Cold Beboots was cold

[beboots]

The final evening at Christmas Reflections at Fort Edmonton! It ended up being like -27C in the river valley... The poor draft horses had frost all over their coats, and were brought into the stables (switched out for tractors AKA "mechanical horses" ;) ) halfway through the evening. I took a shower right before I left for work, and I put my hair in braids while wet. So after I lit the bonfires, and I realized about an hour into my shift that my braids had frozen. SOLID. Like, icicle cores. D: 

CHECK IT OUT



PIPI LONGSTOCKING COSPLAYS = NOW RIDICULOUSLY EASY. 

And for comparison purposes, here is what it looks like defrosted. SO FLOPPY



Here is a shot of the glorious bonfire I made yesterday, to warm you up wherever you are. :)

Comments

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"No, it's not a good setup, but the thing about hanging around with Granger is that she's actually starting to grow on him. Like mold, or something." He would put it that way. She's infecting him or just... she wasn't supposed to change him.

"He starts to notice when she's not clinging to him anymore... and he kind of misses it. It takes him a while to admit it, of course, but then again because he's been chillin' with Gryffindors he's had less chance to cultivate friendships amongst his fellow Slytherins, so he finds himself a little bit lonely too... he's being kept busy, of course, by Snape and Dumbledore, but..." But she fusses over him, a little, and he would overhear her defending him at some point. Not that he NEEDS to be defended to Gryffindors, especially not to a Weasley, but she doesn't know he's listening. She doesn't think he'll hear about it. She still will defend him because that's what she thinks friends do.

(And if she's not hanging out with Weasley and Potter so much, it's not like he's going to notice. She's paired up with Longbottom in most classes, of course her obvious spellwork is suffering. She's probably wasting her classtime tutoring the dolt and then catching up herself later, or maybe she finally learned the merits of blending in-- she finally stopped trying to answer all of the questions in Potions. Gryffindors are like Slytherins, right? They do all of their friend-making in the Common Room like civilized people, and if she's alone at some meals it's because the books take up all her space-- sometimes she even takes notes at meals, how odd.)

"Yes, because deep down Draco still wants his father's approval." So it'll be very cool if he has Lucius acting against Voldemort, just on his time-traveling son's word. Family first.

"Plus he is an ideally-placed superawesome spy. I can see Snape talking with the other Death Eaters and saying the equivalent of "lol, and Dumbledore fell for it... AGAIN! I mean, I dress in black and have the tattoo and everything! So gullible."" OMG yes! Snape is so totally evil. He's a complete bastard, Dumbledore thinks he has a pet Death Eater isn't that cute, Snape rips his colleagues and students apart for the group's amusement... pity no graduating Slytherin much impresses Snape recently, kids are weak now, not even worth recruiting.

"But won't that surprise be a glorious thing to read? :D" OMG SNAPE IS TEH GOOD GUY. It might even come out through Hermione, if Snape causes that brief period where her grades shoot up and she's actually talking to her classmates, but I'd imagine it's a pretty short relapse. She might even try getting rid of the diary, like Ginny did, but... well. Draco has an entirely different reason to want to stay with the Grangers the next summer.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Yeah, "mold" isn't a perfect metaphor... but maybe even he could acknowledge that. ;)

"But she fusses over him, a little, and he would overhear her defending him at some point. Not that he NEEDS to be defended to Gryffindors, especially not to a Weasley, but she doesn't know he's listening. She doesn't think he'll hear about it. She still will defend him because that's what she thinks friends do." Yeah, I like that idea. :) Perhaps he overhears Weasley ranting about him, and he hangs back thinking "damn, I have to do something extra-awesome to make sure Weasley looks like he's lying again..." and then he doesn't have to because Hermione steps in! (So she's also being useful. But also a good friend. ;) )

"She's paired up with Longbottom in most classes, of course her obvious spellwork is suffering." Lol he would think that. XD

"Gryffindors are like Slytherins, right? They do all of their friend-making in the Common Room like civilized people, and if she's alone at some meals it's because the books take up all her space-- sometimes she even takes notes at meals, how odd." Nice. I will use this. :3

"So it'll be very cool if he has Lucius acting against Voldemort, just on his time-traveling son's word. Family first." Aww yeah. >:3

"OMG yes! Snape is so totally evil. He's a complete bastard, Dumbledore thinks he has a pet Death Eater isn't that cute, Snape rips his colleagues and students apart for the group's amusement... pity no graduating Slytherin much impresses Snape recently, kids are weak now, not even worth recruiting." TRUFAX.

