In an instant, Malfoy figured out a great many things. He finally understood why Will seemed so utterly fearless, and why his father had told him to get close to Will.
Will and Dumbledore had been in it together all along! They had staged the whole thing with Harry themselves!
Malfoy's mind raced. Why would Dumbledore want to kill Harry?! Was he afraid Harry would threaten his position? Could those rumors in the wizarding world about a White Dark Lord actually be true?!
And what about Will? What had Dumbledore offered him?
Malfoy's mind was a jumble. All he knew was that his chances of surviving this were slim. He had even dropped his wand, leaving him no way to fight back. But what difference would having his wand make, anyway?
That was Dumbledore!
I'm done for!
He simply closed his eyes and waited to die, hoping only that the two of them would make it quick. Yet he waited and waited, and not a single spell struck him.
A little confusion seeped into Malfoy's fear. He opened his eyes to find Dumbledore smiling at him and Will watching him with his lips curled upward. His voice trembled slightly. "You're... not going to kill me?"
Will sounded amused. "Why would we kill you?"
"I saw your face, and I came here to report you for killing Harry. You two are in this together, and you're not going to kill me?" Convinced that he was doomed, Malfoy instead found a reckless courage born of having nothing left to lose, and his words began to flow more freely.
Will and Dumbledore exchanged a smile.
Malfoy's reaction had indeed caught them off guard. They had both expected him to keep the secret and report back to Voldemort when he went home, further strengthening