Parvati was only too happy to explain. 'When you fell off your broom Seamus practically killed Draco Malfoy to keep him from getting anywhere near you. It was so cute.'
Dumbfounded, Ginny stared. 'Did Malfoy look like he was — I mean was he trying to — why would he…?'
Lavender shook her head. 'I don't know. We couldn't hear any of it, you know. We just saw everyone sort of go bolting towards you, and then Seamus stepped in front of Malfoy and blocked him long enough for Harry to come up and toss him off the pitch.'
'Harry tossed Malfoy off the pitch?'
'I think so,' said Parvati, looking thoughtful, 'He just sort of grabbed him by the wrist, and then Draco stared at him for a minute and bolted off like a wild animal. It was a bit hard to tell what was really happening, maybe Draco just ran off because Dumbledore was coming. And your older brother was with Dumbledore — he looked angry enough to spit nails, too.'
'I wish Professor Weasley would go to the Pub Crawl with me,' announced Lavender, looking wistful.
'Lavender, that's ridiculous, he's a teacher and he's horribly old,' said Parvati sternly, while Ginny tried not to laugh. 'Anyway, we're getting off the point.'
'There was a point?' said Ginny.
'The point was that we think Seamus fancies you,' said Parvati.
'He does not,' protested Ginny, astonished.
'He does,' said Lavender, who had dated Seamus briefly herself during fifth year, although this did not inspire in Ginny any confidence that Lavender knew what she was talking about. 'Why would we make this up?'
'Because you're brainless gits who like to make trouble' was on the tip of Ginny's tongue, but she bit it back. Whatever else Lavender and Parvati might be, they were not malicious, and being cranky and nervous was no excuse to be nasty to them. 'Look, I'm awfully tired,' she began, but it was too late — Lavender and Parvati had launched into their favorite game, a repellent exercise entitled 'What Would You Rather?' which involved nominating various pairs of Hogwarts boys and determining which one you would rather sleep with.
'Terry Boot or Ernie MacMillan?' Parvati demanded of her friend.
'Terry,' said Lavender.
'Draco Malfoy or Malcolm Baddock?'
Lavender thought for a moment, then giggled. 'Draco Malfoy.'
'Justin Finch-Fletchley or Ron Weasley?'
'Ron.'
'Harry or Ron?'
'Um….still Ron, I think.'
Ginny watched this with a jaundiced eye, and was alarmed when Lavender rounded on her, announcing that it was her turn. 'Justin Finch-Fletchley or Ernie MacMillan?'
'Justin, I guess,' said Ginny, who was interested in neither of them.
'Seamus or Dean?'
'Seamus.'
'Draco or Malcolm?'
'Malcolm,' Ginny lied.
'Harry or Ron?'
Ginny looked at Lavender in horrified repulsion. 'Lavender, that is just…sick.'
'What?' said Lavender blankly. Then comprehension dawned. 'Oh, right.
You had that whole….Harry thing. Sorry.'
'Argh,' said Ginny, as she put a pillow over her face, refusing to remove it until Lavender and Parvati finally went away.
The Gryffindor common room was a constant, Sirius thought, never changing. It had not changed since he was a student there. Glancing around from his perch in the fireplace, he cast a fond gaze over the heavy overstuffed sofas and chairs, their thick velvet coverings dulled to a shine by years of use, the throw pillows with their gold tassels, the scratched low tables, the gilded portraits on the walls. Harry was there as he had said he would be, sitting on the floor near the fire, cross-legged. He was wearing black trousers and a dark blue jumper, trainers and no socks. He looked about twelve, and very thin and tired — so thin and tired that Sirius had to bite back an exclamation of surprise.
'Lo, Sirius,' said Harry quietly. 'Glad you came.'
It had been about a month since they had last spoken like this. Sirius recalled thinking that Harry looked a bit peaked last time he had seen him, but he had dismissed it as nerves over an upcoming Quidditch game.
Sirius tried to keep his voice neutral. 'Harry. You look… so thin. And exhausted.'
'It's late,' said Harry flatly. He leaned back against the side of the stuffed armchair. He had lost enough weight, Sirius noted, that the collar of his shirt was loose, falling free of the sharp 'v' of his clavicles. The shadows beneath his eyes were blue against his winter-pale skin. Sirius recalled Harry stepping on to the train on the first day of school, tanned and healthy from two weeks at the Burrow. What had happened? 'We had a game today. I am exhausted.'
Sirius didn't feel any less disquieted. 'I know. Lupin told me what happened. I'm glad Ginny's all right…Harry, are you eating properly?'
Harry looked as if he were trying to remember the last thing he'd eaten.
Then he shrugged. 'I'm eating fine, Sirius. How are the wedding plans coming?'
'Fine. And the adoption has almost gone through,' Sirius added conversationally. 'There's just a little more paperwork to be cleared up when you get here at Christmas. And Narcissa's looking forward to having you all here. Are Ginny and Ron coming down with you on the train?'
'No, next day,' said Harry absently. Sirius could see he was thinking about something else.
'Have you got your dress clothes sorted out?'
'Uh-huh.'
'Did you know I've changed my mind about marrying Narcissa? I think I'll be marrying Remus instead.'
'That's nice.'
'Harry,' said Sirius darkly. 'What is on your mind?'
'Nothing,' said Harry hastily. Then he seemed to shake himself, as if brushing off cobwebs. 'Actually…there is something I was wondering.'
'That much is obvious.'
Harry locked his hands across his knees. 'It's about my parents.'
Sirius looked at his godson, but his expression was hidden by his falling dark hair. 'Yes?'
'Where are they buried, Sirius?'
Sirius felt his heart skip a beat. 'Why do you want to know?'
'Don't answer questions with a question.'
'I'm sorry, Harry, but I need to know why you want that information.
What are you planning?'
Harry snorted. 'Just some necromancy. A little raising of the dead, some human sacrifice.'
'Harry-'
'Look, it was Draco's suggestion. He thought it might help me get closure.'
'That doesn't sound much like something Draco would say.'
'Well, he did, all right?' Harry's face was flushed with annoyance. 'What, you don't believe me now?'
The annoying thing about teenagers, Sirius thought without being able to help himself, was that they took everything so personally. 'I believe you, Harry. I'm just worried about you.'
'They're my parents.' Harry seemed to be working himself into a state. 'I have a right to know where they're buried.'
Sirius squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them slowly. 'Doon's Hill,' he said, and in his mind's eye saw
