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Chapter 8: Task 2
The next task took place on a Monday afternoon in mid-October. All the students were gathered in the Great Hall, split by team rather than by house. After their spectacular loss over a month ago, Draco had been heckled almost to death by Avery and his cronies. However, the sight of Draco and Granger once more teamed up that afternoon had made Avery sweat more than a little. Apparently word of their team's regrouping hadn't reached his ears.
Along the sides of the Great Hall were the younger students. Classes had been canceled so that they may too watch the event. Because the tasks had mixed teams, no one house couldn't cheer for one team. The result was the younger students mixing houses in their cheers for their friends. As impressive as it was, Draco couldn't help but die a little on the inside. Not only was it nauseating but most of the Slytherins weren't cheering. And many who did cheer seemed hesitant on who they should cheer for.
The staff table was still there, and the old crone sat at it. Like the first task, the other professors were absent. Draco couldn't imagine how they could make Herbology as dangerous as the previous task.
He sat a bit to the side from Granger and the rest of her team. They sat close together, whispering to each other. He ignored them the best he could and wore a bored expression on his face. He knew it irked Granger and Weasley to no end. He caught Blaise's eye from where the other man sat across the room. He smirked.
"Now, I believe all the necessary arrangements have been made." McGonagalls voice carried over the din of the crowd and the students quieted down. "Now, as our staff returns I shall explain today's task's rules."
Granger sat up straighter, and Draco fought the urge to gag.
"Today's subject is Herbology. Your task is to repot a plant that will be randomly drawn from this goblet." She raised a goblet and shook it a little. "The plant that you will be replanting is hidden inside the castle. Once you find your plant, you must take it to Greenhouse Three, where you can find the appropriate tools necessary for replanting."
She paused. "If you desire a hint to the location of your plant, you may ask a teacher. They will be patrolling the halls with the exception of Professor Sprout. However, that will be taken into account when we tally up your score. Points will be awarded for how long it took to complete today's task, and how well the plant is replanted. Are there any questions?"
The students murmured silently to themselves.
"Please send a representative to choose a plant. I will let you know when you may begin."
Swallow stood up in a rush and left hurriedly to the staff table. He got in line with the other students. Granger turned to Draco.
"You knew what the task was, didn't you?" She asked.
"You just need to know the right people," Draco smirked.
"But how?"
"I have my ways, Granger." Draco stopped smirking as he caught Avery staring daggers at him.
"So how do we win then?" Weasley frowned. "I know Neville is pretty good at Herbology, so there isn't a way we could beat him, is there?"
"Longbottom's got this one in the bag." Draco droned. "All I want is to wipe that smirk off of Avery's face."
Weasley nodded. "For once, we might agree."
Granger looked worried. "But what plant will they give us?"
Lovegood was staring up at the ceiling. "I don't think that they'll give us something deadly."
Granger relaxed at the words. "You're right. They won't give us something that the younger years wouldn't be able to handle."
Voices of the spectators came to his ears, and he glanced their way. A large group of them were watching their group, particularly the girls. Of course, they had groupies.
"Just what I need," Draco groaned, "an audience."
"You don't like the attention?" Weasley grinned. "I thought that a daddy's boy like you would just love the spotlight."
"I'm not Potter, Weasley." Draco snapped. "I don't concern with what others think of me."
Weasley glared at him. She was going to retort when Lovegood interjected. "Then why don't you like the audience?"
Draco glanced towards Avery, who was no longer glaring daggers at him and was instead huddled with his teammates.
"Think," he said slowly, changing the topic. "What would you do if you were in Avery's position?"
"He would try to cheat." Weasley said slowly.
"He would try to stop us." Granger nodded. "He would try to jinx us somehow."
"You're finally learning. With the staff all around the castle, it wouldn't be that hard to find a secluded corridor." Draco said. "If I were him, I would try to attack when our backs were turned."
"And you wouldn't?" Weasley shot at him. "You wouldn't try to do that to us?"
Draco smirked. "The last thing I would do is sabotage my own efforts."
"And what about—"
"Enough, Ginny." Granger interrupted. Weasley shot her a look. "Arguing about it now isn't going to do anyone any good." She turned to him. "Besides, I don't think he can anymore."
"What do you mean?" Lovegood asked.
"I think that if he tries anything that McGongall will expel faster than you could say Quidditch."
Weasley and Lovegood were smiling, though probably for different reasons. Granger was watching him. And all Draco wanted was to go back to his room and be with Elizabeth. Just at that time Swallow returned brandishing the scrap of parchment like it had come from the Goblet of Fire and not a simple cup.
