Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the associated Characters are the property of JK Rowling and her agents and assignees. I make no profit from writing down the tangents that spin in my head.
A.N.: A wise woman once told me: remember if you have voices in your head, you may be insane, or alternately touched by the hand of God, unless you write them down, then you are an author.
Bolded Text quoted from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Father Figure Chapter 10
At lunch, Hermione grumped at Harry about losing points. After five minutes, he finally snapped at her.
"Hermione, what did I lose points for?" Harry asked his bushy haired friend.
"Well, professor Snape said -"
"Don't you dare say I lost points for impudence and being a show off. It was our first class," Harry said quietly but fervently. "How would you have answered? I've read your essays, tell me you would have given him any less of an answer."
Hermione paused for a moment, "You're right Harry, it's just horrible that you lost points the first week of class. Why would he treat you like that?" She asked perplexed.
"I know he and my father didn't get along in school, but that's stupid." Harry answered, translating his father's significantly more colorful description of Snape.
"Don't feel bad Harry, even Percy agrees that Snape unfairly favors the Slytherins." Ron said.
"Thanks Ron," Harry said to the redhead. "Hermione, I'll try not to lose points but past a certain point what am I going to do? If I lose points for answering too much, I'll probably lose points for not answering enough."
"I'm sorry Harry, you know how competitive I am." She said with a chagrined smile.
Neville joined them when they were almost done, "Sorry guys, I had to write Gran about what happened in class. She said to let her know about anything out of the ordinary. I wanted to get the letter off so she could have it before dinner."
"I'm going to write Remus after lunch so he can keep Sirius and Aunt Petunia informed.' Harry let them know.
Harry excused himself and told them he'd meet them in the study room in Gryffindor when he saw professor McGonagall get up from the head table. He left the great hall slightly ahead of her and paused at the staircase, "Ma'am, can I talk to you about something?"
"Mr. Potter, I have office hours at four p.m., but if we do not delay, I have a few minutes before my sixth year students arrive," professor McGonagall gestured for him to lead the way to her classroom. Harry wasted no time and shortly he was standing in front of his head of house's desk.
"Well Mr. Potter, how can I help you?" She said looking over her glasses.
"Ma'am, I wanted to talk to you about my potions class this morning," Harry started. "I lost points this morning and I don't think it's right."
"Mr. Potter, unfortunately a teacher's classroom is run at their discretion and other teachers do not interfere," His teacher stated.
"But Ma'am, all I did was answer his questions," Harry protested. "He called me out specifically, he didn't ask the class in general. He took points for impudence with one of my answers and for showing off with my second answer, taking points both times. Later on in class when Dean and Neville were injured he reprimanded me for not preventing it even though I was two desks in front of where it happened."
Professor McGonagall's lips almost disappeared into a thin tight line. She blew a breath out between these tight lips. "Mr. Potter, please understand that teachers must be able to run their classroom."
James gave an exasperated growl at this, "Harry do you mind if I give you a suggestion here?"
"Please Dad," Harry sub vocalized, then spoke the words his dad fed him. "Ma'am, I have had all of one class with Professor Snape, he referred to me as a celebrity when taking role he then singled me out for questions. The first question he asked me was a third year potions question, the only thing that any reasonable person could take as impudent in my answer was the fact that I identified it as third year brewing exercise. I like potions, I have studied it a bit with Mrs. Greengrass before coming to Hogwarts. The only thing I can think of is -" Harry paused.
"Ma'am, I know he hated my father, I can only guess that he has decided that I am like my father, who Mr. Lupin and Mr. Black have admitted was a bit spoiled when he came to Hogwarts." Harry blew air out from between tight lips mimicking his teacher unconsciously.
The five minute warning bell rang letting them know that classes would begin.
"Mr. Potter, I know that he did not get along with your father but I do recall that he was friends with your mother, when they were young, so I would hope that friendship would colour his actions."
Harry looked upset by this.
"There is not much I can do, the running of a classroom is in the control of the teacher, but in my role as deputy headmistress, I will bring this up." Professor McGonagall nodded obviously considering the conversation closed. "Have a good weekend Mr. Potter."
Harry left letting himself out past the sixth year students that were waiting in the hall.
"What do you think she'll do?" Harry asked his dad.
"I don't know, Sirius and others have been against Albus having Snape on staff for years. I don't know if she can change anything." His dad told him bluntly but not harshly.
"So I should still write Aunt Petunia and Sirius about this?" Harry asked.