"Draco has an entirely different reason to want to stay with the Grangers the next summer." Yes, definitely. I think that while the first summer was a lot of happy (confusing) funtimes, the second summer will be much more serious, and Draco and Hermione will be much more honest with each other... to a certain extent. They both need to work through their problems.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I like that idea. :) Perhaps he overhears Weasley ranting about him, and he hangs back thinking "damn, I have to do something extra-awesome to make sure Weasley looks like he's lying again..." and then he doesn't have to because Hermione steps in! (So she's also being useful. But also a good friend. ;) )" She's saving his reputation with Potter, but it's also kind of nice--to know his reputation doesn't need so much reputation with her there to do all the heavy lifting, that's all. Not that he cares. Even if it is a complete novelty to have somebody trusting you against convincing arguments.

Draco has entirely the wrong understanding to approach this like anybody else. He and Hermione will have some epic cases of missed assumptions, but when they finally get it right, she's the witch you want when you need something fixed.

"Yes, definitely. I think that while the first summer was a lot of happy (confusing) funtimes, the second summer will be much more serious, and Draco and Hermione will be much more honest with each other... to a certain extent. They both need to work through their problems. " I think Draco can be much more understanding than she expects, too, and that might be a hint for her later. Draco actually does understand that Voldemort is ridiculously charismatic, and that it's very, very hard to deny him something that he wants.

I've had this song stuck in my head for the last twenty-four hours, and in the last few minutes it's made me think of Draco. "Heaven forbid you end up alone, and don't know why/ Hold on tight and wait for tomorrow / you'll be alright"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3SZtkIKSAk

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Even if it is a complete novelty to have somebody trusting you against convincing arguments." Trufax. :) This is a pretty foreign concept for a Slytherin. It's easy to mistake for gullibility, but it's somehow different.

"I think Draco can be much more understanding than she expects, too, and that might be a hint for her later. Draco actually does understand that Voldemort is ridiculously charismatic, and that it's very, very hard to deny him something that he wants." He also has experience with dealing with TRAUMA. I'm sure he has some coping techniques he could pass along.

Yay for music recommendations! :)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"This is a pretty foreign concept for a Slytherin. It's easy to mistake for gullibility, but it's somehow different." He knows that Hermione isn't all that easy to fool (especially if he's tried that himself). It's some weird Gryffindor thing where they seem to think that you always need to defend an ally of yours, no matter what.

" He also has experience with dealing with TRAUMA. I'm sure he has some coping techniques he could pass along." I think he would be much more sympathetic than either of them expect. He could try to pass it off as "I did it, you can do it," but it might be a little different seeing it in a very young girl (and potentially feeling like some of this is his fault). It might be one of the first times that he actually sets out to comfort somebody, too. Slytherins and Death Eaters stand alone, Gryffindors aren't above getting help when they need it.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"but it might be a little different seeing it in a very young girl (and potentially feeling like some of this is his fault)." Yeah, at least the majority of his trauma happened after he hit puberty.

(I've totally been writing more of the scene where Snape, and now Dumbledore, read Draco's mind. :3 It's so much fun to write! I'm not sure if I should have Snape leave the room to get Dumbledore, or just use the floo to talk to Dumbles in his office. I mean, how would Snape explain what he just found out?)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, at least the majority of his trauma happened after he hit puberty." She's very young, she stood up for him, and all of her new friends kind of ditched her while all of her problems were going on. He just might end up with a lasting protective instinct from all this.

(I've totally been writing more of the scene where Snape, and now Dumbledore, read Draco's mind. :3 It's so much fun to write! I'm not sure if I should have Snape leave the room to get Dumbledore, or just use the floo to talk to Dumbles in his office. I mean, how would Snape explain what he just found out?)

