ttedforhisrobes.hehadn’tknownwhoharrywas,buthehadknownhelikedhim.asforharry,hisfeelingsweresonew,andtheloyofthemouldreasonablybealledintoquestion.sure,harrymightwantthisnow,butwhataboutintenyears?fifty?merlin,ahundred?wizardsdidtendtoliveterriblylonglives.

“it’snotthatdifferent,isit?andfarmoreimportant,anyway,”mgonagadded.“i’llneedtodisussitwithmr.potter,thenisupposeifheagrees,weshouldbebakdownheresometimetoday.”

“bakdownhere?why?”

“toperformthevow,ofourse.”

“oh,willibebindingyou?”draoasked,rathernervous.he’dneverbeenabinderbefore.

“ofoursenot.”

“thenwho?surelynothagrid.”

“me.thebondwillbetweenthetwoofyou,mr.malfoy.”

aknotformedindrao’sstomah.ofourse.

“whatdoyoumeanidon’thavetoleave?”

harrywasstandinginthemiddleofhisoffie—whatwouldhavebeenhisoffie,ifnotfordrao,ifnotforhisinredibleneedtobenearhim—throwingthingsintoatrunkthathadbarelybeenunpakedanyway.mgonagallwashnearthedoorway.

“imean,mr.potter,thatirequireyouhere,”theheadmastersaid,soundingratherannoyed.“i’mgoingtoasksomethingofyou,andineedyoutoanswertruthfully.

“what?”harryswallowedaudibly.

“wouldyoubewillingtotakemype?ashisprotetor?”mgonagasked.

“i—idon’tseewhynot,”harryanswered.