A/N: Here we are with drabble #3. Thanks to those of you who have alerted/favorited my little project! Anyway, this one takes sometime in October, mainly because the Death Eater wannabes haven't learned much more in their Dark Arts classes than the Unforgivables. Not that the Cruciatus curse is any small thing. Also, by October the D.A. would be in full swing.
"Leave her alone and slither back to your cave, snake! I'm sure even you can find something better to do than torment an innocent second year!" Michael taunted. The little girl looked up at him with wide eyes, half-grateful and half-terrified. Michael himself was a lot more nervous than his bravado indicated.
"Aren't Ravenclaws supposed to be clever? I would've thought you could come up with something a bit more original than 'slither' and 'snake'." Zabini sounded more disdainful than malicious. Michael knew his insult hadn't been the most creative, but it was all he could come up with at the moment. He'd been on his way to the Room of Requirement for an emergency D.A. meeting when he'd heard a girl crying. Sure enough, just as he turned the corner there was Pansy Parkinson, holding her wand to the girl's throat, along with Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bulstrode.
"Shut up, pretty-boy." Michael didn't know why he kept running his mouth like this. He was a rational, smart Ravenclaw. Ravenclaws were supposed to have a little more self-preservation than their Gryffindor counterparts.
"Or you'll what? Hex him? I think we can more than handle you, Corner. Crucio!" Pansy shouted. Michael writhed on the ground, unable to think anything besides Don't scream. Don't scream. For the love of Merlin, don't scream! Blaise touched Pansy's wand and she grudgingly lifted the curse. Michael got to his feet, panting. He supposed he was lucky, in a way. If either of the Carrows had been there, the pain would've been much worse.
"I think we're done here, Pansy. Let the baby nurse his wounds," Blaise said. Millicent cracked her knuckles menacingly, apparently unable to come up with a similar insult. Pansy gave Michael one last puglike grimace before the three of them left to find another victim.
"Are…are you okay?" The second year asked him softly.
"I don't know anyone who is."