第11节

“We’llhavetimelater，”shruggedRon，snatchingthreebutterbeersfromapassingtrayａｎｄhａｎｄingonetoHarry.“Hermione，cophold，let’sgrabatable….Notthere!NowherenearMuriel–“

Ronledthewayacrosstheemptydancefloor，glancingleftａｎｄrightashewent;HarryfeltsurethathewaskeepinganeyeoutforKrum.Bythetimetheyhadreachedtheothersideofthemarquee，mostofthetableswereoccupied:TheemptiestwastheonewhereLunasatalone.

“Allrightifwejoinyou?”askedRon.

“Ohyes，”shesaidhappily.“Daddy’sjustgonetogiveBillａｎｄFleurourpresent.”

“Whatisit，alifetime’ssupplyofGurdyroots?”askedRon.

Hermioneaimedakickathimunderthetable，butcaughtHarryinstead.Eyeswateringinpain，Harrylosttrackoftheconversationforafewmoments.

Thebａｎｄhadbeguntoplay，BillａｎｄFleurtooktothedancefloorfirst，togreatapplause;afterawhile，Mr.WeasleyledMadameDelacourontothefloor，followedbyMr.WeasleyａｎｄFleur’sfather.

“Ilikethissong，”saidLuna，swayingintimetothewaltzliketune，ａｎｄafewsecondslatershestoodupａｎｄglidedontothedancefloor，wheresherevolvedonthespot，quitealone，eyesclosedａｎｄwavingherarms.

“She’sgreatisn’tshe?”saidRonadmiringly.“Alwaysgoodvalue.”

Butthesmilevanishedfromhisfaceatonce:ViktorKrumhaddroppedintoLuna’svacantseat.HermionelookedpleasurablyflusteredbutthistimeKrumhadnotcometocomplimenther.Withascowlonhisfacehesaid，“Whoisthatmanintheyellow?”

“That’sXenophiliusLovegood，he’sthefatherofafriendofours，”saidRon.HispugnacioustoneindicatedthattheywerenotabouttolaughatXenophilius，despitetheclearprovocation.“Comeａｎｄdance，”headdedabruptlytoHermione.

Shelookedtakenaback，butpleasedtoo，ａｎｄgotup.Theyvanishedtogetherintothegrowingthrongonthedancefloor.

“Ah，theyaretogethernow?”askedKrum，momentarilydistracted.

“Er–sortof，”saidHarry.

“Whoareyou?”Krumasked.

“BarnyWeasley.”

Theyshookhａｎｄs.

“You，Barny–youknowthismanLovegoodwell?”

“No，Ionlymethimtoday.Why?”

Krumgloweredoverthetopofhisdrink，watchingXenophilius，whowaschattingtoseveralwarlocksontheothersideofthedancefloor.

“Because，”saidKrum，“IfhevusnotaguestofFleur’sIvoulddudhim，hereａｎｄnow，forveeringthatfilthysignuponhischest.”