__<br/><br/>Harry had intentionally lingered in the kitchen; it really hadn’t taken him that long to finish his plate, but despite the tentative friendliness Malfoy was exhibiting, Harry had felt weird about trailing in his footsteps within moments of Malfoy excusing himself. Coote, having cleared the dishes and seeing that Harry made no notion to leave, had gracefully offered him today’s Prophet. Harry had spent some time absentmindedly leafing through it, having a hard time focusing on any of the news stories, his mind far off at Towthorpe.<br/>He did, however, read the article noting that he had been discharged from the hospital that same morning. McCullough, the press secretary, noted that there was nothing that pointed to it being an intentional attack, making a strongly worded point to cuss out the media for blowing it out of proportion. Harry was, supposedly, perfectly fine.<br/>It had made Harry’s stomach knot up, a sour taste in his mouth when he eventually did make his way to the study. He expected the report to be among the files that had arrived early morning, but he wasn’t particularly reassured by the prospect of it coming back clear.<br/>Upon reaching the study, Harry knocked on instinct. Immediately feeling silly for having done so when Malfoy so purposefully had invited him in, he opened the door without waiting for a response; he found it, as every time before, unlocked.<br/>Equally familiar was the sight of Malfoy working at his desk. With the promise to stay out of his way still fresh on Harry’s mind, he shut the door quietly behind him, casting a glance around the room to sort himself out.