Week Six - Patience
“Luna,” Hermione said, trying to keep her tone light as she adjusted her legs which had begun to cramp beneath her. “How much longer is this going to take?”
“I’ve told you, Hermione,” Luna’s breathy voice replied, continuing to stare at the sky through her massive pair of omnioculars. “They’ll know when it’s time. We just have to wait.”
“I think Granger would be more patient if you told us who they are,” Malfoy said. He was lying on his back with his hands underneath his head, looking far more relaxed than Hermione was feeling.
Hermione wondered how Luna had roped Malfoy, of all people, into sitting in this field for an entire Saturday. She had to assume Luna had made some bargain with him. After all, Hermione was only here because Luna had promised to write a piece on her Kelpie legislation in The Quibbler.
“If I told you, it would hardly be a surprise any longer,” Luna said.
“I don’t like surprises,” Malfoy sighed, and Hermione couldn’t help but agree with him.
She felt like she was being held hostage in a bucolic landscape painting, trapped by Henri Martin or his contemporaries, forced to forever stare at the cloudy grey sky while the heath blew around her in the light breeze.
If a bloody sheep appeared, she was apparating out of here. Surprise or not.
“Draco, could you pass me the leek from my bag, please?” Luna asked.
“Lunch already?” Malfoy sat up and started rummaging through Luna’s sunflower-shaped satchel.
“Oh, not at all,” Luna said, finally lowering her face from the heavens to look at them. “Hermione seems to have drawn some Leigeculls to us. The leek will ward them off.”
“Leigecull — that isn’t a breed of sheep, is it?” Hermione said dryly.
“They’re creatures,” Luna explained. “Sweet little things, but they feed on impatience and can be quite difficult to get rid of once they’ve latched onto someone.”
“I had no idea you were so impatient, Granger.” Malfoy smirked, grey eyes alight. “I’ve finally found something you’re not good at — waiting.”
“I am perfectly capable of being patient, thank you,” Hermione replied, crossing her arms. “I’ve just got a lot of work to do.”
“It’s Saturday, Granger. I think the crup orphans can survive a day without you protesting for more chew toys or whatever it is you do.”
“For your information, Malfoy, the crup population is—”
“It’s happening!” Luna gasped, grabbing her omnioculars.
The sky turned from grey to gold as thousands of Golden Snidgets flew above them. Hermione gasped and Malfoy cursed in awe. It was stunning, almost indescribable as the little birds soared across the sky.
Once the Snidgets were out of sight, Luna banished her omnioculars to her bag.
“The Snidget migration — a blessing for new romantic relationships,” Luna breathed.
Hermione’s jaw dropped. “What romantic relationship?”
“I think you’ll be so happy together,” Luna said, smiling brightly at them.
Hermione scoffed. “As if!”
Malfoy grinned. “I can be patient.”