Hedrewhiswand,thenreahedoutwithhislefthand.Hetookadeepbreathandgrabbedthedoorknob,winingashewaitedforsomethingtohappen.Nothingdid,andbothheandMalfoyletoutarelievedbreath.Bitingdownonhislowerlip,heturnedthehandleandletthedoorswingopen.Asetofwoodenstairsleddownintoyetmoremurkygloom,thikeranddarkerthananywhereelseinthehouse.Thewoodwasbentandrakedinpes,andHarrywonderedifitwouldbestableenoughtotakehisweight.Hementallypreparedaquikushioningharm,justinasehefellthrough,andliftedhislegtotakeastepforward.
“Wait,Potter,”Malfoysaid,grippinghisarmashelookeddownatthefloor.Harryfollowedhisgazeandsawtwowordsethedintothewoodofthedoorway.
Brevemspetum
“Whatdoesthatmean?”
“Idon’tknow,”Malfoysaid,hisnosewrinkling.“ButIthinkifwestepoverit,we’relikelytofindout.”
Harrygneddownintotheyawningbkonemore,andgrittedhisteeth.Thequikertheygotdownthere,thequikerthesuspensewouldbeover.
“Heregoesnothing,”hemurmured,andthenpedhisfootfirmlyonthefirststep.Nothinghappened.Hegingerlypedallofhisweightontothestepandbroughthisotherfootdownontotheone.Thewoodreakedominouslybehhim,butheremainedmiraulouslybothuprightandinonepiee.
“Perhapsitreallywasjustresidualmagileftoverfromapreviousurse,”heheardMalfoymuttertohimself,andthenhefeltthegapbetweenthemloseasMalfoysteppedoverthethresholdbehindhim.Itwasaboutsixstepsdownwhenitstartedtohappen.Thedarknessseemedtoreepuptowardsthem,envelopingthembothdespitethelumosthathadlitbothoftheirwands.Theairwasoldaroundthem,andHarrystartedtofeeldizzy.Hisfootstepsfalteredbehhimashetookanotherstepdown.
“Potter,areyoualright?”HarryfaintlyheardMalfoyask.
Harry’skneesshookandhefeltsuddenlyverylight-headed,andhetriedtograbontothebanistertoholdhimselfup.HestumbledbakintoMalfoy,andthewoodbehhishandsgavewayatthesametime.Harrytriedtoregainhisbane,buthewasdizzyandsikandMalfoywastrippingoverhim.Theirlegstangledtogetherasthestairsseemedtodisappear,andHarrygrabbedontighttoMalfoyastheyfelldown,down,down…
ThefirstthingHarrybeameawareofwasthesunlightstreamingdiretlyintohisfae.Hegroanedandshifted,buryinghisnoseintothewarmthtohimtoshieldhimself.Hisheadwaspoundingandhisentirebodyfeltasthoughhe’dbeenkikeddownaflightofstairs.Hestrethedhislegsandwhimperedslightlyattheaheinhislowerbak.Hesnuggledfurtherintothewarmpillowwhilehewaited;nodoubtahealerwouldbeomingalonginafewminutestoadministerablessedpainpotion.Andthenthepillowbehhimspoke.
“Don’teventhinkaboutit,Harry.Youpromisedmeoffee.”
Harryfroze.Thevoiewaspainfullyfamiliar,andyethehadneverhearditsoundso…fond?
Heliftedhisheadandblinked.Evenwithouthisgsses,heouldtellthatitwasdefinitelyMalfoylyingtohim,hisfineblondhairfallingintohiseyesashelookedbakatHarrywithasmallsmileonhisfae.Maybehewasdreaming.OrhewasstillstukatthebottomofthebasementandMalfoywasdreaming.Orboth.
“Er,”Harrysaid.Then,“Wherearemygsses?”