分卷阅读11（2 / 2）

Chapter9

Harry

They’regoodtogether,HermioneandDraco.

Ittookawhile,buthe’dfinallygottenusedtocominghomefromtrainingandseeingthetwoofthemcrowdedaroundthekitchentable,acauldronsteamingonthecounterbehindthemandaspreadsheettackeduptothewalls.Evenifsheisn’therewhenhegetshome,shecomeslaterthatnightaftershehadachancetotalktoRon,burstingthroughthedoorwithabundleofpapersclutchedinherarmandHarrywouldfallasleeptothesoundoftheirmurmuredvoices,knowingthathewouldfindthembothcurleduponoppositesidesofthecouchwhenhecamehome.

It’sgoodwork,they’redoing.Notablework.IthadstartedoutjustbeingforSeamus,butthentheyreallygottotalkinganddecidedtomakeawholerange,startthewizardingmentalhealthprogramfromthegroundup.HermionebringsthemuggletherapypracticesandDracobringsthewizardingsolutions,andthetwoofthemsortofmeetinthemiddletoformsomegroundbreakinghealthcare.It’sgottenabitofattention,bothfromtheDailyProphetandacademiccircles.

Draco’sletHermionehandlemostofthepublicspeaking.

“How’sitgoing?”Harryalmostfeelslikehe’sinterruptingsomethingbywalkingintohisownkitchen.Hermionecertainlythinksso,butDracodoesn’t.Dracoactuallygetsuptogreethim,andHarrycan’thelpbuttrackhismovementsacrosstheroom,thewayhishaircurlsattheedgesfromtheheatofthefireandhisshirtisstickingtohisshoulderblades,thefabricsolightitisalmostseethrough.

“We’realmostdone.”Dracoleansacrosshimtograbataglassofpumpkinjuiceonthecounter.Harry’sstartingtopaymoreattentiontomomentslikethis,andhehateshimselfforit,becausethatisnotwhatDracoisherefor.“Shouldhavethecalmingdroughtreadyforfullscaleusagebynextweek.Allweneednowisanequationtohelptailorittodifferentlevelsofneed,heightandbodyweightandage,thatsortofthing.”

“Childrenshouldn’tusethisstuffatall.”Hermionesaid,measuringthebitoffrogbileshewaspouringintothebeaker.“Developingbrains,andall.”

“Iusedit.DadhadDobbygiveittomeeverynight.”Dracosaysthecommentinanoffhandsortofway,thenreddensunderHermione’sstare.“What?”Defensive.EventhoughHarryknowsDracomeansnoharmtoHermione,oldhabitsmakehimwanttostepinbetweenthem,lestwandsbedrawn.Itseemsthatnothingcanoverrideoldinstincts,nomatterhowdifferentyoufeelaboutsomeone.“Iturnedoutjustfine.”

“Yeah.”Harrydidn’tthinkhedid,though.Itmadethenightsmoreexplainable,howDracowouldstayupatallhours,orHarrywouldcomedownthestepswithanentireprojectcompletedovernight,likehehadworkedstraightthroughuntilthemorning.Maybeitwasn’tjustthewarthatkeptDracoonhisfeet.“Weknowyoudid.”

Chapter10

Draco

She’swaitingforhiminthealleybar.

Dracoisn’treallysurewhatthenameofitis,onlythatthedoorwayisintheverybackofKnockturnalley.Youhavetofightthroughstreetvendorstoevengetnearit,andthenyouhavetoknowexactlywherethedoorwayisattofindit,consideringhowdarkitisbackthere.Itiswhereyougowhenyoudon’twantpeopletoknowwhatyouaredoing,orwhoyouaremeeting.

Itistheperfectplaceforthem.

She’stuckedinabackcorner,ahooddrawnuparoundherfacesoallhecanseeofheristhedarkhairspillingoutofitandthepalehandspeekingoutfromlacesleeves.Hernailsarelongandpaintedbloodred,asmuchforaweaponasforbeauty.Everyinchofherispoisedtorun,andhecantellthatshesatonthesidethatshedidsoshecankeepaneyeontheshopatalltimes.

Itmakeshimuncomfortable,thatshesawhimbeforeDracosawher.