分卷阅读1（2 / 2）

Hedidn’tbringalawyer.Hedidn’tspeakupinhisowndefense.Hejustsatthere,paleskinturnedsicklyundertheshineofthelights,waitingashissentencegothandeddowntohim.Italwayshurtstoseewhatthewarturnedthemallinto,butthiswasbyfartheworst.

“Doyouhaveanylastcomments,Mr.Malfoy?”KingsleywaspresidingoverthisasaspecialfavortoHarry.Ronthinkshe’scrazy,buthehadn’tseenwhatHarryhadseen—theguiltthatbuildsintheshadowsunderDraco’seyes,ahandshakingashewasforcedtotortureorbetortured,aboythatwantedhisfather’slovebutonlygotpain.“Nothingtoaddtothecourt?”

Speakup,Harrywantedtoshoutdownathim.Besidehim,Ginnyleanedforward,clearlywaitingtoseewhatwouldcomenext.Comeon,Malfoy,showthemwhataharmlessguiltyouare.

“Thenweproceedwiththesentencing.”Kingsleystood,hisvoicemagicallymagnifiedtoprojectacrossthecourt,anddozensofcamerasflashedatthesametime.TheimageswouldfindtheirwaytothefrontpageoftheDailyProphettomorrow.(WhichDeanhadtakenoveraseditor,soitactuallyreportsthefactsindependentoftheministry.)“I’msentencingyoutoprobation,ontheconditionthatyoucanstaywithsomeonewhoisingoodstandingwiththewizardingcommunity.Couldyougivethecourtthenameofsomesuchperson?”

Apause,longandsilent,andthenDraco’svoicesoquietitwasalmostawhisper.“No.”Onesyllable,butitwasdamnation.“There’snoone.”

Therewasanothersilence,andthenKingsleysatdownagain.“ThenyouleavemenochoicebuttosentenceyoutoAzkabanforthefullsentencingperiod.”

Atleasttherearenodementorsthereanymore,Harrywasthinking,resignedtoalostcause,butthenhelooksdownonelasttimeandseesDraco,thispitiful,brokenthingcomparedagainsttheshadowofwhatheusedtobe,andhefoundhimselfstanding,hishandslippingoutofGinny’sfingers.

“Hecannameme,Minister.”There’sasurprisedbarkoflaughterfromhisright,andheknewthatGinnywasgrinning,thesmileshealwayshadonherfacewhenoneofthemdidsomethingstupid.Thosesamereportersarenowtakingpicturesofhim,andforgetMalfoy,forgetKingsley,thiswasgoingtobetheheadliningnewsfortheentireweek.“I’lltakeresponsibilityforhim.”

MaybeIdohaveabitofasavingpeoplething.

Draco

Thingswerebad.

Theywerebad,butatleastDracowaspreparedforthem.Hehadcleanedhishouse,boxedupallhisbelongings,putallhisheirloomsinhisGringottssafe.He’dwrittenletters,andsetupatrustfundforTeddy,andarrangedforsomeonetocareforhismother,whenitcametothat.Itwouldbeokay.

It’snotliketherearedementors,Hehadtoldhimself,sittingdowninthemiddleofthatstagewhenthewholethingstarted,alreadygivinghimselfovertotheideathatthiswasn’tgoingtohaveahappyending.Itwasnolessthanhedeserved.Soheshoweduptocourtwhenheshouldhaveraninstead,andhedidn’tspeakupevenwhenhehadthechanceto,andhewasokaywithhowitwasgoingtoend.

ButthenhelookedupandcaughteyeswithHarryfreakingPotterofallpeople,whohadgivenstatementsabouthowDracodidn’tdeservetobepunishedforhisparents’mistakes,andthenHarryPotterwasstandingupandtellingthewholeworldthathewouldtakeDracointohishome.

(Andlike,notthatDracodoesn’tappreciateit,butdoesanyoneseemtorememberthathewasacompletearsetohiminschool?Theyaren’tfriends.He’sprettysurehe’sdescribedthetwoofthemasarchenemiesonce,likekidsevenhavethose.)

(thoughwhenhethinksaboutit,Harryhadoneofthose.FreakingDarkLordbullshit.)

Soherehewas,afreeman,hiswandreturnedtohimandhisarmsfreeofchains,walkingtowardstheministrydoorslikenothinghadhappened.Therewerepeoplestaring,sohedidtherightMalfoythingandtriedtolookthewayheusedto,withhisheadhighandshouldersbackandalookonhisfacelikeheknowsthathe’sbetterthaneveryone,butitfallsflat.HetrailsbehindHarryinstead,ashepushespastreportersandshoutshellosatpeoplehemusthaveknownfromschooloraurorcamp.

Theymakeittothefloogates.HarryshiftsonhisfeetandlooksoveratGinny,whohadhelpedthemontheirwayherebutnowshrugsathim,likethiswasyourproblem,nowdealwithit.Harrymusthaveagreed,becausehegrimacedandstuckouthishandtoDraco.

“Comeon.”HeshakeshisarmwhenDracodoesn’tgrabon,liketherewasawayhehadn’tseenit.“I’mnotsayingmyaddressoutloudwhenthismanypeoplearearound,they’llbeatmydoorinminutes.”

Becausehewaslivingwithacelebrity.Draco’sfirstreactionwastobemean,tosneerathimandsaythathewouldrathertakethecell,thanks.Healsowantstoaskhimwhyonearthhewasdoingthis,whentheyprettymuchtorturedeachotherallthroughschool.Butthat’snotwhathesays.“I’mnotquitesureItrustyou.”There’saflashofhurtacrosshisface,alittleshadowofpainthatgoesasfastasitcame.“I’veheardthestoriesofyougettingstuckupchimneys.”