'It didn't have anything to do with you, Harry,' she said quickly.
'I know,' he said. 'That's why I was smiling. I know it might seem strange, but it's a relief for me to know that even though you were in danger, it wasn't because of me, or who I am.'
'Ahem,' said Charlie, looking faintly embarrassed. 'Perhaps I should leave you two to talk alone?'
Hermione glanced up quickly, and saw, with a shocked sort of pang, that Draco had gone — had left the room so quietly that none of them had even noticed his departure.
'That's okay, Charlie,' she said. 'It's your kitchen, isn't it? Besides, I'm so tired, all I want to do is go to sleep.'
Charlie pushed his chair back. 'All right. I'll take you to your tent, then.'
When Ron walked into Charlie's living room, he found Ginny curled up on the couch reading a copy of Teen Witch Weekly that she'd scrounged from under Charlie's sofa. She had refused to sit in the kitchen with the rest of them; she was still furious about having been left out of their expedition.
''Lo, Gin,' said Ron, warily.
Ginny glared at her magazine with narrowed dark eyes. 'You're a huge bastard, Ron,' she said, without looking up. 'And I hate you.'
'Ginny…I told you I was sorry. Charlie said we had to go without you.'
'Well, it wasn't so bad.' Ginny's face, which had been scowling, broke into a reluctant smile. 'I got to feed the dragons.'
'By yourself?'
'No, with two of Charlie's friends. Cute young wizards in leather trousers. It wasn't the worst day I've ever had.'
Ron rolled his eyes. 'I'm glad you stayed out of trouble.'
Ginny's mirthful expression softened into a slight frown, and she glanced past Ron to the kitchen. Charlie looked extremely grave, Harry only slightly less so. Hermione simply looked exhausted. 'Is it true, about Salazar Slytherin coming back?' said Ginny to Ron, in a half-whisper. 'I was listening, but I wasn't sure I heard right.'
'That's what Hermione says,' said Ron. 'And she's not an exaggerator. And Malfoy backs her up,' he shrugged, 'not that that means anything, really, since he lies like most people breathe. But I can't see any reason for him to be lying right now.'
Ginny shuddered. 'I remember the statue of Slytherin from the Chamber of Secrets…he had such a cruel, horrible face.'
Ron glanced away from her, towards the silver mirror on the wall that gave him back his own reflection: tired, pale and worried.
'Good Lord, you're tall,' said the mirror, in a purring sort of voice.
'You know what they say about tall men.'
Ron jumped hastily back and out of the mirror's line of sight. As he did so, Draco came out of the kitchen, gave Ron an unpleasant look, and rather ostentatiously leaned over the back of the sofa to see what Ginny was reading. 'That Cute Boy in Potions — Seven Simple Spells to Make Him Notice You,' he read, and raised an eyebrow at her.
Ginny blushed. 'Love spells are a myth anyway,' she said.
'Are they?' said Draco, and neatly plucked the magazine out of her hands. 'There wouldn't be anything in this about how to reverse love spells, would there?'
Ginny snorted. 'Why would anyone want to do that?'
'Good point,' said Draco. 'Thanks for the magazine,' he added, waved it at her, and walked out of the tent.
Ginny looked at Ron. 'He took my magazine,' she said, surprised.
'Right,' said Ron. 'I'll go beat him up until he gives it back, then,' and ducked out of the tent after Draco, Ginny's howl of 'Ron! I was only joking!' trailing after him.
It was nearly sunset, and the sky above the camp was beginning to darken with faint lines like the markings inside a seashell. Draco was walking so quickly away from the tent that it took Ron — whose long legs usually allowed him to move faster than anyone — several moments to catch up.
'Malfoy,' he said. 'Hold up.'
Draco kept walking.
'Malfoy,' said Ron, more sharply, reached out, and put his hand on Draco's arm.
Draco whirled on him. His face was expressionless, although if Ron had known him as well as Hermione or Harry did, he would have seen by the look in his eyes that he was spoiling for a fight.
'Why are you pretending that I'm not here?' snapped Ron.
'Wishful thinking?' Draco suggested.
Ron ignored this. 'I want a word with you, Malfoy.'
'That depends,' said Draco. 'Are you going to say something useful, or are you just going to glare at me and be cryptic?'
'Back in the forest,' said Ron. 'I was watching you.'
'I never knew it gave you pleasure to gaze upon me, Weasley, but far be it from me to interfere with your