It depends on whether Snape wants to leave Draco alone while he's dealing with Albus. Snape definitely has a good enough relationship that he can lean into the floo, bark out that he needs Albus, and wait for Dumbledore to step through and visit. If Snape is at all spooked (it happens, not that it's likely to show), he doesn't want to give Draco the chance to run, maybe?

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"He just might end up with a lasting protective instinct from all this." Trufax. Besides, the Malfoys are all about instincts like protectiveness, greed, etc. ;)

"It depends on whether Snape wants to leave Draco alone while he's dealing with Albus. Snape definitely has a good enough relationship that he can lean into the floo, bark out that he needs Albus, and wait for Dumbledore to step through and visit." At the moment I have him leaving the room to go get Albus for two reasons: a) so he can prep Albus on what the hell is going on (which is why Albus immediately goes for the legitimens to verify what Snape has told him) and b) he wants to give Draco time to collect himself (he's kind of hyperventilating and there may possibly be tears because Snape essentially just ripped through all of his bad memories of the future at once)... and possibly c) to show that Draco is not a prisoner and that he wants Draco to be able to trust him. Or something. (I also think that Snape is just a little bit spooked, though.)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Trufax. Besides, the Malfoys are all about instincts like protectiveness, greed, etc. ;)" I bet Draco could make it all work without compromising any of his principles (at least in the strict definition). After second year, he can talk to her parents, let them tell him about their family tree, and decide she's obviously got witch blood somewhere. Halfbloods are okay, especially if they've got talent, and obviously (random relative) is from (random family).

(If Tom Riddle can pass himself off as a pureblood, Draco can easily convince himself someone as smart as Hermione is a halfblood. The strange part will be when he realizes just how many halfbloods/mudbloods rank exactly with (or even above) the purebloods.)

"At the moment I have him leaving the room to go get Albus for two reasons: a) so he can prep Albus on what the hell is going on (which is why Albus immediately goes for the legitimens to verify what Snape has told him) and b) he wants to give Draco time to collect himself (he's kind of hyperventilating and there may possibly be tears because Snape essentially just ripped through all of his bad memories of the future at once)..." Both very excellent reasons, especially since in that case Snape's not much worried about Draco scampering off. Even if Draco tried-- Snape's his head of house, Slytherin won't protect him from Snape.

"and possibly c) to show that Draco is not a prisoner and that he wants Draco to be able to trust him. Or something. (I also think that Snape is just a little bit spooked, though.)" Albus can think of the third reason, perhaps? Snape's probably very surprised, and not at all used to being surprised. It wouldn't help that Draco probably had his mind on all of the reasons he made his choice, and there are some very dark thoughts in there that make Snape go "yeah, that's pretty unhappy."

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"(If Tom Riddle can pass himself off as a pureblood, Draco can easily convince himself someone as smart as Hermione is a halfblood. The strange part will be when he realizes just how many halfbloods/mudbloods rank exactly with (or even above) the purebloods.)" They'll be an eventual breakdown of the system in his mind, I think, when he just has to throw his hands up into the hair and go "FUCK IT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT JUSTIFICATIONS ANYMORE!" but it will not happen very easily or quickly. :P

"Both very excellent reasons, especially since in that case Snape's not much worried about Draco scampering off. Even if Draco tried-- Snape's his head of house, Slytherin won't protect him from Snape." Yeah, and like, where is he going to go? Plus, the portraits will tell Snape where he went, I think, or he could send a house elf after him if completely necessary... The wizarding world has WAYS of finding other people, especially within the walls of Hogwarts.

"Albus can think of the third reason, perhaps? Snape's probably very surprised, and not at all used to being surprised. It wouldn't help that Draco probably had his mind on all of the reasons he made his choice, and there are some very dark thoughts in there that make Snape go "yeah, that's pretty unhappy."" Definitely, definitely. It still takes a little while for Draco to work through his freaked-out-ness to slowly realize that Dumbledore actually ISN'T the enemy in all of this. ;) He's gone on for so long thinking of Dumbledore as the enemy - and killed him, in fact - and it just takes a while for that mental change to occur from "eccentric elderly enemy" to "awesome ally".

