The Difference Between a Cat and a Comma (HP - Drarry)

Chapter 6: Double Trouble

A/N: I'm sorry for the wait on this one, you guys! I hit some major writer's block, and had three weeks of my mother and my inlaws visiting, and worsening physical and mental health, and a couple of original short stories i was trying to finish... and you guys just want to get to the good stuff, I know. In any case, thanks for putting up with my erratic posting schedule. You should be happy to know that the final two chapters (7 and 8) are complete; I will post them Thursday and Saturday evening, respectively. And now... enjoy!

Despite Draco's initial misgivings, the date was surprisingly fun – at first, anyway. The walk to Hogsmeade was brilliant – the sky was shockingly blue, the trees blazed with bursts of autumn color, and the sun warmed their backs. The two couples ambled along, in no particular hurry, joking and laughing, talking of nothing of import, gossiping about their fellow students' relationships and drama – everything they'd missed out on. The taste of teenage normalcy that the war had stolen from them was heady. Luna regaled them with stories of all the strange and bizarre things they'd missed about their peers; the Weaselette ranted about Quidditch. Harry and Draco mainly listened, sharing grins and leaning close to whisper snide remarks in one another's ear.

Soon, they were giggling, leaning against one another for support and weaving along the path, drunk with sunshine and laughter. Draco found he didn't care if they never made it into town. He would gladly give up the promised meal for the chance to stay out here, alone together, away from nosy, prying, judgmental eyes – where they could steal kisses and swing their clasped hands between them without fear of repercussions. It was peaceful. He felt light, and freer than he had in years.

Eventually, their complaining stomachs urged them into town, toward the lure of food. "Ooh! Let's go in here!" Luna dragged the Weaselette to the side, bouncing across the street toward a small restaurant with an incredibly tacky window display of pink hearts and roses.

"We are not going to Madam Puddifoot's!" Draco stared, horrified, silently imploring the others to agree. Surely Harry would understand...

Harry bit his lip, indecisive. "Well..."

"Oh, come on," Luna insisted. "She has the best scones – you'll see." She dragged the Weaselette through the door, and Harry shrugged and turned to follow.

Draco rolled his eyes. Tell me I'm not doing this, he grumbled to himself as he gave in and followed the others, sneering at the overly-frilly window display as he passed it. He was enveloped in a fragrant cloud of steam as he stepped through the doorway, and his stomach growled embarrassingly loudly. Luna was right, he thought, damn her. The food smells absolutely divine. She's never going to let me hear the end of this.

They found an empty table in a quiet nook near the back, half-hidden behind a privacy curtain that had far too many tassels. Draco looked around at the kitschy decor and knick-knacks in horror. There were more doilies scattered about than he'd ever seen – and that included in the home of his father's unfortunate Great-Aunt Bathilda. Luna – being Luna – declared that she rather liked it, and that was that.

The table was meant for two, but the Weaselette and Harry simply grabbed extra chairs from nearby tables and they all crowded close. It would have been romantic, with the lace and the candles, save for the constantly bumping knees and elbows and the sidelong glances from the servers as they bustled past.

Harry sat across from Draco, as they'd agreed on earlier; Luna and the Weaselette on either side. None of them was ready to come out yet, which was what made this double-date plan of Luna's so deviously brilliant. No one would bat an eye at Harry and the Weaselette, nor at Draco and Luna. Draco didn't like pretending – rather, he didn't like Harry pretending. He didn't mind Luna – she was obliviously adorable as ever – but watching the Weaselette hanging on Harry's arm rankled. He hoped Luna knew what she was doing.