ButthosearethemomentsthatHarrylooksforwardtothemost,humbledbythetrusthe’sbeinggiven.
DraotellshimaboutGoyleone.
HarrytellshimastoryabouttheMarauders.
(Heriesduringthatone.Hetalksandtalksandtalks,untilherealizeshe’sryingandhisvoieisn’tomingoutanymore,andhedoesn’tgettofinish,butDraoalreadyknowstheendinganyway.)
OnthenightthatNovemberends,Harryisloungingonhis—ithasn’tbeen‘Goyle’s’forawhilenow—bed,staringatthegreenurtainsfallingfromthebed’sanopy.Theolourisstartingtogrowonhim.Helikesitbestonpaleskin.
“SomethingthatAstoriasaiddisturbsme.ShesaidshethoughtImightnothavewantedtotalktoher,justbeauseshe’saSlytherin,”hestarts,re-imaginingthatpartiurmemory.
Draolooksupfromhistextbook,andtiltshisheadatthesuddentopi.Heislyingdownonhisbed,hishestonthemattress,inonlyhisreguruniformafterhavingthrownhisrobesoverthehair.Hishairistousledfromrollingoveronthebedsomuh,andHarry’sbeentryingnottolook(orstare)athim.
“We’renotexatlywell-liked,Potter.Youknowthatbest.”
Harrysmileswryly,reallingtheutterdislikeheusedtohaveforanybodywearinggreen.Then,hereallsDraointheManor,NarissaintheForest,andSnapeintheShriekingShak.“Ialsoknowbest,now,thatnoteverythingisassimpleasbkandwhite.”HegnesatDrao.“I’mstillalivebeauseofalotofSlytherins,youknow.”
OneedgeofDrao’slipsquirkupintoasmallsmile,asifhe’sstillamusedthatHarry’sstillglorifyingthem.“Thereneedstobeavilininanarrative.That’swhatwe’reherefor,”hemurmurs,eyestravelingtohislothedarm.“That’showthebaneworks.”
Harryfollowshiseyeswithhisownandtakesadeepbreath.“TheSHatwantedtoputmeinSlytherin.”
Immediately,Drao’sheadshootup.He’sstaringatHarryindisbelief.“What?”
Harrygrinsathim.“ItoldhimIdidn’twanttobeputhere.”
“Youanhoose?”
“Well,itisourhoiesthatmakeuswhoweare.”
“Don’tpretendtobewise,Potter.It’sunbeoming.”
Harryburstsintoughter.
Draoshakeshishead.“Ian’timagineyouasaSlytherin.”
“Really?Wewouldhavebeenroommates.”
“Yeah.Wewouldhave.”