“eoffit,”Harrysmiledbak.
“I’llbeseeingyou,Potter,I’msure,”Malfoysaid,standingupfromthetable.HerestahandonHarry’sshoulderforjustamoment.HarryreahedupandoveredMalfoy’shandwithhisown,agesturethatfeltoddlyintimate,butthathehadbeenunabletostop.Malfoy’seyeshadwidened,buthedidn’tpullaway.
“Yeah.I’llseeyou,”Harrysaid,remainingatthetable.Harryreleasedhishand.
Malfoyhadnoddedandwalkedaway.ThatwasthesttimeHarryhadeverseenhim.
Harryspedhishandoverhismouth,tryingtopethepaininhishest.Malfoyhadneverbeenhisfriend.Theywouldlikelyhaveneverhadbeenfriends.Sowhydidthefatthattherewasnohaneofreoniliationmakinghimfeelsik?
Threeyearsbefore
“Howhaveyoubeengettingon?”MGonagallasked,havingbroughtDraotoheroffiefortheirdailymeeting.
“Fine,Isuppose,”Draosaid.Itwasmuheasiertospeak,nowthathedidn’thavethatdamnedmandrakeleafinhismouth,notthathespokemuhanyway.Ithadbeenhisthirdtry,asthesttwotimes,thefullmoonhadomeonaloudynight.
“Whereareyounow,intheproess?”
“Waitingforaneletrialstorm,”Draosaid,hiseyegningtowardsthewindowashespoke,hopingperhapsheouldspeakoneintoexistene.
“Andyourwand,it’swwell?”MGonagallasked,hergazefallingtothewandonherdesk.
Henodded.Shehadhaditreregisteredunderafalsenameasthatofatourist,soDraoouldarryonperfmagiwithoutdrawingsuspiion.Hewouldn’thavepinnedMinervaMGonagalltobeawomanwithoionslikeshehad,buthesupposedoionsamewithbeingheadmasterofHogwarts.
“Good.Now,let’sjusthopewhateverformyoutakeisn’ttoooutndish.Iknowit’snotunderyourontrol,butIreallyhopeyou’resomethingIanexpinaway,althoughwithHagridongrounds,there’sverylittleIan’tomeupwithanexusefor.That,andyouwon’tbeHogwarts’firstueredAnimagus,”sheadded,thoughsheseemedalittlenervous.
Hesuppressedtheurgetosayhewouldbehappyasanythingotherthanhimself.
Draosmiledather,shiftinginhishair,notinghewasgettingremarkablygoodatholdinghistongue.Deathreallyhangedaperson,hesupposed.
Chapter2
PresentDay
ThehouseelvesmberedaroundthekitheninasortofanizedhaosthatDraohadgrownaustomedto.Hewassatatadiningtablewiththeheadelf,Tibsy,disussingthedayaheadofthem.