“I don’t think I’ll need it. Draco offered to help me out, and he’s really good.” Harry shrugs. “I gave the book to him, anyway. I’ll have to get a new one.”
“It’ll be good for you to learn how to brew properly.” Hermione says airily, and Harry snorts when he remembers how, last year, his biggest problem was that Hermione thought using Snape’s textbook was technically cheating.
“Draco taught me a lot last year!” He protests, grinning. Ginny groans. “Yeah, I kept my notes and all. Brewing isn’t that difficult when your teacher doesn’t actively wish you’d died with your mother.”
“Think Draco’d lend it to me?” Ron asks, getting a light smack on the arm from Hermione. “What? It’s not cheating if it’s a textbook!”
“The book is for Sixth year Potions.” Harry cuts in before Hermione can tell him why exactly it’s considered cheating.
Ginny yawns loudly, draping herself over the countertop, dropping her forehead with a thump.
“Copying shit out of books is a bad idea when you don’t know the source.” She mumbles, and Hermione pats her hair gently.
“We do, though.” Harry says, and Ron tilts his head. “Remus told Draco the Half-Blood Prince was one of Snape’s nicknames he gave himself in school. The textbook was his.”
“How would Remus know that?” Ron asks.
“They went to school together, idiot.” Ginny snaps, sitting up to glower. “Somehow, I’m even less confident in that book’s nature knowing it was Snape.”
“I could go ask him about all the spells.” Harry offers, mainly because the novelty of his newfound powers hasn’t worn off yet. The lingering cold in his chest intensifies whenever Harry goes back, but gradually lessens the longer he spends in Life.
“Not necessary, because we’re not going to use the book anymore.” Hermione says firmly, glaring at each of them until they agree. “Draco has it?”
“Yeah, he’s studying it, I think.” Harry shrugs. “He likes stuff like that. But he’s a lot more careful than me. He’s been handling cursed objects since he was ten.”
At their confused faces, Harry tells them about Draco accumulating a variety of weird objects.
“Remember how he was at his birthday party? Talking a lot, really fast? He’s like that anytime he’s not stressed, or trying to be an arsehole. It’s so cute.” Harry says, a flood of memories of Draco in his hyper bunny state bringing a ridiculous smile to his face. He can’t suppress it, even when Ginny makes a face.
“ Harry, watch your language.” Mrs Weasley’s voice makes him jump, and she gives him a reproachful look.
“Good morning.” He greets her, smiling sheepishly. “Ron made crepes.”
“They’re not very good.” Ron says modestly, turning rather red when his mother smooches the top of his head loudly. “ Mum, please!”
“He has a reputation to uphold.” Ginny says in an affected voice, grinning. Harry laughs, moving to the window. He sees the Tonks’ now familiar owl approaching.
The morning after writing that letter to Draco, Harry couldn’t remember most of what he’d said. Draco’s response was brief and mostly devoid of any sort of tone, but he had said that he appreciated it. Harry doesn’t regret sending it, but he hasn’t written another like it.
As he takes the new letter from the bird, Ginny feeds it a treat and sends it off again.
The letter is addressed to the household, so Harry passes it to Mrs Weasley.
