AN:
School and year: Mahoutokoro, Exchange covering for Year 4.
Theme: Regimes
Main Prompts: [Object]: Silly string, [Word]: Narcissism
Word count: 2913
This story is third-person, and takes place in Order of the Phoenix, when Draco is a prefect and part of the Inquisitorial Squad. However, this story is set in an AU where Ron is not a prefect, as he was in his fifth year. Dean Thomas has replaced Ron as prefect.
"Stupid Malfoy has his head in the clouds all day with his new job as the prefect," Ron muttered under his breath as he and Harry passed their archenemy strutting about in his new robes.
Harry shrugged. "Just stay out of his way, and Fred and George better too. He's hung up on his power and will do anything to get us in trouble with Snape or Umbridge."
At that moment, Malfoy jauntily strode up to Harry and Ron, on their way to the Great Hall for dinner. "Potter! Weasley! What do you two think you are doing?"
Harry glared at Draco. "Heading to dinner, Malfoy." He said Malfoy's name with a hint of disgust and anger.
Draco seemed to pick up on this and leapt at his chance to aggravate the two Gryffindors. "Aha! Don't you dare be disrespectful to me! I am a prefect, don't you see?" Draco proudly flashed his badge at Harry and Ron. "Therefore, you will do as I say. Now, dump out your bags and let me see what is inside them."
"Bloody hell!" Ron said in consternation, his eyes widening. "You can't do that, Malfoy! That's a violation of property."
Harry snickered to himself and planted his feet firmly in front of the Slytherin prefect. "Oh yeah? Make us then!"
Draco's normally pale face turned red in pure rage. "I am a prefect!" He snarled. "Now you'd better do what I say! Who knows – maybe you have some of those stupid Weasley's Wizard Wheezes with you because you want to start trouble with me in the Great Hall!"
"Oh, get it out of your head –" Ron growled, turning toward Draco in disgust.
Just before the boys broke out into a fight, Dumbledore swept through the corridor. His eyes lighted on the angry young wizards, and hid a bemused smile. "Come now, boys. Though you may have your differences, put them aside for now."
Harry and Ron followed Dumbledore into the Great Hall, sending Draco smug smiles as they trailed behind the Headmaster.
Once in the Great Hall, the cheerful noisy din that usually accompanied such suppers was quiet. Perhaps the students of Hogwarts feared another announcement from the abominable Dolores Umbridge.
Just as the food magically appeared on the tables and the students started to heap their plates, Umbridge coughed sweetly to summon their attention.
"Hem-hem."
As if on cue, the Hall fell silent, with many students' faces revealing their annoyance.
"Of all times for an announcement," Hermione snidely remarked.
Ron looked anguished as he set the spoon back into the mashed potatoes.
"Dear students," the toad-like professor proclaimed, "As you know, tomorrow is Halloween. This is a day that usually causes great trouble in Hogwarts, most likely because the Ministry's involvement here is sorely lacking."
Harry caught sight of Fred and George looking at one another and snickering.
"So, as a safety precaution, there are to be absolutely no parties or large gatherings in the house common rooms or any other gathering places. Such a shame," Umbridge sighed, though anyone could tell she relished delivering this crushing blow. "Students who fail to adhere to these rules will face detention, punishment, or expulsion through me. The prefects will be watching and keeping an eye on everyone."
Immediately, disappointed whispers swirled about the tables. Fred and George looked undeterred. "Don't worry," George whispered to Harry, sitting beside him. "Dean will let us get away with anything. Do you think that old crone can stop us from throwing a real banger?"
"I'd say you'd be cowards if you did." Harry nodded approvingly at George.
"We won't let you down – we promise." George gallantly placed a hand over his heart.
The next day, Draco felt especially important strolling through Hogwarts, calling out students for the smallest infraction.
After he finished yelling at a first-year for walking too fast, Draco noticed something that piqued his inner sneak.
He watched Fred and George disappear into a small side passage, keeping their heads down. Draco's interest piqued, for when a Weasley did that, it usually meant he was up to no good.
Draco inched nearer to the passage opening, straining to pick up on their conversation.
"-Dean says we can –"
"I'll bring the hidden Jaw Clencher gumballs – "
"Professors are all patrolling the halls tomorrow night –"
"Get the gum at seven, George, and bring it straight to the party –"
That was enough for Draco. He quietly backed away, grinning ear-to-ear with this new information. He was going to have a fun time ruining the Gryffindors' Halloween fun. And he knew just how he was going to do it.
For the remainder of the day, Draco concentrated on preparing for that night. He managed to take one of the elves, Aribus, and told him to go steal some of Snape's Polyjuice potion.
"It'll be the third bottle to the left on the second shelf closest to the door of the supply closet. Meet me back here when you're done. And if Professor Snape catches you, don't say it was me. Thank you. I know you like to take orders," Draco patted the elf on the head, thankful that if indeed caught, Aribus would not inform Snape of the true thief.
A short while later, Aribus trotted into an empty classroom where Draco was waiting. "Here you go, Master Malfoy. Aribus has stolen the Polyjuice potion – just a bit, but not so the professor notices."
