"No one would expect you to be anyone's doormat," he agreed. "But no hurting anyone."
He wished he could have any idea of whether he were doing the right thing, helping and defending her. Leave her to Rabastan as Potter had suggested? What lunacy would that be?
"I don't know why they wouldn't let you live there. They'd offered it long ago to any of the under-aged students who wished it. The founders ought to be neutral territory. I imagine it's very 'weird'. I do have a request to make, though."
Because he'd probably totally fucked up, but it was too late to retreat now. There was still one little thing he could do, even if it was a drop in the ocean of too-little, too-late.
"I would like you to go out of your way to avoid Draco. Any contact with him. If he initiates it, that's one thing, but don't . . . push him."