rryrememberedjustthenthatvalentinehadsaidtheiigatorshadaskedifthey’dseenananimal.“hangon,”harrysaid,stillutterlyonfusedastohowmalfoywasinvolved.“whatgivesyoutheauthoritytoinquireintohisdeath?”

“well,hehiredmetodoso,ofourse.”

“hehiredyou,”harryrepeatedftly.

“yes,”malfoysaid,asifitwasthemostnormalthingintheworld.“sixweeksago.”

“amanhiredyoutoiigatehisownmurdersixweeksbeforeithappened?”

“atthetime,imyselfthoughtitverystrangeaswell,buthereweare.”malfoyseemedtorealizesomethingandturnedbaktoharry.“iseemtorememberyouhavingfullknowledgeofmyidentity,butionfess,i’venottheslightestluewhattoallyou.”

harrystudiedhimforamoment.perhapsifmalfoywasoedtotherimes,harrymightbeabletohelpfindthetruth.“arhieeversworn,”harryreplied.

malfoy’seyesnarrowed,asifalutingtheinformation.hisfaereturnedtoaralstareandhemovedon.“soit’ssettledthen,eversworn.youandiaregoingtosolve…”

harryouldn’tstopthinkingaboutbertriezivantusinthewindowthenightbefore.herbnkstarehauntedhim.asinkingfeelingsettledinhisstomahatthethoughtofherfatherbeingoneofthebodiesinthepenthouse.

“whatisit?haveyouoedsomethingtothease?”malfoyasked,theslighthintofhopesurfainginhisvoie.