分卷阅读17（1 / 2）

Ron’s thoughts filled Hermione’s head with questions. “Does this mean they didn’t kill him?” she asked. “If they wanted all of this from him, what would possess them to exact the massacre in the penthouse?”

“You all can worry and talk yourselves in circles, but I have to get this stuff together and do the drop,” Parkinson stated, the hint of panic in her voice. Malfoy reached across the sofa and placed a hand on hers. The kneazle pushed herself under their fingers.

“Hang on.” Ron shook his head. “What’s inquollis anicorpus folia? Why are they asking for a plant?”

Harry finally found his voice and added, “I’ve never heard that mentioned in Potions or Herbology.”

“Be honest, Potter, were you ever listening in Potions or Herbology?” Hermione shot Malfoy a look of warning and started to ask Parkinson if she knew anything about Marwan’s potential herbological ties. Did he have a greenhouse? Did he own any companies that produced products from plants? With every question, Hermione grew more frustrated because Parkinson simply did not know the man or his dealings well enough.

“There is someone who might be able to help us,” Harry offered. When everyone turned to him he shrugged. “Neville.”

Malfoy groaned.

Hermione had a thought, and suddenly, she felt the curse raging inside her again. “Yes, Harry, you’re right. You, Malfoy, and Parkinson should go to Hogwarts and ask for Neville’s help. Even if he can’t, maybe you can search the Restricted Section for any information on the plant, and perhaps—” Hermione pointed to the kneazle “—historical instances of body swapping?”

“And that leaves you and Weasley doing what exactly?” Malfoy quipped with a raised brow.

“I already have a few leads to chase down thanks to that board of yours,” Ron offered and he and Malfoy stared each other down for an uncomfortable minute. Finally, Ron titled his head and said, “You might have to explain to me what Gertrude Lockhart is doing up there though.”

Malfoy narrowed his eyes, but the hint of a smirk crept over his features. “Well, if you must know.” While he explained that a man in Cardiff had seen Marwan’s participation in a charity event run by Gertrude Lockhart and had begun stalking Marwan, Hermione pulled Harry aside and out into the hallway.

Harry look dazed, as if it took a moment to realize what happened. He stared down the hall toward the lift, a disoriented look on his face. He then flattened a bit of his hair back absentmindedly.

“So, you’re going to trust Malfoy?” Harry said quietly.

Frustration washed over Hermione, but she tried to keep it hidden. How could Harry still be caught up in the idea that Malfoy had a hand in the crimes? Even after he spoke up for Malfoy at his trial, Harry still had his head in the past. “Well,” she tried to find a way to get to Harry, “you have been working with him.”

Harry crossed his arms. “I’ve been trying to find out what he really knows about all of this.”

“And what have you found, Harry?” Hermione pointed to the room. “You’ve seen the board, the ransom note. Seems to me like he’s telling the truth.”

“The truth? You believe that?” Harry took a few steps away from her. She could see the anger taking over. “You believe that Zivantus hired him to investigate his own death?” Hermione ignored the look of complete disbelief on his face. “How?”

She panicked, “Divination, perhaps.”

“You don’t believe in that!”

“But we’ve seen it be real on occasion, haven’t we?” Hermione briefly thought of Sybill Trelawney and her mostly pathetic devotion to the practice of Seeing. Shuddering, Hermione continued, “I’m not saying it isn’t odd, but maybe Zivantus hired Malfoy to solve it. Maybe there’s some sort of contract or Vow involved.”