Chapter 12
Crabbe had a first year Hufflepuff backed up against the wall, shoving a textbook into his arms. "I need a report done on the history of trolls and it's due tomorrow," he growled, ignoring the fear in the other boy's eyes. "And you're going to do it."
"But...but...but I don't know anything about trolls! It's only my first year!" stammered the Hufflepuff boy, shaking in his shoes.
"Well then, let me direct you toward the library," Crabbe smirked, shoving the boy in the direction of the Hogwarts library. The younger boy stumbled and nearly tripped, but recovered and sped away, holding Crabbe's textbook, never looking back.
"Nice one!" Goyle said, patting his friend on the back. "Let's find another one. I got a potions essay I need someone to write." Crabbe nodded and the two sauntered towards the Great Hall. They had just set their eyes on a target, a strange second-year Ravenclaw who at the top of her year in potions, when suddenly Goyle felt a hand on his shoulder. The two spun around and were face-to-face with Pansy Parkinson. Her cheeks were flushed and she was out of breath, clearly having ran to catch up with them. "Did...you...guys...hear...about...Draco...?" she managed to get out, putting her hands on her knees and leaning over, panting. "And Harry?" Crabbe shot Goyle a quizzical look, and Goyle shrugged. They both turned their attention back to Pansy. "Talk to us," Crabbe demanded, crossing his arms. Goyle did the same.
"I...was...walking...here...and..." Pansy paused, catching her breath. Crabbe tapped his foot impatiently and Goyle sighed, shifting his weight and taking a hostile step forward. "Sorry," Pansy blurt out. "I ran here because I needed to tell you guys."
"Tell us what?" Crabbe asked, clearly frustrated. He glanced around for the Ravenclaw girl, who was nowhere to be found. "Thanks a lot, Pansy. You made us lose the girl who was going to do Goyle's potions report."
"You'll really thank me if you'll hear me out."
"Well then start talking."
"Okay." Pansy took another deep breath and started over. "I was walking back to our common room when I saw some Gryffindor girl come running down the hall, crying. She was that Weasley girl, Jenny? Whatever, it's not like I care. I mean, normally when I see a Gryffindor crying, it makes me feel good inside, because I know that one of us Slytherins probably made it happen." Pansy paused upon seeing the combination of anger and boredom on her friends' faces, and quickly tried to get back on track. "Anyway, the Weasley girl was running down the hall crying, and I didn't think much of it. But then, a whole flock of other Gryffindor girls and that weird blonde Ravenclaw that always hangs out with them, Loony or whatever her name is, were running after her. So I figured I might as well know what's going on. So I followed them down the corridor and they all ran into the girl's bathroom. I snuck in there and hid under one of the sinks and heard the whole thing. They were talking about how Harry is dating someone. A boy. They wouldn't say his name, they just kept saying 'him' or 'he'. So I figured, Oh, it's Ron. About time, right? I mean, I could have seen that coming. But after a while, I realized it wasn't Ron, because the Loony girl started talking about how the boy was a Slytherin." Pansy finally stopped talking, raising her eyebrows and waiting for Crabbe and Goyle's reactions.
"Are you going to finish?" Crabbe asked. Pansy was really annoying him right now, a lot more than usual.
"Well, I figured you would get the hint," Pansy began. When neither boy said anything, she sighed, exasperated, and shouted. "My God, they were talking about Draco!" Goyle's jaw dropped, and he turned to Crabbe. But Crabbe stood there, seemingly emotionless, staring at Pansy. "Please tell me you're joking." Pansy pursed her lips and shook her head slowly from side to side. "I wish I was. I'm just as unhappy about this as you are."
"Unhappy is an understatement." Crabbe grabbed Goyle's shirtsleeve and yanked him in the direction of the Gryffindor common room. "Come on, Pansy. We're going to see what's going on."
Pansy hesitated, and then gingerly took a step toward the boys. "You're not going to hurt him, are you?"
Crabbe paused and turned around so that he was facing Pansy. A big smile spread across his face and he broke out into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He hadn't laughed that hard in a very, very long time. He had to bend over and grab his stomach because he was laughing so hard. Pansy and Goyle, unsure of how to act, nervously began to join in, when suddently, Crabbe's head snapped up and he exploded. "Hurt him? Hurt him?" His normally deep voice raised an entire octave. "Hurt him?" he repeated, dumbfounded. "Pansy, Draco is my best friend!" He was shouting now. "I couldn't hurt him! Why would I hurt him? Because he was gay all of this time? Because he has a boyfriend now? Because he is dating Harry Potter? Oh God no, Pansy, I'm not going to hurt him at all."
The color drained from Pansy's face at the realization that Crabbe was being ver sarcastic and was probably planning some sadistic beating for Draco and Harry. Goyle just looked at Crabbe, waiting for directions. Crabbe's smile grew exponentially and he grabbed Goyle's arm, pointing him in the direction of the Gryffindor common room. "You say the Weasley girl was coming from the Gryffindor common room?" Pansy gave a small nod. "Crabbe...please...show him a little mercy."
Crabbe's hands were balled into fists and his face was turning as red as the Gryffindor's scarves. "You stupid, stupid girl! Just because you still have feelings for that lying scumbag doesn't mean I have to! Draco Malfoy is nothing to me now. Wait until I tell Lucius. Oh God, that's going to be so much fun. Goyle, go to the owlrey now and send a letter to Lucius telling him that his baby boy has a little boyfriend. And that's Harry Potter!" He laughed maniacally and started walking toward the Gryffindor tower.
"Crabbe! You said you wouldn't hurt him!" Pansy called, her voice cracking.
"I'm not going to hurt him," Crabbe answered over his shoulder. "I'm going to kill him."