Mayhem - G.Weasley

49. Answered and Unanswered

The gang climbed the many steps of the astronomy tower. Everyone was winded by the time they reached the top. Even George who worked out regularly.

"He better be up here." Fred was bent over speaking between breaths.

Hermione and Ginny were ahead of the others, searching the rooftop for any sign of him.

"I don't see him anywhere." Ginny nearly whined. She had been stressing these past few days since they last saw Ivy. She hardly slept, or ate.

"It's alright Ginny. We'll find him." Hermione put a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Who are you looking for? Perhaps I've seen him!" George wished he was anywhere else right now. His rival hopped down from some unseen part of the astronomy tower.

"Atanas!" Ginny squealed as she ran into his arms.

He was taken aback at first, then gently, though unsurely, hugged her back. "I could get used to this sort of greeting." He smiled softly.

"That's enough." George growled as he pulled Ginny back by her arm roughly.

"Easy mama bear." Atanas held up his hands in surrender.

"Stop calling me that." George stepped forward to get in his face, but Ginny pulled him back.

"We were looking for you." Hermione filled him in.

"For me?" Atanas sounded genuinely shocked. He probably wasn't used to anyone wondering about him. "Well you've found me."

"Goody." George whispered to no one in particular.

"What can I do for you?"

Jump off the roof, George thought.

"We believe we found out some of Ivy's past. And you seem to know some things about the Dragomirov's." Hermione said carefully. "Will you help us?"

"Who's to say I know anything?" Atanas clasped his arms behind his back.

"Quit playing dumb." George huffed.

Ginny ignored her brother's statement and reached in between his arm and side to pull out the book.

George had no idea when Ginny had gone to take the book from him.

"Have you read this before?" Ginny help up the cover for Atanas to see.

Atanas plucked the book from her as delicately as possible, as if the pages were made of glass.

"Read. . . No." He started as he examined the book more closely. He flipped to the last page and nodded almost knowingly. "Fascinating." He whispered into the air.

"Atanas please. Ivy is in danger." His head snapped up to look at Hermione. "She fled into the forest to go searching for answers."

"I have this awful feeling that something has happened to her." Ginny clutched her chest. George fought the urge to do the same.

Atanas sighed as he closed the book and set it back in Ginny's arms. "What more could I tell you that's not in that book?"

"Anything." Ginny choked out.

Atanas appeared pained by Ginny's words, and reluctantly opened his mouth to speak. "My family knew of the Dragomirov's. Ivy's mother was. . . Like royalty, in our community. Next thing we knew she disappeared without a trace." Atanas turned the book over and caressed the spine with a finger. "We heard rumors she was on the run—"

"From who?" Ginny cut him off almost excitedly.

"Don't know their name, just whispers." Atanas shrugged.