Draoontinuedwriting.Thesilenestrethedforafewminutes,brokenonlybythesoundofDrao’squillsrathingtheparhment.
“Drao?”
“Hm?”
“Howmuhareyousendinghim?”
Draogrinneddevilishly,rippingoffargesrapofparhmentandsribblingafigureonit.“WellthenormalprieforonemarryingintotheMalfoyfamilyisthis.”HedroppedtheparhmenttoHarry.
Harrygaped.“What?”Hadhereallyountedthosezerosright?“You’rekidding!”
“Ofourse,”Draodrawledthoughtfully.“sideringthatyou’reThe-Boy-Who-Livedandall,deorumwouldstatethatIdoubleit.”
“Doubleit?”Harrywasinstantlyawake,tryingtoalutehowrgeafigurethatwas.Heouldn’t.“That’srazy!Howmanyvaultsareyougoingtohavetoemptyforthat?”
Draofrowned.“Ithinkit’lltakeaboutasixteenthofoneoftheminorvaults.Yeah,that’saboutright.Maybeoneseveh,butthat’snottakingintoaounttheithathasaddedupsinethesttimeIhekedthevalue.”
Harrystaredathim,mouthagape.“Drao.Withthatmuhmoney,Remusouldlivelikeakingfortherestofhislife.”
Draogrinned.“Areyouimplyingthatyouwon’t?You’regoingtobeaMalfoy,Harry.”Heleanedforwardtowhisper,“Welivebetterthankings,”beforeapturingHarry’smouthinabriefkiss.
Chapter39:Preparations
Theteapotwhistled,breakingRemusLupinoutofhistrainofthought.Withoutsettingdowntheneerlippinghewasreading,hestoodandwalkedtheshortlengthofthekithentothestove,tookthekettleoffthesmallfmeandsetitontheounterabsently.
Hiseyesturnedbaktotheheadlineoftheartileandthestatedauthorbelow.HermioneGranger.Returningtothetablewithaupoftea,Lupinsettheartiletotwoothers.Hermione’sartilehadappearedthedaybeforeintheProphet.AnartilebyRonaldWeasleyhadappearedintheQuibbler.Andone,senttohimbyMrs.Weasley,authoredbyGinnyWeasleyhadappearedinWithWeekly.Allthreeartileswereonthesametopi:HarryPotter’setoDraoMalfoy.Lupinhadtosmilelightlyattheskillbehindthethreewriters.Theyhadobviouslyolboratedandsplitallthefatsevenlybetweenthethreeartilessothateahonewouldpresentnewdetails.
ButitwasthetopithatwaspuzzlingLupin.Thestheknew,DraoMalfoyandHarrywerenotonthebestoftermstoputthingslightly.AndhedoubtedthatHermione,Ron,andGinnywerewritingfalsitiesaboutHarry.Ofourse,onehadtowonderwhythethreewerewritingaboutHarryatall.ButthenherememberedAlbushadmentionedsomeratherstrangeartileshadappearedaboutHarryintheProphetawhileago.Maybethiswastomakesurethatifthingshadtobeprintedtheyweren’tdetrimentaltoHarry.
TherewasasrathingatthewindowwhihausedLupintolookupfromtheartiles.Twoowlswereseatedthere,waitingtobeletinside.OnehereognizedasHedwig,theotherhedidnotknow.Itwasaproud-lookingeagleowl,whosefeathersweresodarktheywerealmostbk.Lupinrossedtothewindowandopenedit,lettingthetwoowlsflyin.
Theeagleowldroppeditsletteronthetableandleft,butHedwigremainedonthetable,wathingLupin.
LupintookHarry’sletterfromher,openedit,andbegantoread.
DearProfessorLupin,