Chapter5
Harrydeided,afteraoupledaysthought,thatitdidn’tfeelrightnottellingMGonagalltherewasananimagusonthegrounds.Hadhebeenyounger,hemayhavewaitedabitlonger,butsinehehadlearnedjustwhatkindofpeoplehidinthewizardingworld,well,heouldn’treonileputtingHagridandMGonagallandanyoneelseonthegroundsinger.HewouldhavetoswallowhisprideandtellMGonagallsoonerratherthanter,althoughhewasnolosertoknowingthewolf’sidentitythanhehadbeenaweekago.Plus,nowthathewasgrown,maybeshewouldlethimhelptakletheprobleminsteadofinsistinghestayonthesidelines.Thoughthathadhardlystoppedhiminshool.
Itfeltsowrong,infat,thatHarryhadbarelybeensleeping.
Hetookbaktoroamingthehallwaysatallhoursofthenight,avoidingaertainsetionofthedungeonswithallhismight,butendingupthereiably.Hehadfeltthestrangepreseneinthehalltwiemore.Thefeelingofbeingwathed,aompaniedbythatsametug,thatsamefeelingofwaitingforsomeoneelsetospeak.Butnooneeverdid,andheneversawanythingthatgavehimpause,sohehalkedituptothefeelingbeingwhathewantedfeel.Thatdidn’texpinwhyhehadonlyfeltitafewtimesandnoteverytimeheenteredtheSlytherinsetionofthedungeons,butifheignoredthat,itwasagoodenoughexpnationasany.Inhisinabilitytosleep,hefoundhimselfdressedandreadyforthedaybysixinthem,deidingtoheaddowntothekithensandeatsomethingbeforeheadingtoMGonagall’soffie.Whenhegottothekithens,hefoundhedidn’thavemuhofanappetite,settlingforaupofoffee.HeworriedthatitwastooearlytogoseeMGonagalljustyet,anddeidedthattherewasnoharmingoingbytheSlytherindungeonsagain.Justtolook.Asheroundedtheornertothedungeons,heheardthefaintlikoffootsteps.Hestoppedjustattheedgeoftheorner,notdaringtolook,listening.Hewasn’tsurewhyhewashiding,buthefeltthatwhoeverwasominghadjustaslittlebusinessbeingthereashedid.
“Sepultura”afamiliarfemalevoiesaidfirmly.HeheardthelikingofbriksandturnedtoseethetailendofgreenrobesdisappearingintotheSlytherindoorway.
MGonagall.
Harrystood,frozen,waitingtohearthedoorwayopenagain,butitdidnotome.Hewaitedtenminutes,thentwenty,andstillshedidnotexit.Thatsettleditforhim.
Whatevershewashidinginthere,hewasgoingtofindout.Tonight.Theanimagusouldwait.
“Idon’tseewhat’ssohardaboutstayingawayfromhim,”MGonagallstartedagain,paingarosstheoldSlytherinommonroom.
“Hewon’tletme!”Draoompined.
“Thendisillusionyourself,Malfoy!Heanhardlypesteryouifhedoesn’tknowyou’rethere!”
“Ihavebeen!”
“ThenIdon’tuandtheproblem!”
“Ithinkitwouldbebetterif—”
“Mr.Malfoy.Thereisnowhereformetosendyou.Apartfromyourparents,Iamtheonlyonethatknowsthetruth.YouknowIan’tsendyouoffofthegrounds.You’llsurelybefoundout.AsforMr.Potter,thepoorboywaswitheringawayandIhadAlbusDumbledore’sportraitinmyeartellingmethatIan’tletaboywithsuhpotentialwasteit.Idon’tarehowmuhyoudislikehim,orwhateverfeelingsofanimosityyoumaystillharbor,Iwon’tturnhimawaysimplybeauseyoudon’twanthi—”
“That’snotwhy!”Draoyelled,suddenly,startlingevenhimself.Itwastheloudesthehadbeeninyears.Hedidn’tknowhewasapableofsuhanoisestill.
MGonagallstilled.“Thenwhy,Mr.Malfoy?”sheaskedstiffly.
“Ian’tstandtoseehimlikethis,”Draoadmitted,quietly.
“Well,intime,itwillgetbetter,”sheassuredhim.“Onehestartsteahing.”