Heistryingforajoke,butherfaebitesdowninafrown,justforamoment,andhefeelsbad.“Don’tbestupid,Harry.”Everyonekeepstellinghimthat.Her,Ron,Hermione,Drao.Youwouldhavethought,afterallthistime,hewouldhavemanagedtogetsmarter.“You’reoneofthemostimportantpeopleinmylife.Justasimportantasthoseidiots.”Shejerksherheadtowardsherbrothers,whoareallrwithughteratsomethingthatHermionehadsaid,whowasbrightredandprobablyspoutingoffabouttherightsofsomeobsuremagialanimal.“Iloveyou,HarryPotter.”
“Ginny.”Hewantshertostop.Hewantstohearthiswhenheisnotstandinginfrontofsomanypeople.Hewants,foramoment,togobaktofifteenyearoldHarryPottersittingattheDursleysonthefirstdayofsummerreelingfromthefreshutofSirius’deathandpromisehimthatyes,itdoesgetbetter.“Don’t.”
“Ineedtosayit.Iloveyou,andforaslongasweareonthisearth,we’realwaysgoingtobefightingforeahother.Beausethat’swhatpeoplewhomeansomethingtoeahotherdo.”Sheisfightingbaktears,anditseemsimpossible,thatsheouldmakeitthroughhervowsbutisnowryingoverhim.“IknowyouhaveRon,andHermione,butIdon’t—didn’t—havemanypeopletoountonoutsideofmyfamily.Youwereafirstforme,HarryPotter.”
“Ithinkfriendloveisbetter,sometimes.”Harrydoesnotwanttosaythathelovesher.otmakehimselfsayit.He’dsaiditbefore,andthenithadhangedrightinfrontofhiseyes,likewaterthroughhispalms,andhehadn’tevenmissedit.“bsp;breakyourheartjustasbad.”
“It’sthesame.”Hereyesarebzingagain.“Butdifferent.”
Itshouldn’tmakesense.Itshouldn’tmakesense,butitdoes,beausethisisGinny,andaboveallthingshehasalwaysbeenabletouandwhatGinnymeans.Itmakeshimsadforamoment,beausethisisthesttimeitwillbelikethis,hisonesthaneofbeingpartoftheHarry-and-Ginnyshowuntiltheygooffontheirseparateways.That’stheprieofgettingolder.Sooftenmovingontendstolooklikelettinggo.
(Thoughmaybethat’sthewholepointofthis.Maybethat’swhatshe’stryingtotellhim,thattheywon’tletthemselvesfadeawayfromeahother,beauseshewillreahforhimandhewillreahforherandthey’llneverletgo,notreally.)
“Weneverwererightforeahother,”Ginnysaid,thetwoofthemrevolvinginairleonesttimeasthesongdiesdown,thefaesofthepeoplewholovedthemfshingbyastheymaketheirirle.“ButIthinkwe’vefinallygotitfiguredoutdon’tyou?”
Yes,hethinks,butannotsay,beausetherearesomanypeoplestaringandheistoobusygoingintoamokbowforRonandCharlie’sbe,pressingakisstohertemplebeforeleadingherbaktoLuna.Ithinkwehave.
Drao
He’sstandingwithGee.Again.It’sbeomesuhaommonourrenethathe’satuallystartingtobelievehe’ssometypeofbabysitter,liketheWeasleyshaddeidedthateverytimeGeewasgoingintooneofhisslumpstheywouldjustpushhimtowardsDraoandhopethathewasabletodealwithit,beausehedoesn’tthinkit’saoinidenethattheykeepfindingeahotherandGeelookslikehe’sinnoshapetobeativelyseekingsomeoneout,friendornot.