"Definitely, Neville had a good idea, if you go send them now, Sirius and Petunia may have the letters today." Harry quickly made his way to his dorm room and penned out two letters, He found that for writing quickly a pen was more useful and really wished that classes would allow the use of something designed after the eighteenth century. After a quick trip to the owlery where he gave his letters to Hedwig and a few minutes letting her know that she could come find him not just when she had mail. Harry went and joined his friends in the library. It had been a busy week getting used to the castle, but they didn't have that much work and were able to finish up the potions assignment before heading down to meet with Hagrid.
Hagrid was glad to see them. His boar hound Fang was even happier to see them snuffling all of them inappropriately before it settled to drooling on Harry's shoe. Fred and George were right, the rock cakes might actually contain rocks. Harry introduced his friends around.
"Ye look a lot like your Dad, Neville," Hagrid said.
When he introduced Ron, Hagrid's bushy eyebrows went up.
"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid. "I spent me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest." Hagrid then told Harry and his friends a few stories about his dad and Sirius and having to chase them out of the Forrest.
"There's a lot of magic in the forest your Da' an' his frien's were way to interes'ed in being out there on the full moon. I had to chase them away on more than one occasion."
"But why were they out there on the full moon, isn't that the most dangerous time to be in the woods?" Hermione asked.
"It can be, but there are a lo' o' things that can only be done on the full moon. Unicorn hair shed on the full moon is the most magically powerful, moonflowers only bloom on the full moon." Hagrid seemed to realize he had just given the group of first years logical reasons to go traipsing around the forest in the dark. "So ther' are plen'y o' reasons to be ou' in the woo's, but I don' wan' to fin' you there unti' you're big enou' an' ha' enou' trainin' to ta' care o' yourselves. Un'erstan' me?" He said giving each of them a very firm look. He got up to refill their cups and offer rock cakes, which they again declined. He bustled for a moment and then sat back down. Changing the subject.
"So 'ow are you settlin' to classes?" He asked picking his cup back up and taking a big bite of rock cake.
"So far, I like charms and astronomy," Hermione answered.
"History is so boring!" whined Ron, "and Snape is a bloody nightmare."
"I'll admit he can be right testy." Hagrid offered.
"We had our first class today and I was injured when another student's cauldron blew up. He gave me a zero." Neville protested.
"He gave me a zero as well after ordering me to help Neville to the hospital wing." Ron Complained.
"He singled me out and took points from me," Harry added. "He seemed to really hate me."
"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?"
Yet Harry couldn't help thinking that Hagrid didn't quite meet his eyes when he said that.
"Well there's no reason he should, I only met him this morning, but I know that he didn't get along with my father or his friends." Harry said.
Hagrid turned back to Ron.
"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid asked Ron. "I liked him a lot – great with animals."
Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. His dad confirmed his observation. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons, Harry picked u a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:
Gringotts Break-inLatest
Investigations continue in the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon
"Harry, leave that be, that's between Dumbledore, the goblins an' me," Hagrid said when he noticed Harry reading the article.
"I'm sorry Hagrid, I remember hearing about the break-in over the summer, but it happened a few days before we got back from our trip." Harry said wheels turning in his head. "Was this the Hogwarts' business you were headed to London for when you came to my aunt's house?"
"The goblins had some questions since I was the one to empty the vault." Hagrid stopped, "Never mind about that, that's Dumbledore and Flamel's business." Hagrid swept the piece of paper off the table and set it on a shelf. The conversation kind of died after that and shortly the first years thanked Hagrid and headed back up to the castle.
Harry passed Tracey a note as they were entering the great hall for dinner to meet him on the fifth floor the next morning at seven next to the statue of Boris the Bewildered. She caught his eye and nodded.
The next morning he was up early, Neville didn't have the protective gear he'd written his gran for, but Harry figured he could help Neville with some basics. He'd had a couple books on technique and training that he'd have to let Neville borrow. Tracey showed up wearing robes but Harry notice her shoes were her Marseille boots. It turned out she had her work out clothes on under her robes. They started a work out with conditioning exercises that weren't that different from those they had used when younger in gymnastics. By the time ninety minutes had passed with Harry and Tracey alternately showing Neville moves and sparring, they were all sweaty and ready for breakfast.
After a quick shower, Harry and Neville went down to breakfast with Dean and Seamus, Hermione and Fay joined them from the girls side of Gryffindor.
Harry received mail from Aunt Petunia, Sirius, and Remus. Inside Aunt Petunia's letter was a folded letter from his cousin. He quickly read through the letters from his aunt and the marauders. Aunt Petunia said to bear up as best he could and that she would be sending a letter to Professor McGonagall. Remus' letter was more philosophical while Sirius said don't get mad get even but also don't get caught.