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"They'll be an eventual breakdown of the system in his mind, I think, when he just has to throw his hands up into the hair and go "FUCK IT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT JUSTIFICATIONS ANYMORE!" but it will not happen very easily or quickly. :P" I've seen that happen. A couple friends are ex-racists/ex-homophobes. I've contributed to that process myself, because they were young enough that "fine, your parents set this in your head, but get it out or I really can't justify liking you all that much." I'd listen to the rant, politely contradict points when I had the logic just perfect, and wait for the justifications to stop coming. It took three years to see a start, but my friend's on his way.

"Yeah, and like, where is he going to go? Plus, the portraits will tell Snape where he went, I think, or he could send a house elf after him if completely necessary... The wizarding world has WAYS of finding other people, especially within the walls of Hogwarts." Right. Especially when it's A) a professor B) a Head of House inside his own domain (which is "the entirety of the dungeons," for him) and C) Snape. He was a triple agent while maintaining a full Potions curriculum and probably doing research on the side.

"Definitely, definitely. It still takes a little while for Draco to work through his freaked-out-ness to slowly realize that Dumbledore actually ISN'T the enemy in all of this. ;) He's gone on for so long thinking of Dumbledore as the enemy - and killed him, in fact - and it just takes a while for that mental change to occur from "eccentric elderly enemy" to "awesome ally"."

Snape might help him that one. Albus's ways are incomprehensible to anyone who isn't a dotty old Gryffindor, maybe, but the results are generally good.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Undermining racism, one person at a time. :)

"Especially when it's A) a professor B) a Head of House inside his own domain (which is "the entirety of the dungeons," for him) and C) Snape. He was a triple agent while maintaining a full Potions curriculum and probably doing research on the side." Aww yeah. Also, making potions for Order members, I would imagine. Like Lupin, perhaps, at certain points. ;) SNAPE CAN HANDLE ALMOST ANYTHING.

"Snape might help him that one. Albus's ways are incomprehensible to anyone who isn't a dotty old Gryffindor, maybe, but the results are generally good." Trufax. It still takes Draco a while to digest all of these new concepts, of course. He still kicks himself for being slow off the mark in obliviating Snape, though, for a while... at least until he starts to see that it's nice to not be going at things alone anymore. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Awesome! Undermining racism, one person at a time. :)" Easiest way to do it, really. Doing it on a large scale usually gets some nasty feedback.

"Aww yeah. Also, making potions for Order members, I would imagine. Like Lupin, perhaps, at certain points. ;) SNAPE CAN HANDLE ALMOST ANYTHING." AND HE CAN HANDLE IT WITH STYLE. He can even handle partially-resurrected-Voldemort-that-dislikes-Snape. (Quirrelmort and Snape didn't get along, but that might be easily forgiven. Quirrel is an idiot, and of course Snape had plans in place. He was probably trying to get the philosopher's stone on Halloween to present to Voldie himself.)

"Trufax. It still takes Draco a while to digest all of these new concepts, of course. He still kicks himself for being slow off the mark in obliviating Snape, though, for a while... at least until he starts to see that it's nice to not be going at things alone anymore. ;)" Plus, he would have to have taken the step of obliviating Snape without being caught, being stopped, running into the best damn Occlumency shields in the world, getting caught in some backlash, or accidentally breaking something while Obliviating him. Hermione made it look like something you can manage after reading a couple articles in Book Seven and Movie Seven, but if you do it wrong, it can go very wrong, and if you make any dings in Snape's brain somebody is going to notice.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"He was probably trying to get the philosopher's stone on Halloween to present to Voldie himself." You mean this is what Draco thinks?

"Plus, he would have to have taken the step of obliviating Snape without being caught, being stopped, running into the best damn Occlumency shields in the world, getting caught in some backlash, or accidentally breaking something while Obliviating him." Oh, Draco wasn't thinking of CONSEQUENCES. It was just an instinctive "ACK ERASE ERASE ERASE I DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW!!1!" move on his part. I'm sure that once he calms down and thinks things through, he'll be glad it turned out the way it did. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"You mean this is what Draco thinks?" Tom's very good at deluding himself when it concerns his own importance. He can probably come up with several explanations for Snape's behavior (or he knows that Snape would have kicked his ass in the wispy little spirit form), or Tom would have whipped the turban off and "Snape, my good man, go fetch the stone." It costs effort to manifest that way, but of course his best-est-est Death Eater would work it out.