"It's Bubotuber." He said. He handed the paper to Granger. "We also need to collect its pus."
"An extra assignment?" Granger looked at the parchment.
"Each plant has one." Swallow shrugged. "That's why it took so long."
"Collecting Bubotuber Pus isn't that hard." Granger said quickly. "We just have to be careful not to touch it."
Draco glanced toward the doors, where Filch was now stood. The hall quieted down suddenly, as if it had been planned. The air held excitement crackling with anticipation. All eyes turned to the crone now standing at the staff table.
"You may begin." She said.
The whole hall erupted in movement. Each team was struggling to be out of the hall first, while the audience was busy trying to follow their favorite team. Draco stood up but held his place.
Granger was at his side, her voice harsh and low. "Don't do anything like last time."
Draco smirked but didn't look at her. "We'll play it your way this time Granger. Lead on."
From the corner of his eye he could see her astonishment as clear as day on her face. He didn't move as she tried to compose herself.
"I said 'Lead on', Granger. Or are you too used to following Potter?"
He could almost feel the anger coursing through her as she straightened. She stomped forward, delving into the crowd before her. At her heels went Lovegood, Weasley, and Swallow. The Hufflepuff glanced nervously at Draco as he passed. Draco smirked. The boy shuddered and turned back forward so quickly that Draco had a hard time hiding his grin.
He followed after them. He walked slowly, catching up to them as they exited the Great Hall. From here the teams all separated, going their own ways. The audience also thinned. Some students following their friends as they competed. However most of them made their way outside in the brisk autumn air to the greenhouses.
Granger stopped before the stairs. The others crowded around her. Draco glanced about, looking for the tell-tale black and yellow of the Bubotuber plant.
"Where do we try first?" Weasley asked.
Granger frowned. "I don't know. The castle is quite large. If I had Harry's map it wouldn't be as much a problem to search it."
Draco raised an eyebrow but kept silent. Potter had a map of the castle? How interesting. He tried to catch Granger's eye but she avoided his look.
"Well, I think we can rule out the common rooms." She said at last. "It wouldn't make sense to put them there with all of the teams the way they are."
"Wouldn't it though?" Lovegood asked quietly. Everyone looked at her. "It's not as though we don't have a member of each house in each team. If they wanted inter-house unity, wouldn't they want us to go to the common rooms?"
Draco shook his head.
"I think you're right." Granger said slowly. "Then should we head to the common rooms?"
"But which one?" Swallow asked.
"It wouldn't make sense to split up the group." Weasley said. "We should stick together."
"We could always use out patronuses to tell each other if we do." Granger said.
Draco shook his head. "I'm rubbish at patronus charms." All of them looked at him as if he was insane. "But I agree that we shouldn't split the group up."
He glanced about. No one was around anymore save for a few groupies watching them from afar. Avery and his friends weren't in sight. McGongall wasn't even present; presumably she was headed to the greenhouses.
Granger nodded slowly. "I hate to say it but he has a point." She ignored the looks Lovegood and Weasley was giving her. "Sebastian?"
"Yes?"
"Where would you look first?"
"Why ask me?" The boy went red. "I don't know where it is."
"Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders." Lovegood whispered. "I think that you would have the best chance at finding it."
"I don't know…" He trailed off.
"Go with your gut," encouraged Weasley
Swallow swallowed. "But I really shouldn't."
"Shouldn't what?" Granger asked.
"I shouldn't be taking anyone to the common room." The boy said quickly. "No one outside the Hufflepuff house has been there in over a thousand years."
"Take it from me, some traditions are meant to be broken." Draco said.
"Said like a Slytherin." Weasley hissed. "Can't you see this is hard for him?"
"His loyalty isn't in question." Draco retorted. "I'm only is asking him what he values more."
"Uh, guys? I'm right here." But the boy's voice was drowned out as Weasley shouted back.
"And you should let him make the decision on his own!"
"Some decisions need to be made for you."
"Like how you decided to kill Dumbledore?"
Draco narrowed his eyes. "At least I made my own decisions, Weasley. You have to follow the skirts of better wizards."
Both of them had their wands out and pointed at each other within seconds. His eyes narrowed. Should he defend first or fight? If he were to throw the first punch as it were, he would be expelled so fast it wouldn't be funny. If he defended himself he might have a chance to explain himself and stay at Hogwarts.
"Enough!" Granger stepped between the two of them. The two wands were wedged between her. "Not now!"
