AN:

Ânes muets (Dumb asses) – Harry and Ron

Chapter Ten:

Nuit d'Effroi

"Fright Night"

After a few days of careful thought on Draco's part, Hermione and he fell into a slightly tweaked relationship. They would still argue and Draco still acted, in Hermione's words 'like a bigoted pig' at times, but he was much more cordial towards her. And now that he'd accepted her as someone of equal importance he felt it necessary to use the manners his mother had taught him were necessary with a lady. Needless to say, Hermione had been shocked every time an embarrassed Draco opened a door for her or offered to carry her things or even, to her horror, felt obliged to scold Weasley, who she was still on horrible terms with, for swearing in front of her.

Hermione blushing bright red had given him a very long talk. She'd been suspicious he was playing a prank on her. Finally Draco, feeling as embarrassed as she looked explained that as a gentleman and an heir to a prestigious family he was supposed to treat a lady, especially one he was close to with a certain respect and decorum. Hermione, after laughing a bit at his expression, asked why he only now started this. Draco definitely did not want to explain he had thought her a lesser being until her birthday, remained silent. To his relief though, she drew her own conclusion.

"You're just like my cousins. It took them until I was eleven to realize I was a real girl." Hermione said amused. Draco agreed instantly with this explanation of not really thinking of her as a real female until now.

After talking a bit more he agreed to tone it down a bit, though blatantly refusing to give it up completely. He may not be a respectable member of Pureblood Society, but he was his mother's son and not willing to incur her further wrath at treating a lady with anything than the right amount of respect.

After a bit Hermione started to accept it with good graces and even amusement, especially when the twins, not passing up such a chance, began to mockingly call him her Honorable Little Knight Errant. Draco ignored this and kept right on opening doors and carrying her things. Potter and Weasley seemed to find his behavior hilarious and enjoyed teasing him about it with the twins. In fact all of Gryffindor House watched his behavior with amusement. Draco decided it was their uncouth, ill-mannered faults' for never being raised correctly. After all Gryffindorks couldn't possibly expect to know the correct way to treat girls. But Draco got some vindictive amusement out of some of the older girls getting mad at their boyfriends for not acting like a 'proper little gentlemen like the sweet little Malfoy boy'. Their expressions of horror were enjoyable.

The only person who didn't seem to react was Longbottom, who Hermione continued to stubbornly help, dragging him to the library every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Draco followed eager to be away from the Gryffindors and having decided that Longbottom was slightly more bearable than the rest of the lions. Longbottom had been elevated in Draco' regards by not only not teasing him about it, but actually asking Draco if girls liked it when boys did that type of thing. Draco, intrigued by this development began to explain to Longbottom, in front of a very amused Hermione, how exactly you are supposed to treat a lady and how to court one since the boy obviously had a particular one in mind.

Hermione had just snorted and pointed out that Draco wasn't exactly experienced since she was the only girl he ever talked to. Draco pointed out that he'd known Pansy long before Hermione. She was not impressed and said that she didn't think he should brag about any type of relationship with 'that vile Parkinson girl' unless he wanted to give Pansy any false hope. Draco quickly dropped it, shuddering at the thought of Pansy hearing he'd said anything of the sort. He doubted his outcast status would extend to his money.

By the time the day of his last detention arrived Draco still had yet to discover who it was Longbottom seemed amorously fond of. Draco didn't mind though. He had plenty of time to crack the boy. Besides he was in a good mood that day. Hermione surprised them all by throwing their group (Longbottom, Draco, and Hermione) a little party. And to Draco's esteem, was big enough to invite Potter and Weasley, because they were Draco's 'friends'.

It had been nice until Weasley said something catty and Hermione left. Draco had dug into Weasley with a protectiveness that surprised even him. But, damn it, this was his first real friend. Weasley apologized for ruining the party, but not Draco noticed for offending Hermione. But Draco decided to forgive the boy anyway, but told him that Hermione was Draco's friend so he'd better learn to accept it. Afterwards things settled into a peace that Draco didn't trust.

By Halloween night he knew he'd been right not to.

…

"Susan Bones?" Draco questioned idly as he pretended to follow Flitwick's lesson. Longbottom looked at Draco with wide eyed panic as the mentioned girl looked over her shoulder curiously. Seeing who had said her name her eyes widened and she instantly turned back to the front. Draco had been amused to find that the Hufflepuffs were always nervous if not scared around him.

