Chapter 107 Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop
"I'm sorry; my friend is waiting for me there!"
When he turned to where he was looking, Cho Chang saw Hermione standing at the door.
"Oh, well, I'm glad to have met you." Cho seemed a bit disappointed. She said softly, "Goodbye, Evan!"
"Goodbye!" Evan waved his hand.
"Who is that girl?" Hermione approached and suspiciously eyed Cho's back.
"Her name is Cho Chang, a fourth-year Ravenclaw student. I accidentally bumped into her. I helped her pick up her sweets, and she invited me to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop across the street..."
"Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop?!" Hermione repeated in a low voice, with narrowed eyes. "It looks lovely!"
"Yes, it is quite charming..."
Evan felt something was amiss. He had not finished speaking, but Hermione, who was in front of him, suddenly seemed a bit sad.
"Cho looks very nice, but she's not my type," Evan cautiously said. "To me, you are always the most beautiful, Hermione!"
Upon hearing this, Hermione blushed, and the tense atmosphere softened.
"This is so unlike you, Evan!" Hermione said with seriousness but a smile on her face. "It must be something you learned from Vicky."
Vicky Frobisher is Evan's roommate and a handsome lad. He usually chases after girls and has poor grades.
"I really think so."
Evan gazed at Hermione earnestly, pondering deeply and trying to recall Vicky's tricks that he implements when talking to girls every night before bed.
"Alright, I'll believe you for now," Hermione felt embarrassed and tried to avoid Evan's gaze.
The atmosphere was uncomfortable. Evan remembered Vicky had told him these moments are crucial, and he should seize them to win the girl's heart. He must not give her a chance to evade.
But, what should he do next?!
Before this, Evan had no romantic experience. He had no time to ponder such matters with all the studying and exams he had.
Even if he liked a girl, he would only watch her from afar.
Facing Hermione, Evan didn't know what to do, but he knew he had to say something!
"Hermione, I..." Evan gathered his courage.
"Wait a moment, Evan!" Hermione seemed to have realized something, and her eyes, which had avoided Evan's gaze, met his again. "You are too careless. The school did not allow you to go to Hogsmeade. If you get caught, then you would be..."
"Don't worry, I don't think Cho is the type to rat me out," Evan blinked, and the momentum and atmosphere he had built crumbled in a second.
"Of course, she wouldn't, but what if Malfoy sees you? You'd be in big trouble, especially after offending Professor Snape this morning," Hermione said, concerned. "Hurry; you should put on Harry's invisibility cloak."
Evan realized Hermione was right. At that moment, he saw from the shop's window the trio of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Quickly, he took out Harry's invisibility cloak from his backpack and draped it over his head.
Just as he disappeared, he heard Malfoy's voice approaching.
"This year's Quidditch Cup belongs to Slytherin. Who would have thought Potter would be so scared of Dementors? Next time they have a match, the three of us could show up in Cloaks and scare him, he'd fall off again, and they'd have to install a parachute on his broom."
Crabbe and Goyle laughed, Malfoy smiled smugly. He felt satisfied with what he had said when suddenly he saw Hermione standing alone in a corner, a mischievous smile on her pale face.
"In addition to that incident, my father will be attending a hearing organized by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures in January to inform its members that I was unable to move my arm for three months!" Malfoy deliberately raised his voice. "I truly hope to be present when it occurs, so I may witness that foolish furry behemoth attempting to defend that creature: 'It's harmless! Truly, it's safe!'"
"Come on, Evan!" Hermione ignored Malfoy.
She knew he was merely speaking nonsense. With recent efforts, both Hagrid and Buckbeak should be fine. There was no need to dignify Malfoy with a response.
That's why Malfoy must truly be insane.
He narrowed his eyes as Hermione walked past him. It seemed like he wanted to stop her, but hesitated and did nothing.
Hermione was alone in this, without Evan, Harry, or Ron by her side. Malfoy did not want to appear as if he were harassing a girl.
"Think about it, when they behead that stupid big-headed hippogriff, I think he might cry, ha, ha!" Malfoy said that deliberately, glancing at Hermione's back as she walked away.
Upon hearing Malfoy's laughter, Evan was furious. Then he noticed a barrel of jelly slugs nearby and suddenly had an idea.
"Open the door and wait a moment for me!" Evan whispered to Hermione.
This opportunity is too good to waste.
He silently followed behind Malfoy, aimed at his backside, drew back his foot, and then kicked with all his might!
The next instant, Malfoy was face down with his head in the barrel of jelly slugs. The green liquid splattered everywhere.
His legs flailed and he screamed inside the barrel. Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other in panic before attempting to help him out.
The scene was chaotic, and everyone in the store watched in astonishment, wondering why he would stick his head in the barrel of slugs. After all, even if he liked that sweet so much, there was no reason to go to such lengths!
Ignoring the chaos behind him, Evan ran out of Honeydukes laughing, thinking about how happy Harry and Ron would be when they found out. Unfortunately, Colin was not there. Otherwise, this would have been front-page news next week.
"You shouldn't have done that, Evan!" Hermione said, laughing and concerned at the same time. "If Malfoy finds out you're here..."
"I have the invisibility cloak on, Hermione. He can't see me. No one will know it was me." Evan shivered and realized he wasn't wearing a coat. "We need to find somewhere to go. How about the Three Broomsticks? A butterbeer would be perfect in this weather!"
"Perhaps we shouldn't go there. That place is quite popular. Malfoy might go there too. It would be better to go to the Leaky Cauldron or..."
Through her thick scarf, Hermione suddenly spotted a small tea shop on the corner that she had never noticed before. The sign outside read "Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop."
She still remembered what Evan had mentioned. Cho Chang from Ravenclaw had invited him there. Perhaps she should take a look.