Chapter Eight:
Le Duel
"The Duel"
"Draco," a voice whispered softly into Draco's ear. The boy sighed, burying his face deeply in his pillow. "Draco." He felt so warm with his blankets wrapped tightly around him. It would be heaven if a gnat didn't stop whispering in his ear. Draco quickly forgot about the gnat, which sounded suspiciously like Granger, when he felt his hands take a hold of a Nimbus 2000. He was soaring under the sun, perfectly free and at pea-
A bludger hit him sharply in the face and Draco jerked up. Granger was looking down at him nervously, but her mouth was pursed in disapproval. It took him a moment to realize Granger was in the boys dormitory. It took him another minute to accept the fact that Granger was in the boys dorms. It was enough for Draco to wonder if he was still dreaming. Having a nightmare was more exact given the contents. The girl looked a bit embarrassed, but determined.
Without thinking past how bad it would be if the other boys saw her, Draco pulled Granger towards him. But even as he was waving his wand to close the curtains there foreheads smashed together. Fortunately Draco's pillow muffled her shriek of pain. Unfortunately that was because Draco had been hit hard enough to fly back.
She has a hard head. His first thought before he untangled himself. Draco quickly jumped to cover the girl's mouth with his hand before she could wake up the others. She went still, stopping her wriggling attempts to escape the blanket she'd managed to entangle herself in. The girl glared at Draco her forehead distinctly pink and already swollen even in the dim light. Then she glared at the blanket. Rolling his eyes at Granger's lost battle with the inanimate object; Draco peeked out from behind the curtains.
No one had moved. In two beds no one was there to move. Draco strangled back a shriek and proceeded to hide back in the bed. He made sure the curtains were firmly hiding them from view before turning to a very disapproving Granger.
"You know where those (dumbasses) went." Draco said, barely managing to keep his voice a whisper. Granger nodded and leaned foreword following his example.
"I overheard them in Charms talking about a duel with Nott. They noticed me, but not before I heard where they were headed." Granger whispered sounding triumphant at this accomplishment. Draco decided to think of this later.
Draco nodded and the girl continued clearly enjoying her audience, or more likely having someone listening to her who didn't hate her.
"Apparently, Nott approached Harry and Ron right after you'd left to bother me. He started harassing them, well more Ronald really. Harry final snapped when he said something very rude about you. Nott seemed to get upset, probably because he was showed up in front of the Slytherins. Nott's face went blank and you could se he was angry. After a few seconds he challenged Harry to a Wizard's duel. Harry, of course, didn't know about it, but Ron jumped in claiming to be Harry's second and asking who was Nott's. One of the Slytherin boys, I couldn't find out who, stepped up saying he was Nott's, and saying to meet in the trophy room—"
"At midnight." Draco finished slamming his fist against the pillow.
Granger nodded as she took a deep breath. It said how serious he situation was that the girl did not look annoyed at being interrupted. Draco groaned and ground his teeth.
"What?" Granger asked looking worried.
"That is the oldest trick in Slytherin House. He's going to find Filch waiting for him." Draco told her voice tight.
"Are you sure?" Granger questioned looking half hopeful. Draco bristled without thinking. He'd forgotten how much Granger disliked Weasley, clearly she thought Potter was an acceptable casualty if her enemy got in trouble.
"How do you know what happened?" Draco challenged annoyed, and knowing doubting her bothered the girl. He also knew very well Potter and Weasley hadn't given her a blow-by-blow description while she eavesdropped. She looked a little taken aback by his tone, but not cowed.
"You first," she snapped back.
"It's what I would have done," Draco told her sleeping out of the bed and grabbing his curtain from the front of the bed. Granger followed silently behind him. Normally he would have stopped and pressed her, but Potter out ranked his challenges. Besides something told him she would crack sooner this way. Which she did as Draco was holding the Fat Lady's portrait open for her.
"I got it out of Lavender Brown," Granger admitted sheepishly. "She doesn't like me, but she loves to gossip and Pavarti was with her sister from Ravenclaw."
Draco was impressed by the Slytherin thinking and felt pleased he'd gotten it out of her even if his heart was pounding harshly in his throat from worry. As soon as they were outside Draco sat off at a run taking the short cut he'd discovered from his wonderings. He grabbed Granger's wrist to drag her when she began lagging. Considering Granger had no doubt come as soon as the boys had left, they might be able to catch up with them.
They weren't able to get there in time to stop them from going into the trophy room. But to Draco's relief they were able to still alone, though the two of them had Longbottom with them for some reason.
"Draco," Potter and Weasley said startled.
"(Dumbasses)." Draco growled in French.
"Neville," Granger said looking at the nervous boy in disappointment.
