分卷阅读40（2 / 2）

Allinall,bythetimetheeveninghealercomesintogivehimhislatenightpotionthatsendshimoffintoadreamlesssleep,he’sgrateful.

Whenhewakesnext,itisdark,butheiscertainthatthereissomeonewatchinghim.

“Hello?”Hefumblesforhiswandonthebedsidetableandonlysucceedsinknockingittothefloor.“Who’sthere?”

“Relax.”ThelightflaresonandDracocomesfacetofacewiththelastpersonhethoughthewouldseesittingvigilathisbedside—RonWeasley.“It’sonlyme.”

“That’ssupposedtoputmeatease,isit?”Dracosnaps,grudginglyacceptingthehelpinghandpullinghimintoasittingposition.It’shardertostartmovingagainafterhehadbeenasleep.“Myknightinshiningarmor.”

He’sangrierthanhewouldnormallybe.HeandRonhavecometoasortoftruceoverthepastfewweeks,whereDracodoesnotexpectanythingbutcivilityfromRonandRonrestrainshimselffromdoinganythingthatmaybeconsideredrudeorthreatening,butstill,hecannothelphimself.WhenDracosawtheshadowinthecorneroftheroom,partofhimwashopingthatitwasHarry,evenastheotherpartpreparedforanattack.

Rondidn’ttakethebait.Hedidn’tansweratall,actually,justsatbackdowninthechairwithoutanotherglanceatDracoandkeptstaringatthedoor,Ronlaidflatacrosshisknees.Helookscasual,butDracohadseenHarrysitthatwayoftenenoughtoknowthatitwasaby-productoftheiraurortraining,wheretheycouldlookunbotheredbutstillbereadytosendacurseatamoment’snotice.

“Whatareyoudoinghere,anyways?”Dracoshiftedhimselfoutfromunderthestreetandlethislegshangofftheedgeofthebed.Ithurt,butthiswastheonlywaytobeabletolookatRonwhenheinsistedonavoidingeyecontactwithhim.“Didn’tthinkthey’dletavisitorinhere,nomatterhowbigofawarherotheyare.”

Ronsquirmedaftertheuseofthewordwarhero,butotherthanthat,hemadenosignthatthiswasanythingoutoftheordinary.“I’mnotvisiting.I’myourguard.”Dracowondered,briefly,ifeveryoneelsethatwashereearlierwasonlypartofHarry’smakeshiftorder,likeifHarrycan’tbeheretoprotecthimhimself,hewouldmakesuresomeonewas,butthrewthethoughtaway.“Theydon’tknowI’mhere.”

“Doesanyone?”WhathereallymeanstoaskisdoesHarry,andthequestionmusthavecamethrough,becausesomethinginRon’sfacesoftened.

“No.”Ronmakeshastyeyecontactwithhimandthenbreaksittogotothewindow,pokingawaythecurtainstopeerdownatthestreetbelow.Notlikehecouldseeanything.“Well,Hermionedoes,”Heamends,shrugging.“butit’sself-appointedguardduty.”

Dracoblinked.“Why?”

Atsomeothertime,hewouldliketothinkthathewouldbebetteratthis.Thathewouldbelesstrustingofamanthatclaimedtostillholdallkindsofchildhoodgrudgesoverboththeirheads,thathewouldhavesnappierretorts,morebitingquestions.ThathewouldbeabletodemandforhimtoleaveorelseaskaboutHermione,anythingotherthanthispassiveacceptancethatanyonewhowantstowanderinthroughthisroomwasallowedtobehere.Buthewouldn’tdoanyofthat,hewouldjustsithereandnotwonderhowstrangeitwasthatRonwouldmakehimselfDraco’sself-appointedguardaftereighteenyears’worthofsoliddislikeandnotevenbothertotrytoturnhimaway.Dracowassimplytootiredforit,andintoomuchpain,andhisnightlypotionwasstilltherefoggingupthebrain.

Thatdoesn’tneedtohappen,hedistractshimself,watchingasRonjigglesthelockonthewindowandletsthecurtainsfallbackintoplace.IfIwastheonetomakeit,Iwouldbeabletotakethegrogginessoutofitentirely.Toobadtheywon’tallowthathere.

“Whatdoyoumeanwhy?”Ronthrowshimselfbackintothechairandglaresathim,stubbornasalways.“Someonehastokeepthosepeoplefromcomingtofinishyouoff.”

“Imeantwhyyou.”Dracoattemptedtostandup,hutcouldn’t,justfellbackdowntothemattressinstead.“Whyyouwouldevenagree.Youhateme.”

“Idon’t.”

“Youdo.”

“Idon’t.”TherewasadesperatepleatoRon’svoice,aunderlyingwishforDracotounderstand.“IthoughtIdid,butIdon’t.Iknowthatnow.”