分卷阅读23（2 / 2）

“Vernon?”She’sgotverywhiteteeth,whichmakesthelipstickstainstandoutthatmuchmore.Harrycan’tseemtostoplookingatit,butDracodoesn’tseemtonotice.

Dracolooksbackforconfirmation,andHarrynodsmutely.“That’stheone.”

Hekeepsupasteadystreamofchatteronthewaytothebackoftheroom,andHarrytakesamomenttogatherhisbearings.Thisisnothingthathehadn’tdonebefore.Heheldhistongueandplayedhispartforseventeenyears,hecouldlastoneeveningforDursley’ssake.Andthistime,Dracowaswithhim.Hewouldhavesomeoneinhiscorner.

“Hello.”Dracosmiled,winningly,givingnosignthathehadheardanythingbadabouttheDursleys.Dudleystandsupfirst,andafterexchangingalook,AuntPetuniaandUncleVernonfollowsuittoshakeDraco’shand.“YoumustbetheDursleys.I’mDraco.”

(HarrycanpracticallyfeelthemcalculatingthepricetagonDraco’ssuit,andforonce,eventhoughitdoesn’tmatterandHarrydoesn’tcareaboutthesuitoutsideofthecontextofhowgoodDracolooksinit,he’shorriblygladthatitcostmuchmorethaneitherofthemwoulddarespend.)

“I’mDudley.Heardsomuchaboutyou.”Harrywinces,butotherthanaslightsmileinhisdirection,Dracodoesn’tcomment.“Andthisismymother,Petunia,andmyfather,Vernon.”

Harrystayssilentthroughtheintroductions,watching.AuntPetuniaisinagarishlygreendressdottedwithpinkflowers,herneckjustaslongandbonyasever,butherhandslookedworndown,theskinpaleandrippedraw.UncleVernonwasjustasgruffasever,dressedtoimpress,likehecouldbullyhiswaythroughdinnerjustlikehedideveryotheraspectofhislife.

“Andyou,boy?”Boy.Thewordstillstings.Evennowhedoesn’tdeserveaname.“Seemslikeyou’redoingwellforyourself.”

Acompliment.Harrydidn’tknowhowtorespondtothat—ifheshouldplayitdownandhaveVernonsaythathewasavoidingconversation,oragreeandimmediatelybeturneddown.Hehadforgottenhoweverywordwiththemwaslikewalkingthroughaminefield,notknowingwhichstepwasgoingtoblowupinhisface.

“He’sworkingonapresentationwiththeministry.Allaboutthewarheroes.”Dracosoundedproud,butHarrywasstilltense,waiting,waiting,waitingfortheothershoetodrop.

“AndDraco’sapotionmaster.Makingverylargeadvancementsintheirmedicine,fromwhatHarrytellsme.”DudleynudgedHarryunderthetableandwinked,andHarryfinally,finallyrelaxed,thinkingthatmaybetheyweregoingtomakeitthroughtonight.“Gettingalotofrecognition.”

“Oh?”AuntPetunia’sbeadyeyeswerefocusedinonhim,butforonce,Harrywasgladthatsheknewsomethingaboutthewizardingcommunity.ShecouldpepperDracowithquestions(theywouldneverberudetoaguestlikeDraco,helookedtoomuchlikepowerforthemtolettheirhategetthebestofthem)andactastranslatorforVernon,andhopefullytheywouldwalkawayfromtonightthinkingithadn’tgonethatbad.“Inwhatarea?”

Thisisfine,Harrythought,relaxingjustenoughtocontributetotheconversation,sharingafewwarstoriesjusttoimpressVernonandteasingDudleyabouthisnewgirlfriend,evenagreeingtocomebacktothehouseforsomedessertpudding.Maybe,aftereverything,hehaditinhimtoforgivethem.Heknewitwouldbebettertowalkaway,butthepartofhimthatwasstillthatlittleboylockedinthecupboardwantedthisso,sobadly.Thisisfine.

Thecalmlastsuntiltheyarebackatthehouse,workingtheirwaythroughdessert.ThehousewasabitdingierthanHarrycouldrememberitbeing,buthesupposestheyshouldjustbeluckythatitsurvivedthewarwithoutitbeingblownup.

“Well.”UncleVernonslappedhishandacrosshisknee.“Igottosay,boy,Iwasn’tsureaboutyoucomingtonight,oraboutmeetinganotheroneofthosewizardfolks—”Abriefpause,inwhichtheyallrememberedDudley’spigtailandtheblastedapartfireplace.“Butitseemsthatyouturnedoutokay,inspiteofeverything.”

Therewasanuncomfortablesilence.Draco’ssmileseemedtobecomefixedtohisface.Harryfeltlikehehadbeenslapped,eventhoughhereallyshouldhavebeenexpectingthisallalong.

“Imeantosay,”Vernonwenton,likeheknewhehadmadeamistakeandwasgoingtofixit.“Wemusthavedonesomethingright,raisingyou,ifyouturnedouttobesomesortofwarhero.”

Draco’shandfounditswayintoHarry’sleg,fingerspressingdownintohisthigh,keepinghimstill.