Draco gave on hard look at Weasley. Finally he jerked his hand down. He stowed his wand away. A second later Weasley lowered her own wand down. Granger looked at both of them in turn. She definitely was angry, and definitely was disappointed. Whether or not that disappointment was meant for her or meant for him he didn't know.
"I'll take you to the common room." The Hufflepuff said softly, though his voice carried in the empty room. "But I won't let you inside."
Draco smirked. "See? That wasn't that hard."
Weasley and Granger stared at him, and he could've sworn he heard Weasley curse him out under his breath. "Lead on, Sebastian." Granger said while still looking at Draco.
Swallow walked quickly to the stairs. Lovegood followed. Weasley and Granger shot him dark looks before following. Sighing, Draco followed at a good distance. He glanced behind him every so often, though he didn't spot anyone.
Swallow led them down a flight of stairs and under ground level. Taking a turn here and there, he led them past a giant portrait of a fruit dish. He stopped before a large wall of barrels on their sides. The oversized caskets were large enough for a man to stand inside of them, and they spanned from wall to wall to the ceiling.
The boy walked over to a barrel and knocked several times to a simple rhythm. The barrel opened up, revealing space just large enough for a man to crawl inside. He got on his hands and knees and hesitated at the entrance. "I'll be right back." He said.
Draco turned and leaned up against a barrel. As Swallow entered the barrel it closed behind him. If he hadn't known which barrel he had knocked on, he couldn't tell which one it was. He also was quite sure that in a few days' time he wouldn't know which barrel it would be. And quite frankly, he couldn't care more where the Hufflepuff common room was. Who would want to go there?
Minutes passed as they waited. Lovegood was mimicking Draco and was leaning against the barrels. Weasley was pacing back and forth, her wand in her hand. Granger was sat on the ground a ways away.
"There they are."
Everyone turned to look to where they had come from. It was Avery and his team. The Slytherin and his fellow housemate both had their wands out at them. The three other students also had their wands out, though they seemed hesitant.
"Avery." Draco got up and brought out his wand.
The others also stood; though other than Weasley the other girls hadn't had their wands out.
"I still don't think this is a good idea." The Gryffindork said.
"What did I say?" Avery turned to him, exasperated. "If we take them out, that's one less team to worry about!"
"But why does it—"
"You don't waste your time on the weaker dogs then the strong ones still remain!" Avery snarled. "Bombarda!" He flourished his wand at them.
"Protego!"
Both Draco and Weasley waved their wands and the spell was bounced back toward the barrels next to them. One of them burst a hole, and vinegar poured out over them. The five teens were blinded by the liquid, and they sputtered as they tried to make the barrel stop flowing,
Granger got to her feet, wand out, though she looked hesitant. "What do we do?" She asked quietly.
"We fight fire with fire, Granger." Draco snarled. "I want payback."
"Now is not the time."
"They just tried to explode my face, Granger, I'm not asking for permission." Draco hissed.
Just then the Hufflepuff came out of the barrel, in his hands a hideous black slug with yellow boils in a pot. "I got it! I got it!" He looked about. "What's going on?"
"Ginny, take Luna and Sebastian to the Greenhouse and start repotting." Granger ordered. The woman stood taller and her voice came out as a command. For the first time that Draco had seen, Granger had taken the role as a leader seriously.
"Hermione—"
"Please do it." Granger pleaded. "If we hold them here, you can get a head start on the task."
"We?" Draco asked. "Who said that you were invited?"
"They just tried to hurt my friends, Malfoy, I'm not asking for permission." Granger shot him a hard look.
He smirked. "This should be fun."
Just then the vinegar stopped flowing, the barrel resealing itself. Sputtering and spitting out the acidic liquid, Avery got back to his feet. Half-blind, he fired another spell at them.
"Go!" Granger commanded again. She waved her wand again and the jinx was dispelled.
Hurried footsteps went backwards from them as the three of them retreated. Draco smirked once more as he blocked another spell. The other three houses present in Avery's team all had their wands out, but they seemed to be more aggressive now. Whether that be because of the vinegar assault or the idea that facing only two opponents instead of five was more appealing Draco didn't know.
For a second nothing happened, as the two sides looked at each other. There was something in their eyes. Regret? Hate? Anger? Fear? Draco couldn't tell exactly. All he knew that in that moment they were just young adults looking at each other. The war and its horrors replayed itself in his mind. He ignored the screams.
Then everything exploded into motion.
