Everyone stood quietly, watching as the flying carriage shrank into a tiny black speck against the distant sky.
If not for the faint sweetness still lingering in the air, and the silvery figure that seemed to remain etched in their minds, they might have believed everything that had just happened was nothing more than a dream.
Yes. Everyone.
Even Draco himself hadn't expected that Fleur Delacour, who always held her chin high when looking at others, would deliberately come to say goodbye before leaving, let alone invite him to visit Paris.
An invitation made so openly, in front of everyone, shattered the hearts of many male wizards who had been watching closely.
After all, that was Fleur Delacour, the cold and aloof witch who had turned down countless advances.
Yet this thorny, hard-to-reach flower had now revealed a hidden softness to one man.
And that man was Draco Malfoy.
Draco could ignore the jealous, resentful stares around him, but he couldn't avoid the direct look from the girl beside him.
"If you're feeling reluctant, why not just move 'that place' to Paris instead? What do you think?"
"..."
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
What sounded like a casual suggestion, but was really a carefully dug pit, came from Hermione Granger, who had quietly slipped over from Gryffindor.
After everything that had just happened, there was no way the know-it-all would let it pass unnoticed.
Even though she had already made her feelings clear, that stubborn pride of hers still lingered. She clearly didn't want Draco going to Paris, yet she still said something that went completely against her own heart.
If it was meant as a test, it felt more like jealousy.
"Have you read yourself stupid, Granger? Can't you tell what that woman is thinking?!"
"...Parkinson, if you don't know how to speak, then be quiet!"
"No way! I'm not letting that woman get what she wants."
Hermione rubbed her temples and rolled her eyes. The more time she spent around Pansy, the more she understood just how foolishly earnest she could be. No, more accurately, whenever anything related to Draco was involved, this usually clever woman became downright idiotic.
Did Pansy really think Hermione wanted Draco to go to Paris?
Besides, the Fidelius Charm wasn't something you could just change on a whim.
Was this what people meant when they said love made you stupid?
Surely she wasn't like that…
...
While Pansy and Hermione were locked in a silent glare, Draco's attention was caught by something Hermione had said.
Rubeus Hagrid, Olympe Maxime, and Paris, separated from Britain by a stretch of sea.
What was the common link between them? What could possibly tie them together?
After a moment of silence, Draco murmured uncertainly, "That must be it. I think I understand what's going on."
"Hm? What do you understand, Draco?"
"Paris… Paris. Maybe I really should go there."
Hermione: !?
Pansy: ?!
The two girls, who had been glaring at each other just moments ago, immediately bristled at his words.
If Hermione had been speaking against her own feelings earlier, then Pansy had been firmly opposed from the very beginning.
Who would have thought that all that arguing would actually make Draco seriously start considering the idea?
Pansy and Hermione exchanged a look. The two girls, who had been at odds only a second ago, seemed to reach some silent agreement and gave a small nod at the same time.
"Ahem. Actually, if you're really interested in Parisian food, there's no need to make a special trip all the way there." Pansy cleared her throat, one small fist held to her lips, and launched into an analysis like a seasoned gourmet.
"…Oh, right! I just remembered. There happens to be a very authentic French restaurant near my place. That would be perfect. No need to travel so far and trouble people who have nothing to do with it."
Hermione, who was terrible at lying, stumbled through that entire speech and then let out a long breath once she finished.
Faced with the two girls' earnest advice, Draco rubbed the bridge of his nose in bafflement.
"Who said I'm going to Paris for the food?"
"…So you're going for that woman!!"
"Draco, are you dumping me and Gran—mmph!"
Thud!
Realizing instantly what was going on, Draco's face darkened as he chopped Pansy lightly to shut her up.
"Hermione's right. If you don't know how to speak, then don't. And when did I ever say I wanted to go to Paris because of the Delacour sisters?"
Understanding she'd jumped to conclusions, Pansy immediately clung to Draco's arm, practically wagging an invisible tail as she puffed out her lips pitifully.
"Draco, you're bullying me~"
Rolling her eyes, Hermione didn't hesitate to yank Pansy away from Draco. She then looked at him with confusion.
"Then what are you thinking?"
"Don't you two find it strange?"
"Strange? What do you mean?"
"This might sound a bit rude, but from a woman's point of view, is Rubeus Hagrid really a charming man?"
"...."
"....."
Silence itself was an answer.
"Let me put it more plainly. Does that Beauxbatons Headmistress really have that much to talk about with Rubeus Hagrid?"
"...."
"....."
Draco's bluntness earned him a light jab in the side from Hermione, who was on good terms with Hagrid, while Pansy shot him an amused sideways glance.
Was that even a question? No, what did this have to do with going to Paris?
Apparently, there was no need for an answer at all. Their reactions alone said everything.
...
Only after the two girls finally stopped harping on Paris did Draco continue.
"Based on the information I have, the mountainous regions around Paris are actually the largest area of Giant activity in all of Europe."
"You mean… Giants?"
Hearing this for the first time, Hermione stared at Draco in shock.
In truth, not everything was recorded in books, especially secrets that were never meant to see the light of day.
"Yes. The Ministry over there has kept it under wraps, but among the Sacred Twenty-Eight Families, it's not much of a secret."
"So you think…"
"Coupled with the natural advantage of Giant blood in their lineage, I can't help being wary of their conversations and motives."
"...."
"I don't know if it'll actually help, but preparing in advance is never a bad thing."
"Of course, it's also possible those two really did hit it off."
The moment he finished saying that, Hermione kicked Draco in the shin once again.