“GRYFFINDOR!”ityelled,andHarrysmirkedatDraobeforejoiningintheappuseforhisdaughter.
“Onemoreleft,Harry,”DraoremindedhimoverthehatterandSnapefoughttheurgetogroan.Wouldtherivalrybetweenthosetwoneverstop?Foroneminute?
DraoedgedforwardinhisseatasHermione’seyesfelltothenameonthelist.
“Malfoy,Luius.”
Snape’sjawdroppedasaarbonopyoftheLuiushehadgonetoshoolwithmadehiswaythroughthesmallhuddleoffirstyears,andnoddedrespetfullyathisfathersbeforesittingdown.Theeldertwinwaitedpatientlyasthehatwasloweredtowardshishead.Nosoonerhadittouhedthelongptinumhairsthatwerebrushedbakintoahorsetaildiditshout:
“SLYTHERIN!”
DraobeamedathissonasLuiussatproudlyattheSlytherintable,verymuhinthesameseatthatDraohimselfhadoupiedduringhisyearsatHogwarts.ThetwinsshoteahotherhallenginglooksarossthehallandSnapefoughttheurgetogroan,thinkingofallthetroubletwoMalfoys—whowerepartPotter—wouldause,nowthattheywereindifferenthouses.
“Well,Ithinkthatwehavefeared,Harry,”DraospokeastheSontinued.“Ourinter-houserivalrylegaywillbeontinued.”
Nothingelsewassaiduntil“Weasley,Mordred”wassorted.
“Mordred?”Snapeaskedtheblondtohimastheredheadedboysatdownonthestoolandhismotherdroppedthehatonhishead.
“ItwasapparentlyMrs.Weasley’sidea,”wasalltheMalfoypatriarhwouldexpin.“AndMr.Weasleydidn’thavethedeterminationtotellherno,notaftertwelvehoursofbor.”
Snapenodded,winingslightly,andthankedwhateverforewasguidingtheuniversethathewouldneverhavetoworryabouthildrenofhisown.
“SLYTHERIN!”