HarryremembersDraoandwhathewaslikewhenhefirstameoutofAzkaban.Hehadonlyspentthreemonthsthere.Threemonthstoolong.Hedoesn’tknowwhatwillhappentoGregoryGoyleandTheodoreNottafterthose6months.“Idon’tthinkso.”
“Harry.”Hermioneturnstohim,faeserious.“IthinkyoushouldlookforMalfoy.”
Harryblinksatherinsurprise.Hehadpnnedto,butdidn’texpetHermionetosuggestit.Overthepastweek,hehadsharedtohisfriendsabouthistimeintheManorandDrao’sondition.Ronhadn’tbeentoohappytalkingaboutit,butwithhisbestfriendandhisgirlfriend(evenhisownmother!)soiedinit,hesoonstartedaskinghisownquestions.Intime,they’vemanagedtohaveoionsaboutDraowithoutanybodymentioningwhatanuttergithewas.
“Well,Ididpnto,”Harrysays.
Hermioneshakesherhead.“Now.I’mworried.Youheardthosepeopletalkingbakatthestation.Iwouldn’tputitpassthestudentstobringsomeoftheirhostilityhere.”
Harryfrowns,shakinghisheadindisbeliefevenashemovestostandup.“Studentswouldn’t…”Hetrailsoff,butthereisalreadyagnawingdreadinhisstomah.
“I’mwithher,mate,”Ronsaysarefully.
“Me,too,”Ginnysays,headshaking.Hereyesareshining,andit’sobviousshe’sfightingthetearsbak.“Lastyear,Harry,Hogwartswasn’tevenashoolanymore.Peoplewereallowedtodoertain…things.”
Hermionereahesovertoholdherhand.
Harrylooksather,triesnottothinkaboutworstasesenarios.Swallowingthikly,henodsandturnstoleavetheroom.
“Doyouwantsomeonetogowithyou?”Hermioneaskssoftly,butit’snosurprisetoeveryonewhenHarryshakeshishead.
“No,Ithinkhe’dbemoreomfortablewithlesspeople.”Helooksbehindhisshoulderandoffersanassuringgrin.“time?”
Hermionesmiles.“time.”
Headspeekfromompartmentwindowsandstudentswhisperashepasses,butHarry’sthankfulthatnobodyattakshimanddemandsforanautograph.Hethinksthatmaybehisthreemonthsoutofthepublieyehavedonewondersforhisimage:GoldenBoy’snotreallyiedinrubbingelbows,justwantstoliveinpeae,tryagainyear.
Theompartmentsreallyarefreeforall,buteveryoneknewthatSlytherinsusuallyoupiedtheonesatthebakendofthetrain.Here,it’sthesame:studentslookathiminuriosity,butthereisasenseofautionintheair,asifthey’rewwhatHarryPotter’sdoinginthedenofsnakes.
Ashegoesfurther,hepassesbymoreandmoreompartmentsthatareempty.It’squieter.Thenoiseofpeopletalkingandhatteringfadesinthedistane,andthedereaseinthestudentpoputionthisyearismoreobvioushere.
He’salmostworried,thinkingthatmaybeDraodeidednottoreturntoHogwartsafterall,butthere,afterfiverowsofemptyompartments,Harryseesit.
DraoMalfoyinside,leaningbakonhisseatwithonearmproppedonthewindowsill,eyesgazingoutintothebrightseneryontheothersideofthegss.He’spresent,Harryknowsthisimmediately.HeseesthisinthealertnessinDrao’seyesandinthetensioninhisshoulders.
Herexes,assuredthatDrao’ssafeandthathe’somingbaktoHogwartsafterall.Heknoksonthedoor,butthat’stheonlyourtesyhe’swillingtoofferbeauseheslidesthedooropenimmediatelyafteranyway.
Draojumpsinshok,andheturnshishead—
Harry’sassuraneisshort-livedasheseesthepurplingbruiseonDrao’stemple.