Draofrownedthoughtfully.“IthinkIremembermymotherspokeofherone,somethingaboutbeingadisgraetothefamily.”
“Hermothermarriedamuggle.”
“Thatwouldexpinit.Butifshe’sretedtomymothershe’stheonlyotherfemaleretiveI’vegot.”
“I’llwritetoheraboutitifyouwant,”Harryoffered,addingthenamesofthoseintheDAtothelistbeforehandingitbaktoDrao.
“Sure.”DraosanneddownthelistofnamesasHarrymadeamentalnotetoaskTonkstolookasMalfoyishassheouldtothewedding.
“YouputaHouseElfonhere?”DraolookedupinredulouslyfromwherehereadDobby’sname.
Harryshrugged.
HarryrealizedthattheinvitationshadbeensentoutwhenDobbyappearedontopofhisPotionsassigs,luthingtheletterandhowling.
“MisterHarryPottersir!Dobbyissohonoredtobeaskedtoyourweddinglikeawizardsir!”
“Um…it’snoproblemDobby,”HarrytriedtosoothetheHouseElf.ThedoortohisandDrao’sbedroomopenedandDraoleanedagainstthedoorwayinobviousamusementastheHouseElfontinuedtotellHarryhowwonderfulhewastosendaHouseElfaninvitation.Harrylookedupathimwithapleadingexpression,butDraoshookhishead.
“Yougotyourselfintoit,yougetyourselfout,”hespokeunderDobby’shysterialwords.
HarrydebatedaboutwhentotellDraoabouttheDursleys.Herealizedthathewouldhavetospendenoughtimewiththemtorenewtheprotetionthattheyunwittinglygavehimforhisstsummerwiththem.HewasundernoillusionthathewouldbeletbakintotheirhouseonehegraduatedHogwarts,notthathewouldhavegonebakanyway,butforonemoresummerheneededthatprotetion.BeauseofhisVeriaebondtoDrao,hewouldeitherbepulledtowhereDraowasatnightorDraowouldbepulledtowherehewas.ThatmeantDraowouldhavetospendthosesamefewweeksattheDursleyswithhim.
Ofourse,hertheDursleysnorDraowouldlikethat.DraowouldhatethemimmediatelybeausetheDursleyswereasmuggleasyouanget,andthenbeauseofhowtheywouldtreathimforbeingamagialreature,whihwasertainlyworsethanbeingawizard.Fortheirpart,theDursleyswouldhateDraobeausehewasamagialreaturepureandsimple.Butthen,iftheyfoundoutthatDraowashisfiané…well,thatwasdefinitelynotnormaltotheDursleys.
“You’retooquiet.Youmustbethinking,”DraoommentedfromwherehewasfinishinguphisARunesessaybeforebed.
“I’mthinkingaboutthesummer.”
“Whataboutthesummer?”
“Well,youknowhowIlivedwithmuggles?I’llhavetogobakthereforthefewweeksbeforethewedding.”
“No.”
Harrysighed.“YesIdo.There’ssomeprotetionwardthattheygivemebeausewe’reretedbyblood,orthat’swhatDumbledoresaid.SoIhavetogobakthereeahsummertorenewit,atleastuntilIfinishHogwarts.”