Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

'What?' said Draco. 'Oh, there is just no way that -'

Draco stopped.

He'd said that a number of times about Harry Potter and had started to notice a trend.

Millicent ran off to tell someone else.

'You don't really think -' said Gregory.

'I honestly don't know anymore,' said Draco.

A few minutes later, after Theodore Nott had sat down across from him and William Rosier had gone to sit with the Carrow twins, Vincent nudged him and said, 'There.'

Harry Potter had entered the Great Hall.

Draco watched him closely.

There was no alarm on Harry's face as he saw, no surprise or shock, he just looked...

It was the same distant, self-absorbed look Harry wore when he was trying to figure out the answer to a question Draco couldn't understand yet.

Draco hastily shoved himself up from the bench of the Slytherin table, saying 'Stay behind,' and walked with all decorous speed toward Harry.

Harry seemed to notice his approach just as the other boy was turning toward the Ravenclaw table, and Draco -

- gave Harry one quick look -

- and then walked right past him, straight out of the Great Hall.

It was a minute later that Harry peered around the corner of the small stony nook where Draco had waited, it might not fool everyone but it would create plausible deniability.

'Quietus,' said Harry. 'Draco, what -'

Draco took the envelope out of his robes. 'I have a message for you from Father.'

'Huh?' said Harry, and took the envelope from Draco, and tore it open in a rather un-neat manner, and drew forth a sheet of parchment and unfolded it and -

Harry gave a sharp intake of breath.

Then Harry looked at Draco.

Then Harry looked back down at the parchment.

There was a pause.

Harry said, 'Did Lucius tell you to report on my reaction to this?'

Draco paused for a moment, weighing, and then opened his mouth -

'I see he did,' said Harry, and Draco cursed himself, he should've known better, only it had been hard to decide. 'What are you going to tell him?'

'That you were surprised,' said Draco.

'Surprised,' Harry said flatly. 'Yeah. Good. Tell him that.'

'What is it?' said Draco. And then, as he saw Harry looking conflicted, 'If you're dealing with Father behind my back -'

And Harry, without a word, gave Draco the paper.

It said:

I know it was you.

'WHAT THE -'

'I was going to ask you that,' said Harry. 'Have you got any idea what's up with your Dad?'

Draco stared at Harry.

Then Draco said, 'Did you do it?'

'What?' said Harry. 'What possible reason would I - how would I -'

'Did you do it, Harry?'

'No!' Harry said. 'Of course not!'

Draco had listened carefully, but he hadn't detected any hesitation or tremor.

So Draco nodded, and said, 'I've got no idea what Father's thinking but it can't, I mean it can't possibly be good. And, um... people are also saying...'

'What,' said Harry warily, 'are they saying, Draco?'

'Did a phoenix really take you to Azkaban to try to stop Bellatrix Black from escaping -'

Aftermath: Neville Longbottom