Harry saw Professor McGonagall conferring somewhat heatedly with the Headmaster in hushed tones. They finished their conversation and she pushed her plate away. Getting up she walked towards them.
"Mr. Longbottom," she addressed Neville. "Please come to the Headmaster's office in thirty minutes, your grandmother has requested that you be present for a meeting."
She turned and left. Malfoy must have heard this as he had to take the opportunity to come over and be a pillock. "So," he drawled walking up with a small entourage. "They finally realized squibs shouldn't attend classes."
"Malfoy, you need to learn not to bray whatever comes into your little blond head like an ass wanting grain." Neville said tightly.
Patricia Stimpson decided to step in, "Mr. Malfoy, please leave now or I will need to let one of your prefects know you are bluntly causing a disruption." Malfoy walked away without saying anything more. Neville left shortly after that to put on some more formal robes, if he was going to be seeing his Grandmother in the Headmaster's office he wanted to look his best.
Harry hoped everything was alright and decided to hang around the dorm finished up his homework and by eleven had started on his correspondence work to keep up on his mundane grade. Neville walked into the study room and his eyes brightened when he saw Harry. He came over and almost collapsed into a chair.
"You Okay Neville? Harry asked.
"Yeah, I just spent the last hour or more with my Gran, the Headmaster, and all four heads of house," His friend said.
"Whoa, is everything okay?" Harry asked closing his notebook and putting his maths book in his bag.
"Yeah, Gran was a might bit upset over hearing what happened yesterday." Neville said sitting up straight and running a hand through his hair.
"She's not upset at you is she?" Harry asked. He didn't think Lady Augusta could be mad at Neville but it sounded like she was upset at someone.
"No, when I got there she gave me a hug and asked if I was alright. She looked at my neck and pretty much checked me over. Once the heads of house had arrived, things got more tense. I've been around Gran when she's having conversations with political rivals and allies, she says it's good training for later. This was like she was no holds barred going after one of her rivals in the Wizengamot." Neville very animatedly told Harry about the meeting.
Gran, "Professor Flitwick, does charms start with the blasting hex?
"Of course not, we start with lumos and wingardium leviosa two basic charms that allow a new magical user to learn control of their magic." The diminutive professor answered.
Gran huffed.
"Minerva, do you start first years off with human transfiguration?"
"No," professor McGonagall sounded annoyed at the question.
"Professor Sprout, do you let first years handle mandrakes?" Gran asked getting on a roll.
"Goodness no, that would be insanity." Professor Sprout answered.
"Then why does the first potions class of first year brew a potion that includes volatile ingredients and a possible deadly reaction?" She asked looking at the Headmaster and Professor Snape in turn.
"If the students weren't such dunderheads –"
"You arrogant prick, you don't teach, you prattle on about how great you are at potions and then put a recipe on the board. They're first years, by and large they don't know anything about brewing. I have letters from three students from different houses all who say that you gave no direction or demonstration of ingredient prep and no indication that there could be a violent reaction if special care were not taken with the instructions."
"Of course the Potter brat and your squib grandson would tell the same fairy tale." Snape said acidly.
"If you call my grandson a squib again, I will bring charges for attacking the heir of an ancient house. That law is still on the books. And Albus, I would bring to your attention that perhaps your pet death eater making verbal attacks against an eleven year old whose parents were killed defeating his former master might be not be the best thing in the world."
"She didn't." Harry said shocked.
"She did, she ripped down one side and up the other of professor Snape and professor Dumbledore for the next half hour. It was amazing." Neville said a look of pride on his face.
"So you think Snape will be better?" Harry asked. Thinking that this may help Neville but wouldn't change the fact that Snape hated him.
"I don't know, but at least I get a chance to correct my zero for the boil remover potion. Tomorrow afternoon." Neville answered. "I'm going to go tell the other guys about the make up class."
At lunch, Ron whinged about having to do class on Sunday. His brother, Percy, just reminded him of the likely reaction of their mother to him getting a zero on the first potions assignment. Ron paled. "Ron, why don't you write mom and tell her how your first week went, make sure you mention that you had to take a fellow Gryffindor to the Hospital wing during potions and are making up the class tomorrow."
"Good idea, Percy," Ron said around a mouthful of shepherd's pie.
