分卷阅读29（1 / 2）

“No.”Harryholdsthescrollouttohim,theowlhootingbalefullyatthewindow,waitingforoneofthemtosignthescrapofpapersayingthatitwasreceivedandunderstood.“It’saddressedtoyou.”

Harrywantedtoknowwhatwasinsideasbadlyasheneededtokeepbreathing,buthealsodidn’thaveacluewhatitmightcontain,andashewatchedtheemotionsflickedacrossDraco’sface,herealizedthatmaybehedidn’twantto.

“What?”DracothrewtheparchmentdowntothetableindisgustandHarryrippeditup.“What’swrong?”

“They’veclearedthemanor.”Draco’shandswereshakingagain.Harryhadthoughtitwasgettingbetter.“Allevidencehasbeenremoved,everythingdangeroustakenout,andthepropertyisreturnedtotheonlynextofkinwithaclearname.”Histonemadeitclearwhathethoughtaboutallofthis,drippinginderision.“Me.”

Harrydidn’tknowwhatwasupsettinghimsomuch,ifitwasthemanorandthememoriesitheld,ofthefactthattheministryhadtheaudacitytoclaimitastheirowninthesakeofjustice,ormaybeitwasthefactthattheyconsideredhimwiththebestreputation.

“That’sagoodthing,right?”Hefeltlikehewastreadingintounknownwaters,wherehewon’tknowhowdeepitgoesuntilhetakesthestepoffsolidgroundandfallsdownintothedeep.Heneverhadlearnedtoswim.“Tohaveyourhomeback?”

Dracolookedathimlikehewasstupid,thenthrewthatscrapofparchmentintothefire,notrelaxinguntilheseesthecornerscurlandblacken.“Youcan’tgohomeagain,Harry.”Hepassedbehindhimandclappedahanddownonhisshoulderinawaythatmighthaveconsideredfriendly,hadtheynotbeenhalfasleepwiththeirarmswrappedaroundeachotheronlyhoursbefore.“NotevensureI’dwantto.”

Draco

Can’tgohomeagainHarry,Dracohadsaid,leavingtheroomlikehewasleavingreallifebehind,likewalkingawayfromaproblemwasthesamethingassolvingit.

Hehadthoughtthatburninguptheletterandpushingittothebackofhismindwasthebestoption,becausethen,atleast,hewouldneverhavetostepfootinitagain.Butthentheowlskeptcoming,onethenextmorningandthatnightandthenextandthenextandthenext,andfinallyonedemandinghispresenceinthelegaldepartmentoftheministry.

“Theycan’tmakeyougo,”Hermionetellshim,whenthey’vetradedouttheirmustyoldpotionbooksforfashionmagazines,poringoverdressesforhertoweartoaformal.“Ifyouwaitanotherthirtydays,it’llbeturnedovertothestateandthey’llsellittocollectmoneyforsomecharityoranother.”

“Anotherthirtydaysofowls?”Dracohadsnortedout,feigninghorror,butthatwasn’treallywhatwasbothering.Hedidn’tlikethethoughtofstrangerscombingthroughhishome,andevenifitwasmostlybad,hedidn’twanttheMalfoyManor’shistorytobeboileddowntothis:raffledoffinsomeauctionjusttobetorndown,destroyedforitsmineralsandmarbleandturnedintoscrap,justablankstretchoflandonthefaceoftheearth,allbecausethelastMalfoywasacoward.Horriblethingshadhappenedthere,butitdeservedbetterthanthat.

Hedoesn’teverreallymakeadecision.JustonedayhegetsupbeforeHarrydoesandgetsdressed,tellinghimselfthathewasjustgoingforawalk.Andthenheturnedtowardsthetown,andthenhewasinLondon,andthenhewasflooinghiswayintothepublicentranceoftheministry,turninghiswandovertoawitchthatdidn’trecognizehimandfollowingthemaptowheretheysaidlegalwas,collarturneduptohidehisface.

“Hey.”There’sawitchbehindthedeskinbrightpurplerobes,sohechoosestogouptoherforhelp,figuringanyonethatdresseslikethatcan’tbetoopainful,butthensheturnstofacehimandheseesit’sLavender,whosupposedlyhadn’tbeenoutofthehousesincethewar,sittingtherescarsandall.

“Draco.”Shetapsherfeatheronthewindowbetweenthem.Heknowsit’shersbecauseit’sbrightyellowandhasapuffballonthetopofit.“WhatcanIdoforyou?”

Hecannotstopstaringather,andthenimmediatelyfeelshorribleaboutit,sohelooksathisshoesinstead.Greybackhadmauledherprettybad.“Theministrysentmeletters.”Herummagesinhispocketforoneofthem.“Aboutthemanor.”

Sheclickshertongueandreadsovertheparchment,anditmakesDracofeellikeaprat,becausewhatkindofpersonhasamanor?Butshedoesn’tseemtocare.“Yeah,we’vegotthat.”Lavenderdidn’tgetup,justwheeledherchairacrosstheroomandrummagedthroughcabinetsuntilshecameupwithanenvelope.“Here’sthekey.Andyou’vejustgottosignhere,andit’syours.”

Dracofumbledforthepen,andshesmiledathim,asbrightashecouldrememberherbeingatHogwarts,ifalittlelessgiddy.“Right.Thanks.”He’ddonewhathecamefor,technically,butitdoesn’tseemlikeenough.“Howhaveyoubeen?”

“Good.”Consideringthatthey’veneverhadanicewordtosayabouteachother,sheseemedsurprisinglyreadytotalk.Maybeitwasdepressing,hidingheredowninthedarkallday,justwaitingforsomeonetoclaimdeadpeople’spossessions.“Heardyou’relivingwithHarry.”