Chapter 280: The Three Broomsticks
Della and Draco, the young couple, ate cake and tea leisurely in Madam Puddifoot's Tea House, which was small and compact, decorated in a cliché style but just right for couples in love. From time to time, they would put down their spoons and tea sets, and chat about the year they had been absent in the hot steam wafting from their teacups.
After a leisurely conversation at noon, both of them felt closer to each other.
The afternoon was the highlight of Draco's date plan - the Fengya wizard clothing store. He still remembered what Della said when she received the cape he had ordered for her on Halloween in her second year, "I like new clothes."
And he also wanted to see what Della looked like in different clothes.
So when Della changed ten sets of clothes and still met Draco's sparkling eyes, she knew that she, who was good at shopping, had met her match.
"You look so happy, Draco." Della swung her skirt and looked at Draco, who had been staring at her. Then she smiled and picked up a piece of men's clothing and threw it to him. "You have already taken all those clothes. I have had enough. It's your turn now."
"...Me?" Draco, who was surrounded by shopping bags, took the clothes and pointed at himself in confusion. After getting Della's nod, he scratched his head and stood up.
"Isn't shopping for girls just about picking out clothes?" Draco walked to Della with clothes in his hand and muttered. He hadn't seen enough of Della in her new clothes.
"Don't you want to dress nicely so that I will be happier when I go out with you next time?" Della said as she picked up a few clothes and tried them on Draco, and then piled several more clothes in his hands, "If you want to, go try them on quickly."
"Then I'll also see you wearing something different next time." Draco said with a smile on his face, unwilling to admit defeat, and walked into the fitting room holding the clothes.
Then the situation was reversed. Della sat there, making comments like "Not bad", "You look good in it", "That one goes better with it", "I want this one". Draco felt tired when he put on the fifth outfit, but as soon as he came out of the fitting room and faced Della's praise, he immediately became energetic, but after being energetic, he returned to the fitting room again feeling tired.
In the end, both of them returned with a full load. It was four o'clock in the afternoon. The weather had become colder, and even Draco pulled his clothes together.
"It's too cold to walk back like this," Draco said as he carried most of the shopping bags. He couldn't even warm Della's hands. He looked around and finally suggested to Della, "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks and have a cup of butterbeer to warm ourselves up before going back?"
"Beer?" Della was holding a few small bags in her hands. She thought for a moment, "I haven't drunk any alcohol yet. Is it strong?"
"It has almost no alcohol content and has a strong creamy taste," Draco, a regular customer of Butterbeer, recommended this drink. "It tastes a bit sweet, but the key is that it really warms your body after you drink it."
"Let's go." After listening to Draco's words, Della wanted to try butterbeer.
The Three Broomsticks Tavern was very lively. There were almost no empty tables. People were holding their glasses and talking loudly. From time to time, there were a few laughs, adding fuel to the liveliness of the tavern. There were also quite a few familiar faces inside.
Among them, the table of Fred, George, Ron and Lee Jordan was the most eye-catching. This was actually normal. When were the Weasley twins not eye-catching?
In the busy pub, Della's appearance was abrupt yet not abrupt, because everyone in the pub was more focused on their own table, and few people had the leisure to look at everyone who entered the pub. However, people also have the nature to glance at the movements around them, so they would subconsciously look at Della when she passed by, and immediately fall silent. After they recovered, they would start discussing with their companions, but at this moment they would just whisper.
Fortunately, the Three Broomsticks were really popular among the classmates, and the whispers along the way could perfectly blend into the excitement created by the passion of each table. Otherwise, Della would have to face the scene of complete silence as soon as she appeared. Although she had seen such scenes many times, this time it was a date, which would obviously cast a shadow on today's perfection.
Della and Draco walked through the crowd, deliberately avoiding Fred and George, the twins who would never let her go if they got the chance to talk to her. The Weasley family attached too much importance to feelings. Della knew that Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and the Weasleys all regretted the complete change of their camps, and behind their regrets was their unwillingness and strong motivation.
