Hermione gaped.
"For a Muggleborn," Draco added. He seemed irritated when Hermione still looked stunned. "What's the big surprise? I told you to your face that you were clever, didn't I?" His silver eyes began to sparkle with mischief. "And I told Harry you were a bit pretty, once. Just a bit, though," he added as Ron's fists clenched. "I mean, you're hardly my type, are you now?"
"We need to be going, Harry," said Hermione faintly.
"Good idea," muttered Ron.
As if to make up for the boorish comment, Hermione added, "We'd like to stay longer, really. But Ron has Quidditch practise and I'm leading an Arithmancy review that I'm almost late for."
The two of them said a quick good-bye to Harry; Hermione said one to Draco as well.
Ron made a point of scowling as he walked out.
Draco chuckled softly when they had left. "Weasley . . . oh, do pardon me, Ron, should really have more faith in his girl. If she is his girl, that is. Did you see the way she was looking at me, there at the end? I bet I could get her to leave him for me."
"Draco!"
The other boy lifted his shoulders. "Did I say I was going to? Relax!"
"Why would you even want to? You can barely stand Hermione!"
"But I thought you wanted to see us getting along much, much better." Draco waggled his eyebrows, and when Harry fumed, laughed. "You're almost as easy to manipulate as Ron Weasley. I don't want to, Harry. The only reason to do it would be to see Ron's face turn purple. But in the interests of amicable friendship all around, I'll desist."
"Yeah, you'd just better," muttered Harry, flopping onto his back.
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After giving both boys one final dose of potions, Pomfrey pronounced them fit to be released, though she told them to stay put until she had a chance to talk to their father, who was supposed to be bringing Harry's Elixir shortly.
After about twenty minutes of cooling their heels in the infirmary, Draco said they ought to just go find Severus. "Come on, Harry," he urged. "Pomfrey's not even in her office any longer. Didn't you hear her close her door and go down the hall?"
"Easy for you to suggest we should traipse our way down to the dungeons. I can't see so well, so, enough said. I'll wait here for Dad."
"We could always floo," said Draco in a wheedling voice. "I bet I could figure out where Pomfrey keeps her powder."
Harry was saved from answering by Remus returning from his talk with the headmaster. The man had a grim, determined look about him. That was enough to tell Harry all he needed to know.
"You're going to do it, aren't you?" asked Harry.
"Yes--"
"Do what?"
Oh, yeah. Draco didn't know. Harry didn't know exactly how to tell him, either.
Remus obviously thought that Draco deserved the truth, however. Walking over to the other boy, he spoke in a quiet voice. "I think Harry's already told you about the work I've been doing for the Order. Well, with this latest development, I'll be able to impersonate Lucius Malfoy . . . ah, 'round the clock, as it were."
Draco's eyes went wide. Stiffening, he looked completely dumbfounded. "You're planning to live in the Manor? With my mother?"
"Well, except for when the full moon intervenes," said Remus. "I'll have to go on business trips or some-such at those times."
"Oh yeah? Well, what if you're summoned at those times?" demanded Harry.
"I'll deal with contingencies as they arise."
"I'll give you a contingency," said Draco, his voice pitched loud and sounding higher than usual. "You filthy half-blood half-breed! If you think you're going to just take over and be him then you're going to get a hex shoved straight up your arse, because I'm not standing for this, is that clear?"
"Draco!"
Harry hadn't heard the door swing open, and evidently neither had Draco. But there was Snape, closing it behind him and warding it several times over before he strode forward to glare down at his son. "You're not to speak to Lupin in that manner, ever again!"
Draco's lips twisted. "Oh, please. What is he, your new best friend?"
"He's your elder and an Order member," said Snape in a cold voice. "Whatever my own differences with him, they do not excuse you from treating him with respect."
"Respect, is it?" By then, Draco was practically screeching. "Look at him! He's salivating! He can't wait to get his paws on my mother!"
When Harry glanced over at Remus, he saw that the man was standing perfectly calm and still, though deep in his eyes there glimmered a little bit of surprise to hear Severus Snape coming to his defence.
Snape clicked his teeth together. "That is more an insult than the things you just said a moment ago. I quite assure you, whatever his other faults, Lupin will not be attacking your mother."
"Ha, attacking her. Yeah, I'm sure he won't. Well, let's just be clear here. He'd damned well better not start sleeping with my mother, that's all I can say! Because I'm not having a nasty werewolf putting his hands--or anything else--on her; I'm just not!"
Harry's mouth dropped open. Suddenly, he could understand why Draco was all but foaming at the mouth.
"Ah," said Severus, the penny obviously dropping for him, too. "Lupin?"
"Oh, Draco," said Remus slowly. He sounded like he was trying hard to keep his voice level. "Yes, I can see why that idea would alarm you. But truly, I've no intention of sleeping with your mother."
Draco crossed his arms, a trollish expression on his face. "Ha. Sure. Everybody knows werewolves are primal about things like that. And you're no different from the rest of your kind, are you?"
"Whether I am or not is no concern of yours," retorted Remus. "This perhaps is, though, so I will tell you that Narcissa Malfoy leaves me utterly and completely cold. I can't think of anyone I'd rather sleep with less."
If anything, that information seemed to offend Draco all the more. "My mother's beautiful! She's gorgeous!"
"Yes, she is." Remus' voice was calm again, now. "So is a rose in full bloom, Draco. It doesn't mean it excites me, if you take my meaning?"
Harry hated to make things worse, but he'd hate it even more if Remus got killed, so he went ahead and made his objection. "Um, no offense, but won't Mrs. Malfoy find all that a little strange? I mean, if you're going to pretend to be him, won't she expect . . . er?"
Surprisingly enough, Draco took that well. "Actually, I don't think she will." His voice got a little bit snooty. "My mother's a lady, I hope you realise. I can't imagine her being the one to demand anything. Well, maybe once a year on their anniversary . . ."
Harry caught a look of mirth on his father's face. Actually, Remus looks amused as well, though when he spoke, it was in a level voice.
"You're correct, Harry. It won't be possible to deceive Narcissa completely. She simply knows her husband far too well. Albus and I have been discussing a solution. I'll make up a story about being cursed from behind to explain why Lucius is not quite himself these days and can't remember simple things such as his wife would expect him to know. Draco . . . this same story can be used to explain a lack of interest in, ah, bedroom matters."
"Well, the more you know the better, I suppose." Draco sighed. "Guess I'll be skipping that holiday so I can fill you in on everything you ought to know."
"We'll see to that later," said Snape. "Lupin won't begin his assignment for a few days, the better to lend credence to his story of having been cursed and left for dead."
Harry sighed. "And me hating the idea from start to finish, that counts for nothing, I suppose?"
"Lupin?" said Snape, his voice strained.
"I wouldn't say it counts for nothing," said Remus quietly. "But your reasons for wanting me to desist . . . they are personal, Harry. This is more important than our individual feelings."