The goblet of fire
Furball
Harry had settled himself with Hermione and Ron in the train compartment. He felt a surge of happiness as he would reach Hogwarts within a few hours. It was his home, the only place he felt loved.
Suddenly Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish cronies, both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot during the summer. They were followed by Estella malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Harry couldn't help notice that Estella had grown during the summer. She looked more curvaceous than the last time he saw her. Taking off his treacherous eyes from the little malfoy he stared at Draco.
"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," said Harry coolly.
"Weasley . . . what is that?" said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage.
"Look at this!" said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle, "Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean — they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety. . . ."
They continued taunting Ron while the slytherin girls shrieked with laughter. Harry leveled a stare at Estella who to his surprise turned red. She stopped laughing and looked anywhere but at Harry. The slytherins disappeared after Ron had lost his temper with them and Hermione shut the compartment door.
Harry was impressed with mad eye moody. He had turned Draco malfoy into the amazing bouncing ferret. Harry had never laughed so hard in his entire life. Harry went for Care of magical creatures classes with his friends. He loved to visit Hagrid and the class gave an opportunity to talk to him. But Harry hated the fact that he had to share the class with slytherins.
Harry saw the slytherins coming towards the Hagrid's cabin. Hagrid led them into the outskirts of forbidden forest before turning to them.
"Right"said Hagrid "T'dy yeh'll be lookin' aftr' Furballs."
Harry saw a few very big football like creatures covered with blonde fur bouncing up and down. They looked rather cute for Hagrid's taste. Hagrid was showing them how to feed the furballs. They had small red eyes. Their furs were like spines and they had sharp claw like teeth. As Harry watched the furball trying to bite Hagrids hand , he groaned. Why did Hagrid have to keep bringing monsters for classes?
" 'll be sorted into pairs. Each pair can take a furball. Now, I've bin instruct'd to promot' inter house cooperation'. So ya'll can pair up with anyon' fr'm another house." Said Hagrid loudly.
Harry was in shock.
"He's gone mental" said Ron looking at Hagrid. Harry fully agreed.
"I know. This means we will have to pair with slytherins" said Harry feeling disgusted. Hermione looked like she was about to vomit.
"C'mon now. Split into pairs" said Hagrid. Since none of the class moved, Hagrid took on himself to pair up students.
"Patil with Bullstrode" Parvati scowled while Bullstrode looked like she wanted to hit parvati
"Thomas with Nott"
As Harry watched his classmates separated into groups, he had a sinking feeling in his mind. Ron was partnered with Pansy while Hermione with Tracy Davis.
"Harry yeh with malfoy" Said Hagrid looking at him and Draco. Harry looked at the sneering face of Draco Malfoy and suddenly an idea came to his mind. With a wicked grin, Harry walked towards Draco who was no doubt planning to insult him. But Harry pushed past Draco and joined Estella Malfoy who was standing two feet behind her brother. He could see Estella's jaws drop on seeing him.
Harry watched the reaction of everyone with amusement. Draco had wheeled around and his eyes were bulging out. Ron looked like he'd burst out in laughter while Hermione and Hagrid were looking shocked.
"Get away from my sister you filth" Draco snarled at him
"I was just following the instruction. Last time I checked she was a Malfoy" said Harry smugly. He knew Draco was bound to get angry since he was known to be protective of his sister
"I will not let my sister work with you scarhead" growled Draco
"Malfoy that's enough. Harry can work with Miss Malfoy while you can work with Finnigan." said Hagrid
"No I wont allow my sister to work with bloody Potter" sneered Malfoy
"Yeh'll do wha' yer told," Hagrid growled, "or I'll be takin' a leaf outta Professor Moody's book. . . . I hear yeh made a good ferret, Malfoy."
The Gryffindors roared with laughter. Malfoy flushed with anger, but apparently the memory of Moody's punishment was still sufficiently painful to stop him from retorting. Harry looked over at Estella who was looking at him with a shrewd expression. He knew she was planning to make his life hell. But he could get under Draco's skin which was more important.
As they started to work, Harry saw Draco and half the class looking at him. He moved a bit closer to Estella and winked at Ron. He could see Draco shaking in anger
"If you have stopped showing off Potter then we can start the work . I haven't got all day" said the cold voice of estella malfoy.
