分卷阅读27（2 / 2）

Chapter22

Harry

Hewakestoscreams.

Foramoment,Harrycan’tfigureoutwheretheyarecomingfrom.Heknowsthishouseissafe—Hermionehadensuredit,andhiscountlesscheckingofeverylockandcornerandcrevicemeantthattherewasnowaysomeonecouldsneakinunnoticed.TherewasnoVoldemorttochaseafterhim,nodementorsleechingawayhishappiness,novengefuldeatheaterslurkingintheshadowstopayhimbackforwhathehaddonetotheirmaster.

Still,thatdoesn’tstophimfromthrowingbackthecoversandgrabbingathiswandinamatterofseconds,sprintingdownthecorridortowardsDraco’sroom,towardsthescreams,readytofightoffwhatevermightbehurtinghim.

Onlythere’snothingthere.

There’sonlyDraco,sittingupwiththesheetspooledaroundhishipsandhishandspullingonhishair,bentoveratthewaist,takinginbreathsthatweresoraggedthattheysoundedlikeithurt,tearsstreamingdownhisfaceashetriestocalmhimselfdown.AndnowtherewasHarry,whohadthrewthedooropensoharditactuallycrackedthewallbehindhim,standingtherejuststaringatDraco,withwandclutchedinhishandandacurseathislips.

“What?”Dracowasonthedefensiveinawaythathehadn’tbeenforalongtime,maybesincethefirstnighthecamehere,butHarrysupposesbeingcaughtinamomentsovulnerablewouldcauseanyonetothrowtheirwallsbackup.Still,hedoesn’twantittoturnintoafight,notwhenthingswerejustseemingtosettleintosolidground.

“Nothing.”Harryrealizesheisstillpointinghiswandandlowershisarm.Ittakesanoticeableefforttoslidehiswandbackintohispocketandstoplookingintothecornersforaninvisibleenemy,anextremeforceofwilltoremindhimselfthateverythingisokay,thattheyaresafe,thatDracoishereandwhole,evenifheisn’tcompletelyhappy.“Ijust—”

Justwhat?JustheardyourscreamsandthoughtI’dcomerunningtosaveyoulikePrinceCharming,andthenyouwouldthrowyourselfintomyarmsandwe’dlivehappilyeverafter?JuststandhereandstareatyouforeverbecauseIdon’thavethewordstomakeyoufeelbetter?

“Justwantedtocheckonme.”Dracomanagesasmile,evenifitdoesn’tsitrightonhisface.ItmakessomethinginHarry’schesttwist,likesomeonehadreachedtheirhandinsidehimandsqueezed.“Igetit.”They’restilljuststaringateachother.“ButI’mfine.”

“Areyoureally?”

Harrywouldnotwalkawayfromthisone.Notthistime.He’dletDracopushhimawayeveryothertime,everytimeHarrytriedtoshowhimhowhefeltortriedtosavehimorevenjusttriedtokisshim,justtheonetimesoheknewwhatitfeltlike,buthecouldnot,hewouldnot,turnhisbackonthistime.

“Ofcoursenot.”Dracosoundedlikeabitofhisoldselfagain,exasperatedinthewayheiseverytimeHarrysayssomethinghethinksisstupid.“Butthere’snothingyoucandoaboutit,isthere?”

Harrystilldoesn’tmove,juststandsthere,thinkingofallthenightsthey’vehadbeforethis,wheretheybothlieawakeintheseparateroomsandstareattheceiling,thinkingoftheghoststhatstillmustbehauntingthem.WhereDracocleansuntilhisskinisrubbedrawfromthebleachandHarryclimbsthrougheverycornerofthehouse.Howtheysleepandfacetheirghostsalone,allthoseheroesandmartyrsandoldfriendsthatonlyshowupintheirdreams,andapartofthemisselfishenoughtolikeit,eventhoughitwouldbebetterforeveryoneinvolvediftheywouldlearntoletgo.

“Don’tbestupid.”Harrycrossestheroom,thefloorboardscreakingunderhisbarefeet.HewantsDracotogivehimasignifthisisokayornot,ifheshouldkeepgoingorturnaway,buthegetsnothing,justDraco’seyesroamingeverylineofHarry’sface,maybetryingtofindsomesortofsignalhimself.“There’salwayssomething.”

“Harry—”

Dracoswallowshisprotest,andHarrypullsbackthecovers,climbsunderneaththem,rightbesidethem.Hetellshimselfthatthisistherightthingandnotahugemistake,thatoneofthemwillhavetomakethefirstmoveifeitherofthemwantsanypeace.Tellshimselfthatbetweenthetwoofthem,hehasalwaysbeenthebraveone,andthisiswhatbravepeopledo:crawlunderthecoverswithamanthatheloves,amanthathethinksloveshimbackbutwillneveradmitit,andwaitsforhimtowalkaway.

“Shutup.”Harrypunchesatthepillowjusttogivehimselfsomethingdoandthenliesdown,staringattheceiling,wonderingifitwasworthitifhewasjustgoingtobedoingthesamedamnthing,waiting,watchingthewholenightinsteadofsleeping.“Justsleep,Draco.”