Red dragon

65

Nearly everyone slept late the day after the ball. Even most teachers weren't seen moving around until eleven o'clock.

Breakfast was an empty affair; lunch was groggy and miserable. However full of Chatter about the wonderful night before it may have been.

Draco was strangely quiet, Harry suspected he was still half asleep; he looked really tired. Hermione could not stop talking, however every time someone asked her even a small question she would blush furiously. Ron had fallen back to sleep beside his lunch.

This lead to Fred stealing all the chicken from his plate and tossing it away. Fred insisted that no one in his family would eat chicken. He was very serious about protecting the chickens. Harry wouldn't tell anyone but he had found the boy clucking around in his Animagus form with Hagrids chickens. He did wonder if they were good conversation, but wouldn't ask.

"Oh 'Arry, Cedric." Fleur came up to the table beaming. She held a drink in one hand and a newspaper in the other. "'Ello everyone."

"Hi Fleur." Cedric nodded at the girl.

"Good morning Fleur." Ginny nodded tiredly as the older girl sat beside her.

Fleur smiled at Ginny next to her; she took a drink and spoke. "I cannot remember your name, but I saw you dance. You were good."

"Oh, It's Ginny."

"Ginny, 'ave you taken lessons?"

Ginny looked a little confused. "No, never."

"You should, you would be ever so good."

"I don't think so. But thanks."

Fleur smiled at the girl, before turning to face Harry. "Oh 'Arry, I saw the photograph. You and Luna looked 'ever so….. so sugary."

"You mean sweet, Fleur." Hermione corrected.

"Oh? That does not sound right." She said, but waved her hand. "No. It is your language, so you are probably right. 'ave you seen the photograph 'arry?" The Veela girl was very cheery that morning; well, early afternoon, anyway.

"What Photograph?"

Fleur placed her drink down and showed him the front page of the Daily Prophet. On the page was the picture of Harry kissing Luna the night before. Harry watched himself lean in and then both teenagers quickly pulled away both blushing furiously. He was smiling like a fool. Behind them the Grey Lady's ghost was watching carefully.

'The Chosen One's Chosen One. Harry Potter dating Luna Lovegood. Is it true love? By Rita Skeeta'

"How in Merlin's bright green knickers did she get that picture?!"

Fleur smiled at Harry's outburst. "I think you two look very lovely."

"That's not really the point Fleur."

"I suppose not. There is a small photograph of Viktor and 'ermione later in the article." Fleur added.

Hermione leaned over to have a look at the newspaper.

"What does the article actually say?" Ginny asked.

"Oh yes." Fleur lifted the paper so she could see what was written. After Harry had told her about her future husband she had been taking ever chance to practice her English. "It gives a full detail of your entire relationship up till now. It talks about your personality and Luna's personality. She does suggest that Luna and yourself are not compatible but, of course, I don't agree with that."

"They're like the most compatible couple in the world." It was actually Dean that spoke up. He and Seamus were the most rested of all the Gryffindor's. They left the party early; no dates. They were found collapsed together on a pile of sweets when Harry came back.