"oh yeah..sure" agreed Harry as they tried to feed the rabbit skin to the furball. Estella was letting him do the work while she casually watched. Harry would have done it if not for the constant criticism she was making
"Potter.. Put the head first into its mouth..Focus on its teeth. Yes..dont pull back…its just a small bite. You still have your hand.." she was bossing him around as he struggled to feed the furball. The creature seemed to be more interested to eat Harry than the rabbit. It had sharp yellow teeth that were barred at Harry every time he came close to it. After fifteen minutes of constant nagging, Harry couldn't take it anymore
"If you know so much then why don't you try feeding them? This is a team work " shot back Harry
"I don't feed these monsters. Its servant work" said Estella looking highly offended.
"Moreover you are skilled in handling monsters. You have been looking to run into them for past three years. I am sure you can handle one furball on your own" said Estella silkily
" yes I can handle one furball. But unfortunately I got two. One trying to bite my hand off while the other-" Harry pointed to Estella "is trying to bite my head off"
"How dare you compare me to this foul creature?" snarled Estella
"Why not? Both are furry blonde creatures with yellow teeth and no brains" said Harry loudly with Gryffindors roaring in laugher
"eat dung potter" said Estella heatedly . She took the rabbit head from him and started attempting to feed the furballs. She obviously wanted to finish off the work and get away from him. Harry looked around to find that no one had made much progress. The furballs were bouncing around and were not keeping still.
"Obviously these things don't want to eat. Why on earth has he asked us to feed them?" muttered Estella after some time
'Lets get this over with" said Harry with determination. After watching the rest of the class, he had understood that one person wont be able to feed the furball. It was a team work, but since they were all paired with someone they hate, no pair had been successful.
Harry caught the furball from behind as it tried to bounce off again. With a firm grip on the fur, Harry gestured Estella to feed it. Estella pushed the rabbit into the furball's mouth while it tried to bite her. Harry could hear her muttering obstinacies under her breath as she struggled to feed the creature.
"Why didn't you come to the quidditch world cup?" asked Harry just as Estella took the second rabbit.
"Missed me Potter?" whispered Estella with a devilish smirk.
Harry was taken aback by her brashness. "you wish" said Harry defiantly
"Your entire family was there. Your father even pulled out a death eater stunt. I couldn't help but wonder why you weren't there." said Harry. It was true. Harry wondered why she didn't come at the world cup. Why she wasn't allowed in Hogsmeade? If not for the blonde hair and arrogant attitude, Harry would have never guessed she was a Malfoy
"You are a malfoy aren't you?"
Estella 's eyes flashed dangerously as she looked at him.
"I was sick. I cant travel much. I am under the strength potion. Healer told me not to travel."said Estella shortly
Harry regarded her as she evaded looking at him. Harry felt she was lying
Harry was about to ask further questions when Estella snapped "Shut up Potter". Harry didn't argue as he watched her feed the last rabbit to the furball. He noticed a silver bracelet with the initial M carved on it on her. At long last, the class was over and Harry saw Draco Malfoy coming towards them fuming.
Harry moved towards Estella surprising her. Her silver grey eyes widening as they looked into the blazing green ones. Harry beamed at her and said "good bye furball" and walked off in the opposite direction.
As they were walking back to the castle, Ron was laughing while Hermione continued to throw him disapproving glances
"you should have seen malfoy's face when you were talking to his sister. " laughed Ron
"I don't think you should have taken advantage of the girl" said Hermione heatedly
"Taken what..?" Harry looked at Hermione in shock. "We were more or less insulting each other. I did not take advantage of her. Do you even know what that means?" added Harry angrily
"Oh were my eyes deceiving me? I know you Harry. I saw the look you gave her when class was over. You were flirting with her" scoffed Hermione
Harry felt his jaw dropping. "You are mental Hermione" Ron said weakly. "Harry wouldn't flirt with a slytherin, a Malfoy no less"
"Yes you are. As far as I know , bidding good bye to anyone doesn't count as flirting" said Harry stubbornly
"It doesn't. But that look..." said Hermione but stopped it as she saw Harry give her a death glare.
Stupid Hermione, Harry thought. He hadn't flirted with furball. True, he had talked to her to rile up Draco. But flirting…. If Harry knew to flirt ,he'd have tried it with Cho much before. Thankfully none of his other classmates seemed to share Hermione's opinion.