“We had words, and then we fought.”
Dumbledore fixes him with an unblinking stare, blue eyes focused and lips pulled into a frown.
“Is there anything else, Harry? Are you sure that’s all there is to tell?”
Harry doesn’t like the suspicion in Dumbledore’s voice. His hands clench as he says, “Quite sure, Professor.”
Dumbledore watches him for a second longer before relaxing. “Since you apparently have a fondness for going up to the cliff, Harry, I assume you know of the protective barriers there, that keep students from doing silly things like throwing pebbles into the lake. Or each other.”
Harry blinks at the Headmaster’s abruptness. “Yes, I know of them.”
“Well, there are also wards that are embedded in those charms that alert us to any significant disturbances to the barrier.” He pauses, eyes riveted on Harry. “There was a very significant disturbance last night.”
Harry understands the implication in Dumbledore’s tone, and his fists coil tighter. The scabs on his knuckles rip and tear and bleed, and it hurts, but it doesn’t, not really.
His eyes flick to Malfoy and he asks, “How is he?” which is better, Harry thinks, than asking, ‘Did I win?’