Neville got an O on his second brewing of the boil cure while Ron got an A and Dean and Seamus got Ps but at least didn't blow up their cauldrons. For the make up, Snape had each of them brew their own potion. Ron came back up to the dorm and went to bed skipping dinner which had his brothers worried.
Sunday night there was a notice in the common room announcing flying lessons on Thursday afternoon, they were paired with Slytherin. Harry doubted it would be a chance to fly leisurely with Daphne or Tracey but still looked forward to it, he again thought that Hogwarts was sorely lacking in physical activity other than climbing stairs.
~~FF~~
Classes started up again Monday with the teachers paying more attention to rules than the prior week. With the exception of history, Binns still just droned on about Knob, The Mad, leader of the goblin rebellion of 1155. Harry stayed awake by working on his transfiguration essay, which earned a frown from Hermione. He passed her a note, We've been told half the things he talks about aren't on the O.W.L. I'll self study it just like my mundane classes.
In defense, Quirrel gave them assigned seating. This place Harry in the back of the class away from Neville and Hermione but it was okay, the garlic and incense was less overpowering in the back of the classroom leaving him with only a slight headache at the end of class. Which was better than Lavender and Parvati who were both looking a little green by the end of class.
Thursday morning Harry, like many of his fellow first years, was sitting at breakfast kind of happy and bouncy over the fact that they were going to fly. Hermione was looking rather tense. They had coaxed her into learning the basics of flying based on the fact that she would have to show proficiency or have to repeat the flying lessons yearly but she really didn't like heights.
Neville untied a small package from his grandmother's owl. This was the first package he had received so Harry looked over his shoulder interested. Neville opened the letter,
Neville,
The attached package contains your father's rememberall, I know that they are probably considered dreadfully out of fashion but I sent it to him after his first week of Hogwarts and wanted you to have this in honor of him. If he and your mother understand the things I tell them about you, they are so proud of you, even if they can't tell you themselves. I got your note that you made an O on your potion, good job. When you hold this always know that I love you and am proud of the heir of the Longbottom family.
Love
Gran
Harry acted like he hadn't read the brief note over Neville's shoulder as he saw his friends eyes shine a little bit. Neville carefully folded and tucked away the letter and untied the package. Inside was a glass ball a little larger than a mandarin orange. It was clear. Neville held it in his hand and looked at it for a few moments. He held it up where Harry and Ron could see it. "My Gran sent it to me, it was my father's" he started to explain what a rememberall was when Malfoy who was passing the table snatched it out of his palm.
"Look, the squib has a rememberall. Think it will help you remember how to do magic?" Malfoy drawled.
Others might have thought that Neville grabbed the rememberall back from Malfoy but Harry saw it jump from Malfoy's hand into Neville's. "Watch your step petit chien, yappy dogs get kicked." Neville growled at him a look of cold anger on his face.
"What is going on here?" Mcgonagall asked having deduced there was a problem.
"Ma'am, it's okay, my Gran sent me a package, Malfoy was just forgetting that we look with our eyes not with our hands." Neville answered before Ron or Harry could make an issue of it.
"Well then now that you have seen what Mr. Longbottom received, Mr. Malfoy, why don't you move along." Professor McGonagall shooed Malfoy away.
That afternoon, they made their way to the quidditch pitch, Hermione seemed to be silently going over everything that Remus had taught her about brooms. Ron and Draco were trying to out do each other with tales of flying. When Malfoy got to talking about racing muggle horse and carriages, Harry was sure that he was relating some puffed up story that the painting of some ancestor of his told. Harry got annoyed and tried to use his wandless banisher to trip Malfoy. He caused Draco's left shoe to shift as he walked so that he fell over his own two feet. Draco got up looking around angrily not seeing anyone with a drawn wand, he stomped down the trail. Tracey caught Harry's eye and one side of her mouth move upwards in a smirk. Harry just shrugged as if saying 'who me,' Tracey laughed all the way to the pitch.
Madame Hooch got them organized lined up with the school brooms, Harry tried to steer Hermione to a broom that looked to be in good condition as some of the brooms looked kind of bedraggled. Neville seemed to be doing the same for Fay who didn't seem very confident in flying. Getting them both situated with brooms in better condition, he waited for instructions. Soon they were mounted on their brooms, standing ready for the command to rise. When Madame Hooch gave it, Harry kicked off gently watching to make sure Hermione was okay. That is until He had to roll out of the way as Neville went careening by him at full speed, yelling "Can't get it to stop." Neville was trying to fight it back to the ground and in the process fell off from about twenty feet up. He landed with a crunch. Madame Hooch diagnosed it as a broken ankle and fibula. Deciding that it was beyond her ability to quickly heal, she ordered the rest of her students back to the ground and threatened dire consequences if they misbehaved while she took Neville to the Hospital. She sent off a quick silver spell and then levitated Neville up and started walking towards the castle with the young brunette floating behind. The students stood around subdued.
