"Oh, bloody...hell," Draco sighed, pushing his fingers through his hair and closing his eyes. It had been a risk, but he hadn't thought he'd miscalculated this much. "It wasn't...I didn't mean it as a threat. I thought you'd be curious."

He glanced at his left arm, securely covered in fabric, and shook his head. "You're not the first student I've had who's a bit too concerned about being powerful. I thought you'd...well. Clearly I was wrong, and I'm sorry for that." Now that the immediate danger was over, Draco's eyes went to the smear of blackness again, and he added more softly, "But I am concerned for you. Something is wrong."