Suddenlysomethingwarmbrushedupagainsthisleg,andHarryalmostjumped.Weavingitswaybetweenhislegswasthebrightredkneazlehe’dseenearlierintheday.Threetimesnow,hethought.Harrykdowntopetit.
“You’vebeenallovertheitytoday,haven’tyou?”heasked.Hishandpetbehindtheanimal’searsanddownitsnekuntilhehitaleatherstrap.Behitslong,thikfur,therewasaolr.HeturneditaroundandfoundatagwiththenameGuineverefollowedbyanaddressintheity.“You’refarfromhome,aren’tyou?Let’sseeifweangetyoubak.”
Itonlytookafewminutesfortheloudstodissipateandthestormtopass.HarrypikedupGuinevereandheadedtowardsthemainroad.Hehekedthetimeandrealizeditwasn’ttootetotakethekneazlehome,sohemadehiswayarosspuddle-denwalkwaysanddarkeningstreets.
Asheapproahedthetownhomeontheedgeofaoneniebutnowdipidatedneighborhood,Guineveretensedinhisarms.Hepedhishandontopofherheadtoalmthekneazle,srathingherears.Heproeededtoknokonthedoor.Astout,olderwomanansweredandpeeredathimthroughrge,thikgsses.
“Yes?”shesaidandthenhergazefelltotheballofredfurinHarry’sarms.“Oh!You’vefoundher!”Thewomansteppedforwardinarush,grabbedtheanimal,mutteredaquik“Thanks”andthensmmedthedoorinHarry’sfae.
“Well,”hesaid,unsureofwhathadtranspired.Hetookafewstepsontothewalkandthenpeeredbakatthehouse.Apairofeyeswathedhimfromthefrontwindow,alertandurious,andsomewhatfamiliar.Harrytookastepforwardandleanedovertogetaloserlookatthefigure.Apale,brueyounggirlreturnedhisgazewithabnkstarethatsentashiverdownHarry’sspine.
ItwasBertrieZivantus.Hewassureofit.He’dseenheronthemissingposters.Butassoonashe’drealizedit,she’ddisappearedfromthewindowandinherpewasadark,swayingurtain.
Harrymadehiswaybaktohisft,hismindgoinginirles.Howouldhegototheauthoritieswithwhatheknew?Howouldheexpinthekneazlesomehowleadinghimtothemissinggirl’sloation?Didithaveanythingtodowiththepenthousemurders?
Thewholethingwasinredibly,undeniablystrange.
Them,HarrydraftedaquikodedmessagetoRonandrushedoutofhisfttoheadtotheowlery.He’dbarelymadeitoutthedoorbeforeheaughtsightofDraoMalfoy,leaningagainsttheoppositewallofthealley.
“Busytoday?”heinquired.Harryrolledhiseyesandturnedtothestreet.Malfoyapproahed,stoodinfrontofhim,andraisedhisbrowswaitingforaresponse.Helookedsharpandpresentableinanavysuitandwaistoatwithagreytie.
“Yeah,I’mbusy,Malfoy,”Harrysnapped.
“Doingwhat,exatly?You’vebeensaked.”
HarrywonderedhowonearthMalfoyknewthat.HismindwanderedbaktotheirbriefenounterthenightbeforeandMalfoy’sintuitivestatements.“Yes,well,I’vegottoseetothatnow,don’tI?”
MalfoypedhimselfinfrontofHarryandgavehimanearlook.Foramoment,Harryfeltdisarmedbytheiyheldinthosegreyeyes.“Iknowyousawwhathappenedinthatpenthouse,perhapsyesterdayyousawmorethanyou’relettingyourselfbelieve.Thethreadsoffatehavewovenustogetherforwhateverreason.YouandImustfollowtheseeventstotheironlusion.Whih,”Malfoypausedandtiltedhishead,“hopefullywillendwithussolvingthemurderofMarwanZivantus.”
“MarwanZivantus?”Harry’sgazesnappedtoMalfoy’s.Thestsentenewasthefirstthingoutoftheotherman’smouththatmadeanybitofsense.“That’swhodiedinthepenthouse?”
“Hewasamongthemurdervitims,yes,”Malfoynodded.
RealizationhitHarry.ThekneazlehadbeenatthehotelwhereMarwanZivantusdied.ThekneazleledHarrytothedeadman’smissingdaughter.HarryrememberedjustthenthatValentinehadsaidtheiigatorshadaskedifthey’dseenananimal.“Hangon,”Harrysaid,stillutterlyonfusedastohowMalfoywasinvolved.“Whatgivesyoutheauthoritytoinquireintohisdeath?”
“Well,hehiredmetodoso,ofourse.”
“Hehiredyou,”Harryrepeatedftly.
“Yes,”Malfoysaid,asifitwasthemostnormalthingintheworld.“Sixweeksago.”
“Amanhiredyoutoiigatehisownmurdersixweeksbeforeithappened?”
“Atthetime,Imyselfthoughtitverystrangeaswell,buthereweare.”MalfoyseemedtorealizesomethingandturnedbaktoHarry.“Iseemtorememberyouhavingfullknowledgeofmyidentity,butIonfess,I’venottheslightestluewhattoallyou.”
Harrystudiedhimforamoment.PerhapsifMalfoywasoedtotherimes,Harrymightbeabletohelpfindthetruth.“ArhieEversworn,”Harryreplied.
Malfoy’seyesnarrowed,asifalutingtheinformation.Hisfaereturnedtoaralstareandhemovedon.“Soit’ssettledthen,Eversworn.YouandIaregoingtosolve…”
Harryouldn’tstopthinkingaboutBertrieZivantusinthewindowthenightbefore.Herbnkstarehauntedhim.Asinkingfeelingsettledinhisstomahatthethoughtofherfatherbeingoneofthebodiesinthepenthouse.
“Whatisit?Haveyouoedsomethingtothease?”Malfoyasked,theslighthintofhopesurfainginhisvoie.
Harryshookhishead.“Thereisnoase,Malfoy.Goodday.”
HestillhadtogetwordtoRonabouttheunlukyturnintheiriigation,butHarryonsideredgoingtotheDMLEandtellingthemwhatheknewaboutBertrie.Hedidn’twanttolosehisalias,butthesafetyandwellbeingofayounggirlwasontheline.Ittookabouttenminutesuntilhereahedtheowlery,maybealittlelongerthanusualsinehekeptlookingoverhisshoulder.Hewouldn’tputitpastMalfoytofollo
请大家记住网站新地址http://.123.