Harry made an acknowledging sound, not sure he wanted to speak on that. In principle, Harry figured things could be simplified enough to fit Malfoy's clear cut definition of learning through necessity; in practice, Harry knew from experience that there were other factors in play. Privately, Harry wondered if Snape had taught Malfoy, too, and if he had been a better educator to him than he had been to Harry. Practicing Occlumency with Snape had been awful and invasive, and the experience hadn't been far removed from having Voldemort prodding in his conciousness. Harry didn't think it was time well spent, tempted to find the effort to have been wasted, even though it should have been a priority of his.<br/>"Brilliant," Harry simply said with a smile, finding that that conversation was better saved for another day. Malfoy had done what Harry had failed to do, and that in and of itself deserved recognition.<br/>Harry's attention was momentarly diverted by Coote apparating another bundle of letters on top of the already considerable pile forming on his desk. However tempting it was to engage in conversation, finding they were uncovering more shared experiences than he had been aware of, Harry was also technically on the clock, and essentially two hours late for work.<br/>"Well done," he said as a parting remark, eyes back onto Malfoy. He had already taken another step away from Malfoy's desk, but his smile was bright and attentive. Regardless of how his addition sounded, Harry ment it ernestly. "You'll have to tell me more some other time, I'm dying to know in what other ways you outsmarted us."