Author's Note: This was written for Ixy for a cheer-up-Ixy theme in the 3rd anniversary after party in the HPFC forum. It takes place sometime in sixth year, which is a Star Wars theme. That'll make sense once I start the full Storybook Chaos story, I promise. It's sort of a teaser I guess!
The Dragon
"That," said Parvati, "is a dragon."
"I'm aware," said Hermione in a strangled voice. Currently, she was doing her best not to breathe through her nose, because the dragon had obviously not cleaned its claws properly after mangling its last meal, and she was currently in the clutches of said claws.
"Where did Slughorn get a dragon?"
"You're asking me?" Hermione snapped. "I'm a bit busy at the moment, Parvati!"
"Does anyone know if Charlie Weasley is playing a role?" Lavender asked. "Maybe he's one of the bad guys."
Parvati sniffed. "Since when do Weasleys play the bad guys?"
"You didn't see Ron last year. Those elves have some attitude."
"Can you stop chattering and get me down from here?" Hermione screeched. "Harry isn't due to arrive until tomorrow!"
"Then it's a good thing Harry isn't the only one who wants to rescue you, isn't it?" said a male voice. Hermione pushed her face up above the dragon's claw and blinked, because it was Theodore Nott, and he was standing beside Parvati and Lavender on the battlements, wearing nothing but a pair of skintight black pants.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" asked Parvati.
Theo looked down at himself and then back up, his face breaking into a sheepish smile. "I may've found out about the dragon as I was getting out of the shower. Since Harry is Merlin-knows-where and Draco also needs rescuing, it fell to me."
"Who is he playing again?" Lavender said to Parvati.
Hermione screamed as the dragon suddenly flapped its wings and soared higher into the sky. "How about that rescue?" she yelled at Theo. "Before the bloody thing decides to eat me!"
Theo climbed up onto the wall and brandished his wand at the dragon. It made a screeching noise and flew still higher, while Hermione clung to its claw and prayed to whoever was listening that she would make it out of this alive. Then the next spell released her, and she screamed again as she plummeted towards the ground, only to find herself then floating back up towards the castle. She landed gently on her feet next to Theo, who was back behind the wall.
"I don't think it's coming back," the Slytherin observed, watching the dragon as it beat a fast retreat.
"What was that spell you used?" said Hermione.
"You really don't want to know."
Hermione sighed and tried to smooth down her hair. It didn't do much; she'd have to attack it with a brush later. "Well, um… thank you for saving my life. Again."
Theo gave her an odd look. "I haven't saved your life before, have I?"
"Oh, er." Hermione flushed and looked away, glaring at Lavender when the other girl mouthed, Wrong story. "I've had to be saved so frequently lately that I'm starting to lose track of who's responsible."
"I thought you were the one who ended up doing the saving with that 'rescue' from Death Star Fortress," Theo teased.
"Not to hear Harry and Draco tell it," Parvati muttered.
Hermione grinned and let her eyes travel down Theo's bare torso. Now that she was looking at him properly, he did seem a good bit more attractive than the Malfoy heir. "Well, I might've had something to do with it, yes. But there were no dragons involved."
"Only Slughorn would come up with something like a dragon," said Theo. He grinned back at her. "What say we give him a piece of our minds?"
The three girls looked at each other and shrugged. Why not?