Harry had to consider that for a moment. His eyes remained on Malfoy, though the other barely seemed to pay him any mind despite answering. Harry didn’t mind, finding that Malfoy’s immediate lack of interest gave a better platform for Harry to speak his mind uncritically.<br/>"It does, doesn’t it?" he eventually said, the hesitant brightness of his voice showing doubt in his answer. To him, it was the right answer, although he doubted it had been the answer Malfoy was looking for.<br/>"It’s the difference between Towthorpe being the source or the catalyst. To use your own word."<br/>While that hadn’t been the way Malfoy had used it – he had called Harry himself the catalyst, and not the house - the way of thinking had stuck with Harry, regardless. It held the possibility that something in the relation between Harry and the house had had a detrimental and adverse reaction, extending to anyone within the property. Maybe it was precisely because it put the blame on Harry that he hadn’t been able to let it go.<br/>His eyes once again dipped to his hands, unfurling the chain from around his hand, leaving a thin red line crossing across the scarred letters on the back of his hand.<br/>"Maybe we’d be able to make that distinction if we’re able to identify whether or not the strike was from an object or a defensive ward." He once again twisted the chain around his hands. "Helps determine whether Towthorpe was the root cause or the first symptom."