“Harry,youarse!”Ginnyfoundthembothassoonastheywalkedthroughthedoor,rushingthepresentbetweenthethreeofthemwhenshehurtledtowardsthem,throwinganarmaroundbothoftheirneksandpullingthemdowntoherheight.Draoaughtanelbowinthenek,buthewasprettysureitwasonaident.“Ian’tbelieveyougottheWeirdSisterstopyatmyparty!”
“It’sLuna’sparty,too,”trilledHermionefromsomewherenearDrao’selbow,andheturnedtofindhersittingdownataboothalreadywithargepteofheesyfriesinfrontofher,rathergigglyandpinkinthefae.RonrolledhiseyesatDrao,thenshrugged.Hermione’saninrediblelightweight.Andtely,alwaysinrediblyhungry.
Ginnyignoredher,whihDraothoughtwasbest.
“Calledinafavor,”Harrysaid,grinning.“Thoughtyoumightlikeit.”
Draosnorted.Calledinafavor,morelike,alledthemupandtoldthemwhowasspeakingandthenfoundtheWeirdSistershadmysteriouslylearedtheirsheduleforthemonthandahalf,atyourservieMr.Potter,anythingyoulike.TheyouldhavepyedduringMolly’sSundaynightdinner,foralltheyared.
“Still,thankyou.Andyou,”SheturnedonDrao,narrowinghereyes,andhehadthestrasuspiionthatsheknewsomehow,aboutthehouseandthedoubtsandhowhestaysupteatnighttryingtomemorizewhatitfeelsliketohaveHarrylyingbesidehim,justinase.“Dotrytohavefuntonight,won’tyou?Luna’sworriedaboutyou.”
Draosquirmedunomfortably,beauseifGinnyhadanideaabouthowanxioushe’sbeenthepastfewweeks,thenLunaknewforsure,wouldhavebeenabletotellwhatwaswrongwithjustonelookathim.
“I’llbefine.”Hetriestosmileonviningly,butthenhelooksoverandfindsthatHarryhasdisappearedfromhisside,swallowedupbytherowdthatwasDeanandSeamusandNeville.Draowouldnotbewelomethere,eveniftheyallsmiledandmadepolitesmalltalk.Thereisadifferenebetweenfivenessandbelonging,he’sfinding,andit’smoreofahasmthanafineline.
Ginnyreahedover,squeezedhiselbow.“Helovesyou.”Herwordsareinsistent,hittinghimlikeastunningspelltothehest.“Trustme.Iknowwhatitlookslike.”
Hefindshiswaytothebar,expetingtofindold,gap-toothedTom,butfindsGeeWeasleyinstead,throwingdrinkstothepeoplewhoometohimwithoutwaitingforarequestandsowlingdownatthetabletopwhenheisleftaloneagain,likeheisreadingsomepartiurlyoffensivewordthatapreviouspatronhadarvedintoit.Draoheks,butnothingisthere.
“Oh.It’syou.”Geelookssurprisedforamoment,butthenhisexpressionsours.“Youwantanything?”
“Thoughtyouwerejustthrowingthingsoutthere?”Hehadbeen,likerazy,throwingbottlesintohandsandpliquidintogiantmargaritagsseswithouthekingthebels,andevenwhenithadtobeadhtdisgustingombination,nooneompined,justoughedandsplutteredanddrankitallthesame.