“YououldatleastuseaHoverCharm—”

“I’mawareofthat,andIwilluseaharmifandonlyifIneedone.WhihIdon’t.”

Harrytrailsalongafterhim,empty-handed,asDraomakesaperiloustrip,swaying,downtwoflightsofstepsintothedungeons.HehoosesanemptyssroomneartheonewheretheytakePotions,kiksitopen,andfinallysetsthebooksdown.

He’soutofbreathandtrying,verypoorly,tohideit.

“You’re…stillhere…Potter?”Draosays,feigningsurprisewhiletryingvisiblynottogaspforair.He’sflushed,andthere’salightsheenofsweatonhisforehead;histeolrisaskew,slidingalmostallthewayoffoneshoulder,andHarryanmakeoutthetipoftheSetumsemprasarpeekingoutoverthetopofhisshirt.Hehatesthesightofit,butitremindshimnottolosehistemperwhenDraoadds,panting,“Isee…nothing’shanged.Still…desperateformyattention…areyou?”

He’ssopathetiIan’tevenbeangry,Harrythinks.

“Hermionetoldmeyou’reresearhingHanahaki,”saysHarry,“thatyou’relookingforaure.”

“Thereisnoure,”Draosays.“I’mnotlookingforone.I’mgoingtomakeone.”

“How?”Harryasks.

“I’mwonthat.”

“Ah.”Harrysuffsthetoeofhisshoeagainstthestonefloor.“Betitwouldgofasterifyouhadsomeonetohelpyougothroughthosebooks.”

“Areyou?”Draosays,likehefullyexpetstheanswertobeno,butHarrynods.“Whywouldyoudothat?”Heappearsgenuinelybaffled,bonsuspiious.

“Erm,well,”saysHarry,“I’mworriedaboutyourmum.”

Hehadn’tpnnedonsayingthat.It’sbarelytrue.

“Exuseme?”saysDrao,ftly.

“YouheardwhatIsaidathertrial,”saysHarry,deidingtostikwithhisstory.“Iwould’vediedifnotforher.ShedefiedVoldemortforyou.Itwouldbebeyondunfairforhertoloseyounow,likethis.”

Drao’sexpressionisbnk,hislipspressedthin,hiseyesevenandunblinkingastheylookatHarry.It’sthewayhelookswhenhe’salutingordeepinthought,anddoesn’twanttobetrayhisemotions.

“Ifyou’regoingtostay,”Draosaysatst,“you’llneedtofollowmyinstrutionsarefully,sowedon’tmissanythingimportant.”

“You’vebeenwaitingallyourlifetobossmearound,haven’tyou?”Harrysaysheerfully,andDraoalmostsmiles.

ResearhingwithDraoisnotatalllikestudyingwithhisfriends.DraohasHermione’sstaminaandunassaiblefouswhenitomestolonghoursofreading,buthelikestotalk.Infat,hean’thelphimself.Thatfirstafternoontogether,Draomanagestomaintainahillysileneforalloftenminutesbeforehestartshattering.

Hetalksabout…alotofthings.Mainly,helikestouseHarryasasoundingboardforhisideas,allthetheorieshe’stryingtoworkthroughinhisheadbeforeheputsthemtopaper.Draostillmigratesallovertheastletowork,butwithHarrypresenttheyspendlesstimeholedupinsideandmoretimewanderingthegrounds.Thereisonespotbytheke—underabowedtreewithbranhesthatfanoutexpansively,astingashadowovershoreandwaterlikethewidebrimofahat—whihHarrystartstothinkofas“theirs.”

Distressinglyenough,HarryalsobeomesDrao’sbassistantwhenhewantstoexperimentonhimself.“Anythinganbeuredwithapotion,”hetellsHarryfirmly.“Youjusthavetofindtherightone.”

Andby“find”hemeans“i.”

Hekeepsaluthofbezoarsonhand—“Therearedozenshere,howdidyougetsomany—”“Money,Potter.Moneyisalwaystheanswer.”—buttakesnootherpreautions.

“Erm,”Harryasksone,earlyon,“doSlughornorPomfreyknowyou’redoingthis?”

“Ofoursenot.They’dstopme,”Draosays,andhugsalimegreenonotionthatdoesnotridhimoftheflowersbutleaveshimpukingouteverythingelseinhisstomahforthefewhours.Noteventhebezoarstaysdown;hisbodystagesafull-onmutinyandleavesDraoonhiskneesinthebathroomformostoftheevening.Harrymissesdinnertostandawkwardlyoutsidehisstall—Draorefusestolethimin.

“Doyouneedanymorewater?”healls.

“Justgoaway,Potter,”Draomoans,piteously.Harryrollshiseyes.Hean’ttellifDrao’smoreupsetaboutthevomiting,orthefatthatthere’sawitness.

“I’mnotgoingtoleaveyoulikethis,”Harrysays.Drao’ssilene,inresponsetothat,hasastartledqualitythatmakesHarrywanttoblushharderthananynumberofsingingvalentinesorlovepotion-spikeddessertseverould’vedone.Helearshisthroat.“Anyway,mustbenietothrowupsomethingotherthanflowersforone.Enjoyitwhileitsts.”

“Eatshit,youbloody—”Thewordsutoffintoanotherviolentreth.HarrysighsandsitsdownwithhisbakagainstthedoortowaitDraoout.

Draohadgivenhimselfdaystolive,buthedisproveshisownprognosis.Hisonditionpteaus.Hedoesn’tgetanybetter,andhissymptomsouldtakeaturnfortheworsewithoutwarning,butbeforeHarryknowsit,aweekhaspassed,thentwo,andDrao’sstillbreathing.WhenHarry’snotinssorwiththeDA,he’swithDrao,andhelpinghimisnotthehorehethoughtitwouldbe,notevenwhenDraorollsuphissleevesandHarryisonfrontedwiththefadedDarkMarkonhisarm.ThisDraoisnotthesameboywhotookthatMark.Hisinsultshavelosttheirruelbite;it’seasyforHarrytosnarkbakathim,orsimplytoughalong.Theirargumentsareeven—darehesayit—fun.Inotherways,DraoisnodifferentatallfromtheboyHarrygrewupalongside.Hestilltalkswithhishands.Hestillexaggeratestothepointoflying,ifhethinksit’llmakeforabetterstory.Hestillmakesadramaoutofeverything,inludingthegossiphesharesfromSlytherinHouse,andheisarefulonlytosharethegossip

请大家记住网站新地址http://.123.