The five of them attacked in almost perfect unison. Jinxes and curses soared their way. On any other pair they might have stood a chance. However, Draco had been trained by the very best duelists among the Death Eaters. And Granger was, well, Granger. Their shields were up before the spells were connected. The spells ricocheted again, some hitting the barrels once more. Vinegar poured out at the five again, however a well-timed shield charm blocked the vinegar from falling onto them directly.
"Don't hurt them." Granger hissed.
Draco hesitated, the spell on his lips forgotten. "How the hell am I supposed to fight back then?"
"Not everything has to end in bloodshed." Granger blocked another wave of spells with a shield, before retaliating. The Retardclaw on their team tried to wave his wand but nothing came out. "Just incapacitate them."
Draco frowned, but jumped to the side. The spot where he had been had been blasted by Avery, who seemed to be focusing his attention on him and only him. Draco slid as he landed, the slick surface sliding him into the wall. He went down to one knee, but kept his wand up. He blocked what looked to be the reductor curse. He waved his wand and Avery went up into the air by his ankles.
Avery was suspended in midair, right where the vinegar would hit him in the head. His face was directly in line with the spray. Boils sprouted from Draco's skin. He glanced down at the others. Draco narrowed his eyes. With another wave of his wand, one of the students was frozen in place. The Gryffindork on their team was too frozen as Granger cast her spell. A second later the final combatant, the poor Hufflepuff, was without a wand.
Draco got up from his kneeling position. He waved his wand over himself and whispered the counter jinx. The boils disappeared as quickly as they came. He stowed his wand and surveyed their handiwork.
"Does everything you do have to end with bloodshed?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "But I didn't do anything this time." They stepped around the other teens, the frightened students backing away from them, and hurried back to the stairs.
Granger waved her wand at them and the vinegar stains disappeared though the scent lingered. "I know that wand movement well enough, Malfoy. Curses like that are unforgivable."
Draco scoffed. "I'll have you know that it wasn't Crucio, Granger. I have standards."
"Do you?" She said. "You always seem to be provoking one of us whenever you're in the room with us."
"Provoking is my right." Draco smirked. "But I have standards when it comes down to dueling."
"And you only have standards then?" Granger asked. "I thought you and Parkinson were a thing."
"Oh dear Merlin no." Draco groaned. "I wouldn't touch Pansy with a ten foot pole."
Granger laughed. "I think I can understand why."
Draco frowned. "I don't see how it's so funny."
"It's just," Granger said, "that a few years ago she was hanging off of you and you liked it. And now you won't even touch her."
"Who said that I liked it?" Draco said softly. His father came to mind, and he shivered. "And why is it funny that I can change?"
Granger was silent.
"I'm not the same person as I was then, Granger."
"I know that."
"Do you?" He asked. "You can see that I'm trying to be different. Why can't you accept that I'm not the same person?"
"You may say that you're different," Granger said slowly, "but you still act like an arrogant git."
"That's who I am." He grinned.
"That may be who you are, but it reminds me too much of the asshole who let Death Eaters into Hogwarts."
Draco went silent, his grin gone.
"You have a long track record of being a right git. That isn't going away anytime soon."
"Of course it isn't." Draco whispered. "I don't expect it to." Elizabeth came to mind. "Besides, I have a reason to be better now."
"A reason? That's all it took?" Granger stopped walking and turned to him in the entrance hall. "And what will happen when that is taken away?"
Draco stopped too. "I—I don't want to think about it." He rushed.
"Then maybe you haven't changed at all."
She started walking away, heading outside. He followed from behind, following slowly. As they turned to the greenhouses Draco stopped moving.
"Granger!" She stopped. "I'm not going to quit this time."
She turned to look at him. "I'll believe it when I see it."
She walked away, heading to the crowd gathered by the greenhouses. Draco stood there for quite some time. Thoughts ran through his head. Professor Snape and his words at the forefront. He swallowed hard, and something akin to a rock settled itself into his stomach. It weighed him down and he could feel himself recoil from it. He took in deep breaths, clearing his mind.
If he was going to be a better person, if he was going to be a better man, if he was going to be a better father; he would do this for her. He would do this for Elizabeth. He would be a man she could be proud to call her father. He would do what it takes to be that man. Even if it meant putting away a side of him that has been with him since he started Hogwarts.
But try as he might that rock inside of him wasn't leaving.
He let out the air in his lungs in an angry rush. Breathing in the crisp air, he could feel his nerves alight. Purposefully, ignoring the parts of him that wouldn't leave, he strode forward to the crowd and his team.
He would be a better man. Even if the first step took all year long.
Shadow: Finally, we get to some see some wand work. Even though it didn't last long...
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