Pansyisoneofthosegirlswhohardlyeverseemtolookanyolder.Hersleekbkhairisutinabob,thewayshe’salwayswornit,withagreenheadband.Herthinlipsareoveredinalightpinkgloss,whihmakesherlookevenyounger,butshe’sgrownintohersnubnoseanddoesn’tremindhimsomuhofapuganymore.She’salmostpretty.
PrettyenoughforDrao?hewonders,andthenbanishesthethought.Pansy’srushonDraointhirdandfourthyearhadbeenommonknowledgeamongstthestudentbody;evenifshe’dgrownoutofit,therewasnowayshewouldn’tgiveDraoahaneifhe’dasked.
“Well?”shesays,shuttingthedoorbehindher.
Hehasnoideawhathewantedtosaytoher.
“Thankyouforyourletter,”hebegins,awkwardly.
“Youalreadysaidthat,”sheremindshim.Hemustlookbaffled,beausesheadds,“Igotyournote.”
Harryflushes,suddenlyfeelingverysmallandpetty.
“Right,well,erm,”hesays,“Iwantedtosayinperson.ThatIappreiatedit.AndthatIdon’t…bmeyou.”
Hedoesn’t,either.Hehasn’tthoughtmuhaboutPansyeitherwayinalongtime,buthedoesn’tholditagainstherthatshe’dwantedtolive.
“Iwouldn’tareifyoudid,”sheinformshim.“That’snotwhyIwroteyou.”
“Thenwhy?”
“onfukingsense,Potter,”shesays.“TheWizardingWorldissmall,andyou’reprobablygoingtobeoneofitsinflueners,evenifyoudon’tmakeMinisterofMagioneday.WhywouldIwanttobeyourenemy?”Shetossesherheadalittle,flikingastraystrandofhairoffherheek.“Thatdoesn’tmeanIwanttobeyourfriend,either.Disiedbutourteousaquaintanes,that’sthesweetspot.I’msureyouagree.”
“Sure,”Harrysays,entirelyoutofhisdepth.“Right.Gdthat’ssorted,then.”
Shenodsone,sharply,andreahesforthedoor.
“I’msorryaboutMalfoy,”hesaysinarush,beforesheanopenit.Herhandslidesofftheknob.
“Don’tbe.He’sgoingtogetbetter,”shesays,inatonethatdareshimtoontradither.
Harrybitestheinsideofhisheek.“Doyouhaveanyideawho…?”
“Yes.”She’sstillfaingthedoor.
“Well,whoisit?”Harryasks,impatientanddroppingallpretenseoftat.
“That’snoneofyourbusiness.”
“But—ifit’ssomeoneIknow,maybeIanhelp.Bringthemtogether,orsomething.”Harryringestohearhimself.IshetopymathmakerforDraoMalfoy?Thethoughtsortofmakeshimwanttothrowup.