Searching

Draco and Ginny Disapparated to Dulwich Park, one of London's many beautiful parks. Besides the history behind it, it was full of boardwalks, water, trees, and wildlife.

After they had discreetly tiptoed their way onto a path, Draco stopped to face Ginny. "Weasley," he started, looking around them at the landscape, "what are we doing here? I mean, not that it's not lovely..."

She crossed her arms. "Malfoy, remember a second ago when we were discussing Hermione and what we should do? Well..." She gestured around her.

He smirked. "Yes, but what does a park have to do with it?"

"This is one of Hermione's favourite parks." Ginny looked at him sternly. "And, if you ever repeat what I'm about to tell you then I will hex you to oblivion." She pointed her wand at his face, and a hint of fear actually appeared on it.

"So? What is it?" He rubbed his arms, hoping to warm them up. It was a cold day, and he obviously had not brought a jacket.

She pointed to a nearby boardwalk. "Just...follow me and I'll explain."

They both stepped onto a walkway that was built in between the water and reeds, and they saw a few people on it taking pictures. The water wasn't too dirty and it was quite relaxing to look at.

Ginny took the lead, and they had to weave in and out of the random people on the boardwalk. "Okay, this is a shortcut so we should be there soon." She tried to stand on her tiptoes to see above the reeds but they were way too tall.

Draco was tall and had to whack reeds out of the way several times before they hit his face. "Where are we going, Weasley?" He asked again after a few minutes of repeated whacking.

She turned around and glared at him. "We're almost there. If there's a place Hermione will be today then it's going to be here. And, must I remind you of what will happen if you repeat what I tell you? Also, do you still have it?"

He looked at her, smirking. "I know, I know, the cursing into oblivion. And what do you think, I left it?" He rolled his eyes. "Just where are we going?" That satisfied her and they continued on.

"Alright," she looked at him for a second, "actually, we are here." She moved forward up to some bushes at the end of the walk, peeked over them and quickly hid again. "We're at the edge of the boardwalk and part of the park that's just grass and trees."

He looked at her like she was insane. "You know, I'm really confused here." He began walking to the edge, and she yanked him back by his shirt collar.

"Ow! What the hell-" He exclaimed, rubbing his throat with his hand. "What-"

"We tiptoe closer and keep down, ya ferret!" Ginny squatted, and, like a duck, waddled to the edge to peek over the side into the grass. "Do what I did," she told Draco, who looked like he'd rather jump in the pond water. "Just do it!" She hissed.

He followed suit and squatted beside her. "Okay, I want you to very slowly look up, and tell me who you see closest to us."

He looked hesitant and rather that he still thought Ginny crazy, but nodded. He slowly raised himself to the edge of a bush, and about three metres away there was a man and a woman of about middle age sitting on a bench. They were talking, and they had their arms wrapped around each other's sides. A seemingly happy couple. Draco bent back down to Ginny's level.

"There's just a couple up there," he reported. "It seems they're just enjoying each other's company."

"Nothing familiar about them at all?" Ginny asked.

He stared at the ground to think and shook his head when he looked back up at Ginny. "No, nothing."

"Should I recognise them?" He asked, concern written on his face.

She smiled. "No, you never knew them."

"But-then why would you ask if I knew them?" His forehead creased.

She pointed up. "I want you to peek again, still slowly, and see if you notice anyone else around them." He looked hesitant. "Do it!" She pushed his back.

He looked up yet again, and the couple was still there. "What else am I looking for, Ginger?" His eyes scanned the place, and he saw a person sitting on another bench about fifteen metres from the couple. "Ginny!" He hissed down to her. "There's another person behind the couple! It's-" He paused. "Wait a minute. Ginny!"

"So you found them?" Ginny asked when Draco was back on the ground.

He was troubled, not sure what to say. He looked at her. "That was-but why would she-why here?" He started to stand up again, but Ginny pulled him back down.

"Put the pieces together, Malfoy." She raised an eyebrow at him. It appeared he was trying to, but nothing was coming to mind. "Oh, come on! Who did you see first?" She persisted, frustrated with him.

"Uh, the man and woman?" He answered, clearly not thinking he was dumb. "What does that have to do with-" He stopped, his mouth open. He stared at Ginny who slowly smiled as the pieces of the puzzle were finally being connected in his brain.

"They're her..." He pointed to the bush, though what he meant were the people on the other side of it.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, they are. And that is why," her face turned severe, "you are never to repeat what you've seen to anyone!" She pointed her finger in his face.

He seemed to be processing this information because while he was quiet, his eyes darted back and forth, and his brows were squished together.

"Well," he started when he had come back to the world, "what do we do?" He wanted to peek over the bush again to observe the three of them, but she pulled him down, again.

"What you're going to do is walk to the other side of the way so she doesn't see you... yet," Ginny told him. "It's difficult for her."

"Right," he agreed. "So I guess I'll just turn around and walk back the way we came since I can't exactly Disapparate here."

Ginny was absentmindedly playing with her chin. "Oh, I think you'll be fine doing that if you just appear in one of the other bushes over there. Nobody is over there."

The nerves were taking over Draco. "Alright. And you?" He asked.

She grinned. "Oh, I have the best spot. I'm staying."