分卷阅读22（2 / 2）

Theblondelookedaway,staringatthecollectionofalcoholbottlesagainstthebackofthebar.“IsensedsomethingwhenwewereallinNev’soffice.Iknowmostpeopleconsidermesomewhatofawhimsicalcaricatureofawitch,butIcanberatherdecisive,evenuseful.”SheturnedbacktoPansyandgaveherasoftsmile.PansytookasipfromherdrinkandLovegoodcontinued,“IcouldtellyouwereingreatemotionaldistressandfeltcompelledtohelpinanywaythatIcan.”

Pansycouldn’ttellifthebittertasteinhermouthwastheliquororherbody’sreactiontoyetanothermemberofPotter’scliqueofferingassistance.TheveryideaofsomeonefromthatsideoftheWarofferinghelptoPansywasfarcical.ExcepttheGoldenTriohadbentoverbackwards,probablybrokenathousandMinistryrulesintheprocess,justtofindBertrice.NowLovegood?PansysuspectedonrareoccasionsLovegooddisplayedherdryandsubtlesenseofhumor,butforthemostpart,theblondewasasincerepersonandgenuineoddity.Pansytookanothersipandsighed.

“Alright,Lovegood,”shedecided.“Youcanhelpbykeepingmedistracteduntiltheothersgetback.”Lovegoodsmiled,andPansybrieflywonderedhowsuchapersoncouldbereal.MostoftheirclassmateswouldsoonerseePansyfedtothegiantsquidthanhelpher,orSalazar,comforther.Shelookeddownandcouldn’tstopherselffromreturningthesmile.

“IwonderedwhereHarryandDracowerewhenIsawyoualoneatthebar.”Lovegooddrapedanarmoverthebackofthebarstool,strikingaposethathadherfacingPansy.“ButI’msurethey’refine,”LovegoodcontinuedandleveledPansywithacalmstare.TheweightofitmadePansytakeanothersipofherdrink.“They’veprobablyjustfoundasuitablebroomclosetinwhichtoworkouttheircomplexandabundantproblems.”

Pansy’sdrinkcameoutofhernoseinastinginghurlofsurprise.

“Oh,andyoucancallmeLuna,”shebeamed.

ThetinglethatspreadacrossHarry’sbodywastheresultoftimetravelanddefinitelynotbecauseMalfoyhadbeenpressedagainsthim.Heambledupthestepsandintothehoteltotrytoshakeoffthefeeling.Eventhoughsomewhereinthebackofhismindheknewhowitfelttotravelthroughtime,HarrywasconvincedithadnothingtodowithMalfoy.

“Potter!”Malfoyhissedandtrailedafterhim.Harryspedacrossthelobbyinthedirectionofthelift.BythetimeMalfoycaughtuptohim,Harryrecoveredenoughtorememberhewasstillveryangrywithhim.HegraspedtherolledupProphetinhishandandpointeditatMalfoy.

“Itoldyou,weneedtodiscussthisasagroup.”Harrywavedthepaperaround.“Youcan’tjustmakedecisionslikethiswhentherearelivesontheline,”headmonishedashereachedoutandpressedthebuttonforthelift.“I’msurePansywillagreewithme.”

“Well,”Malfoyfrowned,“Parkinsonwillprobablyagreewithyou.Butyou’llhavetowait—”hepulledoutandopenedthepocketwatch“—sixweeks,twodays,andfourteenhours.”

Attheimpactofthewords,Harry’sdemeanorsank.Heshould’verealizedMalfoywoulddoit.Theirexchangebeforethesecondtripallbutspelledouttheotherman’sintentions.Sixweeks?Harrywondered,butthenMalfoy’svoiceplayedinhismemory.“Hehiredme…sixweeksago…”Hewashitwithawelcomerushofclarityandsaid,“You’regoingtogotoZivantusbeforehehiresyou.Youthinkhe’llhavetheanswers?”

“Ifanyoneisgoingtoshedsomelightonthisridiculouswebof—”butMalfoystopped.Hestaredaroundthelobbywithwide,almostpanickedeyes.

Harrypushed,“Whatifyougoingbacklikethisisthereasonhehiresyouinthefirstplace?”

Malfoyhadgonewhite,muchpalerthanhisusualcomplexion.“Ican’t—Ican’tthink.Ican’tfocus.There’stoomanythreads.”

“Threads?”Harryrolledupthepaperandshoveditintohiswaistband.Steppingforward,hewrappedhishandsaroundMalfoy’sforearmsandheldhimstill.“What’swrong?”

“They’renotlinearanymore,”hewaspracticallypanting.SuddenlyHarry’sangerwasreplacedwithagrowingconcernthatMalfoymightbehyperventilating.“Salazar,”Malfoybreathed,hiseyesdartedaroundoutoffocus.“They’regoingineverydirection.Icanbarelysee.”

Harryglancedaround,hisheartpounding.WasMalfoyhavingapanicattack?Iftheyweresixweeksinthepast,theydidn’thavetheroomasshelter.Hescannedthelobby.Thelounge’scloakroomwasdark,quiet,andthey’dnotattractanyattentioninthere.

“Comeon,”HarrypulledMalfoyforwarduntilhisarmlockedsnuglyaroundtheSlytherin’sback,leadingthemintotheroom.

Fromtheoutside,theloungecloakroomappearedtobesmall,nobiggerthanabroomcloset.Butinside,ithousedrowsandrowsofracksandshelvescontainingnotjustcloaks,coats,hats,andaccessories,butitemsofanymanneroftrade.