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When they got out of the river, they lazed in the glade, letting the sun dry them.
"Think I might tan?" He asked. "It is unusually sunny for October."

"It's Britain. The weather's bipolar." She said. "It'll probably start raining by tonight."

"True."

"If you want to tan properly, you should roll over so you're not half pale, half tan." She said, and he rolled over.

"Good point." He said, sounding slightly muffled.

It turned out Alex had planned even more for their date, as Cedric realised when she led him away from the glade. They walked for what seemed like an age until they got to their destination- a slightly less picturesque area of the forest.
"How big is this forest?"

"I'm not sure anyone really knows." She answered.

"Do you know what's on the other side of it?"

"I figure it stretches out like this for miles and miles and miles. Just greenery." She stopped. "Okay, you've got to be silent."

"Why?"

"Because we can't get caught." She said before climbing the side of a ridge and bending low to keep hidden. Cedric followed though puzzled.

"Oh!" He said, realising very late where she'd brought him. "Saphira!"

"Hi, Saph." Alex greeted. The large dragon settled down on her stomach so they were eye level.

You've brought me a snack. Saphira said delighted.

"No no! You know Cedric. You've met him before in the grove, remember? I don't want to frighten him away. Just any boy who smells like Charlie."

Is he your mate?

"We humans say boyfriend and girlfriend." Alex said.

He smells nice. Saphira remarked.

"She says she likes the way you smell." Alex relayed.

"Likes as in wants to eat me or likes as in I smell pleasant but not edible?" Cedric asked. Saphira roared a laugh.

He's funny.

"I think the latter. Saph doesn't really eat people." Alex said. "Anyways we should get going. We still have some more activities for the day." Alex planted a kiss on Saphira's nose. "Be nice to Charlie, though, or he won't ever let us go for a fly."

I'll be nice. Saphira promised, and Alex was dragging Cedric away again, running through the forest.

"Where are we going now?" He asked.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" She asked and he shrugged. "I'm not telling you anything else."

Alex led him to the room of requirement. Hermione stood outside with a basket.
"Here." She handed it over and Alex took it.

"Thanks." Alex smiled at her friend and Hermione disappeared. Alex led him into the room.

"Woah." He said. The room was slightly dim, but not dark and there was a table for two by a window, complete with two lit candles and a red tablecloth. Alex waved her wand and soft music filtered through. Alex brought out plates from the basket setting them in front of the place settings on the table and two glasses of pumpkin juice. "Clearly you win in the romance department."

Alexandra Weasley: Book 4Where stories live. Discover now