"Look," Draco said bending down to pick something up. "It's the squib's rememberall." The clear glass ball clouded red in his hand.
"Give that back," Ron demanded.
"No, I don't think I will." Draco answered and then took off on his broom. "I think I'll put it someplace and see if he can remember to find it."
Thinking of how he treasured everything he had from his parents, Harry mounted up and flew after Malfoy.
Once they were about forty feet off the ground, Harry caught up with Draco. "Draco, you don't want to start this. That belonged to his father. If you don't give it back, he will get back at you no matter how long it takes and damn it! I'll help him." From this close, Harry could probably have just summoned the rememberall, but he didn't want to show off his abilities. One of them using a wandless summoner, accidental, two of them, it would let the cat out of the bag.
"Fine, you want to take it from me, take it." Draco turned on his broom and threw the rememberall in the opposite direction. It was flying high and far away. Without thinking Harry dove after it. He tucked his body against his broom and willed it to go faster. He unconsciously calculated the arc of the ball and cut the corner gaining ground. He managed to get under it and catch it just a few feet off the ground preventing it from shattering against the field house. His toes brushed the slate roof as he pulled up having missed splattering himself against the wall by mere feet. He turned in a gentle circle and landed back next to where Ron was looking dumbstruck with Seamus and Dean. Hermione threw her arms around him.
"Harry, didn't you hear what Madame Hooch said about staying on the ground? You could get detention or lose points." Hermione ranted.
Harry knew from the tone of her voice that she was actually very worried about him. "It will be okay Hermione, it just had to be done."
"Mr. Malfoy! Get down here!" they turned to see professor McGonagall walking towards them.
"Mr. Potter come here!" the stern Scot shouted.
Harry walked over to where McGonagall was. He stood up straight and held his emotions in check, "Ma'am?"
McGonagall's eyes tracked Malfoy's decent making Harry think of her feline form looking at prey. "Mr. Potter, what did Mr. Malfoy throw that you felt the need to catch?"
"Neville's rememberall ma'am. It was his father's and therefore is very important to him."
"Very well, Mr. Potter if I ever hear of you disobeying a teacher like that again, I will see that you are in detention until you graduate." Malfoy had finally landed looking much less confident in the presence of the transfiguration mistress.
"Mr. Malfoy, I witnessed your actions. It would seem you have difficulty respecting others' possessions. For that I am assigning you detention helping Madame Hooch clean and inspect the brooms after class. Report to her when class is finished. Mr. Potter, follow me."
Harry handed his broom to Malfoy who was so stunned he took it. He followed his head of house up to the castle. When they got to the fifth floor, he wasn't expecting her to open the door to the charms classroom.
"Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Mr. Wood please?" she asked the diminutive teacher.
Flitwick nodded, "Mr. Wood, please make sure you get the homework from your fellow students."
The Stocky fifth year quickly put his book and notes in his bag and exited the class.
"Come with me," McGonagall ordered and then walked back towards her office. Once they were in the office with the doors closed, she turned to them.
"Mr. Wood, Miss Hennesy is still not wanting to continue on the team in her N.E.W.T year correct?"
"Yes Ma'am," Wood answered.
"Then I believe we can thank her for being willing to help us out but let her focus on studies."
"Ma'am?" Wood asked looking at Harry out of the corner of his eye.
"I believe I've found your seeker," McGonagall said turning to Harry. "That is assuming you would be willing to play seeker for Gryffindor."
"Wow," James said in Harry's ear. "Harry do you want to play?"
Harry answered both questions, "I had planned to try out next year or the year after but I've usually played chaser when we play at home. Yes, I'd be willing to play seeker if you think I can do it."
"You think he can do it?" Wood asked his head of house.
"I watched him intercept a glass ball thrown from forty feet up. Harry, you did a great job of anticipating where that ball was going to be. Not to mention being able to track a clear glass ball in flight shows you have excellent seeker senses and reflexes." Professor McGonagall answered. "Harry, if you agree, I will write a note of exception for your file. I'm assuming you have a broom of your own."
"Yes Ma'am, a Nimbus two thousand." Harry answered smiling at the thought that he would be able to have his broom at school.
