分卷阅读7（2 / 2）

Theysharedalong,pointedlookforlongerthanwascomfortable,whichwasinterruptedbythebreezeandwhooshofanInter-MinistrymemoflyingontoFelix’sdesk.Igoratookadvantageofthedistractiontomakeapoint.“See,”shepointedtotheparchmentFelixhadbegununfolding.“IfEverswornwassimplypartofyourinvestigationasaninformant,youwouldfollowthecodeofactionforsuchcircumstances.Andyou’dhavesentitbypost.”IgorawatchedasFelixreadwhateverwasinthemessage,thencontinued,“Therearewaystotellotherdepartmentstolayoffinformantsforsuchsituations.Instead,youmadethemistakeofcominguphereyourself,againstwhatproperproceduredictates.”

Weasleygloweredatherandhisshoulderstensed.

“You’rehidingsomething,AurorWeasley,”Igorastated.FelixhuffedandIgoraleanedtothesidetogetaviewofherpartnerwhoshe’dbrieflyforgottenwasevenintheroom.“Whatisit?”

“Bloodyunbelievable,”hemuttered.Hecrumpledtheletterandtosseditovertoherdesk.“Homeofficesaystheops-teamwesawlastnightis‘outofourpurview’andwearenottoacknowledgethem.”

Weasleyhuffed,halfagrinformingonhislips.“Donotdisturb,”hesaid.“TypicalDepartmentofMysteriesnonsense.”

“TheDOM?”IgoratiltedherheadtothesideandcaughtFelix’sgaze.Thatmadethingsinteresting.ThatmeantDracoMalfoyandArchieEverswornwerecaughtupinsomethingcomplex,probablytremendouslyimportant.

“Wait,”WeasleyturnedtoFelixandthenbacktoIgora.“Wheredidyouseeanops-team?”

Igoracouldn’tstopherselffromgrinning.“OutsideArchieEversworn’sflat.”

Weasleygulped.

PansyParkinsonwasrarelyontime.Byherownadmission,shecultivatedtardinessasameansofcontrol.“Neverdowhattheyexpect,”shewrotetoDracoonce.“Theyweighusdownwiththeirexpectations.”She’dtriedherbesttoignorehishonestreplyof“Nooneexpectsanythingfromus.That’stheproblem.”Butshefoundherselfoscillatingbetweentryingtosubvertopinionsandcaringfartoomuchaboutmaintainingtheappearancethatshedidn’tcare.

“You’relate.”TheattendantattheMinistryCheck-Infrownedather,andPansyreturnedhislackofgreetingwithascowl.Theyoungwizardpointedtothesigninsheet.“Signinandsitinthewaitingarea.Acaseworkerwillbewithyoushortly.”

Pansystaredattheman,pickedupthequill,andwrotehernamequiteforcefullywithoutbreakinghisgaze.Somethingabouthisdemeanorbotheredher,andhisjudgmentwashedoverher.Didherecognizeherfaceorhername?Shedidn’tallowherselftoholdontosuchquestions.Shemadesuretoglareabitbeforesheturnedaroundandfoundaplushchairinthewaitingroom.Perhapsthiswouldn’tbeoneofthedaystoforgeanewimageforherself.

Sheadjustedherpencilskirtandtriedtogetcomfortable.ThewaittimesattheMinistrywerenotoriouslyunpredictable,andsinceshehadnohintastowhyshehadbeencalledbackfromBrussels,therewasnowaytoknowifshe’dbetherehalfanhouroruntilhernextbirthday.Thelasttimeshe’dbeensummonedtotheMinistry,she’dassumeditwasasimplewitnessstatementforaforfeitureofassets.Pansyhadjustfinishedoneofherbiggestacquisitions,acharmedseventeenthcenturywalnutwardrobethatde-wrinkledandfreshenedallofthegarmentswithin.OnherwaybacktoBritain,afterhavingpartiedandcelebratedaccordingly,she’dbeenflaggedassuspiciousbyoneofherfellowPortkeytravelersandwassubsequentlykeptforquestioninginaMinistryholdingroomforovertwelvehours.Theofficialsinvolvedgottheauthoritytorifflethroughherthingsandreadallthedocumentsinherpossession.Itwasn’tuntilDracohadcomestorminginwithaceaseanddesistthattheybackedoffandreleasedher.

Thatremindedher—sherummagedaroundinherbriefcasefortherestofherunreadpostanddecidedtosiftthroughit.Lettersfromrandomadmirers,peoplebegginghertotakeontheircases,andafew,heavyparchmentsfromherclosefriendsandfamily.Sheopenedtheletterfromhergoddaughter,scanningoveraratherlongrantaboutabirthdayparty,alakehouse,andafatherhell-bentonruiningherlife.Pansysmiledattheabilityofyoungteenagerstodevolveintohystericsovertheslightestproblem.Itremindedherofherselfatthatage.Atleast,beforetheWar.AssoonasshesawDraco’sneatscriptontheletterunderneath,shetossedtheothersasideandrippedhisletteropen.

Atfirstitwastheusualcommentsabouttheirmutualinterestsandacquaintances;Greg’scateringservicewasbooming,apparently;BlaisehadwonanawardforhisexposeonsomewinningQuidditchteamthrowingmatches;andasalways,Dracopassedonthewarmestregardsfromhismother,Narcissa.Afterthat,withoutfail,wouldbetherepetitiveandunvariedline,“Workismoreofthesame,”whichtoPansy’scontinuedannoyancerevealedabsolutelynothingaboutDraco’sbusyandmysteriousprofessionallife.She’dalwayswritebackandteasehim,“You’reeitheranescortoranUnspeakable,andeitherway,I’ddieifyouwouldjustfinallykissandtell.”

Onlythisletterheldnosuchstatement.Theregularnewswasfollowedbyaplea:

Pansy,dear,Idon’twishtoalarmyou,butyourclosefamilyfriendBertriceZivantushasgonemissing.Iamincontactwithherfatherandcanassureyouthatwearedoingeverythingwithinourpowertofindher.Thereisnoneedtoreturnearlyfromyourtrip,Ionlywishedtokeepyouapprisedofthesituation.Love,Draco.

“What?”Pansypracticallyshrieked.ShegrabbedherthingsandrushedtotheCheck-InwheretheattendanthadbeenspeakingwithapetiteMinistryofficial.Pansyignoredthefactthatshewasinterruptingtheirconversationandsaid,“I’msorry,somethinghascomeupandIhavetoleave.”

“PansyParkinson?”thesmallwomanpracticallysqueaked.