Catching Mosquitoes

Draco sniffed. He felt all right; at least he could still breathe. Besides, he didn't want smoke coming out of his ears and everyone laughing at him. He insisted, "Work up a good sweat in training, and the cold will go away on its own!"

Luo Bin didn't argue. He simply tucked the Invigoration Draught into the Blue Cloth Pouch in case Draco needed it.

On their way to the Great Hall for breakfast, they ran into Salasha... no, he should call her Salatea. She walked shoulder to shoulder with Harry, chatting and laughing.

"Traitor!" Hermione fumed.

"I don't like Salasha much either, but she puts on such a good show in front of Harry. She's kind, knowledgeable, cheerful, talkative, and always ready to help. I've told Ginny several times, but she won't listen. Every few days, she goes to 'Sister Salasha' for magic lessons."

Ron sounded helpless.

"Harry's not thinking straight. Serves him right if that Poison Scorpion latches onto him. Look, the great hero Harry Potter's little girlfriend and his devoted fan are here."

Whenever Draco ran into the Main Character Group, his taunts came out automatically.

Click!

"Hi, Harry!"

"Hello, Colin Creevey!"

Harry answered with a wry smile. Anyone who had "run into" the same person more than a dozen times in one day would lose all interest in stopping to chat!

"Harry, the photos from last time are ready. The ones by the tree at Black Lake, where you and Salasha were sitting on a rock reading a book. You two look perfect together!"

"Colin, that isn't funny."

Last time at Flourish and Blotts, Draco had teased Harry by calling Little Ginny his little girlfriend, and it had made him uncomfortable. This time, he chose to object outright.

"But... it's true!"

Salasha—Salatea—took the photograph and leaned