分卷阅读6（1 / 2）

Suddenlysomethingwarmbrushedupagainsthisleg,andHarryalmostjumped.Weavingitswaybetweenhislegswasthebrightredkneazlehe’dseenearlierintheday.Threetimesnow,hethought.Harrykneltdowntopetit.

“You’vebeenalloverthecitytoday,haven’tyou?”heasked.Hishandpetbehindtheanimal’searsanddownitsneckuntilhehitaleatherstrap.Beneathitslong,thickfur,therewasacollar.HeturneditaroundandfoundatagwiththenameGuineverefollowedbyanaddressinthecity.“You’refarfromhome,aren’tyou?Let’sseeifwecangetyouback.”

Itonlytookafewminutesforthecloudstodissipateandthestormtopass.HarrypickedupGuinevereandheadedtowardsthemainroad.Hecheckedthetimeandrealizeditwasn’ttoolatetotakethekneazlehome,sohemadehiswayacrosspuddle-ladenwalkwaysanddarkeningstreets.

Asheapproachedthetownhomeontheedgeofaoncenicebutnowdilapidatedneighborhood,Guineveretensedinhisarms.Heplacedhishandontopofherheadtocalmthekneazle,scratchingherears.Heproceededtoknockonthedoor.Astout,olderwomanansweredandpeeredathimthroughlarge,thickglasses.

“Yes?”shesaidandthenhergazefelltotheballofredfurinHarry’sarms.“Oh!You’vefoundher!”Thewomansteppedforwardinarush,grabbedtheanimal,mutteredaquick“Thanks”andthenslammedthedoorinHarry’sface.

“Well,”hesaid,unsureofwhathadtranspired.Hetookafewstepsontothewalkandthenpeeredbackatthehouse.Apairofeyeswatchedhimfromthefrontwindow,alertandcurious,andsomewhatfamiliar.Harrytookastepforwardandleanedovertogetacloserlookatthefigure.Apale,brunetteyounggirlreturnedhisgazewithablankstarethatsentashiverdownHarry’sspine.

ItwasBertriceZivantus.Hewassureofit.He’dseenheronthemissingposters.Butassoonashe’drealizedit,she’ddisappearedfromthewindowandinherplacewasadark,swayingcurtain.

Harrymadehiswaybacktohisflat,hismindgoingincircles.Howcouldhegototheauthoritieswithwhatheknew?Howcouldheexplainthekneazlesomehowleadinghimtothemissinggirl’slocation?Didithaveanythingtodowiththepenthousemurders?

Thewholethingwasincredibly,undeniablystrange.

Thenextmorning,HarrydraftedaquickcodedmessagetoRonandrushedoutofhisflattoheadtotheowlery.He’dbarelymadeitoutthedoorbeforehecaughtsightofDracoMalfoy,leaningagainsttheoppositewallofthealley.

“Busytoday?”heinquired.Harryrolledhiseyesandturnedtothestreet.Malfoyapproached,stoodinfrontofhim,andraisedhisbrowswaitingforaresponse.Helookedsharpandpresentableinanavysuitandwaistcoatwithagreytie.

“Yeah,I’mbusy,Malfoy,”Harrysnapped.

“Doingwhat,exactly?You’vebeensacked.”

HarrywonderedhowonearthMalfoyknewthat.HismindwanderedbacktotheirbriefencounterthenightbeforeandMalfoy’sintuitivestatements.“Yes,well,I’vegottoseetothatnow,don’tI?”

MalfoyplacedhimselfinfrontofHarryandgavehimanearnestlook.Foramoment,Harryfeltdisarmedbytheintensityheldinthosegreyeyes.“Iknowyousawwhathappenedinthatpenthouse,perhapsyesterdayyousawmorethanyou’relettingyourselfbelieve.Thethreadsoffatehavewovenustogetherforwhateverreason.YouandImustfollowtheseeventstotheirconclusion.Which,”Malfoypausedandtiltedhishead,“hopefullywillendwithussolvingthemurderofMarwanZivantus.”

“MarwanZivantus?”Harry’sgazesnappedtoMalfoy’s.Thelastsentencewasthefirstthingoutoftheotherman’smouththatmadeanybitofsense.“That’swhodiedinthepenthouse?”

“Hewasamongthemurdervictims,yes,”Malfoynodded.

RealizationhitHarry.ThekneazlehadbeenatthehotelwhereMarwanZivantusdied.ThekneazleledHarrytothedeadman’smissingdaughter.HarryrememberedjustthenthatValentinehadsaidtheinvestigatorshadaskedifthey’dseenananimal.“Hangon,”Harrysaid,stillutterlyconfusedastohowMalfoywasinvolved.“Whatgivesyoutheauthoritytoinquireintohisdeath?”

“Well,hehiredmetodoso,ofcourse.”

“Hehiredyou,”Harryrepeatedflatly.