The next few days at Hogwarts passed rather uneventfully. There had been no more sign of the strange man who had frightened Felicity three nights before. She noticed that people began to whisper rumors that she had made the whole thing up just to get Harry's attention. It made Felicity angry to think that no one might believe her. Indeed, she had been the only one who saw the cloaked figure, and she sometimes got the feeling that even Harry and Ron doubted whether it had really happened. Ron nonchalantly suggested that perhaps she'd dreamed the whole thing.
Harry was still worried about why Felicity might be making his scar burn. It didn't happen every time she came near, but often enough to make him wonder. He didn't tell her about it, for he knew she would feel guilty. Or, as Ron irritatingly suggested, she might sprout horns and fangs and transform into Voldemort. "Well," Ron said witheringly at Harry's disgusted glare, "it could happen."
Draco was as mean as a Hungarian Horntail since receiving his invitation to evil. He had told no one about the letter, even when Goyle had badgered him about it. Draco had simply snapped at his fellow Slytherin and stalked away, hands thrust angrily in his pockets. He didn't even have the heart to talk to Felicity. He knew how she was: she'd ask him what was wrong and when he told her that nothing was wrong, she would, in her gentle manner, coax it out of him, and then when he told her what had happened and all about the letter, she would scream in his face and run away from him, horrified.
Saturday morning dawned with a beautiful, crystal clear sky. The air was chill and crisp with the quick coming of winter. All of the students from third years up to seventh awoke early and began happily getting ready for their trip to Hogsmeade. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Felicity were among the first to set out. Felicity had decided not to bring Orion, to everyone's great relief. The Bandywit had become most annoying of late, always pestering the four of them for bits of food or to let him play with their wands. Harry had caught him on one occasion pulling the wand out of his robes during Potions, and when he had shooed the Bandywit away, he'd received detention from Professor Snape for disturbing the class.
The walk to Hogsmeade wasn't long, and the students walked cheerfully, their cheeks rosy from the cool breeze. "I say we hit the sweets shop first!" said Ron, rubbing his stomach. "Breakfast this morning just wasn't enough!"
"I think I'll buy a new broom today," said Harry thoughtfully. Ron cast a quick, green-eyed glance in his best friend's direction. He wished he had the money to buy a new broom - or a new anything for that matter. They arrived on the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade among a throng of other Hogwarts students. Zonko's Joke Shop was ransacked immediately by George and Fred. They came out talking enthusiastically about one day owning their own practical joke company.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughed, remembering the twins' try at entrepreneurship two years before, when they had been cheated by an ex-pro Quidditch player.
They went in and out of the various shops, munching on chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor-Beans. Hermione purchased a new book about Arithmancy, and Felicity treated herself to a pretty new sweater. Ron was saving what little money he had for a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. Harry led them into the Quidditch Megastore, where he spent nearly an hour trying to decide between two brooms. "I really like the looks of the NeoFlight 900," he said thoughtfully to himself, "but I've always wanted a Phoenix Flier." Felicity came to his side.
"The Phoenix Flier is a great broom," she said. "I've never had any problems with mine. But, you do have a point about the Neo. It's pretty smooth looking."
"Thanks for the helpful advice," Harry gibed, and shook his head, smiling. Ron and Hermione were in the robes section. Ron was fingering the sleeve of a Chudley Cannons team jersey, autographed by Nigel Hornthrossel, one of his favorite players.
"One day, when I'm rich and famous, I'll buy the whole Chudley Cannons team," he said wistfully. Hermione smiled.
"I hope that you can," she said sweetly, and pecked him on the cheek. "Come on, let's go and see if Harry's made up his mind, yet." They found Harry and Felicity at the large counter in the front of the store, where Harry was counting out gold Galleons. The store clerk, a tall, muscular wizard wearing black-and-white striped referee robes, was wrapping a sleek NeoFlight 900 in brown paper. After Harry had made his purchase, the four friends went down the street to the Three Broomsticks, and took a table in the corner by a window.
The waitress approached them, and they ordered a round of butterbeers and some raspberry pie to share. Harry and Ron broke into a lively conversation about Quidditch, while Hermione perused her new book. Felicity listened to the boys for a while, before she noticed a very sullen Draco Malfoy sitting by himself in the back of the restaurant. She excused herself from her friends, and made her way to his table. He was sitting with his chin rested in his hand, his gray eyes staring blankly at the wall. He didn't notice her approach.
"Draco?" she said softly, putting her hand on his arm. He started and looked at her confusedly, as if he had forgotten where he was. Finally he managed a small smile.
"Hello, Felicity," he said. "Nice day, huh?" His voice was tinged with sadness.
"Do you mind if I sit down for a while?" asked Felicity. Draco shrugged his shoulders and she pulled out the chair next to him. "So," she said, "how are you?" He turned his brooding eyes on her thoughtfully.
"As well as can be expected," he said unconvincingly. "Won't your friends miss you?" he asked, tossing his head in Harry's direction. Felicity shook her pretty head.
"Nah," she said. "They're busy talking guy stuff. I noticed you were alone and wanted to come and keep you company… You could come over there and join us, you know."
"Ha!" Draco rolled his eyes. "Felicity, I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't exactly adore Potter and the Weasel. Not to mention that bossy Mudblood that's always fawning over Weasley." he said nastily. Felicity frowned.
