分卷阅读40（1 / 2）

“Idon’tthinkyou’reallowedtodothatinhere,”Hesays,finally,whenshe’sgonethroughhalfapackandthebuttsaresuretobelitteringthegroundoutside,fallingontounsuspectingmuggles.“Seemslikeahazard.”

Hefounditdisgusting,actually.Itsmelled,andevenifshethoughttoleavethewindowopen,thesmokewouldstay.“That’sfunny,Draco.”Shestaredathimoverthetopofhermagazine,andhenoticedforthefirsttimehowmuchheavierhermakeuphadgotten.Stillpretty,butnowshewasmakingitnoticeable,likeglitteringwitheverytwistandturnwasherversionofarmor.“ButIdon’trememberasking.”

Penelopechecksinonhimpersonally,andLunacomestoshowhimthenewesteditiontotheQuibbler(shehadtakenoverintheabsenceofherfather,andduetosomeinfluenceofbothHermioneandGinny,itwasnowsomethingofanacademicmarvel,printingallkindsofthingsaboutnewspellsandmedicaladvancementsandreportsondangerouscreaturesthataren’tactuallythatdangerous),spreadingthemagazineoutinfrontofhimandaskingforhisadviceontheformatting.“Hagrid’sarespectedbreedernow?Ofwhat?”

“Blastendedskrewts,”Sheanswered,lookingupfromdrawingonhisdarkmark,sonowthatinsteadofasnake,itlookedlikeitwasspittingoutmouthfulsofflowerpetals.“They’vebecomequitepopularoverinEgypt.”

LeeJordancomesforaninterview,whichDracosaysnoto,andthenstaystoeathiswaythroughthepileofchocolatefrogsonDraco’sbedsidetable.DeanandSeamusshowuptopopinandwishhimwell,butleavetoofastforarealconversation.EvenGinnydropsin,holdingasquawkingTeddyonherhipanddroppinghimintoDraco’sarmsthefirstchanceshegets,claimingthatshe’stootiredtodosoforevenanothermoment.

Georgecomes,too,eventhoughhedoesn’ttalk,justsitsinthatsamechairandstares,occasionallyansweringwhenDracoaskshimadirectquestions,butthat’salright.Dracolikesthequiet.

It’sthethirddaybeforeHermioneshowsup,herhairpulledbackintoabraidthatwasalreadystartingtofallout.Shedoesn’tsayanything,justedgesintotheroomwithherhandspreadacrossherribs,andDracowasremindedofeveryone’smentionsofhowsoreshewas.“Hey.”Hescootsbackintothebedsoheisrestingagainsttheheadboard.“Howareyoufeeling?”

“Oh,Draco,”Shesays,movingherhandfromherribstocoverhermouthandstaringathim,eyeswide.Hebarelyhastimetothinkabouthoweasilyshecriesbeforesheisburstingoutintears,sinkingdownintothechairbesidehisbedandbawlingintoherhands,lettingouthitchinglittlegaspsthatremindedhimofhowmuchitmusthurthertobreathe.“I’msorry—”Sheshookherhandsoutinfrontofherlikethatmightcalmherdown,wincingatthemovement.“IpromisedIwouldn’tdothis,Itoldmyself,Isaid,hedoesn’tneedthis,Hermione,you’rejustgoingintohaveanicevisit,but—”Sheletsherselflookathimagainandburstsintotears,thistimewheezingwiththeeffortofcontinuingtotakeindeepbreaths.“Oh,Draco.”

Hewasstupidnottohaveexpectedthis.“Hermione.”Heholdsanarmouttoherbutsheistoofarawaytogiveherahugandhecannotbringhimselftogetupfromthebed.Itwouldjusthurttoomuch,andhe’sprettysuretheeffortwouldmakeherburstintotearsagain.“It’snotyourfault.”

“Howcoulditnotbe?”Shewailed,andthevolumemakeshimwince.“YouonlygothurtbecauseIwastoostupidtonoticewhatwashappening.”

“Whywouldyouhaveexpectedanythinglikethattohappen?”Dracodemanded,hisownvoiceclimbingandbecomingincreasinglyhigherpitched.“WewereintheMinistryofMagic!”

“It’snotlikethey’vestoppedbadthingsfromhappeningbefore!”Sheshotback,andthiswasfamiliar,easy.“They’reallterribleattheirjobs,honestly.”

Hercommentwasderisive,andfunny,andthenDracowaslaughingandcouldnotstopeventhoughithurt.Afteramomentofwatchinghim,Hermionesmiled,justasmallesttwitchofthelips.“Youarealright,aren’tyou?”Sheasked,whenitwasalloverandhehadcalmedhimselfdown.“Iwouldfeelterribleifyouweren’talright.”

“I’mfine.”Hewasn’t.Everythinghurtbecausetheywouldn’thealhimanyfurther,andpeoplekeptdroppingineventhoughhewastiredandwouldrathersleep,whichmadehimfeellikeanawfulperson,andallthepotionshehadtodrinktastedawful.“BebetterifHarrydroppedin,though.”

Hestillhadn’tstoppedtosayhello.Everytimeheheardthedooropened,helooksupexpectingtoseehimandisdisappointedalloveragain.Atthisrate,hebetterbecomingupwithaverygoodexcuseastowhyhehasn’tbeenhereyet.

“Harry’s…”Shehesitated,andhecouldtellshewasdecidingwhichsidetogowith—comfortingDracoorkeepingHarry’strust.“He’sgettingsomethingdone,Draco.Somethingweallshouldhavetakencareof,alongtimeago.”

“Somethingimportant?”

Hermionewaswatchinghimwithsadeyes.“Hethinksso.”

“Moreimportantthanme?”

“Oh,Draco.Idon’tthinkthere’sanythingHarryfindsmoreimportantthanyou,lately.”Hermionestoodupwithanotherwinceandgatheredherbagoverhershoulder,leaningdowntogivehimahugbeforesheleaves.“Iexpectthat’spartofthereasonhe’sdoingit.”