Absence of Potter

Weasley's Distractions

"No thank you," Draco said, attempting to catch up with Ron. "I am perfectly satisfied with not having a date."
"I'm not," Ron said. "Because if Hermione looks at you like that again I'll go mad."
"What?" Draco skidded to stop and Ron groaned.
"Hermione," Ron said. "When I asked her to the ball she didn't look at me, she didn't look at the rose, she looked at you."
"Rubbish," Draco said. "Granger? If I remember right, she's going to the ball with you."
"She doesn't want to," Ron sighed. "I see her, she thinks I'm not watching... But she's looking at you."
"Your eyes must be as messed up as your attic, Weasley," Draco said. "Because there's nothing going on between me and Granger."
"If you say so," Ron walked slower, and Draco was able to keep up with his stride. He stopped as soon as he reached Luna, or "Looney" as some called her.
"Excuse me," Ron's voice cracked, and Luna spun around. A playful smirk appeared on her mouth when she saw Draco.
"Draco," she said. "I thought that you were going to be here, you see, my father published a new issue of the Quibbler and I thought that we could read it together."
"Oh," Draco squeaked, and Ron elbowed him in the side. "Actually, I was wondering..."
"You must speak up, Draco," Luna said. "What did you want to ask me?"
"Do you want to go to the ball with me?" Draco asked, and Luna lit up.
"Yes, of course," she said. "I'll have to get a new costume made. How do you like elephants, Draco?"
"I love them," Draco grimaced, and Luna skipped away.
"Not that hard, was it?" Ron said. "Now let's get back to Hermione." They walked back to the lake, and Hermione was sitting with a book in her hands. "Tales of Beetle the Bard" was scrawled on the cover.
A bit further down the shore was the Quidditch team. "Weasley," the one called Dean shouted. "Come and celebrate with us." They had just won another match the day before.
Ron cast a worried look to Hermione, who was still reading the book. "I'll be back," he shouted, and he ran to his teammates.
Hermione looked up from her book, and her eyes met Draco's. He kept the stare for a few seconds, and she quickly shook her head and gazed at the book again.