"Oh, Draco wasn't thinking of CONSEQUENCES. It was just an instinctive "ACK ERASE ERASE ERASE I DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW!!1!" move on his part. I'm sure that once he calms down and thinks things through, he'll be glad it turned out the way it did. ;) " Yes, he will, but that's why he needs Hermione. He's such a GRYFFINDOR sometimes with his leap-then-consider-on-the-way-down.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Tom would have whipped the turban off and "Snape, my good man, go fetch the stone." It costs effort to manifest that way, but of course his best-est-est Death Eater would work it out." D: I still have to wonder how much Snape knew about the extent of Quirrell's involvement with the Dark Lord. Probably not the two-faced thing, at least...

"Yes, he will, but that's why he needs Hermione. He's such a GRYFFINDOR sometimes with his leap-then-consider-on-the-way-down." Of course, he is horrified by the comparison, but... ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"D: I still have to wonder how much Snape knew about the extent of Quirrell's involvement with the Dark Lord. Probably not the two-faced thing, at least..." Snape probably had Words with Albus about his hiring practices. Really, they're horrible. While Harry is at school and Dumbles is hiring: harboring Voldemort in the back of head that kills unicorns and tries to kill Harry, charlatan that nearly blanked Harry's memory, professor with an accidental attempt at killing Harry, man posing as other man with the fulfilled plan of handing Harry to Voldemort, woman that is just generally creepy as hell that manages to cause some permanent damage (and who later puts a dead man's eye on her door), and then Snape.

Of all of the DADA professors, Harry was in the LEAST danger from Snape. Lupin's was an accident, and I can't be too hard on him because I know that Lupin would never forgive himself for forgetting to take that potion, but Quirrel/Lockhart/Moody/Umbridge all set out to hurt Harry at some point with varying degrees of success.

" Of course, he is horrified by the comparison, but... ;) " So is Ron Weasley.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Snape probably had Words with Albus about his hiring practices. Really, they're horrible." Trufax. If they're not evil, annoying, and/or incompetent, they're WEREWOLVES. >:(

" Of course, he is horrified by the comparison, but... ;) " So is Ron Weasley." Oh man... Ron just cracks me up, though. I'm sure that Hermione will accuse him of anti-Slytherin prejudice and Ron can't even process the idea. Like "What- I don't even- DEATH EATERS". I'm sure that when he returns home for the summer, Gred and Forge will tease him about his new friend, to the horror of their parents. "HE'S NOT MY FRIEND HE JUST DOESN'T LEAVE US ALONE"

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"If they're not evil, annoying, and/or incompetent, they're WEREWOLVES. >:(" Werewolves that didn't do a thing against bullying, no less. (It's hard, there, because I sympathize with both of them. Lupin probably hadn't had friends since being bitten, and didn't think he'd find any again, and young!James and Sirius would have found ways to subtly use it against him when Remus was being a stick in the mud.)

"Oh man... Ron just cracks me up, though. I'm sure that Hermione will accuse him of anti-Slytherin prejudice and Ron can't even process the idea. Like "What- I don't even- DEATH EATERS". I'm sure that when he returns home for the summer, Gred and Forge will tease him about his new friend, to the horror of their parents. "HE'S NOT MY FRIEND HE JUST DOESN'T LEAVE US ALONE""

OMG YES! Malfoy is NOT his friend. He's a tetchy little albino midget (don't ask how Malfoy is somehow scrawnier/smaller than Harry) that started stalking Harry after somehow going and making friends with Hermione. (Wait. The muggleborn girl?) Yeah, and she keeps defending 'Draco' even when it was completely obvious that he's bad news, and then she let MALFOY go on with Potter when we were trying to stop Quirrel, and Malfoy knows a few weird dark arts spells, but Harry says they only used them to get away from Voldemort. (Cue the family cornering him for a full chronological story)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Lupin probably hadn't had friends since being bitten, and didn't think he'd find any again, and young!James and Sirius would have found ways to subtly use it against him when Remus was being a stick in the mud." Yeah, I think he let a LOT of things slide when his friends did things he normally wouldn't agree with... http://fav.me/d10l1nl

