The Broom Lesson

Bella got her new copy promptly, of course. After several more days of avoiding Draco, helping Harry with his school, and being his friend while he was shunted by the other Slytherins, the headmaster announced that there was going to be a broom riding lesson the next day. Everybody cheered. When they had calmed down, he very sternly told them that this lesson was mandatory and anybody who didn't attend for no good reason would be in trouble…

"Why would it be required?" Harry asked, confused. He was sitting at the Hufflepuff table with Caly and Bella at the time of that particular dinner.

"Well, broom riding is important. It's not the safest way to get around, but it is useful aside from that," Bella said stiffly.

"I am glad we're getting a lesson, though," Harry continued. "I, well, haven't been on a broom at all in my entire life, so I won't know anything. What if I make a fool of myself..."

"You won't," Bella assured him in her soft, quiet way. "I haven't even touched a broom either. I wasn't allowed." She sighed. "In fact, I bet my parents placed a waiver to the school so I don't come to this lesson."

She hugged herself as Harry and Caly gave nervous glances over her head.

"Why couldn't you?" Caly asked gently.

Bella stared mournfully at the floor. "I-I have a life-threatening disease...if I get a cut, it'll take longer than it should to stop bleeding...I could easily die. My mum and dad are super protective of me, but I sooo wish I could go." Tears welled in her big eyes.

Caly's eyes widened. Harry couldn't believe he had wasted hours in his cupboard feeling sorry for himself. The poor girl! He quickly put his arm around Bella. "Well, errr," he said, racking his brain for some kind of comfort. "D-do you really want to fly in front of other people anyway?" She shook her head rigorously. "Ok, then you aren't really missing out. Besides, didn't you have a book you've been telling me about? Sorcerer of the Elder Lands?"

She nodded again, excitement filtering into her eyes.

"Then read that and get lost in it," Caly jumped in.

Nodding again, Bella smiled.

Just then, Draco's voice floated over. "I'm gonna wow everybody, just you wait and see. I'm a pretty good flier, you know. I just hope that Potter won't do better than me. I'm the best! Too bad missy perfect little Bella can't come see it. She'll never outshine me-I'm better than her and she can't touch a broom. Mum and Dad make sure of that."

Harry glanced over. Crabbe and Goyle were leaning forward, hanging on to Draco's every word and managing to look super dumb at the same time. "Ignore that git," Harry said firmly.

Bella, who's lip was trembling a bit, cuddled into him, whimpering softly. She looked up at him with that beguiling little cute face of hers. "Go be better than him, will you?"

Harry nodded, determination making his green eyes glitter dangerously. "I'll try."

When they were all done with their food and gone to bed, Harry shoved his head under the pillow, not giving that Malfoy a chance to chat his head off this time. He half hoped something would happen and Draco wouldn't be present at the class. But he shoved it out of his mind since it was really mean. Bella lay, wishing she could ride a broom and hoping she could be friends with the other girls in her dorm if she just had enough courage to get past the strangled-sounding 'hi.' But not like she would have a chance with that Parkenson girl-thankfully, she left Bella alone mostly because she could hide, but it was like Parkenson was half troll or something because she wasn't very nice.

The next day, Draco was swaggering around the place and boasting more, while Bella was noticeably more nervous and distracted. Mae couldn't help but notice Bella's potion wasn't as good as usual, which was so embarrassing for poor Bella. When they were on their way to the mandatory broom lesson in the late afternoon, Professor McGonagall, who was checking students off a list, was hesitant to tell Bella that her parents had indeed said she shouldn't come. Just managing to nod in painful understanding before running off, Bella found a corner to hide in and cry a bit before going off on a wandering walk, like she did when she was sad or lonely.

Quietly, she wandered alone, only passing a few students who weren't in their common rooms. She had been wandering for a while. She was about to go to the door to the outside, right by the greenhouses, when she suddenly stopped. She heard someone coming. He wasn't very heavy or old by the sound of it. In fact, as she backed away around the corner, she felt she recognized the footsteps, but couldn't believe it.

Draco Malfoy came around the corner.

"He's supposed to be at the lesson!" Bella whispered. Thankfully, he didn't hear her.

He didn't even look very happy. He sulked, then straightened as their very dad walked right through the door that led to the greenhouses. He held himself taller than usual, and the look of sheer excitement on his face he couldn't seem to contain.

"Father," Draco wailed. "I don't want to be here, I don't want to do this, I just want to be at that broom lesson, because nobody will get to see how great I am at it-"

"Draco," Lucius snapped. "That is trivial. I've been training you for this kind of thing since you were seven. This is your first quest; do it well since this is a chance for glory. You will listen up, ok? This is more important than some measly broom lesson." Draco grew pale. Whoever didn't attend the lesson would be punished...Their father, oblivious, continued, "You will go look up dragons for me, ok? Learn all you can. Tell me which one you think is the fiercest. I would love to just go on ahead and do it, but you would want a part of the glory. I want you to have a part in this brilliant plan…"

"What plan?" Draco whimpered.

