Drake
Disclaimer: Harry Potter was created by J.K.Rowling.
Author's Notes: This story is woven into the plot of the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire. Any scene or line you recognize from the book belongs to Ms. Rowling. Enjoy!
Chapter 9 -- Hypothetically Speaking
Draco entered McGonagall's classroom well into the period.
"You are late, Mr. Malfoy," said Transfiguration teacher, "Ten points from Slytherin."
He gave a curt nod and took his seat next to Crabbe, "What did you forget?"
"The time," Draco answered carelessly. Goyle snickered. They proceeded with that day's lesson which involved turning parrots into scarves.
Care of Magical Creatures came next. As the Slytherins descended the steps of the castle's entrance, Draco spotted the Gryffindors coming from the greenhouses. Granger was not among them. She must have stayed in the hospital wing the entire period, Draco thought.
"Hey Potter!" Pansy called. "Where's you girlfriend? Why was she so upset at breakfast?"
Draco imagined how nice it would be to stuff his new green and yellow scarf into Pansy's mouth. He smirked at the vision.
They reached Hagrid's cabin where the half-giant was waiting for them. He had several crates open at his feet. Great, Draco thought, What are we going to hatch this time? He peered into one of the wooden boxes and was surprised to see a bunch of funny little black creatures with long snouts and flat paws.
"These're nifflers," explained Hagrid. "Yeh find 'em down mines mostly. They like sparkly stuff."
You don't say... Draco looked at the nifflers then at Pansy. "Hey Pansy, you know these nifflers have very smooth coats."
"Really?" Predictably, Pansy extended an arm to pat a niffler. The niffler sprung up and attempted to bite the watch off her wrist.
"There yeh go, look." Hagrid observed.
Draco chuckled. The students were then instructed to choose a niffler for the day's activity. Draco made sure his gold pocketwatch was safe from the little diggers' reach and chose one. As he carried it away, he heard Hagrid notice a spare niffler, "Where's Hermione?"
"Where indeed?" Pansy murmured next to him as Potter talked to Hagrid. She lingered a bit, obviously hoping to hear an answer.
Draco proceeded to the freshly turned earth and set his niffler loose. He watched amused as it "swam" in the ground. It seemed rather competitive, often being chased by, or chasing another niffler for a gold coin.
After several, and rather enjoyable minutes, Draco saw Granger coming down to the cabin. She still looked dismal. He was surprised to see her hands bandaged. He had expected the nurse to heal them completely. She walked over to where Hagrid was standing with her two best friends. He wished he could ask her how she was, but obviously, this was not the right place or company to do such a thing.
Draco spied Goyle snatching coins from unsuspecting classmates. He examined his handful of coins and smirked. Leprechaun gold. He's held enough of the real thing to know the difference.
"...Don't bother trying to steal any Goyle." Hagrid said sternly.
Weasley's niffler had gathered the most coins and a huge slab of Honeyduke's chocolate was his prize. As the students headed for the castle, he caught Granger looking at him as if appraising him. Draco nodded ever so slightly in acknowledgement. She looked away.
Later that night, Draco was once again settled in front of the fireplace in the Slytherin common room. He wondered what surprised his classmates more, that he finished his homework so fast, or that he was so silent that evening. Crabbe and Goyle slaved over their essay as Draco stared into the fire. When they said they were going to retire, Draco nodded and said he'd follow later on. The two exchanged puzzled looks and proceeded to the boys' dormitories.
Little by little, the Slytherins around him disappeared to their dormitories until the only ones left were Draco and Ada Rosier. She broke the silence.
"You're brooding again, young Draco."
Draco looked up. She was scratching away at a particularly long piece of parchment. He walked over to the table and sat down. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go right ahead." She answered without looking up.
Draco took a deep breath. "Okay, er, hypothetically, let's say you were at odds with a person for a really long time. You might even say you hate that person, you've said horrible things to her--or him, " he added quickly, "And everyone knows about the animosity."
"Okay, go on."
"And then that person would be the friend of your, er, sworn enemy."
This time Ada looked up. "Hypothetically speaking, I presume."
"Yes, of course," Draco cleared his throat, "What would you do if you find yourself, er, not hating that person anymore? And you want the enmity to end?"
Ada seemed to be deep in thought. "Well, for starters, I would talk to that person differently. You know, without spite."
"Oh that's done," Draco said automatically, "I mean, assuming that's done, what then?"
The elder Slytherin looked amused. "It depends. Does the quasi-enemy want a truce?"
"I think the quasi-enemy wants a truce, but is too loyal to her--or his--allies to call one. And let's say you haven't really given that person any reason to give you a chance."
Ada looked thoughtful. "Sounds like it's going to be a difficult friendship. That is, if there can be any at all."
Draco nodded.
"Well, if it were me, I'd probably start being civil to that person even if it looks suspicious. If he or she is the type to give second chances, then there's hope."
"But what about the allies?"
"I think the quasi-enemy is smart enough to understand how complicated it is. We'd probably be discreet about it."
"But wouldn't that mean disloyalty?"
"Yes, in a manner of speaking. But you have to understand, there is nothing wrong with building bridges. In any universe, reconciling with an enemy is a good thing."
Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I know you're right, but it doesn't make things easier."
She turned her attention back to her parchment. "True. But good things never come easy."
He sat there for a while, thinking. He watched Ada write her essay and noticed she wasn't using a quill.
"Ada, what's that?" He pointed to the slender tube in her hand.
"Oh this?" Ada held it up for him to see, "It called a fountain pen, a Muggle writing instrument."
"Muggles write with that thing?"
"Obviously," she answered motioning to her foot-long essay. "I collect pens."
She dug a hand into her bag pulled out a rectangular case. She emptied its contents on the table. Out came more tubes of different colors and lengths that resembled her fountain pen. She picked one up. "This is the simplest model. A ballpoint pen. The rest are modifications."
Draco took it and tried it out on a scrap of parchment. "Wow."
"And in different colors too. I use this one because it resembles a quill's writing."
"From this little thing? It's like..."
"Magic?" She offered. Draco nodded. "You'd be surprised how Muggles get along without magic."
"There's a lot about Muggles that surprise me."
"Hey Draco," Ada looked at him seriously. "There wasn't anything hypothetical about your scenario, is there?"
He hesitated. "No."
"I figured as much. Don't worry, just like before, this dies with me."
Draco smiled. "Thanks."
