“Ah.YouwantmetotakeaVow,then?”Harryasked,histhroattightening.
“Cleverboy.”
“Iwill.”
“Thismeansforever,Harry.”
“Iknow.”
“You’resure?”
HarrywishedheouldrunitbyHermioneandRon,butheknewtheshokofDraobeingaliveandhavingtoexpinhisseeminglysuddenhangeofhearttowardshisoldrivalwouldpreventthemfrombeinganykindofhelp.Hefeltasinkingfeelinginhisgut.RonandHermione.Heouldn’tkeepthisfromthim.Well,obviously,heouldbutitwouldbeinrediblydiffiult,beauseevenifhekepttohimself,Hermionehadaninredibletalentinsnoopingintosituationsthatiher,partiurlywhentheypertaintoHarry.
“You’rehesitant,”MGonagallsaid,studyinghim.
“RonandHermione—”
“Willposeaproblem,yes.Iknowyouhavebeenratherrelusivesinetheendofthewar,butIdon’timaginetheywillletyoukeepthemawayformuhlonger.Espeiallywhentheystarthavinghildren.AndIshouldthinkitwouldbeharderforyoutokeepawayonetheystartaskingwhen‘UnleHarry’willometovisitandharderstillwhentheirhildrenometoHogwarts.WhihiswhyIsuggestwehavethemtakeaVow,aswell,”MGonagallinterrupted.
“Really?”Harryasked,fbbergasted.Itseemedliketoomanypeopletobeinvolvedinsuhabigseret.
“You’vealwaysfoundstrengthinnumbers,Harry.Andyouthreehavealwaysbeengoodatkeepingserets.Andthatway,ifsomethingshouldhappentoyou—unlikely,butitispossibletherearestillpeoplewhosupportVoldemortthatwouldliketoseeyoudonein-Draowouldstillhaveasupportsystem.”
“Areyousure,Professor?”
“Ihavetobe,don’tI?You’retheleastlikelypersonintheworldtobehidingDraoMalfoyandyou’reoneofthemosttrustedfiguresinthewizardingommunity.You’rethebestandonlyhoieIhave,Harry.”
“ThenIguessIhavetobesure,too,”Harrysaid.
Chapter8
Draoneversawhimselfendinguphere.NotevenbeforehehadtakentheMarkandtherewasstillahaneforhimtoleadasemi-normallife.Heneversawhimselfonhisknees,joininghandswithHarryPotter,preparingtotakeaVow.Butherehewas.Heusedhisfreehandtopushhishairbakfromhisfae,moreofanervoustikthanay.Harry’shandwassmallerthanhis,butbroader.Draorealizedhehadn’tevertouhedtheotherboy—man,now—forthislong,unlessyouountedtheiwiththefiendfyre,whihhedidn’t.
“You’llhavetolookateahother,ifyouanmanageit,”MGonagall’ssternvoieinterruptedDrao’smusings.Draothenrealizedthatthebothofthemhadbeenavoidingtheother’sgaze.
“Drao,doyouremembertheonditionsyouaretoaskHarry?”
“Yes,”Draosaid,studyingHarry’sfaeasthegreenlightthatfilteredthroughthedungeonwindow’smadeshapesappeararossit.
“AndHarry,youarereadytoaeptthem?”