"Hermione," Longbottom answered looking away guiltily.
Everyone looked at each other startled or guilty, except Draco. He was rolling his eyes. They were such Gryffindors. No plan if they got caught, just wearing a cornered animal look.
"We have to leave before Filch gets here." Draco told the knocking them out of their little staring contest.
"No, I have to duel Nott." Potter said, looking defiant with his wand clutched in his grasp.
"There is no duel it's a trick." Draco snapped, nerves taut, his eyes moving back and forth between the two entrances.
"How do we know this isn't a trick to make us leave?" Weasley said stepping towards the front.
Draco threw him a dirty look, but only Longbottom recoiled away. Weasley didn't even flinch, blue eyes determined and bright. Of all the times for them to grow defiant. Draco wanted to feed the both of them to a basilisk, after he got them away from trouble.
"Because Purebloods only duel Purebloods." The looks he got were enough to make him scream in frustration. Yet another problem with the company he was being forced to keep. They were completely oblivious to things that Draco had learned before he could walk.
"Do you honestly think I'd lie to you?" Draco questioned looking into Potter's eyes. He saw Weasley blush next to Potter, but focused on the black haired boy. The boy looked torn, distrustful, guilty for being distrustful, but sure.
"You'd lie to make me do what you thought was right." Potter told him, meeting Draco's gaze, his green eyes solemn and confident. They lacked the normal uncertainty Potter had bore since they'd first meet.
Draco wasn't sure how to react to that. It was completely true and even more surprising Potter knew it. 'Any means to achieve their ends' was something Draco and his family lived on. And lying to Potter was definitely acceptable if it got Draco what he wanted.
"Fine." Draco closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Purebloods feel required to duel each other if challenged. If they decline or fail to show up than it is a sign of weakness and an insult to who they're facing. This rule is only ignored when dealing with Muggleborns and blood traitors. They consider you too low to bother with. So challenging you to a duel and setting Filch on you instead is a trick they'd enjoy."
Draco opened his eyes and looked towards Potter. The boy met his gaze and looked reluctant, but hopeful. After a few moments the boy seemed to make his decision. Looking tentative the boy nodded. Draco knew then and there that the boy's life hadn't been very happy if he was still reluctant to trust Draco even now. It was almost ironic the first person he was putting his trust in was deceiving him. Draco relaxed. Ah well Potter's emotional issues didn't matter as long as he was physically well.
"Let's go." Potter said and with a frown Weasley followed him along with a relieved Longbottom who quickly moved to Granger's side. Draco turned Granger pulling Granger gently behind. The girl though clearly thought this wasn't enough and turned snapping brown eyes on Potter and Weasley. Neither looked very happy about her gaze. The Girl opened her mouth, but they never heard what she intended to say. Because out of the shadows a voice came.
"Chickening out already Potter. And hear I though Gryffindors were supposed to be brave." Theodore Nott said, walking into the dark room with an assurance and purpose he'd lacked at the Flying Class. Behind him were two Slytherins, Blaise Zabini green-hazel eyes bright and Pansy Parkinson who resembled a pug that was about to rip a finger off its owner.
Silence met the trio's entrance, though only because Draco was choking in shock and unable to say any of the colorful phrases running through his mind. The quiet dragged as the two groups looked at each other. Only Potter looked awkward not quite at Draco's side with the others, but not away from them. Instead he stood in the empty area in between the area. The boy refused to look scared though and met Nott's dark gaze defiantly.
Draco focused on Potter and Nott. The dark emotion and harshness of those eyes worried Draco. The comparison with how mild and soft Potter's were, was jarring. Draco went cold. For the first time he was looking passed his own emotional turmoil and focusing entirely on the situation outside himself. The world was so fiercely against them and Potter was almost completely unprepared for it. Draco was wrong and now Potter was having his first duel without knowing a single jinx. He felt Granger's wrist gently pull itself out of his grip and them her hand awkwardly squeeze his. If the girl noticed he was nervous than the Slytherins did. Draco straightened and glared.
The Bête, (fucking bastard), looked amused and made the first move separating himself from the Slytherins and walking towards Weasley. The red head looked ready to hiss at him and glared as the black boy settled relaxed at Weasley's right. Draco firmly ignored that piece of filth that had, of course, settled to his left. Perhaps the Bête simply thought it was an accomplishment to piss off more then one person by simply being within a yard of them.
Potter looked towards them and seemed to steel himself taking a step towards Nott and Pansy. "You were the on who was late Nott, I thought you'd gotten cold feet."
"You wish," Nott said with an unpleasant smile.
Pansy glared at both of them, before leveling an especially hostile look at Draco and Granger. Draco felt the instinctual urge to shed away from the Muggleborn girl, but instead tightened a grip on her hand. Like hell he'd do something just because Pansy Parkinson of all people was upset.
