分卷阅读15（1 / 2）

“Thankyou.”Harry’seyesareearnest,searchingDraco’sfaceforsomething.“IwantedyoutoknowhowmuchImeanthat.”

“It’snoproblem.”Dracoistryingtobenonchalant.Hedoesnotknowwhy.Maybeit’sadefensemechanism.“Youmeanalottome.”

Stupid.

It’sastupidthingtosay,butHarry’svoicegetsevensofter,ifthatwaspossible.“Youmeanalottome,too.”

“Iwouldhopeso.”Beneaththetable,Dracodigshisnailsintohisthigh,triestopushthroughtheachethathadsuddenlysprungintohischest.“Idon’tclimbintobathtubswithjustanyman,youknow.”

Itwas,admittedly,averyunsubtlewayoffeelingoutwheretheystandfromlastnight,butitworks.Thetension(andthelookinHarry’seyes,whateveritmeant)disappears,andsuddenlyHarryislaughingharderthanDracohadeverheardhim,andDracocan’thelpit,hestartslaughing,too.“Thatwassobloodyweird.”Harryagrees,finally,andthemomentshouldbeoverbutheisstillstaringatDracowiththatfondexpressionandhestillhashishandonDraco’sarm.“Drunkpeople,huh?”

Dracosmiles,relieved,andthenpullshishandaway,tryinghardtochaseoffthefeelingthathewasmissingsomething.“Drunkpeople.”

Harry

He’sgoneforallofthreeminutes.

It’sallHarry’sfault,really.Helefthisscarfatthetable,andwhenDracotoldhimtogobackandgetit,thathe’dbefinewaitingoutsideinthealley,hebelievedhim.Andthenwhenhecamebackout,Dracowasgone,buttherewastheunmistakablesoundofafightcomingfromaroundthecorner.

There’sthreeofthem,andthenthere’sDraco.It’snotevenafight,really,justabeatdown,withtwooftheboysholdinghiminplaceandtheotherjustwailingonhim,sendingpunchafterpunch.There’sbloodstreamingfromDraco’snose,andacutabovehiseyes,andmoredribblingfromlip.Hiscoatisgoneandshirtsleeveisripped,andwhentheyfinallygivehimabreak,Dracocoughsandspluttersthroughthepainuntilhecanbreatheagain.

“What’sthematter?”Theoneasks,grabbingDracobythehairandwrenchinghisheadup,forcinghimtolookathim.Dracospitsinhisface,andtheguybackhandshim,makinghimfalltotheground.“Nodaddyheretosaveyounow.Where’syourdaddy,huhDraco?Telluswherehewent.”

Harrydoesn’tknowifDracowasgoingtokeepfighting,orifhewasreallygoingtogivein,stayontheground.Hedoesn’tfindout,justrunsdownthealleywayuntilhegetstothem,wandheldoutandreadytofight.

“Getawayfromhim.”Hisvoiceissteady,butmorefranticthanHarryhadeverheardit.Hewasn’teventhispanickedfacingdownVoldemort.(TomRiddle.)(Damnit.)(Hewasjustaman,treathimlikeone.)“You’vegotthreeseconds.”

“Ohyeah?”Theonewhowasdoingthepunchingturnedaroundtofacehim,obviouslyexpectingsomeonewhowasmoreeasilyscared.“Andwho’sgoingtomakeus?”

There’snotmanyoccasionsinwhichHarryisgratefulthatheiswhoheis.Thistime,though,heilluminateshiswandsotheycouldseehisface,andsmileswhentheireyesdartuptoseehisscar.“HarrybloodyPotter,that’swho,”Hesays,andstepsforwardtogiveDracoahandup,wishinghehadcomeupwithsomethingbetter.“Andyou’remessingwithmyfriend.”

“Yourfriend’sadeatheater?”Harryrecognizedthevoice.ItwassomeonefromHogwarts,someoneheprobablyatelunchwith,playedagameofpickupQuidditchwith.That’stheworstthingaboutallthishate,howitdividesthem.“Thoughtbetterofyou,Potter.Thoughtyoufoughtagainstpeoplelikehim.”

“You’rewrong.”Hesays,notknowingwhatheissaying,justthatDracoisbleedingandhurtandscaredandHarrydidnotstopit.“Ifoughtformyfriends.ForthepeopleIloved.Andnowhe’soneofthem.Soyoushouldgetgoing.”

Itworks,finally.Twoonthreeareoddstheyarenotwillingtoface,especiallyifoneofthosetwohadkilledthedarklordlessthensixmonthsago.“Fine.”TheguyspitsatHarry’sfeet.He’sjustgladitisn’thisface.“Butnexttimeit’saduel.”