Chaser 2 of the Appleby Arrows - uflesh940

QLCF Season 9 Round 5

Someone who doesn't display jealousy in cannon must display jealousy, which has to be a key feature of my story. In this case, Harry Potter.

4. [object] Pocket watch

8. [character] Dennis Creevey

12. [color] Bronze

"Join me, Potter," said Draco. "Together, we can be great!"

Ron snickered.

"Weasley," said Draco. "Wow, I haven't seen anyone this poor since I saw your father. Come, Harry, let's seek better company!"

"Maybe later," said Harry noncommittally.

Unfortunately, Draco was socially apt enough to recognize the dismissal for what it was. "You think you're so good, huh, Potter? I'll tell my father about this, mark my words."

"Wait," said Harry, "you're going to contact your family, just to notify them of a school conflict?"

"What of it?" asked Draco.

Harry glared at Draco. "Get out."

"You'll regret this, Potter!"

The door slammed shut.

"Brilliant!" said Ron.

Harry smiled.

Suddenly, the compartment door opened once again, and a set of tall redheads entered.

"Hello, Ron!"

"Hello, other first year!"

"We formally invite you to check out our enormous magical spider!"

"It isn't as good as a real tarantula, but it should be interesting to look at all the same."

Harry raised his eyebrows in interest. "Of course-"

"Get out!" yelled Ron. "You losers!"

"Oh my, how harsh!"

"Well, c'mon, Fred, we can tell when we're not wanted."

The compartment door closed after them, a muffled "I'm not Fred, you're Fred" reaching their ears before the twins were out of hearing range.

"Sorry you had to see that," said Ron. "My family can be a bit of a pain."

"Leave," said Harry.

"What?" asked Ron

"You heard me," said Harry. "Get out!"

That evening, when Harry put on the sorting hat, it had no desire to speak to him, and promptly put him in Ravenclaw.

"You see this?" asked Harry. "It's Ravenclaw bronze. It means I'm smarter than you, Draco."

"Proud of joining the leftovers?" asked Draco. "Don't you know that Ravenclaw is just for those that are too incompetent to be in Slytherin?"

Draco's foot scuffed against the floor with a muffled clack, causing Hermione to look around nervously.

Draco smiled. "Don't worry so much, Hermione, it isn't like anyone is awake at this time of night."

They turned the corner and almost ran into Harry and McGonagall.

Harry's face contorted into an ugly smirk. "Well hello there, Malfoy. What's the matter, was the bed too good for you?"

McGonagall sighed. "It seems you were right, Harry, in that they were out of bed past curfew. Though they don't have that dragon you said they would, what they did is against the rules."

Harry's grin widened. "Might I recommend expulsion?"

"Detention," said McGonagall, "for all of you."

"Even me?" asked Harry.

"Especially you," said McGonagall.

The hall was decked out in bronze. The chairs were bronze, the floor was bronze, and even the normally transparent ceiling was bronze. The entire hall shone in a yellow glow, reflected from all the bronze.

"Boom!" yelled Harry. "You like this, Malfoy? I won! I won! And you lost! Where is your father now?"

"Yes, yes, very nice, Ravenclaw. However, I have some last-minute points to add," said Dumbledore.

All the Ravenclaws peered at him hopefully, expecting one of theirs to have earned more points.

"One hundred and fifty points to Slytherin!" exclaimed Dumbledore. "Yesterday evening, young Draco Malfoy, against all odds, succeeded in slaying Voldemort!"

"What." Said Harry.

"In fact," said Dumbledore, "I believe a change of colors is required." And suddenly all the bronze vanished, much like Harry's hopes and dreams, and was replaced by silver.

"I can't believe this," hissed Harry. "Slytherin? Slytherin won? I can't believe this. We were this close!"

"What about you-know-who?" asked one of the other Ravenclaws.

"I defeated him too!" said Harry. "I'm the boy-who-lived! I crushed him as a baby! But you know how many house points I was awarded for that? ZERO!"

"Sounds like favoritism," said Vincent, one of Harry's friends in Ravenclaw.

Harry nodded. "Wait till Dumbledore hears about this."

A flash of light, followed by the click of a camera.

"Draco Malfoy?" asked a young first year. "Can you sign this picture for me?"

"Of course!" said Draco, with a magnanimous smile. "What's your name?"

"I'm Dennis Creevey!" said Dennis.

"Excellent," said Draco, as he began signing the photograph. "To my dearest fan-"

"Hello," said Harry, "I'm Harry Potter! Don't you want a photograph of me as well?"

"Sure!" squeaked Dennis.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" asked Draco.

"Oh, pleasing my fans," said Harry. "I imagine you don't have very many of them. What a shame."

"Draco!" exclaimed Gilderoy Lockheart. "Giving out signed pictures already?"

"This doesn't concern you," sneered Draco.

"I'm giving out signed pictures as well!" beamed Harry.

"Now, now, Draco," said Gilderoy. "I can help you! I'm very experienced in managing fame!"

The entire hall was bronze. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the chairs, the tables. The people within the great hall weren't bronze, but there was so much brownish light reflected on them that they did look rather bronze.

A tired-looking Dumbledore smiled weakly. "Congratulations, Ravenclaw! Through your efforts and hard work, the last house cup ever awarded before Hogwarts closes goes to you!"

"Yes!" cried Harry. "The house cup is ours! All is as it should be!"

Suddenly a harried-looking Snape rushed over to Dumbledore and muttered something.

Dumbledore's face lit up. "It is with great pleasure that I announce that Hogwarts is not going to be closing!"

"Well, that's good, I suppose," said Harry.

Dumbledore continued. "Hogwarts will remain open, thanks to the courageous actions of Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, and Dennis Creevey! One hundred points to each of their houses!"

The spark of joy in Harry's eye extinguished, as Ravenclaw shot straight into last place.

"And an additional five hundred points to Draco Malfoy, for killing Voldemort again!"

The bronze began shifting into silver once again, and the hall became visibly brighter as everything was cast in a silvery glow.

"Malfoy must think he's so good, with his family and his friends and his money," muttered Harry angrily while working in the garden.

"Enough about Draco Malfoy!" said Petunia. "Surely you can talk about how fun and magical Hogwarts is, or something."