Draco had decided to try a more direct approach to find out Longbottom's crush. But the boy was proving more resilient than he thought. Plus he could only do it when Hermione wasn't around and she had an annoying habit of turning up every time he cornered the blonde boy.

"No, please stop," Longbottom begged going a shade of pink that did not compliment the boy's pale hair.

"Well I could," Draco said as if considering it, Longbottom's shoulders slumped and Draco almost smiled. The boy knew him so well it seemed. "If you tell me who she is." Draco finished sweetly, watching as Longbottom's expression fell even more, but didn't look very surprised.

"I can't." Longbottom moaned turning to look at their small teacher, with a despondent expression on his round face.

"Why?" Draco whined, using his best annoying voice that got him what he wanted at home. True it didn't work with Hermione. Or his mother. But Draco had decided that was a female thing.

Longbottom actually gave him an annoyed look. "Because you'll tease me."

"Oh," Draco said feeling amused. "Don't be silly, Longbottom, I'll tease you no matter what. Now who is she?"

Longbottom ignored him, turning to stare determinedly at Flitwick. Draco thought he heard something along the lines of "Persistent bugger." Whispered under the boy's breathe.

"You'll crack eventually," Draco said sure of that fact. Longbottom didn't react beyond a deepening of his frown. Draco rolled his eyes, but found himself smiling.

Draco froze, smile disappearing when he realized it was there. Damn, what now he liked Longbottom too? Draco scowled. It was bad enough he'd gotten attached to Hermione, not that he was complaining about her. But in all honest Draco did not like caring about so many people, it was so tiring. It seemed forever all he'd ever worried over was himself and his parents. Now he cared about Hermione, and Longbottom was an acquaintance, not friend, and was responsible for the Ânes muets. Why did Draco have to suddenly start taking in people like strays?

"Mr. Malfoy?" a voice questioned mildly. Draco jumped and realized Flitwick was looking at me. Then, to his horror, he blushed with embarrassment and a bit of guilt. He liked Flitwick a good deal more than the other Professors and always tried his best in the man's class. He had been kind to him when Draco was going through a rough time after all.

"I'm sorry Professor. Could you repeat what you were saying?" Draco asked as contrite as possible.

Flitwick nodded focusing the rest of the class with a quietly chuckling Longbottom beside him. He took back what he thought earlier he did not like the boy. At all. Was that a smirk? Draco wondered darkly as he walked away from class a snickering Longbottom trailing happily behind. Draco looked. Yes, it was in fact a smirk.

"I don't see how Draco stands her." Weasley's voice said as Draco and Longbottom approached. "She's a nightmare. Does she even notice that nobody but him and Neville like her. I bet it's just because she's good at school."

Draco went cold as he saw Hermione get close enough to the Ânes muets to her Weasley's words. Her face filled with surprise and hurt. Draco hissed as he saw tears appear. Draco rushed foreword to either hit Weasley or grab Hermione. The girl took one look at him and bolted, knocking into Potter as he did. Draco ran after her ignoring the Ânes muets he no longer felt deserved to lick the soles of Hermione's shoes. Bastards.

Draco searched the library first. He knew Hermione considered it her sacred refuge. She wasn't there. He went to the Owlery and found the Hufflepuff couple again. He glared at the shocked boys and told them to get a room if they didn't want to get walked in on and then demanded if they'd seen a brown haired Gryffindor girl. Draco ran off with the taller one shouting after him to not tell anyone.

"Like I bleeding care!" the annoyed blonde snarled. Going through the transfiguration corridor he ran into trouble in the form of Percy Weasley tried to grab him to drag Draco to get to class. Draco told the boy exactly where he could stick his wand, stepped on his foot, and ran to check the Kitchens. He even ventured into the dungeons, tempting the Slytherins who had still remained strangely peaceful towards him. Draco doubted it would last if they found him intruding in their area, but didn't care.

By the time he'd finished searching he couldn't find her and had missed all his classes. Frustrated he headed towards the Great Hall, hoping she would be at the Halloween Feast, and if not he would Drag one of the girls to help him search the girls lavatory. He dragged his feet into the overly cheerful room, to his depressed mind anyway. He only has enough time to see a very furious Percy Weasley stand at the sight of him when he was knocked to the ground.

