分卷阅读20（2 / 2）

As soon as the words are out, he immediately regrets it, because it’s inappropriate, insensitive, and Hermione and Ginny are both going to kill him when they find out.

But Astoria just laughs at his obvious horror, and though her cheeks are flushed with embarrassment, the sadness on her face is gone. “Is it that obvious?” She lets out a few more chuckles, unable to help herself. “But it’s okay. I know he already likes somebody else.”

This time, Harry manages to stop the “Who?” from slipping past his lips. He thinks the shock of the pain at knowing that Draco likes somebody else helped. He doesn’t even know why it still hurts, because up until a minute ago, he had thought that that somebody else was Astoria—

Astoria who has now gone quiet and is looking at him as if she’s trying to figure something out.

“You’re nice, Harry. I was prepared for you not wanting to talk to me.”

Harry frowns at her. “Why would I do that?” he asks incredulously, but he already knows why.

“Because I’m a Slytherin.”

“You did nothing wrong,” he says firmly. He thinks of Draco, Narcissa, and Severus Snape. “Slytherins are some of the bravest people I know.”

Finally, she smiles again, real and genuine, one that reaches her eyes. “You’re nice,” she says once more. “I think I understand Draco a bit more now.”

That night, when dinner has been eaten and students have returned to their respective dorm rooms, Harry rummages through his trunk for the Map and the Invisibility Cloak.

Ron throws something at his head.

“Hey!” Harry exclaims, glaring. He grabs the offending object and is surprised to see that it’s a chocolate frog, sitting still and pretty inside its shiny box.

Ron throws something at him again.

Fast Seeker reflexes have him catching it with ease, and he stares at it in bewilderment. It’s another chocolate frog.

Ron looks away, ears red and muttering, “Give the other one to Malfoy. Merlin knows he needs more fat under those robes of his.”

Harry beams at him.

Draco jumps and stands up from his bed when he enters, and Harry remembers that oh, right, he’s invisible. He takes off the cloak, and smiles sheepishly in greeting.

Draco stares at him dumbly. “I thought you weren’t going to come.”

Harry dumps his cloak on the other bed, and rummages through his robe pockets. “You told me to come.”