Chapter Three

A morning spent cleaning

"Hi, can I come in?" Ginny asked as she knocked on the door of Draco, Ron and Harry's flat. Draco at least already knew she was here: he had buzzed her into the building.

"Yeah come in," he waved her across the threshold." Ginny wasn't sure why she was nervous she had been in the boy's flat several time. On this day there were a pile of black bin liners piled against the kitchen door. Ginny imagined what was inside: lanterns, branches, leaves that had been used to decorate the flat was piled on top of a huge pile of glasses and bottles that the guests at Draco's party has used to drink themselves into a stupor.

"How is the clean up operation going?" Ginny asked Draco.

"Good it would be faster if Harry and Ron pitched in."

"They're not here?" Ginny asked.

"No your brother is at work and Harry is talking to Hermione about something golden trio related. I'm surprised you didn't see him he has been gone over an hour."

"I've been at my parent's house." Ginny said.

"Oh," Draco replied for a second Ginny though she'd said the wrong thing. Draco's mother had died two years earlier, a freak accident the inquest had said but Draco and remained unconvinced. "So," he continued as brightly as though the awkward pause had not occurred. "What's up?" he grabbed a brown cardboard box and sat down on it passing another to Ginny. She sat down gingerly thinking the box would break, it didn't. Ginny looked at Draco and wondered for a second what she really knew about him. He was was in love with her flatmate. He was the heir to a fortune. She had been to school with him for six years. She paused, her knowledge stopped about there.

"Hello," he smiled. She was daydreaming again. She took a deep breath in.

"I," she paused. She hadn't thought how to phrase this, "kissed a guy at your party and I was completely drunk so I don't know who it was." This section of her sentence came out in such a rush Draco had to ask her to repeat it. When she had he smiled at her slyly.

"You old fox," he said. Ginny smiled she had no idea what it meant except that it was possibly quite good.

"I don't remember seeing you with anyone if that's what you were wondering." He said "sorry. I had probably consumed more alcohol than you I really don't remember much except that it was awesome." Ginny broke a smile.

"I was really good."

"Anyway Gin why didn't you ask Hermione or Ron or Harry? They would probably all remember more than me."

"Hermione said she went to your room around eleven, so she doesn't know anything." Draco shook his head.

"I think I have some apologising to do."

"Ron is my brother," Ginny continued "can you imagine having that conversation with someone you are related to? And Harry I have known too long." The last point was weak and Ginny knew it. The real reason she couldn't tell Harry was that he was still too close to her heart. His name still gave her butterflies in a way she didn't really like. Draco was her most logical choice simply because he was the furtherest away from her emotionally.

"My party seems to have been a hotbed of romance," he said smiling. "You're not the only one with a mystery lover."

"Oh," Ginny smiled tilting her head towards him in spite of herself, she loved a bit of gossip.

"Harry," Draco stated simply. Ginny's heart feel through to her boots.

"Right wow," there was no emotion in her voice. She felt as though someone had pulled her heart out of her chest. Ginny tried to smile she really did but it wouldn't come.

"Are you ok?" Draco asked "you look as though you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine," she smiled unconvincingly.

"I'll keep my eyes open for your boy." Draco smiled. "Can you tell me what he looked like?" Ginny creased her forehead in concentration.

"Dark hair, brown I think, taller than me. That's about it."

"Nothing jumps to mind," Draco said "but I think some people changed their hair or eye colour."

"And wore masks," added Ginny glumly.

"Don't worry," Draco smiled "we'll find him." She smiled and said goodbye. A moment later she was gone, just an empty box in her place. Draco tapped his fingers against the cardboard, he had some thinking to do."