potter’sfaerexed.“allthesame.iguessi’llleaveyoutoyourthoughts.”heturnedaroundandlimbedthesteps.asmalfoy’seyesfollowedpotter’sform,theblonddugsomethingoutofhiswaistoatandgrippeditinfrontofhim.

afterafewmoments,hefinallylookeddownandopenedhishandtorevegoldenpoketwath.malfoyieditforamomentwithashrewdeyeandthenfiddledwiththedials.

“lookmalfoy,aboutwhathappenedatneville’s,”igorahadn’tseenpotterdesendthesteps,andapparently,malfoyhadn’tnotiedeitherjudgingbythehorrifiedsurprisepsteredarosshisfae.potter’sgazefelltothegoldenwathintheotherman’spalm.

withoutpause,potterlungedatmalfoy.

igorasawtherashoflimbsandthenabright,blindingwhitelight.sheblinkedseveraltimesinreovery,onlytoseethespotinfrontofherompletelyempty.thetwomenweregone.

harryfeltasifhe’dbeenfallingfordays,buthisfeethadneverleftsolidground.

andthentherewassomethingsolidandwarmpressedagainsthim.itsmelledlikeforestandsunshineandhogwarts.someone.“malfoy,”harrypushedthemanaway.theforesenttheblondstumblingbakward,hisarmsoutstrethedtobanehimself.harryzeroedinonthegoldenwathinmalfoy’srighthand.“thatwouldn’tbeatimepieeinyourhand?wouldit?”

withwideeyes,malfoyrespondedbyshovingtheobjetinquestionintohispoket.

“thatwouldn’tbe,”harrysteppedforwardandpokedafingerintomalfoy’shest,“thetimepiee?asinthethingontheransomlist?marwanzivantus’bloodytimeturner?”harryouldn’tstophisbloodfrompratiallyboilingwithanger.justwhenhe’ddeidedheouldtrustmalfoy,thegitprovesthathean’tbetrusted.“iwasright,”hesaid,hestheaving.“iwasrightandyouughedatme.youhaditthisentiretime.”