Della was very happy that they were still willing to pull her back at this time, but she could only refuse now. Every refusal would make her uncomfortable, so she didn't want to face it.
"You sit here for a while, I'll go buy two butterbeers." After finally squeezing into an empty seat in the corner, Draco considerately pulled out a not-so-exquisite chair for his girlfriend at the Three Broomsticks Tavern. After Della sat down, he struggled to squeeze towards the bar.
After Draco blended into the crowd, Della turned her head to meet the gaze that had just fallen on her, and found that Hermione was sitting at a table not far from her, holding a notebook in her hand, looking straight at her.
Then, Della saw Hermione's mouth move, which made her immediately realize who the other prying gaze from the air belonged to. Harry was wearing an invisibility cloak next to Hermione. Then Hermione stood up, his eyes still fixed on her, and both gazes slowly approached her.
Della didn't dodge. She calmly watched Hermione sit down opposite her with a serious face, and asked first, "What's the matter, Hermione?"
"..." Hermione, who felt like she had a lot to say, suddenly couldn't say a word. She sat in front of Della because she was a Gryffindor and would not abandon any friend who needed help, but she was also a smart and delicate girl. She knew exactly how Della would use a calm attitude to prevaricate her disappointment and hope, which made her feel powerless and frustrated.
"Rita Skeeter's matter," Hermione finally stopped trying to persuade her to stay, and instead started talking about the latest and hottest news. She wanted to chat with Della, but also to get some information. She thought this matter was related to Della. "Did you do it?"
"How come?" Della asked in confusion, "I have been in Hogwarts for the past two weeks and I haven't even looked for my owl."
Della showed a kind of implicit acquiescence, contrary to her usual confusion. Hermione understood this instantly. She muttered, "Rita Skeeter doesn't matter. I don't like the reporter who wrote me as Harry's first love, but from what I know of Della, she won't force someone into a desperate situation just because of an article against her."
“Dead end?” Della put one hand on her forehead and smiled silently after lowering her eyes. “Your definition of dead end is too broad. It’s just the beginning. Besides, what Miss Skeeter is facing should not be a dead end, but retribution.”
"She could write you as a stunningly beautiful, well-educated Muggle-born next to the savior Harry Potter," Della repeated Rita Skeeter's original text word by word, "or she could change the direction and add Ron in, invent a love triangle between you, and write you as a romantic socialite."
"What?" Hermione's face wrinkled as she listened.
"The power of words is very strong, especially when they are published in a credible place," Della looked to the empty right hand side, "the power of public opinion is also strong. Even if it is false, the slandered person will spend thousands of energy to redeem his innocence."
"Of course, that's only if the person being slandered pays attention to external public opinion. If he doesn't care at all, then it's another matter, but there are too few people like that," Della said, still looking into the air. "Most people don't even want to face up to the alienation between friends, let alone not caring about anything external."
Wearing an Invisibility Cloak to the pub without any restrictions? Della could guess at once that Harry was hiding from someone close to him.
But her words were not entirely directed to Harry, but also to Hermione, hoping that she could face the fact that she had completely embarked on the path of a hostile force.
Della was talking to herself more because she knew that she still had a desire for affection and warmth in her heart, which was why she could not cut the Gordian knot, even though she knew that was the most appropriate approach.
Hermione heard what Della meant, but she didn't react immediately. She frowned and asked, "What do you mean by this?"
"It means you should leave this seat," Della smiled lightly. She said politely, motioning Hermione to turn around and look at Draco who had already come over. "That's my boyfriend's seat."
"Tsk..." Hermione's face fell and she stood up. The most immediate thought in her mind was that Draco was totally unworthy of Della.
"By the way, Hermione, tell Harry to pay attention to the surrounding movements these days," Della said suddenly after Hermione took two steps. "The start date of the first project is getting closer and closer, and there will still be some disturbances in the school."
"You know?" Hermione turned around and asked her.
"Think about what Hagrid has gained here," Della prompted, still worried that Harry would be unprepared to face the Triwizard Tournament, which was dangerous from the beginning.