分卷阅读1（2 / 2）

Andfromtheginsoftheworkersofiniquity.

Letthewickedfallintotheirownnets,

WhilstthatIwithalescape.

(Psalm141:9-10,spokenbyAnnieinTwinPeaksepisode29,“BeyondLifeandDeath”)

Itwasasoftandsubtledarkness,onethatobscuredanddescendeduponthefamiliar.Harryuncurledandrosefromthelumpymattressonthefloorandlethiseyesskirttheshadowsofhisdingyflat.He’dgrownsousedtoit,hefoundhimselfabletowalkaroundandfixhismorningteawithoutsomuchasalumos.Eightmonths.Eightboringmonthsspentinamonotonousroutine,undercoverinEdinburgh.

Itwasn’ttheEdinburghHarryknewfrompreviousmissionsorholidays.Instead,hespenthisdaysintheseedy,shadowyalleysoftheTravertelQuarter,establishinghisaliasandmakingconnections.SincetheAurorshadbeengivenapprovaltousenew,charmedprostheticsfordisguisesinlieuofPolyjuice,therewasn’tareasonforthedepartmenttodenyHarrythefieldworkhehadsodesperatelycraved.Tohiscompletehorror,he’dbeenstuckplayingMinistrymascot,beingparadedaroundthescenesofDarkmagicraidsandarrestsasafamiliarimagetoinstillcomfortinthemassesandfearintheenemy.

Itwasn’tuntilhebotchedaninterviewwiththeProphetandwascalledintotheHeadAuror’sofficethathe’dfinallyworkedupthecouragetovocalizehismisery.

“I’mtiredofbeinginthespotlight,Robards.”Hesatandfellintoadejectedslouch.Hesentasternlookathissuperior.“Iwanttobeouttheremakinganactualdifference.Iwanttobedoingrealwork.”Headdedacautious,“sir.”

GawainRobardsofferedHarryaslightsmile.Withaknowingnod,hesaid,“Ifiguredasmuch,Potter.That—uh—interviewyougaveatHowland’sCreekwasacompletenightmare.”Robardsglancedaroundhisdesk,eyedathickfolder,andreturnedhisgazetoHarry.“You’veneverbeendeepundercover,I’dimagine?”

Harrycouldn’tstophimselffromsmiling.TakingPolyjuiceasachildtoinfiltratetheSlytherindormitoriesdidn’tquitecount,didit?“No,sir.”

“IhearScotlandislovelythistimeofyear.”

It’snot,Harryfrownedashestaredathimselfinthemirror.Orshouldhesay,Edinburghwasn’tlovelyforhisalias,ArchieEversworn.

Helookedmostlylikehimself,themopofuntidyblackhairashaphazardasever,longenoughtotieback.Buthisfacehadbeencharmedwithprosthetics,alteredtobequiteunrecognizable.Hisnosewasmuchwider,hisforeheadmorepronouncedandmissingthesignaturescar.They’ddonesomethingtohischeeksaswell,makingthemfuller,moreroundedandlesseningthelineofhisjawsomehow.Theministrytechhadinsistedoncharminghiseyecolor,butHarryflatoutrefusedtoletthem.

“Ibarelyrecognizemyselfasitis!Wecanleavemyeyesastheyare,”heprotested.He’dturnedtoRonforconfirmation.Hisfriendhadjustshrugged.

“Iwouldn’tgiveyouasecondglance,”hesaid.

Harrypointedtothefrowninglabtech.“See?”Withreluctance,thelabtechagreedtohisdemand,butinsistedhechangehisglassesfromthesignatureroundstothemorestylishwayfarers.Lastlyhadbeenthevocalcharmwhichchangedhissomewhatdeepvoicetosomethingabitmorewhiny.

Apoundingonhisfrontdoorechoedthroughthestudio.Harryrolledhiseyesandwenttoanswerit.Afamiliarvoiceyelled,“Iknowyou’rethere,youwrecklessfiend!”

Harrythrewopenthedoorandscowledathisneighborfromacrossthehall,GarlandUmphrey,asixty-somethingyearolddrunkandknowncriminal.“Goodmorning,Umphrey,”Harrysaid.Hemettheman’sbeadyeyes.“WhathaveIdonenow?”

“Don’ttakethattonewithme,scoundrel.Iknowyou’vetakenmycommemorativesilveretchingsofthe1898WorldQuidditchEmporium!”

“I’venotthefaintestideawhatyou’regoingonabout.Excuseme,Ihavetogettowork.”Harrysteppedpasthimandclosedhisdoor.Hecastawardonitandbrisklywalkedtowardsthestairs.