Potterrollshiseyes.There’sasmileonhislipsandatwinkleinhiseyes,likeapromiseofsomethingfun.“No,Malfoy.”
Hestandsup,rossestheroom,andsitsonthefreespaeaboveDrao’shead.Herummagesinhispoketonemoreandproduesanoldpieeoffoldedparhment,whihheysonthebedinfrontofDrao’sfae.“eon,tapyourwandhereandsayIsolemnlyswearIamuptonogood.”
ResolutelyignPotter’sdistanefromhim(ortheutterkofit),Draogresattheparhment.“Areyoufibbingwithme?”
“No,Iamnotfibbing.You’rebeingdiffiultonpurpose,aren’tyou?”
Stillsuspiious,Draogetshiswandfromhisownpoket.It’sanewone,boughtinaquiktriptoOllivanders’onthestdayofAugust,ontheverysamedaythatKingsleyOwledhimtosaythathismagibanwasover.Hehadbeennervous,andashamed,tomeettheoldmanagainafterwhattheDeathEatersdidtohimintheirveryowndungeons,butGarrikOllivanderhadtakenonelookathim,disappearedwithinhisshelvesofboxes,andreturnedwithawandandfiveness.
“10inhes,rowanwoodanduniornhair,youngDraoMalfoy.Nomatterhowdarktheroad,thevalueisinyourpersistenetofindthelight.”
It’snotthesameashisoldone,ofourse,buthedoesn’tknowwherethatis(Potter?TheMinistry?)andhe’stoosaredtoask.
Holdinghisbreath,Draotapstheparhmentwithhiswandandsays,“IsolemnlyswearIamuptonogood.”
Theparhmentunfolds,andinkesfromthemiddle,towardsthesidesandthefourorners,toform…
“Hogwarts,”hesays,breathless.Hepropshimselfupononeelbow,eyeswide.HelooksbakatPotterwithhismouthopeninamazement.
Pottergrinsathiminreply.Hetapsthelowerrightorner,theSlytherinDorms,rightwheretheirnamesarepedbesideeahother.
It’sdefinitelyweird.Seeingtheirnamestogether.Theydon’tmath,afterall.
“Youweren’tatdinner,”Pottersays,ontinuingtheiroion.“IhekedtheMapanddidn’tseeyouanywhere.”
DraolooksattheareabelledGreatHall.It’sempty,asexpeted.Hedoesn’tknowwhattimeitis,butit’sprobablyalreadyafterurfew.HethinksabouttheabsurdityofPottereatingdinner,realizingthathe’snotthere,andgoingoutofhiswaytohekthisridiulousmapofhisjusttolookforhim.
Heblinks,triestostophimselffromfeelinghappyaboutit.“Otherpeoplemightallthisstalking,”hesaysinstead.
Potter’sheeksarepink.“Shutup,Iwasworried.”
He’sdefinitelyhappy.DamnPotter.“WorriedthatpoorlittleDraowentbonkersandwanderedoffintotheLake?”
“Yes,Malfoy,isitthatweirdofmetoworryaboutyou?Nowstoptryingtopissmeoff,I’mtryingtohaveaiviloionhere.”
Draolearshisthroatloudly.Hehopesthedarkisdoingitsjobhisburningfae.“Alright,soyoudidn’tseemeintheMap,andassumedthatIwasintheForest?”
“Well,it’soneofthepesthatisn’tshownontheMap,soItookahunh.”