Draofailedtoansweronemore,fixinghiseyesontheground.
“Hesayshejustknew.Hesaidwhenyou’reinlovewithaperson,youanfeelhispresene.WhileIamnotentirelyinlinedtobelievethatwashowheametohisonlusion,I’vedeidednottopresshim—oryou—further.”
Drao’sbreathaughtinhisthroat.OfourseheknewwhatHarryhadbeentryingtosayonlymerehoursearlier,buttohearitinsomanywordshithimlikeatonofbriks.
“Inlove?”Draowhispered,gningupatMGonagall.
“Ofourse,Iknew.Suspeted,atleast.Withhispersonaldelinebeginningwhenitdid,withtheanofyourpassing.WhatIdidnotsuspetwasyourreiproation.Notuntilwestspoke,thatis.”
“I’msorry,Headmaster,”Draomanaged,notsurewhathewasapologizingfor.
Shefixedhimwithaniystare.
“Youknowsomethingmustbedone.”
“Iknow.”
Hiswordshungintheair.
HeonsideredtellingherthatifshepnnedtoobliviateHarry,shemightaswellobliviatehim,too.Butifshedid,shebetterdoitallthewaybaktofirstyear,beauseheouldn’trememberknowingHarrywithoutrememberingthathelovedhim,andthepainwastoomuhtobear.Hedidn’twanttohavetowathHarrymoveon,findsomeonenew,whileknowingthatatonepoint,hehadlovedhimbak.Thatwasafateworsethandeath.
MGonagallbrokeintohisthoughts.
“IwasthinkinganUnbreakablewoulddothetrik,”MGonagallsaid.
“What?”Draosputtered.
“AnUnbreakableVow.We’llhavehimvownottotellanyonethatyou’restillalive.Toprotetyou.Don’tyouthink?”
“You’renot?You’renotgoingtoobliviatehim?”
“Imustadmitthatobiliviationwasmyfirstthought,aswell.ButIfeltthatwouldn’tworkwellforanyofus.ItwouldrequireMr.Potter’sremovalfromhisnewposition,whihleavesmewithoutaDefenseteaherforyetanotheryear,andhimwastingawayinthatterribleoldmanor.Andforyou,well,I’mnotayoungwoman,Mr.Malfoy.IthinkIshouldwanttoretireoneday,andyouwillmostdefinitelyoutliveme.WhowillensureyoursafetywhenIamgone?IthinkitwouldbeunsurprisingshouldMr.PotterfillmyshoeswhenIamgone,bothinmypositionasHeadmasterandasyourprotetor.Wouldn’tyousay?”MGonagallasked,raisinghereyebrows.
“Isuppose,butPotterhasfriends,Professor.Meddlingones,atthat.Won’ttheywanttoknowwhyherarelyleavesthegrounds?”Draoasked.
MGonagallturned,paingalongtheommonroom,stoppingatthewindowslookingoutintotheke.
“You’reright.TheyouMr.andMrs.Weasleywouldertainlyposeaproblem.IsupposeweouldtrustRonaldandHermionetotakeaVow,aswell.Thenyouwouldhaveawork,shouldanythinghappentoMr.Potter.”
“Professor,Idon’tuand.WhywereyousoadamantthatPotternotknowaboutmyexisteneifthesolutionwassoeasy?”