Butit’snotanyofhisbusiness.
Itdoesn’thaveanythingtodowithhim.
Nothingatall.
Hegoesabouthiseveryday,studyingfortests,avoidingphotographs,andughingwithfriends,resolutelypretendingthatitdoesn’thurt.
“Harry,”Ginnypleads,adayafteralltheHalloweenfestivities.Itisteintheafternoon,andtheskyisanoverastgrey.Inanhour,itwillbediime.They’resittingtogetherinoneofthestonebenhesintheloktowerourtyard,whereGinnyhadorneredhiminastditheffort.“TheRavenwsaredeimatingus.Weneedyou.”
Harrygrinsathersheepishly.They’vehadthisoionbefore,numeroustimesintheBurrow,andhethinksGinny’sstilltryingjustforthesakeofit.“I’msorry,Ginny.Ijustdon’tfeellikeit.Ijustwanttofinishtheshoolyearinpeae.”
Ginnysighsexasperatedly,rossingherarmslikeapetunthild.“Don’tyoumissflying?”
“Ido,”Harrysays,ughingatherreation.“Justnottheattention,Iguess?Besides,you’redoingwell.Iwathallyourmathesandyouhaven’tletanyonesoreyet.”
Ginnypreensatthepraise.Then,shenarrowshereyesathim.“Isit…beauseof…youknow…”
Harry’seyeswidens,wavinghishands,thedenialimmediatelyonhislips.“Oh,no!No,no,no.It’sfine,Gin,I’mnotavoidingyou,ifthat’swhatyou’rethinking.That’snotitatall.”
Ginnysmiles,shouldersrexing.“Okay.Good.”Then,shelooksaroundtheourtyard,seesnooneelse,andthenleansintowhisper.“Well,isitbeauseof…?”
“Of…?”
“Well,uhm.”Shesmiles,almostapologetially.“Malfoy?”
Harry’sgobsmakedexpressionjustmakesherugh.“I’msorry.Ron’sbeentellingmeaboutit.Imean,hedoesn’tmeanbad,he’sjustworried.”
Harryfeelshisfaeburning.It’sonethingtoknowthathisfriendsknow,andquiteanothertotalkaboutitwiththem.He’sgottenusedtoitbeingthisopenseret,thebigelephantintheroomthatnobodyisallowedtotalkabout.“Iknowheis.And.No.It’snotabouthim.Ithink.I’mjustreallytired,Iguess?Ijustwanteveryonetostop…Idon’tknow,treatingmelikeI’m,err,HarryPotter.”
Ginnyughs,asshedidbefore,beforeeverythinghappened,asifsheholyfindshimendearing.Herfaeisasbrightasever,herbrightredhairflyingasshethrowsherheadbakandughsopenly.Harrythinksheouldfallinlovewithheragain,ifhetried.Hethinkstheyouldmakeitwork.
“Okay,I’llyoff.”Shegrins,eyestwinkling.“Butouldyoumaybesitinonsomepraties?BeatsomeskillsintoourSeeker?He’sgood,reallygood,buthejustdoesn’thavethesamesensefortheSnithlikeyoudid.”
Harrygrinsbakather.“Whydon’tyoubetheSeeker?Ravenwwon’tstandahane.”
Andthen,asalways,heisthefirsttospotthatblondhair.
Ginnyseeshimstaringoverhershoulder,turnsaround,andblinks.“Oh.Malfoy.”