Looking up, with a merde, he saw a panicked Quirrell running towards Dumbledore. Draco got to his elbows and glared at the man. He was horrified by the man's next words. "Troll—in the dungeons—thought you ought to know." Then he fainted. Draco was frozen in the chaos of the room until Percy gabbed him by the arm and dragged him beside him, shouting at the rest of the Gryffindors as he did.

Draco didn't bother breaking the red head's gripped feeling a bit thankful he hadn't allowed him to be trampled in the stampede for safety. Draco's mind seemed to have gone blank as they continued there fearful journey to Gryffindor tower. Draco was shoved into the nearest armchair so Percy could count the Gryffindors. The portrait shot behind the last one and Draco almost didn't believe it. They were missing three. Judging by Percy's expression he'd realized it too.

"Where's Harry?" Draco shouted, making the loud Common Room go quiet. "Hermione! Harry!"

"Ron!" Percy shouted looking as frantic as Draco felt. Draco knew they weren't there, but couldn't stop asking.

"Where the hell is Hermione?" he snarled looking at the students. There was silence, before a horrified looking Lavender Brown stepped foreword.

"She was still in the girl's bathroom." The girl told him looking awkward. Draco didn't think just lunged for the door. Percy got in front of him. Draco snarled.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, pulling out his wand without thinking. Percy gave him a cold look and the next thing Draco knew something hit him from behind and his mind went blank.

…

Draco paced heart beating harder than it ever had in his life. He'd felt the pain of a thousand deaths, but this was worse. The not knowing gnawed at him. Someone made a sound of annoyance in the back of their throat. Draco gave Percy a withering looked, which the Prefect returned, clutching his wand close. Draco sneered and continued pacing, knowing it annoyed the Prefect and because he needed to do something. Longbottom sat on the couch quiet and gray, with his knees pulled to his chests. The rest of the Gryffindors had been ordered to the dorms, with only the Twins, who were sitting on either side of their brother, Percy, Draco, and Longbottom permitted to stay. Since they were the friends and family of the missing. Percy had stunned him, the dirty bastard.

Draco glanced towards the still portrait and pulled at his hair in frustration. Damn. Damn. Damn. Where were they? What was taking so long? Were they alright? Were they hurt? Was she hurt? The portrait opened and Draco's heart jumped, only to fall at the sight of a haggard McGonagall.

"We've found them-" she began, but Draco interrupted seeing Hermione appear behind the Professor. He was across the room in a second and holding the girl in a second. He pulled her close and buried his face in her shoulder. Thank you god. Thank you.

"You're okay. You're okay." He didn't realize he was speaking in French until Hermione managed to squeak out, "English?"

Draco didn't bother repeating it and just gave her a little squeeze, before stepping away. He notices Potter and Weasley smiling. Draco felt ice and fire burn his way through his veins. He took a step towards the Ânes muets feeling and anger he'd never felt.

"You dumbasses." He hissed shaking. The boys' eyes widened startled and a little hurt. Hurt were they? What until he finished with them. "What the hell were you thing? Taking on a Mountain Troll?"

"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall scolded. Draco ignored her.

"You stupid, foolish, selfish bastards!" Draco continued right on.

Potter opened his mouth. "Don't you even try to talk! Do you even realize what you did?"

"We saved Hermione." Weasley said looking annoyed, but a little cowed by Draco's reaction.

"She would have been safe if not for you being an insensitive jackass." Draco growled. Weasley's mouth dropped.

"You have to think before you do things! Not only do you hurt others, but you endanger yourselves. All of you are only alive because of sheer dumb luck and you were smiling! Think! Do you even know what that troll likes to do to its victims?" Draco asked with deadly venom in his voice. "If squishing them to death doesn't work, than they slowly pull your limbs off like we would flower petals."

"But we saved her." Weasley repeated.

"By endangering yourselves. Did you think about how we'd fill if ou died? That your parents would think? What me or my Mother would feel? Well?" Neither looked at him. Draco sot them a look of pure rage. "Don't speak to me unless it's to apologize for being idiots." He turned around to march to the dorms. He barely saw the absolute shock on McGonagall's face.