Polyphemus and the Quest for Good

Chapter 1—Something Askew

((Okay…this isn't your ordinary HP fanfic. You have way different characters than normal, and I will go against the norm at all costs. Flaming in more than welcome, as long as you are prepared to get a flame back. I have a horrible temper. ALL reviews are appreciated, as I need to know if I'm taking this in the right direction.

((All characters/plots seen in the Harry Potter books belong respectively to the wonderful JK Rowling, who came up with these wonderful people. I lay no claim to them, except for the ones obviously mine. [Hence, the ones NOT seen in the books.]

((This is my first fanfic, so PLEASE be kind, or, heck, be mean and tell me never to show my face again, if that's what you think. [The latter probably won't work, but you can try anyway.] I have a wonderful sense of humor and I will do my best to reflect it. I tried to keep known characters IC, please let me know if I strayed. There will not be much Slash, live with it. A little romance later on, but definitely not much.))

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Polyphemus Mitoiy was a tall, muscular fifteen-year old in his fifth year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He came from a long line of dark wizards, and had grown up hearing wizards such as Dumbledore and Harry Potter cursed, while Snape, the Malfoys, and Voldemort were praised.

He was not friends with his year-mate Draco Malfoy, but his family thought him to be. No, instead he stood on the sidelines, and rooted for what his family called the "bad-guys," and the rest of the world called "good."

Polyphemus was not brilliant, or brave, or evil and sly. He was rather slow, didn't make any trouble and always stayed out of others', and fiercely opposed his family, though he would never tell them that. He was in Hufflepuff, for while he was not someone to be admired for his natural skills, he was hard working. This was something of a disappointment to his family, who had always been Slytherins. The memory of the Sorting Hat laughing at him when he had mentioned this still burned. It wasn't his fault that he wasn't evil, or that he didn't want to be. It was just who he was.

He was very tall and very muscular, but definitely not burly. He kept his hair and face clean, and his clothes impeccable. In his way of thinking, if he was going to call attention to himself by standing a head taller than the tallest seventh-year, he might as well look good doing it.

Polyphemus was not one to show off, but muscles showed themselves off when you couldn't find student robes in your size. He wasn't a Quidditch player, but he did enjoy being outside and doing things along the lines of running and wrestling. He was very good at both.

At the present place and time, Polyphemus was attempting to get to his first class, Care of Magical Creatures. Polyphemus was a head shorter than the teacher of this particular class, Hagrid, and maybe half his width, but still the two had a sort of bonding because of what Hagrid liked to call their "trials-by-size."

He turned down the corridor and bumped into someone. Looking down, he saw a blonde head. "Why hello, Malfoy," he said quite cheerfully. "What's your first class?"

Draco gave him a thin-lipped smile. Malfoy had no clue of the contempt that Polyphemus held for him, however, he did know that all was not entirely right.

"My favorite, double potions with the Gryffindors. I do love to get Snape to pay back the Gryffindors for all they've done to the Slytherin house."

Suddenly three people pushed past the four (Polyphemus, Malfoy, Goyle, and Crabbe) and Malfoy sneered. "What's the rush Potter? You know you'll get points off anyway!"

Ron Weasly turned around. "Because of you, I'm sure!"

Polyphemus saw Hermione Granger pull Ron back and start to scold him. "Really, Ron," she said. "Don't let him get to you."

Harry Potter just stopped and stared, not making another move or saying a word. Hermione shook her head, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him back with the hand that wasn't pulling back Ron. "We'll be late, and Snape really will take points off." She sighed, and turned back. "Come on!"

Malfoy grinned up at Polyphemus, a grin that made him sick. "I, or we," he motioned to Crabbe and Goyle, "have to get to class. My goal to make the Gryffindors lose at least twenty points in this class, and make sure that that Hermione Granger doesn't gain any."

Polyphemus looked at him dryly. "Let me know if you do it. There would be a…satisfaction…in knowing it is possible."

Malfoy stared at him for a second, not sure about the way Polyphemus' comment was made. "I knew you would understand."

He turned to Crabbe and Goyle. "Make sure I tell Polyphemus if I do it." He turned back to Polyphemus and gave a curt nod. He walked away, his robe billowing, exactly as Polyphemus had seen Snape's do many times.

Polyphemus shook his head, and continued on to his own class, trying to erase the memory of Draco Malfoy from his mind, and the way that Harry Potter's eyes had looked. Something was going to happen. Something big.

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((Heheh. There it is. Responses people, responses!))