoutalktoHarry.You…weknowHarry.Weknowthathe’struetowhathefeels.Wedon’tknowMalfoythewayweknowHarry.Ithink…beforeyoumakeadeisiononhowtoataboutthis,iftheyreallyaren’tbreakingoffthee,youhavetotalktoMalfoy.”
DraoalmostignoredMedusawhensheinformedhimthattherewassomeonetoseehimontheothersideoftheportrait.Hewasalmostfinishedwiththestoftheworkheneededtodotoathupinhissses.Butheputdownhisquillandwalkedovertotheportrait-dooranyway.
RonaldWeasleywastheonewhohadbeenwaiting.
“Harry’snothererightnow.”DraomovedtolosetheportraitbutRonstoppedhim.
“Iknow.He’swithHermione.Iwanttotalktoyou.”
Drao’slipurled.“AndyouassumethatIwanttotalktoyou.Youaremistaken.”
Ronvisiblyheldbakwhateverretortwantedtoomeoutofhismouth.“IneedtotalktoyouaboutHarry.”
Harryfrownedslightly.SomethingwasstrangewithDrao.Hewasn’tingerbutstill…thebondwasatingup.
“IhavetogoHermione.”
Thegirllookedstartled.“Why?”
Harrysmiledsheepishly.“IfotmyPotionsbook.I’llberightbak.”
AsHarryesapedintothehallway,Hermionelookedoveratthebookshe’dbroughtwithhim.
“ButyourPotionsbookisrightthere…”