"You fly the broom that the British National Team uses?" Wood asked incredulously.
"I also have a Cleansweep six but my godfather got me the Nimbus for my birthday." Harry answered. "If I recall correctly, the keeper still uses a Cleansweep five because it is more maneuverable at low speeds and has better acceleration up to fifty miles per hour." Brooms and sports cars were a common topic around Privet Drive with Dudley.
Wood looked impressed with Harry's knowledge.
"Mr. Potter, I'll leave you with your new team captain to discuss things." McGonagall dismissed them. As they reached the door, she added, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Wood, it might be a good idea to keep this a secret as long as possible."
"Yes Ma'am," they both said.
As they left, Harry directed them towards the Gryffindor Tower. Once inside he said, "Let me write to get my broom sent."
"Sounds good Harry, quidditch try outs are this weekend, why don't we say that Professor McGonagall has said you have to help with tryouts as punishment" Wood offered.
"How very Slytherin Mr. Wood. Good idea," Harry said with a grin.
"Harry do you know who the last first year quidditch team member was?"
"No, Who?" Harry asked.
"Albus Dumbledore played for Ravenclaw in 1888," Wood said. "That's pretty good company you keep." Wood ruffled his hair.
Harry sent a letter off to Petunia and to Sirius before his friends returned. In the hour before dinner, his classmates cornered him. He avoided their questions just saying that he was told he had to help out with quidditch tryouts on Saturday. Fortunately the attention shifted off him when Neville came walking into the common room. As they were headed down to dinner, Harry pulled Neville and Hermione aside and told them the news Neville grinned and gave him a happy cuff on the shoulder. Hermione looked a little bit put out that exceptions were being made for him but gave him a happy hug.
The next morning Potions was a little different than their first class, Snape went through the instructions and made some borderline insulting comments about the Gryffindor's intelligence level but nothing as bad as the prior week. When they were on their way up to lunch Draco and Nott were walking behind their group. Draco was once again making snide comments about Neville and Hermione.
Just before they entered the great hall, Draco said loud enough for everyone to hear, "So Squib, were you impressed to actually feel magic when Madame Pomphrey fixed your ankle yesterday? Too bad other things can't be fixed so quickly"
Neville whipped around, Harry put a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged it off. His face was red, without any preamble, his wand was in his hand and he snapped off a stinging hex hitting Draco in the wand hand, he then followed up with a half dozen, all hitting Draco who yelped in pain and tried to duck out of the way. The final one hit him right in the forehead leaving a welt. Harry also drew his wand in case things escalated, he noticed half the Gryffindors had their wands in hand. Not content to just make Draco cry, Neville turned his hair a putrid shade of purple and then hit him with a paint charm to leave a large puce spot on his chest. He stood there his breath coming in angry huffs.
"What is the meaning of this?" Professor McGonagall demaneded her wand drawn. Harry put away his wand.
"Ma'am, Malfoy has been calling me a squib for the last two weeks," Neville said, his voice betraying no emotion. "I felt it was time to disabuse him of that opinion."
"Be that as it may, attacking another student with magic is unacceptable," she paused. "Ten points from Gryffindor and detention with me after dinner tonight. It will be two detentions if you can't cancel the paint and colour changing charms right now."
Neville pointed his wand at Malfoy who cringed slightly, something Harry was sure all the Slytherins present noticed. Two quick finites and Draco was back to his usual blond looks. He still had a welt on his forehead.
"Okay everyone go about your business." McGonagall watched them move on. Harry heard her say quietly to Draco, "Mr. Malfoy, if I hear of retaliation I will punish you at least as harshly."
At lunch, the Gryffindor table was abuzz with talk about what just happened. Now that he had calmed down, Neville looked a little embarrassed. He thanked Harry for having his back and trying to stop him.
"No problem mate," Harry said with a hand on his shoulder.
"That was so cool," Ron exclaimed. "Can you teach me, you got those stinging hexes off fast."
"That was not cool Ronald!" Hermione harrumphed. "Neville has detention tonight and lost points." Her emphasis was on the lost points.
"Hermione, I was making a point. Do you think Malfoy would shut up without being shown that there were consequences? I know at least three teachers have heard him call me a squib and you a mudblood but nobody had stopped him." Neville answered her.
"Hermione, Neville's gained more than twenty points in charms and hebalogy since classes have started. Losing a few points isn't the end of the world." Harry consoled her.
Hermione shrugged, "Is there any situation you two don't have an explanation for?"
Harry and Neville looked at each other with a grin. "We try," they said almost in unison.