The Houses Competition (or THC) Round 4 (BONUS ROUND)
House: Slytherin
Class: Muggle Studies
Category: Drabble (up to 1,000 words)
[Object-Potion] Manegro
Word Count: 989
Disclaimers/triggers: Bullying
Placing: Story takes place in HP4/HP GoF before the Yule Ball.
Beta Love: StoryPlease, MossLynne - Thanks to my teammates for looking over my story!
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BUSHY HAIRED
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"Did you know that using Manegro every morning doesn't make you prettier, Granger?" Malfoy jeered. "Really, I know that potion gives you long hair – but it also makes you look like a bush! Being bald might make you prettier!"
Daphne watched the interaction from her place near the entrance door of the Great Hall. Granger had stiffened, her lips pressed together and her hands balled to fists.
She didn't say anything, though.
Apparently, she had learned her lesson.
For a moment, Daphne's eyes flickered down the corridor, searching for Snape. The man seemed to have a habit of only showing up whenever Granger defended herself but never when Malfoy had a go at the Gryffindor girl.
"Nothing to say, Granger?" Malfoy sneered. "Finally admitting that you're taking Manegro every morning to hide your bald head?"
It wasn't the first day that Malfoy was after Granger like that. He had it out for her and her hair ever since Snape taught them about the Manegro Potion the week before. Since then, Malfoy had been calling Granger some version of potion's addict and bald every morning like clockwork.
Daphne grimaced.
Sometimes, her housemates were so immature! She really wondered if they would ever grow up – especially when it came to Malfoy.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Potter snarled at that moment. He looked tense and ready for a fight.
Granger grabbed his arm. "Let it be, Harry," she said, not even looking at Malfoy. "He's a prat and you know it."
"He's still got no right to say things like that!" Potter protested immediately.
"Oh! Trying to defend the Mudblood, Potter?" Malfoy asked with a sneer. "What? Do you want some of that potion, too? Your bird's nest is not enough of an embarrassment already?"
Potter opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Granger stomped on his foot.
"Hermione!" Potter yelped.
"He's not worth it, Harry!"
Malfoy snickered.
"Maybe you should ask Filch to go with you to the Yule Ball, Granger," he scoffed. "He might even say yes if you give him some of your Manegro as an exchange!"
This time, Potter actually escaped Granger's grasp and pulled out his wand.
"Potter!" And of course, there was Snape. "Detention tonight for drawing your wand on another student!"
"But he–!"
"Don't test me, Potter, or it will be a week!" Snape interrupted the boy. Granger grabbed Potter's shoulder harshly.
"Stop it, Harry!" she whispered sharply. "I told you, he's not worth it!"
Daphne actually had to agree with Granger on that. Malfoy, the immature prat, definitely wasn't worth it. Not that Potter was any better.
Potter gritted his teeth and then turned around and let Granger guide him into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Daphne followed them with her gaze for a moment, inwardly happy that the last of the Golden Trio was always late for breakfast and therefore not there whenever Malfoy took it out on Granger.
It would have been a bloodbath days ago, otherwise.
Like it was, Granger had a more or less steadying influence on the Potter hot head and most of their interactions had stayed as a heated exchange of words instead of actions.
"See, I told you that Granger is using the Manegro Potion! She's not even denying it anymore!" Malfoy jeered somewhere to Daphne's side.
Daphne ignored him and Crabbe and Goyle while they were congratulating each other on harassing Granger into admitting to her addiction to Manegro Potion. She rolled her eyes at them and then made it to the Slytherin table to sit down and start her breakfast.
It didn't take long until Malfoy – flanked by Crabbe and Goyle followed. He took his customary seat across from Daphne, but Daphne ignored him. Instead she turned towards Tracy next to her and started a conversation with the other girl.
She really had enough of immature behaviour for the upcoming week. Sadly, she was also aware that Malfoy would do something else stupid far sooner than that.
From the spluttering and flailing on the opposite side of the table, Daphne's prediction had become reality already.
She sighed inwardly and turned towards Malfoy.
"Can't you eat like a civilized being?" she asked him, irritated.
Malfoy was still sputtering. His – just seconds ago – immaculate hair was now a blond bush, hanging down his shoulders to the midst of his back.
Daphne raised an eyebrow at him while Malfoy still spluttered with a horrified look on his face.
"What?" he screeched and raised one of the bushy strands with two of his fingers in obvious disgust. "Merlin's saggy balls! What–?"
"Manegro, obviously," Daphne pointed out dryly, more than a bit put out with his lack of decorum. "Really, Malfoy, if you wanted to test out a new style, you could have done it in the dorms – not at the breakfast table. Some people want to eat here."
Malfoy spluttered some more. "I… I didn't want to test anything!" he screeched. "I…"
"You were the one talking about Manegro for more than a week now," Daphne countered. "Usually, you only talk about something that long if you want to have it! So, don't even try to deny it now that you tested it!"
"I… I didn't… I didn't test it!" Malfoy screeched. "That… that was Granger! She put it in my food!"
"She was never anywhere near your plate, Malfoy. Stop making an idiot out of yourself!" Tracy inserted herself into the conversation. "Daphne is right! The only one who could have put the potion in your food was you or one of us – and you don't want to accuse us, do you?"
Malfoy shook his head. Even he knew better than to accuse Daphne. Instead, he stood up and stomped out of the hall, the laughter of the other students following him in his wake.
Daphne calmly reached for her fork again, her left hand slipping away an empty potion vial.
Sometimes, girls had to stick together.
The End.
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I hope you liked the story.
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