hethinksheshouldbeembarrassedthathisfriendsknowwhat’sgoingonbetweenhimanddrao.orthattheyknowthatnothing’sgoingon,butthey’rehelpinganyway.andheisembarrassed,butalso,he’sjustvery,verygrateful.

draoaeptsthehootefrogseverytime,andeventriessomeofginny’sbeans.helooksathermione’stasklist,andneverfailstomaketotallyunneessaryomments.“youhaven’tdoneyourpotionsessayyet?potter,i’vefinishedthatdaysago.”

thetenightsnakingworks.draodoesn’tlooklikeanemaiatedorpsenow.astoriatellshimwithaheerfulsmile,whentheypasseahotherbyinthehalls,thatdraohasalsobeenhavingagoodappetiteinthegreathalltely.personally,hethinksdrao’sstartingtobeometooadditedtothefrogs.

theytalkaboutsses,theirlessons,andtheoasionalgossip.

(“what’sthisihearaboutyouandastoriagettingitonintheboathouse?”

“ohmygod,malfoy,ididn’tdoanything!”

“that’snotwhatthehufflepuffssaid.”

“i…we…wejusttalked!”

“rex.iwasjoking.ifyoureallyhaddonesomethingtoher,iwouldhavehexedyou.she’slikealittlesistertome.”

well,you’renotanolderbrothertoher,harryhadwantedtosay,buthehadbeenhappy,soshamelesslyhappytohearitlearlysaidthatdraodoesn’tlikeherthatway.)

sometimes,harrytalksabouthimself.

itwasunomfortable,atfirst.heisn’tusedtotalkingabouthimself.butdrao’sagoodlistener,alleyesandears,noddingattherighttimes,andaskingquestions,butnevertoomuh.hedoesn’tpry,butharrytellshimanyway,beausehelikesthewaydraolookswhenhe’sreallyuriousandied.