Chapter 234: The Date: Second Half (1/2)
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The link is also in the synopsis.
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「Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop」
Daphne observed the little tea shop glancing at the number of golden cherubs that hovered over the shop sign. ”Is this what people would say.. . cute?” she asked.
”Yes, that's what people would say.” Quinn peered inside, and it was the same scene inside with cupids, pink, frills, and bows. A pit settled on the bottom of his stomach; he had been rushed in his proposition to go inside — this shop unpleasantly reminded him a lot of Umbridge's office — he would know, he had, after all, watched hours of footage.
Daphne scrutinized the group of little chubby cherubs sprinkling pink confetti over the guests. ”I would rather not if that's fine with you,” she said.
”I am of the same mind,” he said, spotting Roger Davis, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain holding hands with a blonde, kissing over a sugar bowl. ”I don't think today is the right day to enter the shop, maybe some other day.”
”I think Three Broomsticks would be better,” said Daphne, ”I'm feeling a little parched.”
Quinn nodded, ”That would indeed be better.”
The pair turned away from Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and headed to Madam Rosmerta's Three Broomstick Inn. The pub, as always, was flush with activity. It seemed that even Three Broomsticks couldn't get away from the spirit of Valentine's; Quinn could spot splashes of pink, red, and white around the establishment, though the tasteful utilization made Quinn comfortable.
”Let's find a place to sit,” he said. Luckily they were able to find a relatively quiet table in the seating area. ”What will you have today?” he asked.
”A butterbeer will do,” said Daphne.
Quinn came back with a glass mug of butterbeer, one tankard (Eddie's gift) full of hot chocolate peppermint, and a bowl of chips (crisps) for the table.
”That rain can put a hamper on such lovely weather,” said Quinn. ”A pity that it rained, especially how sunny the day had started as.”
”February can do that to you,” said Daphne, pushing a stray stand behind her ear as not to stain her hair with butterbeer. ”Thankfully, it was only a light spray. A heavy pour would have been truly unfortunate.”
”I saw that you brought some herbs from Dogweed and Deathcap. From the assortments you purchased, I would guess burn salves?”
”Yes. The schedule that you provided us,” by 'us' Daphne meant the DA representative, ”you have Incendio next on the list, so I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to try my hand on burn heals. If the brewing goes well, we would have the salves ready in case someone got burned.”
A typical teenager wouldn't talk casually about supplying burn salves for many dozens of students out of her own pocket, but people sometimes forgot that Daphne was heir to the Greengrass fortune and had no shortage of coin. The boy sitting opposite to Daphne was similarly from an exuberant background, but unlike Daphne, who preferred to keep things simple, Quinn had an air of posh attached to him — everything from the subtle ambiance of the AID office to the way he dressed, screamed a subtle class.
”What do you think Tracey and Eddie are doing right now?” asked Daphne.
”Let's see if Eddie's on schedule,” Quinn took a look at his pocket watch. ”Tracey doesn't fly much, so Eddie borrowed my broom so both of them could go flying today. There's an added thrill because of the flying ban, sticking it to Umbridge.”
”I hope they stay away from the castle,” said Daphne, glancing outside through a window, ”I wouldn't want them to get into trouble.”
”Marcus grilled Eddie. They will be flying someway up north, away from the castle,” said Quinn. ”Speaking of Marcus, did you hear about the tea party he's having with Luna and Astoria.”
”You missed Madam Pomfrey,” Daphne sighed, ”I don't know how they were able to convince her to let them have inside the hospital wing. Marcus and Luna might be quiet, but my sister is anything but. I fear that Madam Pomfrey might kick them out.”
”Luna knows a one-way silencing ward, so it'll be fine if they made some noise. Madam Pomfrey might not look like it, but she enjoys a good tea time.” Quinn was the authority on the matter. To this day, from time to time, he took a picnic basket to the hospital wing and set up a table to kick back and relax.
As the two talked and conversed, enjoying each other's company, a part of their minds were thinking that coming to Three Broomsticks might have been a poor decision. Both would have preferred a quieter setting with not so many people around them.
Daphne calmly sipped on her butterbeer, but she could notice the number of eyes on them. She simply smiled, nodded, and tittered along with Quinn, ignoring whatever was happening around her. Quinn was thinking along the same lines, thinking if it would've been better if they had just remained in Scrivenshaft, or if Madam Puddifoot's would somehow be a better choice.
The double door to the inn pushed open, for a cold gust of winter wind further hilled by the downpour to enter the building, stroking the nearby occupants like death's touch, sending shivers down spines and goosebumps up the arms. The door closed behind four Gryffindors, the ones known to many as the Golden Squad.
”It's bloody crowded today,” said Ron, shrugging his robe off his shoulders.
”It's Valentine's day,” said Hermione matter of factly, as if it answered everything. She could spot couples dotting the pub, some sitting shoulder to shoulder, then there were those still new in their endeavors with some distance between them.
”Let's see if we can find a table,” said Harry, scoping the place, ”I see one; it's perfect for four.”
”I'll get the drinks. What does everyone want to drink?” said Ivy and took the orders. She separated from the group and went to the bar while the other three headed to their table.
”Just when I thought the weather would warm up, the rain pulled in right down,” said Ron, his mouth pinched, ”it's cold out there in the air; it isn't like the Quidditch gear is particularly warm, my fingers feel like they would fall.”
Harry heaved a sigh, averting his eyes as his posture sagged. His detention period with Umbridge had long ended, but vile women had refused to let his Quidditch ban lift. It had been so long he had taken his broom to the air, he had forgotten what it felt like to have the winds sweep his hair back, fluttering his robes. He even missed the chill prickling his skin when he sped through the air.
”It's okay, mate,” said Ron, patting his best friend on the shoulder, ”we will win the cup for you.” The season had been looking good for Gryffindor; they were only in second above Hufflepuff and only below Ravenclaw. The chances to make it to the finals were excellent.
Harry nodded outwardly with a thankful smile, but inside, those words didn't do much good. Harry wanted to play, he wanted to be on the field, wanted to chase down the snitch and be the reason the team won. He was happy for Ginny getting the seeker position, but he really wished that he was in her place.
'I really hope he makes a move quickly,' thought Harry. He really wanted to get back on the broom.
”Aye, isn't that West, there,” said Ron.
Bubbles of surprise popped in Harry's mind — he was just thinking of Quinn — was the man really the devil. He goggled his eyes around the pub to see if Ron had spotted someone else.
”And that's Greengrass with him,” said Hermione.
Harry followed her eyes and captured the Slytherin and Ravenclaw sitting together — to his surprise, Daphne Greengrass was laughing, albeit softly — a rare sight despite knowing the girl since they were little loitering children.
”That's rare, seeing those two alone together,” Hermione said — usually, they would be accompanied by their respective friends.
”Reckon they're on a date?” said Ron. The Hogwarts rumor mill hadn't read the Golden Squad yet.
Hermione's eyes narrowed her eyes. It was unusual, but there was a chance that Ron was correct this time, she thought. But before she could accept the guess, she needed to know if it was true. Hermione scanned the room and found the perfect people to ask, sitting right behind her.