Draopushedthenameoutofhismind.Hefoundittheremoreandmorefrequentlyasofte,ifthatwaspossible.Drao’sstomahtightenedashetriedtofettheartilehehadreadintheProphetthedaybefore.
PotterfirmedBahelor?Theheadlinerungthroughhismindagain.HehadbrokenupwiththeWeaseletteshortlyafterDraohad“died.”Draotriedtotellhimselfthatwasaoinidenebutavoieinsomewhereinthedeepesthollowsofhisheartwhisperedmaybeitwasn’t.Thatvoieaompaniedwithimsmadeinthegossipragshehadunfortunatelyfoundhimselfreadingforakofeaiementedhisirrationalhopesevenfurtherintohisbrain.Hekeptasrapbookofartilesandlippingsthatmentionedpeoplehehadgonetoshoolwith,asfamiliarnameswerethelosestthingshehadtofriends,butbeausePotterwasthemostfrequentlymentionedinthepapers,itwasquiklybeomingHarryPotter:AHistory.Helookedatitsooftennowthathewasertainheouldreitemostartilesbyheart.PartiurlytheonesaboutPotter,buthehosenottonotiethatorretion.
Heyonthebed,apartiurartilehehadreadnearlysixmonthsafterhe“died,”theonethatpntedtheideainhismindinally,whihhewholeheartedlywishedhehadneverread,runningthroughhishead.
PotterCarryingaTorhforFormerNemesis?
SoureslosetotheyoungwizardsayaertainreentlosshasmuhtodowiththebreakupofHogwartssweetheartsHarryPotterandGinevraWeasley.
“IthoughtmaybethewholefixationhehadonMalfoyinshoolwouldfadeawayaswegotolder,”thevery,verylosesouresays,“andertainlyafterhepassed.’tdoanythingsneakywhenhe’s—well,whenhe’snothere.”
ThesouresuspetstherewassomethingmoretoPotterandMalfoy’srivalryinshool,thoughperhapsonlyonPotter’sbehalf.
“Itwouldbedifferentifheouldn’tgetoverthewar.ThatIuand.I’mnotoveritmyself,anddon’tknowthatIeverwillbeompletely.Butthewarhardlyseemstobewhatreallygottohim.ItwasMalfoy.Hejustan’tmovepastit.It’sabitembarrassing,beingjealousoforpse,”theredheadedsoureonluded.
Theartilehadbeenaompaniedbyaphotographofthetwoofthem,thedaytheyhadexhangedwandsatthemuggleoffeeshop.Init,HarrywasholdingDrao’shandwhereitrestonhisshoulder,theotherboylookingupatDraowithaneasysmileonhisfae.Draoouldn’tdenyitlookedpartiurlyinriminating.
Draorememberedlosingfeelinginhishandsthefirsttimehehadreadit.ItwasheavilyimpliedthatthesourewasGinnyherself,butsurely,magazinesthatreportonsubjetssuhasthatwerenottobetrusted.HehadleakedfalseinformationaboutPotterbakinshoolhimself,andheknewhoweasyitwastogetsomethingpublishedifyouwantedtoruinsomeone,espeiallysomeonewhoheldasmuhpubliiasPotter.Whatsaredhimmost,however,wasthathewantedittobetrue.HeknewPotterhadbeentohisfuneral,hadbeenoneofthesttoleave,infat,outstayedonlybyhismotherandMinervaMGonagall.HealsoknewthatHarryPotter,theboywholostnearlyeverythingbutnevershedatear,wasweepingratheropenlyattheevent.Ithadrossedhismind,ofourse,thatperhapsitwasaulminationofeventsthatleadtothisdispyofemotion.Hewouldhaveontinuedtothinksoifitweren’tforthisartile,aompaniedwiththefatthatnearlythreeyearsaftertheartilespubliation,Potterhadn’tdatedanyonepublially.Draofoundithardtobelievethatamanapproahingtwenty-twowouldnotbeaughtoneinawhileinsomesortoffling.ButPotterneverwas,whiheithermeanthewasPolyjuiingheavily,orhejustdidn’tgoout.