Chapter 3 – The Hex

Katie walked up the stairs, thinking furiously. She was about to step onto a staircase, when she heard the sound of sobbing coming from her right. She turned and saw Fleur sitting on the stairs, crying.

"Fleur?" she asked cautiously, approaching the beautiful witch. Fleur looked up, and quickly wiped away her tears. "What's wrong?"

"Zey 'ave taken 'er. Gabrielle! She is gone! Zey 'ave taken 'er!" she sobbed.

"Who's taken her? Who's Gabrielle?" Katie asked soothingly. She didn't really like Fleur. She was snobbish, and held a very high opinion of herself. All she did was strut around the school, complaining about everything. Not to mention there was something off about her. All of the boys swooned over her. Ron had even gone as far as to ask her to the Yule ball. He had been so shocked by what he had done, he had run away.

Fleur sniffled. "Gabrielle is my sister. I 'ave to save 'er for zis second task. What if I can not do it?"

"Do you have a plan?" Katie asked, concerned.

"Yes, of course. I am always prepared," said Fleur.

"Well then, have faith in your plan," Katie said getting up. "Instead of crying you might be preparing."

"You are right. I am wasting my time." Fleur got up. "Thank you." She turned and stalked off. Katie walked back to the common room. She needed someone to talk to, but Hermione was no where to be seen. Angelina and Alicia were at breakfast, and Leanne was still asleep. Katie caught sight of Ginny sitting in a corner and approached her.

"Hey Ginny," Katie said, sitting down in an armchair next to her.

"Hello Katie," Ginny said smiling. Ginny was actually very funny, and her impressions were brilliant. Whenever Harry was nearby, however, she became more withdrawn.

"Your brother is a git."

"Ron? Yes I know. He really is quite stupid. He always has that dumb look on his face and-"

"Not Ron! Fred," said Katie, not really sure why she was telling Ginny this.

"What happened?" Ginny asked curiously. Katie explained what had happened the night before. "You're right."

"What?" Katie asked, puzzled.

"Fred is a git." Ginny said sympathetically. "Just forget it. He'll enjoy seeing you all flustered, so act like nothing happened. It'll annoy him." Ginny smirked.

"Right. So how's it going with you and Harry?" Katie asked, leaning back.

"What?" said Ginny startled.

"Oh please. I'm not an idiot. I can see that you feel something for him," Katie said superiorly. Ginny smiled sadly.

"Hermione said he likes Cho."

"Chang?"

"How many Cho's do you know?"

"Good point," Katie said quietly. There was the distant sound of a bell. "Sounds like the second task is starting."

"Yeah, we better get going," Ginny said getting up. They walked out of the common room in a comfortable silence. "Do you have any idea what this second task is? Hermione refused to tell me."

"I think it has to do with going underwater." Sure enough when they arrived, the stands were set up to face the lake.

"See you later Katie," said Ginny, joining her friends. Katie spotted Angelina waving her over and went to join her friends. She was sitting at the end of the row, next to Fred.

"Hullo Katie," Fred said grinning. "Not still fantasizing are you?"

"Shut up Fred," Katie said angrily, looking straight ahead.

"Someone's grumpy," Fred muttered. Katie chose to ignore this. "Where's Harry?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"What?" Katie asked, not sure what he was talking about.

"Harry isn't here yet!" Fred said, this time much louder. There was a murmur of conversation in the crowd, and the Slytherins were smiling as if it were their birthdays.

"Looks like Potty got scared and bailed," Malfoy sneered, and the Slytherins shrieked with laughter.

"His friends couldn't save him this time. Not that stupid Weasel or the know-it-all squirrel," said Pansy, her voice dripping with pure delight. Katie felt Fred tense up next to her. "Must not have been anywhere in her books."

Malfoy laughed viscously. "And the Weasel would never have been able to help him. They're family can't even help themselves." Fred got up.

"Fred!" Katie said pulling him back down. "He's not worth it."

"Katie, let go," Fred said struggling against her. But Katie was strong, and she managed to keep him down. Angelina and Alicia were both restraining George, and Lee was glaring at Malfoy.

