Revelations of Love - Moment by Moment Book #3 (Harry Potter, Drarry)

Research

When the searcher did eventually find his quarry, he chided himself for not having looked there first. Harry had almost given up trying to find Ginny; he'd discovered in which barrack she was staying, and sent a helpful young woman along to see if she was there, but to no avail. He tried asking people as he wandered around the family areas, but no luck. He even tried the library, but his researcher was not there. Finally, he'd decided to take a break in the mess, and who should be sitting alone at a table, nursing a large mug of hot chocolate, while staring into space, lost in thought, but Ginny Weasley. A wave as he approached, brought her out of her stupor, and a bright smile awakened the girl's pale features as she recognised her disturber.

"Harry," she greeted warmly, standing and wrapping him in a hug.

The young man ignored the eyes which followed him into the room, and hugged right on back.

"How's it going, Ginny?" he asked as they parted.

"Fine, fine," the young woman returned a little too quickly for it to have been considered, but she was smiling at him as he took a seat opposite her. "Tell me, did the rune removal happen like we supposed?"

"No-one's told you?!" Harry asked incredulously.

Ginny wrinkled her nose and replied, "Well, the day before yesterday, that brother of mine explained that you and Draco were alright, but it was in words of one syllable and then he wouldn't say anymore. Did you two have a fight?"

"Not exactly," the young man answered, and took the opportunity of a house elf bounding up to take his order to collect his thoughts. He requested a cup of tea and then, with a sigh, pressed on, "Ron and I don't exactly agree about Draco."

{Oh,} Ginny mouthed, but didn't make any sound, and the way she glanced down and began to stir her hot chocolate made Harry wonder what she knew.

"The magic did more or less what you suggested it would," the young man decided not to dwell and jumped back to the first question, "only there was so much, Draco would probably have died of exhaustion if I hadn't helped."

"Minerva said something about manifestation when I spoke to her yesterday, and she seemed a bit concerned," a light frown crossed Ginny's face as she raised her cup to her mouth.

"Everyone's a 'bit concerned' about me and Draco at the moment," Harry answered, a grin spreading across his face as the anarchy found his sense of humour.

The 'oh' made it out of his companion's mouth this time, and she coloured as Harry gave her expression an appraising look. The sound was more one of confirmation, rather than surprise, and the young man addressed it with, "Okay, you know, don't you, and you're the first person not to be shocked right down to your toes."

Ginny shifted in her seat, and she stayed silent, gazing into her drink as the house elf came trotting back and deposited Harry's beverage on the table. However, any disquiet her apparent awkwardness created in her companion was dispersed as she looked back up at him once no-one was left in earshot, and whispered, "Well, I was in the castle remember, and the rumours were rather colourful. One wizard was even running a sweepstake on when you'd spend the night together."

Harry nearly choked on his tea. That drew a few more looks, but the young man couldn't help himself as he coughed around a laugh at the thought of a bunch of death eaters making bets on his sex life. Ginny giggled behind her mug.

"Did you enter?" he asked after the choke dispersed.

The girl's face fell, and she almost dropped her cup onto the table as she told her friend, "I was generally ignored unless they needed information."