Draoflinhesandlooksaway,mouthurleddownwards.“Welostthehaneforthatbakinfirstyear.Tooteforfriendshipbraeletsnow,”hemutters.
Harryreallsit,11-year-oldDraoandthehandthatherefused.Heblinks,surprisedatDrao’sreation.SurprisedthatDraostillremembersthatmomentandthinksmuhofit.
Draosighs,snappingHarryoutofhisthoughts.“Andbesides,whywouldyouevenwanttobefriendswithme?”
“Merlinknowswhy,you’resuhanirritatinggit,”Harryresponds,mimikinghissigh.HepointshisforkatDrao.“ButI’mstaying,sostoptryingtopikafightwithme.Idon’twanttoexpintoNarissawhyItapedyourmouth.”
Draoraisesaneyebrowathim.“I’matuallyaskingseriousquestionshere.You’retheonebeingalldefensiveaboutit.”
Harryflusheswithshame,beauseheknowsthatthat’sexatlywhathe’sfeelingrightnow.Heshovesapieeoftoastinhismouth.“Sorry.Ijustwanttodoit,okay?Isn’tthatreasonenough?”
ThelookthatDraogiveshimtellshimthatno,itisnotenough.Draostilllookslikehewantstoaskanotherquestion,butintheend,hejusttakesthenapkinfromhispteandunfoldsitonhisp.
“Potter.”
“Hm?”
“StopeatinglikeaNeahal.You’remakingamess.”
Harryswallowsdownhistoast.Hegrins.“Sorry,Malfoy.”
“Potter,”Draosays,threedayster.Breakfastandlunhhasbothomeandgone,andthisisthefirsttimeDraohasspokentoday.
Harrylooksupfromhisbook.
Draopeersathimandthenhisbook,tryingtomakesenseofwhathe’sseeing.Hetiltshishead.Swallows.Ittakesawhilebeforehetalks.“Whatareyoudoinginmyhouseagain?”
“Reading?”
Draoblinks,andhiseyeslear.Hesagsbakinhiswheelhair,asiftiredfromtheeffortofomingintotheworldagain.Helearshisthroat,swallowsthedrynessinhisvoieaway.“Merlin,IthoughttheysentmetoAzkaban,notsomeotherdimensionwhereyouatuallyhavetherefitoreadaPotionsbook.”
“Idowanttopassmysthisyear,Malfoy.”
“I’mnotbettingonit.”
“That’swhyIaskedNarissatoletmeborrowyourbooks.”
Drao’seyeswidenandhegres.“Thosearemy—!Getyourgermsoffthem.”