Astoriasmilesathisarefulreply,andstartstoexpin.“Imean,I’vebeentryingtohelphim.We’veknowneahothersinehildhood,yousee.Ourmothersvisitedeahotheralot.Narissatoldmewhathappenedtohimin…”Here,shefrowns,lookingdownatherhandsspedinfrontofher.Withasadlookonherfae,sheturnsbaktoHarry.“Sheaskedmetohelp,buttely,it’sbeengettingworse,Ithink.AndIan’tbethereforhimallthetime.Espeiallyduringsses.”

HarryreallsthatAstoria’sinsixthyear.

It’smakingsensenow,then,theamountoftimethatsheandDraohavebeenspendingtogether.There’sapartofhimthat’shurt,somehow,thatNarissahadn’taskedhim,whihhedesperatelytriestosquashdown,beauseofoursehewouldn’thavebeenabletohelpevenifNarissahad.EventhoughheandDraoareinthesameyear,theyarestillindifferenthouseswithdifferentssshedules,andit’snotliketheyanverywelleattogetherorspendtimeafterurfewtogether.

AndheissupposedtobehappythatDraohasotherpeopletotalktoandwathoverhim.Heis.He’salsojustabit…jealous.

They’reinthemiddleofthemeadownow,andtheboathouseanbeseeninthehorizon.Cloudslitterthesky,floatinggentlywiththewind.Sunlightfiltersthroughgapsbetweenthem,bathingeverythinginamagialsortofglow,likeadream.

HelooksatAstoria,atherbig,greyeyes,herlongeyeshes,andthewayherhairurlsagainstherhighheekbones.Notforthefirsttime,hethinks,Wow,she’spretty.

Astoriastopsabruptly,turnstohim,andsays,“Buthetoldmeaboutwhatyoudidforhim.”

Harrysrunheshiseyebrowsinonfusion.“WhatIdid?”

Astorianods.“Howyoutriedtohelphimbakinthesummer.”Pinkdustsherheeks,andsheshakesherhead.“I’msorry,weweren’tgossipingoranything—”

Harryisquiktoassureher.“Oh,no,Ididn’tthinkthat.”

Again,Astoriavisiblyrexes.Harrywondersjusthownervousshewasbeforeominguptohim.

“Heatuallydidn’twanttotellmeanythingatfirst.Iwastheonewhoinsisted.Ithelps,yousee.Helikestalkingaboutyou.”Here,shesmilesathim,butitlookssad.

Hestaresather,unsureofwhattomakeofherwordsandherexpression.

“Itkeepshimawake.Imean.Awakeawake.”

“I…don’tuandwhatyou’regettingat,Astoria.”

“Helphim.Please.”

Andthenitliks.WhyAstoria’ssadsmilelookssofamiliar.

He’sseenitonhimself.

Heblurtsout,“YoulikeMalfoy,don’tyou?”

Assoonasthewordsareout,heimmediatelyregretsit,beauseit’sinappropriate,iive,andHermioneandGinnyarebothgoingtokillhimwhentheyfindout.

ButAstoriajustughsathisobvioushorror,andthoughherheeksareflushedwithembarrassment,thesadnessonherfaeisgone.“Isitthatobvious?”Sheletsoutafewmorehukles,unabletohelpherself.“Butit’sokay.Iknowhealreadylikessomebodyelse.”

Thistime,Harrymanagestostopthe“Who?”fromslippingpasthislips.HethinkstheshokofthepainatknowingthatDraolikessomebodyelsehelped.Hedoesn’tevenknowwhyitstillhurts,beauseupuntilaminuteago,hehadthoughtthatthatsomebodyelsewasAstoria—

Astoriawhohasnowgonequietandislookingathimasifshe’stryingtofiguresomethingout.

“You’renie,Harry.Iwaspreparedforyounotwantingtotalktome.”

Harryfrownsather.“WhywouldIdothat?”heasksinredulously,buthealreadyknowswhy.

“BeauseI’maSlytherin.”

“Youdidnothingwrong,”hesaysfirmly.HethinksofDrao,Narissa,andSeverusSnape.“SlytherinsaresomeofthebravestpeopleIknow.”

Finally,shesmilesagain,realandgenuine,onethatreaheshereyes.“You’renie,”shesaysonemore.“IthinkIuandDraoabitmorenow.”

Thatnight,whendinnerhasbeeneatenandstudentshavereturnedtotheirrespetivedormrooms,HarryrummagesthroughhistrunkfortheMapandtheInvisibilityCloak.

Ronthrowssomethingathishead.

“Hey!”Harryexims,gring.Hegrabstheoffendingobjetandissurprisedtoseethatit’sahootefrog,sittingstillandprettyinsideitsshinybox.

Ronthrowssomethingathimagain.

FastSeekerreflexeshavehimathingitwithease,andhestaresatitinbewilderment.It’sanotherhootefrog.

Ronlooksaway,earsredandmuttering,“GivetheotheronetoMalfoy.Merlinknowsheneedsmorefatunderthoserobesofhis.”

Harrybeamsathim.

Draojumpsandstandsupfromhisbedwhenheenters,andHarryremembersthatoh,right,he’sinvisible.Hetakesofftheloak,andsmilessheepishlyingreeting.

Draostaresathimdumbly.“Ithoughtyouweren’tgoingtoome.”

Harrydumpshisloakontheotherbed,andrummagesthroughhisrobepokets.“Youtoldmetoome.”

如果,请我们的网站地址《宅书屋》om

请大家记住网站新地址http://.123.