分卷阅读37（1 / 2）

Dracowondershowlonghe’dwaitedtohaveamomentlikethis,whereeveryonewashangingontohislastword,waitingtohearwhatwonderfulthinghehaddonenow.Toolong,probably.

“You’reallfamiliarwiththearchivingassignmentIhaveundertaken.Manyofyouplayedinstrumentalrolesintheprocess.Andnowit’scompleted.”There’sacheer,ledbyGinny,andinsteadofgettingupsetatbeinginterruptedlikeDracohadexpected,Percyjustsmiles,ridingthewaveandwaitinguntilitdieddownagain.“Theministryhaselectedtoopentherecordsuptothepublic.There’sgoingtobeaceremony,andthepeoplewhosharedtheirstoriesaretobeinvited.”Hebeamsdownatallofthem.“Hermionewillbeopeningtheceremony.I’llbetheretoo,ofcourse.”

There’sanothercheer,thisoneledbyRon,whograbsHermionebythewaistandspinsherarounddespiteherprotests.Whenhesetsherdown,theyallconvergeonPercy,hugginghim,buryinghiminthemidstoffamily.

Georgeisn’tapartofit.

NeitherisPenelope.She’sstandingonthesidelineswithDraco,watchingthemall.

“Thisisallheeverwanted.Tobelovedbythemlikethis.”Penelopedoesnotlookliketheepitomeofgracenow—thereisaslouchtohershouldersandastainonherskirtandastrandofhaircomingloose,butnow,DracocanseewhyPercyhasbeentakenwithhersolong.“Ijustwishthattheyhadfiguredouthowtodoitsooner.”

Don’tweall,Dracothinks.Theonethingwe’regoodatislovingtoolate.

It’sfast,afterthat.

Billleavesfirst,thenCharlie,andthentherestofthekidsleaveatthesametime,pullingontheirjacketsandsayingtheirgood-byessofastitdidn’thidehowdesperatetheyweretoleave.

“Merlin.”Ronshakeshishead,squintingupatthestreetlightsthewayhealwaysdoeswhentheyreachamuggletown.“IlovePercy,buthecanbeadragsometimes.”

“Idon’tknow.”Hermioneglancedoverathim,butshehadn’tneedto—theyalwaysseemtoknoweachother,likethewaytheywerecaughtintheother’sorbitmeanstherewasnopossibilityoffallingoutofstep.“Hewantedtomakeyouguysproud.”

“Weareproud.We’vealwaysbeenproud.”GinnylooksfromherbrotherandHermione,backtoHarry.“Hehadtohaveknownthat,right?”

“Somepeoplehaveahardtimebelievingwhattheycan’ttouch.Whattheycan’tsee.”Lunatalksabitmorelikethem,now,lesslikelyshewascaughtinadreamandmorelikesomeonehadfinallyforcedhertowipethestardustthathadgatheredinhereyes.Itwassad,becausenowshehadtoseelifethewayitreallywas.“Youcan’tdoitallthetime—evenIhavetowonderwhethergnarglesarearoundhere.”

“Well,thereisverylittleevidencetheyexist,Luna,”Hermionestarts,andDracogivesherthebenefitofthedoubtbythinkingshemeantittobecomforting.

“Don’tbesilly.”Lunafixesherwithaglare.“TherehavebeendefinitesightingsinNorthAmerica.”

There’sashockedmomentofsilence,andthentheyburstoutlaughing,Ronfirst,andthenallofthem,rightinthemiddleofthestreetwhereanyonecouldlookdownandseethem.Ginny’slaughingsohardtherearetearsinhereyes,thenshe’sdigginginhercoatpocket,cursingunderherbreath.“Damnit.DamnitalltoHell,Luna,Iwasgoingtodothislater,doitright,but—”shesinksdowntooneknee,eventhoughtherewasmudonthepavementanditwassoakingthroughthelegsofherjeans.“I’mnevergoingtoloveyoumorethanIdorightthissecond,Ithink.”

She’sholdinguparing.It’ssmall,andelegant,andsimple,likeitwasbuiltforLuna.“LunaLovegood,”Shesays,andhervoiceisshakingwiththeeffortofkeepingherselfcontained.“Willyoudomethehonorofmarryingme?”

Lunastaresdownather,asunbotheredbythisasshehadbeenbyeveryotherthing.Foraheartstoppingmoment,Dracothinksshemightsayno,butthenherfacecracksopeninasmileandshesinkstoherknees.“Isuppose.”

“Shesupposes.”Ronsays,hisvoicethattoneofunfathomabledisbeliefhealwaysuseswhenLunasayssomethingthathedoesn’tunderstand.“Youhearthateveryone?”Hehasturnedhisfaceupwardandscreamedittotheskylights.“Shesupposes!”