Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch. 134

That evening Céline let Draco know that she would go sit with Harry and Hermione for dinner. She knew that Hermione was up to something and she was curious to figure out what it was.

She made her way over to the Gryffindor table, when Harry saw her, he scooted over to make room for her to sit next to him.

He then explained how he had met up with Hermione and to her surprise, Rita Skeeter and Luna Lovegood were there. Hermione's idea was for Harry to tell Rita everything that happened when he fought Voldemort last year, in detail. That way she could write an article about it, so that the wizard community knew the truth. But seeing as Minister Fudge won't allow that to be printed on the Daily Prophet, Luna spoke with her father how as the chief editor of the Quibbler to print it instead.

"I can't wait to see the look on Umbridge's nose when she sees you've gone public." Dean Thomas said from across the table.

"It's the right thing to do, Harry." Said Neville who was also sitting opposite from Céline.

Céline patted Harry's shoulder, comfortingly, "it must have been hard to talk about it, wasn't it."

"Yeah," Harry mumbled, "but people ought to know what Voldemort is capable of, haven't that."

"That's right," said Neville quietly. "And his Death Eaters too... people should know...." His voice trailed off.

After a while, Dean, Seamus, who was scarfing his dinner down in silence next to Dean, and Neville all got up and let the table, leaving Harry, Céline and Hermione waiting for Ron to return from their Quidditch practice.

Céline and Harry caught the sight of Cho entering the hall with her friend that would come with her to the D.A. meetings. "Oh, that reminds me." Céline said looking over to Harry. "How was your date with Cho?"

"Oh, right." Hermione chimed in, "How was it? Why did you come to the Three Broomsticks so early?"

"Early? The date ended early?" Céline asked, looking at them confused.

"Er... it was..." Harry sighed in defeat. "It was a complete disaster, now that you brought it up."

Harry went on to retell them his date with Cho, how everything was great; they had gone to the shops and looked around, had a great conversation about Quidditch, and how they went to Madame Padfoot's Tea Shop. That was where it all went downhill.

He mentioned to Cho that he needed to meet up with Hermione at noon for something and had asked her to come with him. But she got all upset and ended up storming out of the tea shop.

"... so then.." he finished several minutes later, "she jumps up from her seat and says 'I'll see you around, Harry.' And runs out of the place."he let out an exasperated sigh, "I mean what was that all about? What was going on?"

"Oh, Harry..." Hermione said, "you were a bit tactless.."

"Me?" Harry said looking at her incredulously. "One minute we were getting on fine, then she went off talking about how she was asked out by Roger Davies and how she was snogging Cedric in the tea shop last time she came. And I'm tactless? You know she asked me if Cedric said anything in about her before he.. died?"

Harry looked over at Céline for a moment, as if he was going to add something specifically meant for her, but Hermione grabbed his attention.

"You should have told her about meeting me at the end of the date, and you should have been making it seem like you hated the fact that you had to go and that you would have much rather spent the whole day with her, but that I was making you go." Hermione said, "oh and you should have mentioned how ugly you think I am."