IftherewaseveraquestionwhetherornotPansyhadservedherpenanefortransgressionspast,theanswerwouldbeafirmandresoundingNO.Shehandledthegresandthejudgment,notalwayswithpoiseanddignity,butshegenerallywithstooditwithoutlosingherstshredofomposure.

However,afterapparatingwithDraoandPottertoHogsmeade,Pansyfeltlikeshewaslosinghermind.Thepairofthemarguedovereverything.Onlyitwasn’tquitearguing.Sazar,itwasalmostlikealover’squarrel.First,DraoinsistedtheygostraighttoNeville,butPotterwantedtosendanowlaheadofthem.“I’veseenyouattheowlery,Potter.Snailssendlettersfaster.”

Potterhuffedastheymadetheirwaydownthestepsofthehotel.“Oh,youmeanwhenyouliedtomyfae?”

“AsIreall,itatuallywasn’tyourfae,andIneveroneliedtoyou,”Draodrawled.HeturnedtoPansyandheldouthisarm.“Sidealong,dear?”PansytooktheofferedarmandwathedDraoquirkaneyebrowatPotter.“Ifyou’vegotanowltosend,Isupposewewillseeyouwhenweseeyou.”Andthentheydisapparated.

Potteraughtuptothemlessthanaminuteter.“Ifwehurry,”hepanted,“maybeweanathhimbeforedinner.”

Theywalkedinsileneforafewminutes,eahofthemprobablyreaquaintingthemselveswiththesenery.IthadbeenagessinePansyhadometoHogsmeade,letaloneHogwarts,infat,itmighthavebeenyears.Apartofherahedwiththegoodmemoriesshehadthere,whileotherpartsofherrakedatthethoughtofallthepainthatfollowedthosewonderfultimes.

Finally,Draobrokethesilenetosuggesttheytrythegreenhousesfirst.PotterounteredthatNevilleusuallytookhisafternoonteaintheastleafterlessons.PansysensedanaffrontonNevilleLongbottomonthetipofDrao’stongue,soshedeidedtohangethesubjet.

“IneverthoughtIwouldberushingbaktoHogwartssosoon.”

Draoletoutaharshugh.“It’sabittoosoonformyliking.”

“Nooneismakingyouomealong,Malfoy,”Pottermutteredunderhisbreath.

Thatwasit.PansyparkedherbootsinthegroundandgrabbedPotterbythesleeve.“Whatisyourproblem,Potter?”Theationmadehimjerkbakwardandhisgssespratiallyflewoffhisfae.

“Pissoff,Parkinson.”

“No,youpissoff,Potter!”sheyelled.PansystukafingerintohishestandthenpointedtoDrao.“’tyouseethatI’mhereforBertrie?WouldItrustDraowiththisifforoneseondIbelievedhe’dhadsomethingtodowithit?”Pansypaedbetweenthem,shakingherhead.“Yourstupid,inftedshoolboyrivalry,yourridiulousstolengnes,thetaunts,thejeers,themispedassumptions—anyouputtheidioyasideandbeadultssoweansaveahild’slife?Thisisserious!”

ShesawPottergulpandheardDraosigh.

“IfIhearanother—”sheshookherheadanddeidedtoletitgo.“Throwyoutothesquidmyself,”shegrumbledandstompedupthepath.

IfDraofeltalittlebitguiltyafterPansy’soutburst,hebmedPotter.Draohadbeenbaitinghimallafternoon,soforthat,hewasatfault.ButitwasalmostasiftheverypreseneofDraosetPotteroff.MaybeitwastheirloseproximityandthendsapehangingfromthewetstreetsofEdinburghtothetraveledpathsofHogwarts.Witheahforwardstep,Draoouldfeeltheweightofhisownpastpullinghiminsidehimselftothepeshehadometofearthemost.ForeverylevelofHellhe’dexperienedduringtheWar,hesupposedPotterwentlevelsabovehim.

Thethreeofthemfellinstepandwalkedinsilenetherestofthewaytotheastle.WithPansybetweenthem,DraobrieflyimaginedaworldwhereheouldommiseratewithPotteronthesharedwrathofhersilvertongue.Whatasenethatwouldbe,hethought.Butthatwasaslipperyroad,imagininganythingtodowithPotter.

TheoolSottishairaroundhimshouldhavegivenhimhills,butinsteadthepullofagreaterpurposeleftDraofeelingeletri.ItwasasifthethreadsofFatewerebekoninghimforward.Hehadn’tfeltaoiontoitsostrongsinehe’dbeenhitwiththeurse.

Attheentranetotheastle,PotterasthisPatronus—arge,majestistag,learerandrisperthanDrao’swhitestoathadeverbeen.TheywatheditrushoffintotheastleandPotterturnedtoDraoandPansy.“Justlettingtheheadmistressknowwe’rehere.”

Draodidn’tdoubtPottermaintainedaloseretionshipwithMinervaMGonagall.Perhapsthatwasamajordifferenebetweenthetwoofthem.WherePottermightseektomaintainhisbondstothepesthatheldbothgoodandterriblememories,Draodoubtedhepossessedthestrengthtoriseabovethedarkness.Ormaybehestillletthefearofitspoweroverhimpreventhimfromeventrying.

“Drao,areyouoming?”Pansystoodinsidethedoorwaystaringathim.Shedidn’tsayanythingelseasheomposedhimselfandforthathewasgrateful.TheyfollowedPotterinsideandheadedtothestafflounge.

Theyhadn’tgotfarbeforesomeoneblurted,“Harry!”ThereinthehallwaystoodNevilleLongbottom,tallandleanandbeamingwithabrightsmile.DraohadbarelyblinkedbeforePotterpratiallydisappearedinLongbottom’sarmsforanembrae.ThefamiliaritybetweenthetwoGryffindorsleftDraowithawarmsealitytaintedbyatwingeofregret.“Ihaven’tseenyouinmonths.”Afterthey’dseparated,LongbottomlookedoverPotter’sshoulder,hishappydemeanordeftedatthesightofPansyandDrao.“Whataretheydoinghere?”

“We’rewaase,Nev,”Potterexpined,hisfaeshiftedfromobviousjoytoaneardetermination.“Andwehavesomequestionsforyou.”

“Me?I’mnotsurehowIanhelpyou.”

AthoughtfulexpressiontookoverPotter’sfae,andhebithislowerlip.Drao

请大家记住网站新地址http://.123.