"Good." Draco snatched the Polyjuice potion and smirked. "Now go away, and tell no one of this."
Around seven that evening, Draco waited in a deserted hallway near Gryffindor Tower. All of the Gryffindors were inconspicuously making their way back to the Tower for the party.
Draco lurked in the shadows, waiting for George to pass by so he could finish the next part of his plan.
Finally, at five minutes past seven, he heard quiet whistling and footsteps coming down the hall.
Draco peeked his head out of his hiding place just to ensure it was George. It was! He waited until George passed his hiding place, and then pointed his wand at the boy.
"Stupefy," Draco whispered firmly.
George crashed to the ground with a dull thud, obviously knocked out. The box of gumballs spilled everywhere, and Draco scrambled to shove them all back in the box with the exception of one, which he pocketed. He would show that to Umbridge later.
Draco opened the door to an empty classroom which he knew no one ever used. He looked around fervently all the same. All of the professors were patrolling the halls of Hogwarts tonight to ensure safety, so the prefects were left in charge of the four houses.
Draco pulled George's body into the classroom and dragged him behind the main desk. He cast a sleeping charm that would keep George unconscious until morning, and then carefully plucked two of George's fiery red hairs and mixed them with the vial of Polyjuice potion he withdrew from his robes.
He swirled the potion around for a moment, then tipped his head back and drank. A horrible moment passed during which Draco felt himself transforming into a tall, lanky, red-headed boy. He cleared his throat. "Hey, Fred!" He nodded, satisfied. He even sounded like George.
Draco picked up the box of gum and headed toward Gryffindor Tower, ready to complete the next stage of his plan.
"George!" Dean Thomas, the Gryffindor prefect, stood at the portrait hole, pretending to monitor the staircase but in reality, letting in partygoers. "Come on in." He nodded at the Fat Lady. "Password is Dragon Mulberry. Our dear Fat Lady has agreed to change it just for tonight so no one else can get in without her permission. I think you're the last one in, so I'm coming with you."
Draco climbed into the portrait hole after Dean, almost bursting in pride. This would be the best day as a prefect yet.
"Guys!" Dean yelled over the din of the partygoers. "George is here! Fred, did you cast that Silencing Charm so no one can hear us?"
"I did!" Granger called, her cheeks pink with excitement. Granger, a rigid rule follower, only consented to breaking the rules when she could rebel against Umbridge.
"Hey, George!" The other Weasley twin slapped Draco's back. "Thanks for grabbing these. We'll pass 'em out in a bit and see if we can get the first years to try these out."
"Of course, no problem!" Draco chirped back as carefree as he could. He imitated George's mannerisms as best as he could, and for now, his disguise seemed to work. He could hardly wait for the Polyjuice to wear off and for him to reveal himself as the feared and powerful Slytherin prefect.
Draco wove in and out of the crowd of people, pretending to be genuine as he waved and smiled at them. While he loved listening in on the Gryffindor conversations (he made a mental note to chat with Oliver Wood regarding Quidditch strategies), he mainly wanted to hang out and listen in on the conversations including Potter, Weasley, and Granger.
Draco finally found the three friends, sitting together on a couch, laughing at the wild success of the party and stuffing chocolates and food stolen from the kitchen into their mouths while calling out to their friends.
Seamus Finnagan was over in the corner with a boombox, turning up the music and clapping along with a wide grin on his face. "Best Halloween ever!" he yelled over the din.
Suddenly, Draco's ears perked up as he heard his name. Without drawing too much attention to himself, he slithered over towards Granger's direction, where she was speaking with Weasley, Potter, and Weasley's sister.
"Malfoy – the prefect?" Ron wheezed, his face bright pink either from laughter or from the excitement of the night. "I could be a way better prefect than him! He's on a power-hungry high and is trying to get in good with Umbridge!"
"Um-bitch," Potter corrected him.
"It's not just that," Granger fumed. "But his head is full of pure and utter narcissism."
"Yeah – a narcissist is the best word to describe him!" Potter chuckled. "You know, the way he takes care of his hair –" with that, Potter dramatically swept his hands over his hair and looked around the room, batting his eyelashes. "Oh! Oh! Pay attention to me! To me, Professor Snape! I know the answers! My father paid for new brooms for the entire Slytherin Quidditch team so I could get on it!"
"Even though I have no talent at all!" Ginny joined in. "But I'm such a whiny narcissist, I just think everyone loves and adores me and wants to be trailing around, following in my footsteps!" She giggled.
"Right, George?" Ron asked, turning toward Draco. "Accurate, or what?"
"Pretty accurate, mate," Draco guffawed, inwardly fuming. How dare they! How dare they speak about him like this! It was almost time for the Polyjuice Potion to wear off, so they would soon pay dearly for their words and actions. He could hardly wait to see the looks on their faces when they realized that they all made a horrible misstep.
Soon, the entire Gryffindor common room was full of partygoers echoing Hermione's sentiment regarding Draco, and loudly poking fun at him. Dean, in a very un-prefect like manner, had drawn a clumsy picture of Draco on a large scroll and had hung it on the wall for students to fire spells at to see how close to his face they could hit.