"Let's get started." The girl snapped looking absolutely murderous.
"She wants to kill you." The Bête whispered. Draco ignored him.
"Both duelists step foreword." Pansy said raising her wand and beginning the archaic words.
"-she's been talking about it in the common room. My bets with poison, but judging by what I saw you aren't the one she'd going to kill." The Bête continued seamlessly. Draco tightened his jaw and ignored him.
"-stick out your wand in the air."
"Oh, stop being angry." The Bête said blandly. "I only came because it looked like it would prove entertaining. My loyalties remain where they always have. With myself."
"Do you, Theodore Nott, heir apparent to the Nott family and esteemed King family with all that these names entitle, solemnly swear on your magic that you shall conduct yourself with the honor befitting your bloodlines?" Pansy questioned touching her wand tip to his.
Nott did something unexpected. He looked directly in Potter's gaze and spoke with deliberate slowness. "I do swear upon the Old Magik and my own that I, Theodore Nott, will conduct myself with honor."
Draco stared at Nott. What was he doing? If it had been Draco he wouldn't be allowing Potter to know what to say. He'd embarrass the boy by making sure he didn't. And why would Nott eve agree to the duel. It seemed only to prove he wasn't a fit replacement to Draco's should-have-been position. It was almost a compliment. Draco reeled. In fact Nott was doing honor to Potter by being so respectful. He was acknowledging Potter's bloodlines. But even if he was, Nott was definitely a threat. Nott didn't like Potter, but he was Slytherin enough, or his father was, to not totally alienate the boy that the Malfoys were risking their position and respect for.
"Do you, Harry James Potter, heir apparent to the Potter family," Pansy paused and looked at Potter disdainfully. "and one of the male heirs to the noble Black family with all that these names entitle, solemnly swear on your magic that you shall conduct yourself with the honor befitting your bloodlines?"
Draco scowled, but watched Potter as he touched his wand gently against hers. He looked nervous but ready. He spoke slowly, but he didn't stutter. Draco would have been proud if he'd actually liked his charge.
"I do swear upon the Old Magik and my own that I, Harry James Potter, will conduct myself with honor." Potter managed. Weasley looked relieved and nervous. Pansy frowned annoyed. Draco though was worrying now. If they were being this formal than Nott might just be able to shoot more than sparks.
"Will the seconds-" Pansy began.
"Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caught." A horribly familiar voice cackled.
"RUN!" Draco yelled not bothering to try and convince the poltergeist. He ran holding tight to Granger as he did.
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves bellowed shooting out of the room. "STUDENTS OUT OF BED IN THE TROPHY ROOM!"
Draco heard the others close behind. He turned corridors and halls without thinking. Then he heard footsteps and pushed a tapestry aside hurtling down a hidden corridor. He heard, maybe two others follow him but the rest thundered passed with the unfamiliar footsteps tailing down. Draco didn't stop do and grabbed the nearest door. It was locked. His ears picked up the sound of soft clicking and sniffing, like a cat, down the hall.
"Merde," he snarled. Someone pushed him aside and Draco saw a bush of hair. The lock clicked and they surged in. Draco shut the door when the last one was in. The stood silent frozen. The sniffing passed them and kept getting louder and louder and louder.
"Come here my pretty they've gone to the dungeon," Filch called out and the cat disappeared. Draco sighed with relief and turned to find a sick looking Longbottom, a pale Blaise, and an intense looking Granger.
But that wasn't what made Draco reach for the doorknob. The next second they all stumbled out, Draco tripped landing on the ground and kicking the door shut. He wasn't sure who pulled him up, but he was thankful for it. Draco kept thinking the same thing over and over again as they ran. A Cerberus. A Cerberus. A Cerberus.
They stopped at the foot of the Gryffindor steps. Draco looked at the panting group. Longbottom looked close to fainting. Blaise's composure was gone and his eyes were wide and wild. Draco didn't doubt he looked the same. Granger was odd though. She looked grimly determined.
"Did you see? It was standing on a trapdoor. It's guarding something." Granger told them. Draco repressed a groan remembering Weasley and Potter discussing a mysterious package. Draco hadn't thought about it much then, but he knew if they connected the package to what the dog was guarding they would do something stupid.
"No one is allowed to tell P-Harry or Ron anything about this. I swear I will poison you if you do." Draco threatened. But mostly it was towards Longbottom. Blaise was a Slytherin and Granger didn't like them, or Weasley at least. Longbottom gulped and looked terrified. Granger looked at him offended.
"I'm going to Slytherin house before you Gryffindors get me killed." Blaise drawled still looking weak.
