“Eversworn,”Malfoyalled.HarrygnedoverhisshoulderandsoffedwhenhesawthatMalfoywasstillradlingthedamnedkneazleinhisarms.
“I’mgoingtotheMinistry,”wasallHarryouldbringhimselftosay.
“Well,alright.”
Harrystopped.“That’sit?Youhaveusbreakintosomeone’shousetogetBertrie,weproeedtoleaveherthere,andnowyou’refinewithsimplygoingtotheMinistryandhavingthemhandleit?”
MalfoyshotHarryaarefullook.“Therewasobviouslysomethingverywrongwiththatgirl.Yououldn’thelpher.Perhapstheyan.”
“Andyoudidn’tthinktograbher?Apparateoutwithher?Orwereyoutoobusyooingoverthatdreadfulanimal?”HarrypointedtoGuinevere,whohissedinresponse.
“There’ssomethingspeialaboutthiskneazle.Iratherlikeher.”
“Sheattakedme.”
“What’snottolike?”TherewasasatisfiedlookonMalfoy’sfaeanditremindedHarryoftheirtimeatHogwarts.HeexpetedthelooktomorphintoanhtsneerbutwasshokedwhenMalfoysimplywinkedathiminsteadandthenturnedhisattentionontheballoffurinhishands.
Harrybithislowerlip,onfused.“Alrightthen,”hefinallymanagedtosay.“I’mgoingtogotellthemwhatIknownow.Atually,youknowwhat?Youshouldtellthem.”HarrythoughtitwasaratheringenioustesttoproveifMalfoyreallyhadnobleiions.“I’mapersonofiandthey’lljustmaketoomanyassumptions.Itshouldbeyou.”
“You’reapersonofi?Thatwouldimplythatsomeone,somewherefindsyouiing.”
“Malfoy,willyougoornot?”
Malfoyatedasifhedidn’thearhimandontinuedtoooatthekneazle,rubbingherbellyasheradledherlikeababy.“Idon’ttrusttheauthoritiestosolvethisase,”Malfoyfinallysaid.
Harryrolledhiseyes,“Butyoutrustme?We’veonlyjustmet.”Theblonddidn’taknowledgeHarry’swords.Hesimplyarriedondotingonthereddevil.HarrygaveupandwalkedtherestofthewaytotheEdinburghMainOffie.
He’dbeentheretwiebefore.Thefirstoasionhadbeenunderquitedireirumstanes.TherehadbeenthreewerewolfattaksinamatterofdaysandhalfofthewizardingommunityinSotndwereinapani.ItwasoneofthefewtimesHarryhadbeenabletogetoutintothefieldwithRon,andthoughtheydidn’tdomuhmorethananvasafewneighborhoods,ithadfeltgoodtobeapartofsomethingagain.
Ronhadbeenonloadsofmissionsbythen.He’dmadehiswayaroundthedepartmentandgotassigneddifferentasesanddifferentpartners,andHarryhadthesuspiionRobardswasgroomingRonforaveryspeifijob.Harrymight’veenviedRonfromtimetotime,espeiallywhenhefoundhimselfbeingparadedaroundasthefaeoftheNewMinistry.Butmostofhisjealousyboileddowntowishingheouldmakeadifferene.HarrywantedRontobeasuessfulauror,Merlin,he’dlovetobetakingdiretionsfromHeadAurorWeasleysomeday.Infat,thatwouldbewherehisenvymightstop.Harrydidn’twanttheresponsibilityofamanagingposition.Hejustwantedanatualbloodyjob.