分卷阅读28（2 / 2）

“The hotel,” Harry said over his shoulder.

Malfoy rushed after him. “Harry! Wait! We can’t!”

“Yes we can,” he said, “And we already have. I’ve seen it.”

“What do you mean?”

Harry couldn’t help the sudden consummate smile on his face. “I saw myself that day. I was in the elevator, Draco, and it stopped on the fourteenth floor. Two people were arguing in the hallway outside a room, our room, and the person in the hallway was me. I was wearing this same outfit!”

Malfoy stared in shock. He blinked and then looked away. “You saw yourself?”

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t think that was important? You didn’t think you should tell someone?” Malfoy’s voice rose, anger forging his features into a tense scowl. “You, Saint Potter, kept something hidden that could have potentially changed everything.”

“How?” Harry was getting angry now, too. “How would the knowledge of me being in that hallway, or some form of me, have helped?”

Malfoy let out an unsteady exhale. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?”

Harry rolled his eyes, “I’m going, you can come or stay here for all I care.” Malfoy pointed his wand at the plant and muttered something under his breath. The plant shrunk to the size of a chocolate frog, and Malfoy picked it up and put it in his pocket. “You couldn’t have done that earlier?”

The blond smirked. “You seemed to enjoy carrying it around.”

They walked the two blocks back to the Ashtyl in silence. Harry didn’t know what they would do when they got there. It was hours until the incident would take place. When they reached the hotel entrance, Malfoy stopped Harry from going inside. “I told you,” Harry started but Malfoy raised a hand to silence him.

“We should use glamours,” he suggested.

“It’ll be fine,” Harry said. “I’m not—I mean, Archie won’t be here for a few hours.”

Malfoy nodded and they went inside. Harry realized in that moment that Valentine would be there. “I want to hold the world on its knees,” the hotel manager had said. Harry suddenly became very angry. “Valentine is here,” he whispered. “We can—”

“Stop right there, Potter,” Malfoy commanded quietly. “As you said, in our pasts we have already been here. We obviously didn’t go after him this morning if he fires you later today.” Harry opened his mouth to protest but then realized he was right.

“Harry Potter!” Mortification hit Harry like a Stupefy as the man himself crossed the lobby to greet them. Valentine stepped up to the two of them, a giant smile plastered across his face. It made Harry sick. “Mister Potter, we are so thrilled to have you in the hotel.” Valentine nudged him. “You must have stayed under an alias last time, but it’s no worry. We here at the Ashtyl value our guests’ privacy.”

Harry realized he was expected to say something back. “Last time?”