"Look, two of the Weasels. At least they have smart friends. They know they wouldn't stand a chance against us." Malfoy said, with an evil smirk.

"Oh please Malfoy," Katie spat. "We're only restraining them because we care about our friends, and don't want to see them going to Azkaban for murdering you."

"I'd like to see them try."

"You're a coward Malfoy, and you know it. One good slap from Hermione sent you running off with your cronies, crying and yelling for your daddy." Everyone but Slytherin began laughing, and even a few Slytherins could be seen snickering.

"You'll pay for that, Bell!" Malfoy hissed.

"Oh yes, I'm sure I will," said Katie, her words dripping with sarcasm. "You'll go call your daddy so he can kill me, right? You and you're Death Eater family, disgust me."

"Shut up!" Malfoy yelled, trembling with anger.

"You're weak Malfoy," Katie continued, unfazed by Malfoy reaching for his wand. "I could beat you in a fight, right now. Face it. Without your daddy and cronies, you're nothing."

Malfoy lunged, his wand ready and cast a hex that Katie couldn't hear because of the screams. The spell never hit her though, because at the last minute a shield appeared in front of her, blocking the spell. Katie was confused. She had never cast a shield charm. She turned and saw Fred holding his wand out, an expression of determination on his face.

"Do you want to hex the living daylights out of him, or shall I?" he said, his voice trembling with rage.

"No point, there's nothing living in the scumbag," said Katie, glaring at Malfoy, who had been knocked onto the ground. "Retaliating Shield?" she questioned. Fred simply nodded.

There was one shield that absorbed the spell, and another that bounced it back at the caster. The second one was more advanced magic, but it seemed like the kind of thing Fred would have learned.

Katie approached Malfoy. "He's bald!" she said in surprise. Malfoy looked very different without his blonde hair. People were snickering from around the stands.

"Instant scalping hex," Fred identified from behind her. Katie smiled.

"Thank god you blocked it. I would look hideous without hair," she said, stroking her hair.

"You would look fine," Fred said, looking at her carefully. "Better than him at least," he added, gesturing Malfoy. Pansy was pushing through the crowd to reach him. When she saw him, she shrieked and took a step back. This only led to more laughter.

"Get out of the way," a commanding voice called, and the students began to part, making a path to Malfoy. Professor McGonagall strode forward, and knelt beside Malfoy. "What happened?"

"What happened?" Pansy shrieked. "He's bald, that's what happened!" She began to wail.

"Instant scalping hex," George chimed in.

"Who performed it," the professor asked curtly.

"Malfoy did," Lee said grinning.

"Why would he hex himself? And Lee, wipe that smirk off your face." Lee obeyed. McGonagall was the only person he was slightly afraid of, but they still had a good relationship.

"He was trying to hex me," Katie offered. "But Fred cast a Retaliating Shield." Professor McGonagall nodded.

"That's impressive magic," she said, slightly impressed. "Since there is no damage done, there is no need to alert Madame Pomfrey."

"No damage? I'm bald!" said Malfoy, feeling his head, his eyes wide.

"You got everything that was coming to you, Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said sternly. "You can't go around hexing people. Which reminds me, 20 points from Slytherin."

"20!" Millicent Bulstrode cried.

"30, if you argue." The Slytherins kept their mouths shut, and Professor McGonagall turned and left.

"You'll pay for this," Malfoy said, getting up.

"I was supposed to pay for it this time too, and look what happened," said Katie, smirking. "But that really was some brilliant magic. Bravo." Malfoy gave her a death glare before turning and walking back to his seat, his bald head glistening. The Gryffindors burst into applause. Katie felt Fred hug her.

"That was brilliant," he whispered into her ear.

"You weren't too bad yourself," Katie murmured, returning the hug. For some reason it felt strange to hug him. Katie felt something fluttering in her chest. Fred pulled away and looked at her earnestly.

"You're okay, right? Got all your hair," he asked, looking her over. Katie laughed.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks to your brilliant shield spell." She pushed him away, gently. He took her hand and led them to their seats. Her friends all congratulated her for knocking Malfoy down a peg.

Katie was feeling pretty proud of herself too.

Hope you enjoyed seeing Malfoy get owned :)

PLEASE review!

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