分卷阅读1（2 / 2）

Andsofortwoweeks,Harrywasthatprotectionexclusively.Whichwouldn’tbeaproblemifitweren’tforthefactthatDracosoddingMalfoywasn’tthecurse-breakingdepartment’sgoldenboy,whowasalmostalwaysassignedthetrickiercases,theonesthatwouldmostlikelyrequireanAurortobepresent.Withtheexceptionofahandfulofcases,HarryandMalfoyhadn’thadmuchcausetobearoundeachother,andcertainlyneveraloneforanyextendedperiodoftime.ThatsuitedHarryquitewell;althoughhe’dspokenindefenceofbothMalfoyandhismotherattheirtrials,theblondwasstillanabsolutegit,andthelessHarrysawofhimthebetter,asfarashewasconcerned.Theirinteractionswitheachotherextendedonlytotheoccasionalnodinthehallwaysorgreetinginthelifts,andwhentheycrossedpathswhileonacaseordowntheLeaky,HarryusuallyleftMalfoyforsomeoneelsetodealwith.Hermionedidn’tlikeMalfoyanybetterthesedayseither,butshewasatleastabletoremaincivilandprofessionalwhensheneededtobe.

Apparently,Harrycouldn’tsaythesamethingforhimself.Hecouldn’tseemtohelphimself;justthesightofMalfoymadehischesttightandhisskinprickle.They’dbeensnipingateachotherallweek,astheyworkedtogethertoclearanoldhouseofitsdarkartifacts.Usually,curse-breakerswouldworkaloneinthis,buttheaddresshadbeenknowntohousemorethanafewremainingDeathEatersontherun.HarryhadbeentaskedwithwatchingMalfoy’sbackwhileheconcentratedonliftingthecursesandtakinginventoryofallthecursedobjectsheldwithin.AllthatmeantforHarrywasthathe’dgottospendmostofthepastweekwithnothingtodobutwatchMalfoywork.

WhichwaswhyhewascertainthatMalfoywastakinghistimewiththislastdoor.WithnothingtooccupyhisattentionotherthanMalfoy,Harryhadrecentlygainedquiteabitofknowledgeabouthowheworked.HeknewthatwhenMalfoywasconcentratingparticularlyhard,thetipofhistonguecouldbeseenpokingthroughhisteeth.Whenhecameacrossadifficultcurse,hisnosewouldwrinkleslightly.Duringmomentswhenhewascasuallysweepingfortriggerpoints,Malfoywouldhumasurprisinglysoothingmelody.

Andcurrently,Malfoywasdoingpreciselynoneofthosethings;hewasjuststaring,blankly,atthebloodydoorknob.HarryhadabsolutelynoideawhyMalfoywouldwanttodragouttheirtimestandinginadank,mouldyhallwayofadank,mouldyhouse.Harrydidn’texactlywanttogodownintothebasementhimself,buttheycouldn’tleaveuntileverylastinchofthehousehadbeensweptandcleared,anditwasn’tasthoughthehallwaywasmuchmoreofafunplacetobe,hotcupsofteanotwithstanding.

Harry’stemperwasveryquicklyfraying.“Seriously,Malfoy,whatistheholdup?”

Hetensed,waitingforthebacklashofMalfoy’sangerforbeinginterruptedagain,andwassurprisedwhenitdidn’tcome.Instead,Malfoysatbackonhisheelsandrubbedathisnose—thatwasnowwrinkledslightly,Harrysuddenlynoted—withtheheelofhishand.

“I’veremovedthemordentmanibuscurse,buttherestillseemstobesomeresidualmagic.”Malfoyhuffedoutaquietbreathandscrubbedhishandacrosshisface.“Ican’ttellifit’sjustleftoverfromthehandbitingcurse,orifit’ssomethingelseentirely.”

Harrythoughtforalongmoment.“Doesitphysicallystopusfromopeningthedoor?”Heaskedfinally.

Malfoyshookhishead.“No,butIdon’tknowwhatwillhappenifwedo.Ican’teventellifanythingwillhappen.”

“Idon’tunderstand.”

“No,neitherdoI,”Malfoymutteredtohimself.Heshookhishead,andthenstoodupagain,leaningagainstthewallnexttoHarry.“There’ssomethingthere,butIcan’ttellwhat.Itfeels…”

“Itfeels,what?”Harryasked,whenitbecameclearthatMalfoywasn’tgoingtofinishhissentence.

“ItfeelslikeI’mnotallowedtoknowityet,”Malfoysaidwithashrug.

“Idon’tunderstand,”Harryrepeated.Hewasstartingtogetabadfeeling;thecreaksandgroansofthehousearoundthemsuddenlysoundedlouder,morepurposeful,andthedoorinfrontofthemseemedtoshimmerwithuglypossibilities.Hewasrapidlybecomingverytiredofthisentirejob.

“Well,theonlywaytoknowforsureisifweopenit,right?”

“Areyoujoking,Potter?”Malfoysaid,raisinghiseyebrows.

Harryshrugged.“Wecan’tleaveuntilthehousehasbeensecured,andifyoucan’tworkoutwhatitisbylookingatit,thatonlyreallyleavesoneoption,doesn’tit?”

Malfoyblewoutaloudbreath,thenrolledhiseyes.“Fine.Butyou’regoingfirst.”

Harrysnorted.“Ididn’texpectanydifferently,Malfoy.”