The Monster v. Dean Thomas

Dean was playing Exploding Snap with Seamus when he heard a low growl from behind him. He spun around in his seat, alarmed.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

"No one," Seamus replied, giving him a strange look.

"Alright then," said Dean, slightly disconcerted but turning back to his game all the same.

"Deeeaaaan…" the voice snarled. This time Dean jumped out of his seat.

"What do you want?" he asked, whipping out his wand, "show yourself!"

His fellow Gryffindors were all looking at him uneasily, and Seamus finally spoke up. "Right – well, I wouldn't say no to an early night," and headed quickly up the stairs. Everyone else scrambled to follow suit.

"Deeeaaaan Thooomaaass…"

"Who are you!" Dean demanded, legs shaking.

"I am the monster inside of Harry Potter's chest." the voice informed him.

"You're the – what?"

"Give up Ginny Weasley or face a most painful death by disembowelment."

"No," said Dean stubbornly, "why would I stop dating Ginny just because some voice tells me to? I love her…"

"NOO YOU DON'T," the voice roared. "Not half as much as someone else does."

"Is this some sort of a prank?" Dean asked, still not willing to believe that some sort of a monster had somehow made its way out of Harry's insides. He and Harry had always gotten on well – hadn't they?

With a start, Dean remembered the look Harry had been giving him when he had been caught snogging Ginny in the corridor.

"But – I thought you were a purely metaphorical form of entertainment for the readers!" Dean exclaimed in horror.

"I am real," the monster informed him, "and you'd do well to heed my warning."

"Wha…I…" Dean stuttered, at a complete loss for words.

"Heed my warning, Dean Thomas," the voice called, and Dean felt a sudden rush of air near his left knee.

It had gone.

Still shaking, and not quite sure if he should go to the infirmary, Dean climbed the stairs to the dorm, being careful to avoid the bed where Harry slept.

Inside, the monster laughed with triumph.

Now if only I could lend myself to Hermione to get rid of that Lavender Brown, it mused.