Chapter 25

Attacks were becoming far more frequent. Harry wasn't concerned though. There were no flaws so far with Apophis' performance. Children had been petrified and terror was quickly spreading through the school. No one had been killed by the 60 foot snake. But one man was seriously making Harry rethink his order to not kill anyone.

Gilderoy Lockhart.

The man drove Harry crazy. One would think that the way Harry treated the man would stop Lockhart from trying to speak with him. Apparently Harry would benefit from privet lessons in self defense from the pink baboon. Harry was a ghost. Yes, he was a strange one, and he could do some very strange things, but he was still a ghost.

Later that day the twins were caught after transforming Lockhart's clothes into miniskirts and frilly dresses. Many had nightmares for quite some time.

Why is it that every time the twins helped prank Lockhart students were mentally scarred for life? This thought made Harry pause before he shrugged. It was worth it.

Harry was walking through the halls of Hogwarts with Luna. They were on their way to Potions. Harry knew Snape would never harm a student; he just couldn't leave Luna alone. The bullies were waiting in the shadows for the right moment to pounce on her once he was out of sight.

Draco sneered at him as they walked by. Seeing the boy reminded Harry of the day the blond had gotten the guts to speak to the frightening ghost child. The poor boy was too much like Dudley for his own good. Malfoy carried himself with an air of self-importance. As if the people around him should feel privileged to breathe the same air as him. He wore clothes that obviously coast a fortune and held his father in too high esteem.

The boy had approached him with his chin lifted and two bodyguards at his flanks. This should be interesting, was Harry's train of thought as they approached him in the Great Hall.

-Flashback-

Harry and Luna were given a wide berth at the Ravenclaw. They sat happily debating on whether or not Dumbledore was the bastard son of Santa Clause. If the people around them hadn't been so wary of Harry in their midst they might of chuckled at some of the theories being thrown around.

They're lovely debate was rudely interrupted by the sound of a person coughing to get their attention. When Harry made to ignore the boy in the near silent hall the boy coughed again but with more force.

Turning quickly Harry glared mockingly at the young Slytherin. "Need a cough drop, kid?" he asked in a silky voice. Those who had already tried to bully Luna flinched. That was not a good tone, but few pitied what would happen to the blond. No, in fact many leaned forward watching the scene with wide eager eyes.

The blond flushed.

"The name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he said in a haughty tone. The boy waited for a response. He was to be disappointed.

"Never heard of him," Harry said dismissively.

Harry watched in amusement as the boy started what was sure to be a long winded rant about being a Malfoy, but Harry stopped him with a raised transparent hand. "Nor do I care." The ghost held back a snicker as the blond started to turn a Weasley shade of red.

Unfortunately those around him had no such control. Snorts of laughter filled the hall and the Slytherin didn't handle it all that well. Draco whipped out his wand in a flash, "Serpensortia!"

A large poisonous king cobra sprouted from its tip. A very angry king cobra. Harry could have laughed. Really this was just too good to be true.

Moving quickly he waved his hands, making everything slide away from the four boys. Up at the teacher's table a pensive Dumbledore watched in fascination at the scene before him. Teachers stood on their feet as the cobra rose eye level with the ghost. But a wave of the Headmaster's hand stilled their intervention. This was Harry's fight. Not theirs.

"One would think that a Slytherin would be more inventive in a duel," Harry drawled. "Oh well, I'll have to teach you." Striding forward Harry approached the irate snake.

The student body watched in shock as smooth dark hisses escaped the child's ghostly lips. The snake cocked its head to the side for a brief moment before hissing something back ominously. A dark smirk curled the boy's features before the snake looped around the boy's ankles. Seeming to rub against the body that only appeared to be there.

Dead silence filled the hall and a few shook with fear. A look at Malfoy's face showed pure terror. "Dossse thisss sscare you Draco," Harry hissed, a gleam in his silver eyes. The snake slowly slithered forward as Harry spoke and slowly wrapped around the blonds legs.

The boy's body guards tried to fire spells at the large snake, but conjured snakes couldn't be hurt by regular spells. Very few knew they had to be burned, and those who did were too busy watching the altercation in front of them to help. Another wave of his hands and the two large Slytherins were hanging by the hem of their robes above heads in the Great Hall.

A squeak from Draco appeared to be his only response and with a hiss Harry motioned for the snake to coil higher up on the blond. The boy now trembled in fear and soon fell to his knees when his legs feel out. For several long moments Harry spoke softly to the enraged serpent while the second year trembled at Harry's height.

"You are not very smart are you Draco Malfoy?" Harry asked as he slowly circled around the boy. "You think that your father's name can get you anything in life, and you believe that you deserve better than those you see as lesser beings." Harry came to a stop.

"You are wrong." For a moment fury over road fear in the blonds' eyes. "When you mess with those you underestimate Draco you will always pay the price," at these words the snake lifted its head closer to the blonds' neck.

"We are almost done here, but there is something I wish for you to remember young Draco," the snake poised. "Snakes. Always. Bite. Back." Each word was punctuated with the cobra sinking his fangs into different parts of the now screaming child.

Harry turned on his heal, offered his arm to a waiting Luna, and walked with her through the (closed) Great Hall's doors.

-End Flashback-

Mw ha ha ha ha! I've always wanted Harry to say that! My life is complete….

I didn't even mean to write this. It just came to me in Science…maybe I should pay better attention because I failed the test…by one question. It's just unfair. Like I really need to know what type of bond a paper clip shows when you bend it….

But you know what would make me happy?

Answer: one may give happiness to a writer by writing nice comments in the convenient box bellow. (See box below…you know you want to)