分卷阅读12（1 / 2）

“Pansy.”Shedoesnotstandwhenhegreetsher,sohetakesthecuefromherandsitswithoutanotherword.Thechairscreechesonthestonefloorwhenhepullsitback,andwhenhelooksatthetable,itisclearthattheyarenothereforasocialvisit.“Beautifulasalways.”

Shescoffsathim.Dracodoesn’tgettousethewordoften,butsheembodieditatthatmoment,thewaythesoundcamefromthebackofherthroatandlandedonthetablebetweenthem,drippingwithderision.Itshouldhavebotheredhim,buthealsothinksthatsharpedgeswillbeeasiertodealwithtodaythansharpwords.Angerwasalwayseasiertotakethanhurt.

“Saveit.”Shelookshimupanddown,andlikealways,Dracowonderswhatsheseesthere.Thisisnotlikeschool,whenshewouldhangontoeverywordhesaidjustbecausehisfathermademoneyandhismothercamefromtherightfamily.Shedidnothavetobeniceinordertogethelpwithhomework,ormakesurethatshesmiledforpicturesthatmightendupintheProphet.Despitebeingfriendsforaslongashecanremember(evenlongerthanCrabbeandGoyle,butthenthefireforoneandAzkabanforanother,wait,don’tthinklikethat,stopit),thismightbethefirsttimetheywereeverrealwitheachother.“Heardyou’vebeenrunningaroundwithPotter.”

Hewinces,tightenshisfingersaroundacupwithnoteainitjusttohavesomethingtohold.HeknowsPansydidnotmissthemovement.“Ihave.”

“AndGranger.”

Hedoesn’tflinchthistime,becauseheknowsthatthisisthepricehemustpayifhewantstobecomefriendswithheragain.Buthewon’tapologizeforthis,either.“Hertoo.”Then,thinkingitmightbebettertobecompletelyhonest,headmitstotherestofit.“We’refriends,actually.I’mrunningaroundwithalotofpeoplewewouldn’thavetalkedto,backatHogwarts.”

“Afriendofmudbloodsandtraitorsnow,arewe?”Hemusthavemadeaface,orflinched,orsomething,becauseshelaughed,thesoundloudenoughtodrawstaresfromthetablearoundthem.Itwasn’tagoodidea,todrawstaresinaplacelikethis.“Relax.”Sheslumpsinherchair,andhecan’thelpbutnoticehowprettyshewas,eventhoughhehadn’tthoughtaboutherlikethatforawhile.

(He’snotsureheeverthoughtaboutherlikethat.Maybe,hejustthoughtofitasaninevitablething,thattheywouldgettogetherintheend.StartdatingafterHogwarts,getengaged,havekidstocarryonthefamilylegacy.Evenifitwouldn’thavebeenlove,theywouldhavebeenhappy.Happierthantheydeserved.)

“Wewerewrongaboutthatstuff.”Thiswasacrucialtippingpointfortheafternoon,decidingifhewouldstayorleave.Hewouldnot,couldnot,staywithherifshecontinuedtopreachtheoldways.Ifshewasstillfullofhate.Heknowsnowthatthereistoomuchpaininthisworldtoaddmoreonpurpose,justbecauseyouareafraidorlikeotherstobesmalljustsoyoucanbebig.Hewon’tbepartofthatanymore.“Itdidn’tmakesense,whatourparentsweretellingus.”

“Iknow.”Sheraisedhercupofteatoherlips,buthecouldtellshewasn’tdrinking.DracohadheardthatalotoftheSlytherinscouldn’tdaregooutinpublicanymore,whatwiththeirparents’facesplasteredalloverthepapersandtheirnamesbeingshoutedfromeverynewsstation.Itwasn’tus,hewantedtoscreamatthemall,whenhegotatrippingjinxshotathimorwhenhisfreshboughtgrocerieswerespoiledwhenhegothome.Youcan’tblameusforwhatourparentsdid,it’snotfair,it’snotfair,didn’tyoujustfightforfreedom?“Toolittle,toolate,right?”

Therimwaslinedwithdarklipstickwhenshebroughtitawayfromhermouth,andshefrownedatit,wipingitawaywithanapkinbeforehecouldstareatitfortoolong.Itmadehimsmile.Thathadalwaysbotheredherbackinschool,too.

“Maybenot.”Somethingsarealwaysgoingtobethesame.Pansy’salwaysgoingtoweardarklipstick,andshe’salwaysgoingtodresslikeshe’sreadyforaphotoshootatanymoment.He’salwaysgoingtoloveher,bothasanoldfriendandassomeonehethoughthecouldlove,once,ifthingsweredifferent.They’rebothgoingtobetaintedbythingsthatweren’ttheirchoice,andtheywouldalwaysoccupyplacesinthewizardingworldthatpeoplelikeHarrywouldneverconsideredsteppingfootin.Butmaybesomethings,theimportantthings,couldchange.Andthat’swhatmattersnow.“Maybewe’vegotenoughtime.”

Hereachedacrossthetabletotakeherhand,andshedoesn’tswathimawaylikehethoughtshewould.Instead,shesmiles,andtherearetearsfillinghereyes,onesthatshewipedawaybeforetheycouldspilldownhercheeks.Pansyalwayshadhatedforpeopletoseehercry.

“Ihopeso.”Pansystoodandthrewapileofgalleonsdownonthetable,extravagantlyovertipping.“MerlindoIhopeso.”

Chapter11

Draco

Harry’slateagain.

Andeventhoughit’sirrational,eventhoughit’snoteventhatunusual,eventhoughHarrydoesn’tneedtotellDracowherehe’satorwhenhewon’tbehomeathisusualtime,itstillmakesabubbleofpanicriseinhischest,sobigthathecan’treallytakeafullbreath.It’ssilly,butatthesametimeit’snot,becausethelasttimeHarrydidn’tcomehomeontime,somethingwasverywrong,someonewashurt,andtheyallhadtofacesomethingtheydidn’twantto.Dracodidn’twanttohaveamomentlikethatagain,whereyouknowsomethingiswrongandyouhavetowaitforsomeonetotellyouwhatitis,whichoneofyourfriendsareintrouble.

Only,whenthedooropens,Dracoknowsthatheshouldn’thavebotheredtoworry,becauseHarrywaslateforaverydifferentreason.