"Any moment now," Draco thought in glee. "Any moment now, the potion should wear off. They will be sorry for this!"
As Draco could feel the effects of the potion beginning to fade , he yelled, "Who wants to crowd-surf me?" This way, he would be front and center of the room when he transformed back into Draco.
"Yeah! Let's do it, George!" Fred shoved his way through the crowd. As the students hoisted Draco to the top, Fred yelled, "To my twin! The best one I could ever ask for! We shall work to defy Umbridge forever and ever!"
Raucous cheers immediately broke out, and Draco felt himself passed from hands to hands, thoroughly enjoying this moment.
Suddenly, Draco's body began to shake as it shrunk back to normal size. He felt his face morphing back to normal, and his hair began to change color.
Everyone started, and immediately dropped Draco to the floor. He landed in a rather unceremonious manner, then curled up for a moment while the transformation completed before springing to his feet, wearing a smug grin of triumph.
"Ha! I caught you all! I caught you all! I will be telling Professor Umbridge immediately! You idiots really thought you could pull a party over on me – even though I'm a whiny narcissist, huh? Well, look who comes out on top! It's always me!"
"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH GEORGE?" Fred roared, lunging at Draco. All of Gryffindor had their wands drawn, ready to incapacitate Draco at a moment's notice.
Draco saw Granger quickly recast a Silencing Charm as a safeguard.
"Oh," Draco smirked. "He'll turn up by morning. Now, you'd better let me go, or else you'll be in even much more trouble."
"Oh, shut up, you little attention-seeking prat! I know how to hide a body!" Dean yelled, making his way over to his enemy. "You'd better not breathe a word about this! If you do –"
"If I do?" Draco looked at Dean inquisitively. "If I do, what? You'll be demoted from your position as prefect. All of your friends will get in trouble. I only have everything to gain and nothing to lose!"
"Well then, take this!" Fred, still in utter shock and frantic worry over his missing twin, lunged at Draco, fist extended.
Suddenly, the portrait hole swung open, and Umbridge stood in the doorway, hands nicely clasped over her waist, her pink bow perched crisply on her coiffed hair. "Well, well, well," she said in a voice dripping with false sweetness. "I see there was a party tonight, and I wasn't invited."
"Mr. Malfoy, come here." Umbridge patted his shoulder when Draco moved to stand beside her. "Well done. I shall see that you are rewarded for your work. As for Gryffindor House…." Draco noticed all of the students cringe when Umbridge smiled at all of them. "I will be going over each of your files for the next few days to determine what punishments will fit you best." With a flick of her wand, she made the entire party vanish. Draco watched as the food vanished. Drinks and goblets seemingly evaporated, and where there had been candy wrappers there was now only burgundy carpet.
"Such a shame Minerva cannot maintain control over her own house," she tittered. "Tut-tut."
With that, the door closed, leaving a satisfied Draco walking alongside Umbridge, her praise ringing in his ears. He hadn't left without a final gesture of his pride, however. His mother would be ashamed of the gestures he made at Potter and Fred Weasley in particular.
The next day, George showed up again, furious at Malfoy, and immediately began plotting his revenge. Umbridge had been calling Gryffindor students to her office all day to administer their punishments. Harry, already in enough trouble with her, had received another month's worth of nightly detention. Ron had been given the task of cleaning the Slytherin bathrooms every evening for a month, and Umbridge had tasked Hermione with peeling potatoes in the kitchens for two weeks. Unbeknownst to Umbridge, this task delighted Hermione, as it meant that she could visit with the elves and continue to work at obtaining wages and freedom for them.
Later that afternoon, most of the morose Gryffindors sat around the courtyard, discussing a potential revolt against Umbridge and her regime. Fred and George led the conversation.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron sat quietly on a large rock. Hermione wrote notes down from Transfiguration class, her mind spinning with plans to execute her revenge on Draco.
Malfoy, with his head held high, suddenly made an appearance at the edge of the courtyard, oblivious to all of the hateful stares cast in his direction.
"I can't sit here anymore and let little weasel-face pass by unharmed." Hermione's fingers closed around something in her pocket, and she stood, quickly walking towards Draco.
"Malfoy! I have something for you!"
"What would that be, little Mudblood?" Draco smirked.
"This!" Hermione yanked a can of silly string out of her pocket and squeezed the trigger, spraying it all over the shocked prefect. "You little horrible, arrogant, stuck-up, narcissistic jerk! I don't care who you tell or what you do! You deserve this!"
Draco, now covered in orange silly string from head to toe, glared in pure hatred at Hermione and the crowd of students that had gathered and were gawking and laughing.
"You will all pay for this!" He ground out at her. "I have powerful friends, and they will show you exactly how it feels to suffer!" With that, he turned and ran back towards the castle.
"Hermione, I didn't know you had that in you," Ron said admiringly as she returned to her friends.
"Neither did I. Don't worry. He'll get what he deserves." Hermione smiled smugly and made a face in Draco's direction as she calmly picked up her Transfiguration book, revenge complete for now.