“Listen,Harry,I’msorryaboutwhatIsaidearlier.”
Harryblinked.What?
“I’mnotsayingIwon’thavesomeproblemswithyouandMalfoy.AndIan’tpromisetosuddenlylikehimoranything.ButI’mnotgoingtostopyoufromlivingyourlife…andifthatmeanslettingyoumarryMalfoy,thenI’llletyoudoit.”
Harrywasshoked.“That’s…thanksRon.”
Rongrinnedsheepishly.“Noproblem,Harry.”
Draowasalmerwhenheemerged,dripping,fromhisshower…butnotmuhalmer.IfhewassurprisedtoseeHarrywaitingforhimwhenheenteredthebedroom,hedidn’tshowit.
“Whatareyougrinningat?”
“YoutalkedtoRon.”
“Ifthat’swhatyoualltalking,Harry,thenIwonderwhatyouallarguingorthrowinginsultsateahother.”
Harryjustshruggedandleanedbakagainsttheheadboardofthebed.“Hesaidnottoexpethimtosuddenlybefriendswithyoubuthe’sokwithoure.”
Draorolledhiseyesashesatonthefootofthebedtofinallyfinishtheworkhe’dbeenpnningtodobeforetheWeaselhadshownup.“I’lltellyounottoexpetusevertobefriends,buthopefullyyouuandthatalready.”
“DidIeveraskyoutobefriends?”Harrygrinnedlopsidedly.“Thatwouldbeaskingforamirale.ImightaswellaskVoldemorttogokillhimselfformewhileI’matit.”
Draoouldn’thelpthesmirk.“Ialwaysthoughtspontaneousombustionwouldbeagoodwayforhimtodie.”
HarryughedattheideaasDraobegantoskethhisarithmanyproblem.“HermionehadanideaabouthowtogetbakatRitaSkeeterforthatartilebefore.”
“Really?Dotell.”Draofrownedabsentlyashebegantotaketherudimentaryequationandexpandittofittheproblem.
“Sheandsomeothersaregoingtowriteartilesaboutus.Detailedones,withdetailsthatonlytheyangetbeausethey’reourpeers.Thenthey’regoingtosellthemtodifferentpubliationswiththeagreementthatforontinuedinformationonusnoneofRitaSkeeter’sartilesanbepublishedbythosepubliations.”
“Soundsgood…wait,what?”Draolookedupfromhisalutions.
“Youagreedtoit.Tootetobakoutnow.”Harrygrinned.
Draosighed.“Whatever.AslongasIgettoseetheseartilesbeforethey’republished.”Andhewentbaktohisalutions.
Harrypeeredoverhisshoulder.“Thatlookslikealotofnumbersandgibberishtome.”