Written for the AWDT Halloween Quickies Challenge at LJ. The prompt was 'Do you really think you're scary'?


Draco made his cautious way down the narrow forest path. His breath caught as a leaf crunched under his foot. Damn it, Draco! He took a calming breath and slithered forward. The sooner they collected those dratted mushrooms for Snape and left, the better.

Halloween always made Draco queasy. Plus, it didn't help that he was stuck with detention in the Forbidden Forest with Potter. Potter who apparently, had made it his mission to prank anything with a pulse.

Well, he wasn't going to scare Draco! Not a chance in hell. He turned around to tell Potter just that when he realised he was walking alone.

"Potter?" he snapped sharply. The idiot was gone.

"Potter, you git! Where are you?" he demanded, casting a Lumos. "Can't you wait until we get back to the castle before you get yourself killed? Merlin knows you've had enough practice..."

There was no answer. The silence prickled and Draco felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Where was he? He'd been right next to Draco and...

"RAWR!"

Draco blinked and took an alarmed step back as a bumbling figure lurched out from a tree, its furry arms raised menacingly and its razor like teeth glinting in the moonlight. Draco's heart plummeted as he realised he was staring straight into the slavering maw of a menacing werewolf! The blond's eyes widened in undiluted fear as he tried to harness the strength to run, to scream, to...

Wait a minute.

Draco's eyes narrowed as he stared the creature down.

"Potter?"

"RAAWR!"

Draco's jaw dropped in sheer incredulity. "It's you in that loathsome costume, isn't it?" he demanded, pointing an accusing finger at the furry loon.

"Rawr?" Potter had the nerve to question him, cocking his furry head inquisitively.

Draco smacked his forehead in sheer indignation. "Unbelievable! I can't believe you would pull such a stupid stunt. You look ridiculous! That is the most unimpressive werewolf outfit I have ever had the misfortune to witness! Do you really think you're scary, Potter? Do you?"

The 'werewolf' growled sulkily and swished his tail. He glared sullenly at his paws as Draco continued to scold him.

"You are a disgrace to Halloween, you know that? An absolute waste of fur and hide! Shame on you!"

Potter whined and hunkered down, ears drooping and tail between his legs. He eyed Draco with a mix of wary apprehension and sullen apology. Draco huffed and crossed his arms disapprovingly.

"Now don't just sit there and look all sorry for yourself!" he snapped. "I'm tired, I'm hungry and I'm in no mood for your nonsense. So get out of that stupid outfit, get your arse back here and help me get those fucking mushrooms! GO!"

He raised his wand to make a point and Potter whimpered as he turned tail and fled. Draco smirked in satisfaction, as the idiot's short, sharp cries punctuated the air as he scrambled away. There. That should teach Potter to mess with him...

He turned around to stalk off and ran straight into something solid. Draco blinked as Potter stared at him. His face was pale, his eyes were wide and he was gaping.

"M-m-malfoy?" he rasped, sounding about a hair's-breadth from hysteria. "That...that wasn't..."

That was just about all that Draco heard before his eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted in Potter's arms.