"It was just a suggestion," she said quietly. The look on Draco's face told her he was struggling with something. "Draco, are you okay, lately?"
He surveyed her face for a while before answering. "Felicity," he said finally, leaning forward on the table, "stay away from me." Felicity's mouth dropped open slightly.
"But, why-" she began.
"No!" he shouted at her. Several people nearby turned around, and Draco cleared his throat. He lowered his voice. "No. I'm not a good person, Felicity. I'm a Malfoy, and nothing good has ever come from the Malfoy family. I'm dangerous, and hanging around me will only do you harm."
"Draco, please," said Felicity, feeling terrible for her friend. "I know you don't get along with Harry and Ron, but that doesn't matter to me. You're not a bad person."
"Oh, you think you know me that well, do you?" spat Draco. "You know nothing about me, you silly girl. You'd trust a Grindylow if it smiled at you. Why don't you listen to your friends? They've all told you how horrible I am, and they're right! I'm rotten!"
"No, you're not, Draco!" argued Felicity, her face filled with worry. "What happened that's got you so upset?" Draco stood up and slammed his fists angrily on the table.
"Nothing! Why don't you just listen to me, dammit! Stay away from me, do you hear? I'm warning you! Come near me again, and I swear I'll - I'll - just STAY AWAY!" With that, Draco spun around and hurried from the restaurant, leaving a stunned Felicity behind. She watched him stalk out of the door, then sat for a moment, taken aback by his strange behavior. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried over to the table.
"What happened?" asked Hermione. "We heard Malfoy yelling, and saw him run away just now." Felicity looked like she might cry. Her friends were all staring at her confusedly. Harry looked angry, not at her, but at Malfoy.
"Something is wrong with Draco," Felicity said quietly. "We have to try to help him. Please, I know you all hate him, but you have to trust me when I tell you that he's really not all bad… He needs our help."
Just then, Hagrid entered the Three Broomsticks, stooping to fit through the door. He looked around with his twinkling eyes, and upon spotting Harry and company, made his way to the back of the restaurant.
"Oi, Harry! Ron, Hermione, Felicity," he said, methodically rattling off their names. "Mind if I join yeh for a bit?" he asked. Harry glanced at Felicity, and, seeing that she had calmed and seemed to be okay, nodded his head. Hagrid pulled an extra chair from a nearby table and sat down, Ron, Hermione, and Harry sitting as well.
"Didn't know you'd be coming to Hogsmeade today, Hagrid," said Ron with a smile. "I thought you said you were going to use the day to mend the water sprites' tables."
"Oh, right, right," said Hagrid with a sniff, "well, you know them little buggers… They don' take much to make 'em happy. Jus' took a little mendin' here and there." They all nodded.
"So," continued the half-giant, "have yeh heard any more about that strange figure Felicity saw up in Gryffindor tower?"
"No," said Harry, shaking his head. Felicity watched as a strand of his unruly black hair fell across his scar. "Professor McGonagall's been posted in the common room all week, and she's seen nothing."
"Strange," said Hagrid, shaking his shaggy head and looking at each of them in turn. "Well, ya never know… it might very well have been a dream, right, Felicity?"
She shrugged her shoulders, feeling her cheeks turn pink. "That's what everyone seems to think," she said glumly. "But I know what I saw, and he was trying to get into Harry's room."
Hagrid raised his eyebrows in an incredulous fashion. "Well, I'm not tryin' to say that I don' believe ya, Felicity," he said. He turned his beady eyes on Harry. "So, Harry, how've yeh been? Yeh haven't been to visit me in a bit, so I was jus' wonderin' if things are goin' well."
Harry nodded slowly. "Yes, everything's all right. But I just came down to your hut yesterday for tea, remember?" Hagrid's eyes widened for a split second, then he nodded, shaking his bushy beard.
"Right, right, I remember," he said gruffly. "Anyway, I had a question fer yeh."
"What is it?" Harry asked, leaning forward on his elbows.
"Well, I've got some difficult work to do on my, eh, roof," said Hagrid. "I'm mendin' some o' the shingles, and it's a bigger job than I thought. So, I was wonderin' if yeh could come around, say, Monday night and gimme a hand."
Harry raised his eyebrows. Since when was a roof a big job for Hagrid? "Uh, sure, Hagrid, I'd be happy to help… but why at night?" he asked.
"Well, I've got a lot of stuff to do during the day, so night is the only time I can find to take care o' my own chores," answered Hagrid.
"All right, then," said Harry, "Monday night - we'll be there."
Hagrid's eyebrows raised and he fingered his beard. "Oh, well, I won' need all that help," he said, casting a glance around at Felicity, Ron, and Hermione. "I think jus' you and me can finish the job fair enough." Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged.
"Oh, okay," said Harry. Hagrid smiled underneath his wily beard and stood up.
"Well, then," he said, "I'll be off. I've got some shoppin' to do while I'm here in town. You kids stay away from that Shrieking Shack, remember! Don' wanna hafta come an' rescue yeh!" He chuckled as his feeble joke, then turned and walked away. When he reached the door, a mangy old cat came strolling past him, rubbing against his big leg. "Aww," said Hagrid, stooping to pick up the cat, "ain't you a cutie, then? Yes you are! Ooooh, what a cute ickle kitty-cat!" He nuzzled his bushy face against the cat's fur before setting it back on the ground, then he left.
"I thought Hagrid said he was allergic to cats," said Hermione as they watched him stroll away.