"You'll see!" Lucius said excitedly, the glow in his eyes unnerving. "It's great! No, beyond great! It will give us not only power but prestige-now go to the library. I want that answer this day next week, got it? If you don't have one, I won't be very happy."

Draco nodded weakly, stunned.

Strange, her dad had a plot? She wanted to prove herself. Should she? He had never seemed to like her as much as her mum did, but what could possibly be so important that he would ask for Draco to do something and not her? She was adopted, sure, but what difference did that make?

Slowly, she came forward. Her dad was rubbing his hands together, muttering how happy he was as he turned to the door. "Dad?" she squeaked. He paused, and looked at her. "C-can I do something t-too? I like to search things…"

"O, Bella," he said, smile slightly tight like he had when he was trying to think up a reason to deny her something he gave to only his son. "Well...I'll think about it." She knew he wouldn't. Her shoulders sank. "So, you friends with Harry Potter like I wanted?"

"Missy perfect Bella is but I'm not," Draco pouted softly.

"What was that?"

Draco plastered a smile laced faintly with nervousness on his face before saying, "Uh, well Bella is, father, just not me. Yet."

"You'd better work on that," their dad sniffed before marching out. Dejected, she left Draco standing there, looking forlorn.

To make things better, however, Bella wandered to the finished broom lesson and found out Harry's flying was so amazing he got on the Quidditch team. She was ecstatic. Draco had wanted that particular spot of Seeker. She had wanted to get back at Draco for the way he treated her as a child. Her patience for revenge had paid off.

"O ho, little mudblood Harry Potter, who's never touched an enchanted broom, is now a seeker in a Quidditch team," Bella jeered to Draco the next time she saw him.

"I noticed," Draco said darkly. "That was my spot on the team, that little git."

"Huh? What's that? Little perfect Draco isn't? O such a shame," Bella said serenely. She strode away, smirking. Snickering to herself, she went to her dormitory and wrote the following letter:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Little Harry Potter got on the Quidditch team today. And anyway, I'm doing fine more or less, and still, as always, doing brilliantly in my classes. The teachers are grateful for such an easy student. O, and by the way Draco wasn't accepted to a school team and is moping. I gave the new potions book to Neville, who had lost his. He is happy now.

Your favorite little girl,

Bellatrix

Later, Bella, sitting next to Harry at dinner, was picking at her food. Harry was noticing an absence of proud boasting or annoying complaining in the backdrop. It was oddly (but pleasantly) quiet without it.

"Where's Malfoy?" he asked, glancing around for the familiar blond.

Bella sighed. "Library?"

"Why on earth would he be there?" Harry said. "He doesn't like homework."

Bella put down her fork. "Well, dadda has an important task thingy, but he goes and gives the fun job to him and not me! Why not me? I'm a Malfoy too! I don't think he likes me...It's not fair!" she complained.

Harry's eyes narrowed. If Malfoy's dad was anything like Malfoy, he couldn't be up to any good. Not like he was going to say that to Bella. "Hmm, well do you want to go find out where he is? Now, or later?"

Bella perked up. Maybe she could find a fiercer dragon sooner than Draco! There was a pretty darn good chance. Any library was her second home. "Yea, how about now?"

So they got up. They stole for the library, and sure enough, after a bit of searching among the books and shelves, there alone sat the annoying blond. He sat alone at a table near the hidden end of the library, surrounded by books on dragons, and hunched feverishly over one. He paged through frantically.

"Oi Malfoy!" Harry said.

Draco jumped. "You!" he seethed. "You, stupid Potter, why aren't you my friend?"

"Of course I'm not!" Harry protested. "You're mean!"

"You add to all the problems I have!" Draco growled, poking an accusing finger in Harry's chest.

"What problems?" Harry scoffed. "I mean, you're rich, you're the top Slytherin, and you actually got a family!"

Draco glowered at him. "Yea right!" he shouted.

The librarian came scuttling over. "You!" she roared. "OUT!"

Harry protested as he was swept up in the tide, "I wasn't-"

Draco pinched Harry's ear. "Great, look at all that time you lost me!" he growled in Harry's ear as the librarian shoved them out and closed the door firmly behind them. He snatched Bella's arm before she could sneak back in. "No you don't! You're not getting an answer for dad-I am!"

She tried to wrench away. "No!" she growled.

Draco aimed a punch at her in his frustration. Quickly, Harry dragged her out of the way. He ran off to get her as far away from Draco as possible. Thankfully, Draco lurked by the library and didn't follow. If that git was going to try and hurt his friend, Harry had enough for now.

The next day, Draco made his way back from the library before the last lesson of the day, relieved that he had finally chosen the Ukrainian Ironbelly as the fiercest dragon. Harry had tried to tag along, but thankfully the castle keeper Filch chased him away. Finally freer in mind, Draco let it wander. He was going to have to face detention...and owl his dad the result of his search. Why would he want the fiercest dragon? He felt a bit of excitement rising in him. The fiercest dragon? What kind of plot would his dad have in mind? Speaking of fierce...

