Summary: A stranger at the park reminds Draco of someone.
Rated: K
Genre: General
Tadpoles in Ponds
Draco appeared on the bridge at the park to a curious scene. Iris was bending down close to the ponds surface, deeply interested in whatever was swimming around in there. What gave him pause was that she was standing in the pond up to her knees. She seemed to be wearing another strange pair of trousers, but instead of those worn jeans she seemed to favor, they looked to be of a thinner material, and were pulled up above her knees to avoid getting them wet.
He slowly approached, not wanting to disturb whatever she was doing in that putrid water. Draco wondered if she knew just how gross pond water can get and what could live in them. A vague memory of catching a leech out of this very pond in his youth flashed across his memory before pushing it aside.
Taking the spot he favored on the bench nearby, Draco watched Iris continue to nearly kiss the water before she slowly turned some and waded toward the ponds edge, never taking her eyes off the water.
Several minutes ticked on by before Iris finally stood to her full height and moved to the bank where the ground naturally dipped into the pond. She reached for a towel as she pulled her muddied feet from the water and onto the grass.
This is when she finally noticed him. "Oh, hello."
Draco nodded a reply, raising a brow at her while she blotted her legs dry but left the mud between her toes. "What were you doing?"
"Watching the tadpoles They've finally hatched," Iris replied, smiling lightly as she glanced back into the water. "Want to see them?"
"You've got a leech," Draco said, gesturing to her right calf. "Near your knee."
"Ah."
Iris reached around and grabbed the creature as close to her skin as possible before pulling. Thankfully the bugger hadn't latched yet and she was able to ease it off quickly.
"Need it for potions?"
He gave a shrug, finding the question slightly off-putting. When he didn't reply, Iris tossed it back into the pond. "Another day, then."
She sat down beside him where her book bag resided and offered Draco a small smile. "Today is a lovely day, isn't it?"
"Mmm," he hummed, unable to pull his gaze from her as she reached for her art things. "You remind me of someone I know from school. It's eerie. I wouldn't be remotely surprised if you're related to her, even."
"That's a stretch," Iris said. "What makes you think that?"
"Her name is Lovegood, sound familiar?"
She simply shook her head.
"Luna?"
"No, sorry."
"Shame," Draco said, smirking. "You two could be twins."
Originally Written For:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Word Count: 446
Originally Written: May 2019