分卷阅读48（2 / 2）

“Wanttotalkaboutit?”

“It’sjustthathe’snothere.”Dracodidn’tneedtoaskwhohewas.“He’snothere,andhewouldhavelovedthis,tobewithher,toseeher.She’sgotthislineofdances,likethefatherdaughterdance,onlyonewitheachofusbrothers,andthere’s—there’sonlyfivedances.Thereshouldbesix.”HeisgrippingontothetabletopsohardthatDracoishalfafraidthatheisgoingtoripapieceoff.“It’slikehe’sbeingforgottenbyeveryonebutme.”

“That’snottrue,”Dracostarts,butGeorgecutshimoffjustasfast.

“Iknowitisn’ttrue.Butit’snotfair,becauseit’slikewhenhedied,herippedawayapartofmethatI’mnevergoingtogetback,thiswholehugechunkofmylifethatI’mnevergoingtobeabletofill,nomatterhowmuchItrytolovethepeopleIhaveleft,orhowmuchIinvent,orwork,orsleep,ordrink.”Helooksonthevergeofpanic,likehe’sgoingtorunaway,andDracoknowsthatitisonlyloveforhissisterkeepingGeorgeinplace.“Iknowtheyalllovedhim,thatthey’realltryingtofillupthepartsofthemselvesthatbelongedtohim.It’sjustthepartofmethatbelongedtoFredissomuchbiggerformethananyofthem.”

ItwasthefirsttimethatDracohadheardhimsayFred’snameoutloud.Dracowondersifit’sthefirsttimehe’dsaiditatall.

“Itjustsucks,”Georgesaysfinally,lookingaroundtheroom.“DoingeverythingalonewhenIthoughtweweregoingtodoittogether.”

“Youaren’talone.”Dracosucksatthis,atgrief,atcomfort.HewantsHermionetobehere.Shepopsupeveryothertimesomeoneneedsher,buttonightsheistootipsyforthat.“You’vegotallofus.”

“Andwhatatreasureitis,tobearoundyouwankers,”Georgesays,butheissmilingnow,nomatterhowbitteritmightlook.“Nowdrinkup,Malfoy.Noonesaidthatwehadtodothissober.”

Dracodrinks,andsodoesGeorge,buthedoesnotthinkthereisenoughbutterbeerandfirewhiskeyintheworldtomakeFred’sabsenceeasiertobear.It’sstrange,howmuchheavierapersoncanbewhentheyaren’tthereatall.

HetriestofindhiswaybacktoHarryandcomesfacetofacewithLavenderinstead.

“Doyouknow,”Shesays,bubbly,pleasantly,likeshehadn’teversobbedfromthewitnessstandwhiletalkingaboutamanthatDracousedtoeatdinnerwith,likethosescarscrossingherbodywerenotinsomepartdonebyhishand.“Thatyou’rethefirstpersonnottostareatmyscars?”

Thefactthatshepointsthemoutmakeshimwanttolookatthemjustasareflex,butheforceshimselftolookatherfaceinstead,attheeyes,whicharejustasthesameastheywereinschool.I’vegotmyownscars,hethinksofsaying,andyoursaren’tsodifferent,ormaybeIlivewithHarry,he’sgripedenoughaboutthestaresthatI’velearnednottodoit,butwhatcomesoutofhismouthis,“Well,Ihaveseenyoubefore.”

Shestaresathimforamoment,likeshecantakethemeasureofhimjustbylookingathim,andDracosquirms.

“Yes.Youdid.”ShebrushedpasthimandgrabbedadrinkfromGeorgebeforeturningback,somethingblueandsparkly.“How’sthehousehuntingcoming?”

“Househunting?”Hestumblesoverthewords,breathknockedoutofhim,andDracohastofighttheurgetovomit,becauseLuna’sperceptionswereonething,buthavingLavenderBrownjustknowingwasabituncanny.“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.”

“Oh,comeon.YouknowthedepartmentIworkin.AndI’msureyouremembermefromschool.”Shewalksaway,andDracotrailsafterherlikehe’sonsomesortofleash,slidingintotheboothbesideher.Shehaschosenthedarkestcorneroftheroomforthemtositin.“Iwashorriblynosy.”

Dracostaysquiet,watchingherarmsinsteadofherface,atthoseshining,silvermarks.He’dheardtheytookweekstoheal,theskintryingtopeelawayfromthebone,asideeffectofthefactthatGreybackwasn’tchangedbutstillinfected.Shewashealednow,butthepainmusthavebeenterrible.

“So,thewholeyouandHarrythingisn’tworking?”Sheputsairquotesaroundthe“youandHarry”bit.“Iheardthatyouareinlove.”

“Itis,”Dracosays,tooinsistent.“Weare.”