"that started stalking Harry after somehow going and making friends with Hermione. (Wait. The muggleborn girl?) Yeah, and she keeps defending 'Draco' even when it was completely obvious that he's bad news, and then she let MALFOY go on with Potter when we were trying to stop Quirrel, and Malfoy knows a few weird dark arts spells, but Harry says they only used them to get away from Voldemort. (Cue the family cornering him for a full chronological story)" OMG YES those interjections would be HILARIOUS. And Arthur & Molly just have no idea what to make of it all, except to feel vaguely uneasy about the whole thing. ;) I wonder if I should have them meet Draco when the Grangers and he all go to Diagon Alley...

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I think he let a LOT of things slide when his friends did things he normally wouldn't agree with... http://fav.me/d10l1nl"

I think he wouldn't have been comfortable using "I'm a prefect" against them, ever. Later, it takes Sirius nearly murdering Snape by werewolf (I know Sirius thought that Snape would get scared and stop poking around, but honestly) for James to grow up and put an end to things. I've always pictured that as the first time that James sides with Remus instead of Sirius. Peter follows James, for once Remus won't forgive something because it's been a couple days and they're friends, and James has to grow up.

In my head-canon, that's why James grew up and Lily started taking notice. He ended up a better friend to Remus, but Sirius and Remus never quite recovered, or they would have figured out in three seconds that neither Remus nor Sirius will be doing any betraying thanks.

"OMG YES those interjections would be HILARIOUS. And Arthur & Molly just have no idea what to make of it all, except to feel vaguely uneasy about the whole thing. ;) I wonder if I should have them meet Draco when the Grangers and he all go to Diagon Alley..." Hermione might be sending letters to Harry and be a little hurt when Harry doesn't send anything back. I think Draco will be the imperious one asking if there aren't other ways for Muggles to communicate. If Hermione's the one on the phone (not Ron), then she can find out a lot more information. She's clever enough to pretend that she has a non-school reason for talking to Harry, and she can ask things in ways that let Harry respond without freaking out his aunt or uncle.

If the Weasleys can find his number, she can, and Draco might be stunned to see the listing in the phone book for the Dursleys. Muggles have Potter's summer address written down, when it took half of forever for Voldemort to figure it out? Crazy.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Hermione might be sending letters to Harry and be a little hurt when Harry doesn't send anything back. I think Draco will be the imperious one asking if there aren't other ways for Muggles to communicate. If Hermione's the one on the phone (not Ron), then she can find out a lot more information." At the very least she won't yell into the phone and act suspiciously freakish. ;) This is also the first time that Draco has seen a fellytone in action. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"At the very least she won't yell into the phone and act suspiciously freakish. ;) This is also the first time that Draco has seen a fellytone in action. ;) "

No wonder Hermione is rather dismissive of Floos as communication. She can stand up (or sit in a chair!) and talk to somebody just by dialing a number and something weird goes on with the wires. She very well knows to not yell, and I think she can bumble through not being suspicious. If they need a better story, Draco can snatch the phone and take over.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"If they need a better story, Draco can snatch the phone and take over." Although I'm sure that he would be quite hesitant in speaking, at first, though he's smart enough to copy what Hermione was doing. ;) But how much could Harry reveal over the phone? Perhaps just that he hadn't received her letters, thus prompting a discussion regarding who/what could possibly be able to intercept mail?

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Although I'm sure that he would be quite hesitant in speaking, at first, though he's smart enough to copy what Hermione was doing. ;) But how much could Harry reveal over the phone? Perhaps just that he hadn't received her letters, thus prompting a discussion regarding who/what could possibly be able to intercept mail?"

Draco's canny enough to create a system on the spot. "Talk about the weather if you want to say yes, (other innocuous topic) for no." Something so that Harry can stand right in front of Vernon and not get in trouble. By that point, Hermione might have suspicions that Harry is in a bad, bad household, and Draco would understand "don't let the Muggles know you're magic, just in case."