分卷阅读25（1 / 2）

(ThoughafterthatdisasterofthedinnerwiththeDursleys,Draco’sprettysurehewouldifhecould.)

Turnsout,though,thatDracodidmind,enoughthatwhenthepeoplefromtheoldDAstartshowingupinhislivingroom(Ron,Ginny,Hermione,Deanusheredinthroughthedoor,howareyou,canItakeyourcoats,trynottolethimdietonight),hehastobitehisliptokeephisconcernstohimself.Intheory,itwasn’tanythingthatHarryhadn’tdoneamilliontimesbefore,butinpracticethiswashimgoingtofacedownsomeprettybloodthirstypeoplewithnobackupandnoofficialtraining.Theywerestilljustallkids,vigilantestryingtotakedownpeoplewhoweren’tgoingtopulltheirpunches.

“You’recoolifLunacrashesherewithyou,right?”Ginnyshoutsthequestionathimfromoutinthehallway,pokingherheadaroundthedoorway,andDracojumps.He’dbeentoobusywatchingHarrytonotice.

“Yeah.”Notthatitsoundedlikeitwasactuallyaquestion.He’sprettysurethatifhesaidnoGinnywouldgivehimablackeyeandLunawouldendupwaitingoutthenighthere,anyways.“That’sfine.Company’llbenice.”

Anditwillbe.Heknowsfromthewarthathedoesn’ttakewelltobeingleftbehind,andwhenHarryhadshruggedoffhishalf-heartedofferofhelp,Dracohadresignedhimselftoonelong,lonelynightpacingthehallwaysforHarry’sreturn.

“Itoldyouitwouldbefine.”Harrycomesupfrombehindhimoutofnowhere,andDracoleansintothehandhehadplacedonhisshoulder.“Dracowillkeepaneyeonher.”

“I’dratherkeepaneyeonyou.”He’dpromisedhimselfhewouldn’tdoit,becauseHarrydoesnotowehimanything,hedoesnotbelongtohim,andanyways,savingthedayisasmuchapartofHarryashislightningboltscar.Selfsacrificingtendenciesarejustoneofthosethingsyouhavetoputupwithifyouplanoncaringforhim.“Can’tyouletsomeoneelsedoit?”

Hedoesn’tsayhaven’tyoudoneenough,whichiswhathe’dbeenthinkingsinceHarryfirstannouncedthathewasgoingtobegoingafterthesepeople.FinishwhatDumbledorehadstarted,andallthat.

“I’mgoingtobefine.”Harry’sgothishandwrappedaroundDraco’sneck,thetwoofthemfacetofacewithonlyinchesbetweenthem.HethinksofhowitmirrorsthegoodbyesceneHermioneandRonhadgonethroughonlyafewminutesearlierandstepsaway.“It’snotlikethelasttime.”

“It’sworse.”Dracotuggedonhishands,tryingtokeepHarry’sattentionfocusedonhim.“Thistimethey’vegotnothingtolose.”

Andtheydon’t.Noneofyou-know-who’soldsupportersdo,they’rejustontherunfromtheministryandtryingtoregainsomeofthepowertheyusedtohave.Forthem,they’reonlychoicesaretokeeprunningandhopetofindsomeonewholetsthemclawtheirwaybackintopower,orgotoAzkaban.Draco’sgotafeelingtheywouldratheritbethefirstchoice,andtheywouldn’tmindmurderingafewkidstodoit.

“I’mgoingtobefine.”Harry’seyessearchacrosshisface,andDracolooksaway,notwantingtohimtoseehowworriedheis.“Ipromise.”

Don’tmakepromisesyoucan’tkeep,hethinks,andthendecideshe’lltakewhatreassurancehecanget.

“It’sabunchofDurmstrangrebels,”Ginnysaid,smilingsoftlyatDraco.She’sprobablyhadtobethegirlleftbehindonetoomanytimes,andknowsexactlyhowthisfeels.“We’llbebackbymidnight.”

Backbymidnight.

Whatabunchofbloodyliars.

Dracobelievesthematfirst,becauseLunahadtoldhimthatGinnywasverypromptandthatthesethingsnormallygoveryquickly,sohesitsbesideherandlistenstoherdroneonaboutthechangesshe’smakingtotheQuibbler(which,withoutherfather’sinfluence,isnottheloadofhorseshititusedtobe),staringattheclockthewholetime.Hewatchestheminutehand,andthenthehour,asitgetscloserandclosertotwelveo’clock.

Andthentwelvecomes,andHarrydoesnot.Onecomes,andHarrydoesnot.Onethirty,andLunaisbeginningtolookalarmedattheferocityhewasshowingwhilepacingaroundtheroom.

“They’regoingtobeback,youknow.”Lunaisentirelycalm.Dracoisstartedtogetthesmallestofsuspicionsthatitwashimthatneededthecompany,nother,andGinnyhadknownit.Hehatedwhenpeopletrytobenicetohim.“Thingscomeup.”