There was this girl in fourth year. She was Snape's adopted daughter who got used to living by herself. She would chat about coming and going and being able to care for herself to her friends. Draco would overhear a lot. He found it rather interesting. However, he could not let himself be noticed. The girl's name was Lily Snape and she had red hair and green eyes. Rumer was she was named after Lily Potter. She thought all the first years were insanely adorable and visibly restrained herself from hugging and squealing over them every single time she came across one. Draco couldn't wait till second year.

Some people, like him, absolutely detested the fiercely slavish attention. Draco only didn't like it because it made him feel small and unimportant. Besides, that kind of affection could only be given by his mother. It gave Draco a serious urge to know the secret passageways in the castle to get away. She was in Slytherin, but so far he had managed to evade her for the most part. On the other hand, there were those like Harry or Neville who would actively go out to seek a hug or two from her. Why, was something Draco couldn't understand.

He marched impressively down the corridors to herbology as the week deadline was nearly up, still plotting against Bella. He had to do something different—she knew he liked to get at her—but they were at school, the new possibilities were endless—he had to decide to settle on either something that would dock points or maybe even get her detention if he was lucky—

The red headed Snape girl loomed ahead.

Draco gulped. He glanced behind him.

Crabbe and Goyle were off in detention.

There were no branching passageways he could escape through.

The way behind him was too far to run—he didn't want to look scared anyway.

The way ahead was too far as well—the green eyed horror grew closer with every step—

"Aeee," Lily said, grinning. "O Draco I bet your parents are proud! I bet you're one of the CUTEST first years!"

Draco's stomach writhed. "T-that's nice, yea, um, they think I'm cute," he managed, voice shaking. He did not want to be hugged at all. The older students watched in interest, some amused. A quick glance around told him that he was the only first year in sight.

Boy, was he doomed.

"O blimey you didn't get hugged yet!" she said, then giggled. She strode over, closing the small space left between them as Draco froze in fear. "Can I hug you? Can I hug you? O please O please let me! Just once," she pleaded, then hugged him so much his feet left the ground. Several older boys chuckled. Draco felt his insides wither in humiliation. She held him tightly and squealed.

After an agonizing second or two, she dropped him gently. "Blimey!" she gasped, grinning wildly. "Hehe! Sorry I can't help myself, first years are just the cutest…" and with that she swept past him, tickling his ear as she went.

Draco ran off to the nearest empty corridor and shuddered. Gordon bennett, that girl has a bit of a problem! Uuug he needed to get back at her, Bella too for telling Harry about his little task…but how could he? Lily was Snape's adopted daughter. Snape was the head of Slytherin. Bella was Snape's other favorite. He couldn't have anyone know if he made fun of the daughter or favorite of his head of house…

Waiiiiiiiiiiiit. What if Bellatrix was the one to do it? What if she got caught?

He could get back at them BOTH alright...

After class, Draco hurried out even before Crabbe and Goyle finished packing. He had a plan, one he was brewing in class even though he kept getting his seeds mixed up. He had taken just a bit of a curious looking plant when Sprout wasn't looking. He had stowed it away in his bag. He quietly pondered over how to get it to Bella, or Midget, his favorite nickname for her, without her knowing it when Sprout handed them all a page of homework. As silently as he could, shushing Pansy not to tell, he made it the perfect wrapper.

He caught up to Midget, who had been dismissed early for an errand for Professor Sprout. Midget was lamenting to Caly about how the lessons were boring and easy and she wished they would be over with the basics already.

"Oi Midget," Draco said, grabbing her shoulder.

"Why are you calling me that?" his sister said, a bit scared.

"You give this to that Snape girl, ok?" he continued, ignoring her. He took a small wrapped up bundle of a bit of plant he had taken from the greenhouse. He put the parchment covered parcel in Midget's hands. She stared at it.

"For me?" Mae, who was suddenly there said, confused.

"Not you," Draco sneered. "Your…um…sister. Or something."

Mae sighed. "Great Scott, even Draco thinks my cousin is more worth attention than me," she muttered, slumping off.

"Oi, you're my friend!" Midget called after her.

"Get it to Lily," Draco said. Eyes full of fear, Midget was nodding.

Caly was eyeing it. "You sure," she said suspiciously.

"Yes," Draco said confidently. "You know the routine, Midget." He walked away, grinning. He was glad at how the threat of telling their parents she read at night still worked.

His plan was going nicely. Well, a couple of Midget's friends saw it, but they were girls and probably wouldn't do much. Now he just needed to think up an excuse for Professor Sprout for his missing homework.

Author's question: I just put the plot in place...so far, what do you think? Are you nervous about it? Because I am...Well actually I'm rubbing my hands together and snickering, but you get the point.