A/N: thanks for the reviews, people!
cleo: sorry, I don't know the Egyptian name for the scorpion.
Lavender: You'll see lots of stuff about Ginny's family, though you'll have to wait a 'bit' for it. But I promise that there will be a chapter focusing on the Weasley family, and it will be really funny.
Hermione Granger: I don't know whether to believe the rumours that the 6th book is going to be called HP and the Green Flame Torch, but I think that it sounds pretty good. I hope it will be the title.
Nefertiri: you realised that the ring idea came from The princess and the goblins! I thought it was a sweet story with really good music. I liked the idea that the goblins could be scared away by singing!
DragonSinger: I'm glad you like my story this much – and it also makes me happy that you told your friends about it :-)
Pantaliamon: sorry, I really was is the firm belief that Yallah meant "hurry up!", because I've seen a film (made from a book of Henry Sienkiewich) in which Arabs kidnapped a little British girl and a somewhat older Polish boy, made them sit on camels and yelled "Yallah" when spurring the camels. That's why I thought it meant something like "hurry up."
Waldomier: you wrote that you saw a fic with the title HP and the green flame torch. You have to know that there are at least 5-6 fics on ffnet with the same title, since it is rumoured to be the title of the sixth Harry Potter book. (It's just like HP and the order of the phoenix – there are more than 20 stories on ffnet with that title, which I find pretty ridiculous.) So I didn't steal the idea from any other fic-author, and didn't steal it from Rowling either, since it is not yet sure that the title will be HP and the green flame torch. (Truth be told I was playing with the idea to give my story the same title, but then I realised that I shouldn't go along with the crowd and should do something unique. I'm happy that I chose this scandalous title ;-) And to reassure you: I haven't read any of those Green Flame Torch stories, have no idea what the torch is used for in those fics.
Kitty Kat: I'm going to read you fic as soon as I have time for it.
Katarina the Great: the same for you as for Kitty Kat.
eternity: do you really check ffnet five times a day because of my story??? Wow! I'm glad that you like it so much!
some1: I know that all of you want to see H and G together again, and you'll see them, of course, but things have to happen before they meet again.
Claire Thorpe: I've reviewed two chapters of your story so far, I'm reading the rest of it, but please, but patient, I'm terribly busy nowadays with my exams looming closer and closer…
2Coolio: one of your guesses come close to the actual plot (not too close), but the other is far from the real thing.
sharliestar: yeah, I've written the whole story, but still doing smaller modifications.
Enjoy!
Chapter 22
Noisy night, holy night
This Christmas was the worst Hogwarts had ever seen. First of all, this was the first one without Professor Dumbledore. Since the old wizard left the castle to an unknown place, even snow felt colder and sunshine seemed darker.
Professor McGonagall became the new headmistress appointed by the Ministry of Magic, and Severus Snape became her deputy.
Though McGonagall was a really good headmistress, nothing was the same without Dumbledore.
No matter how many golden crystals were shining at the dozen Christmas trees, no matter how long streamers of holly and mistletoe were hanging from the enchanted ceiling, Christmas spirit simply avoided the Hogwarts castle and its inhabitants.
Ron tried to look happy about the holidays, but he didn't manage to fool Hermione.
"Don't strain yourself." the girl said. "I know how you feel. I feel the same way. Everyone misses Dumbledore… and Harry."
"Everyone?" Ron shook his head. "Malfoy surely not. But at least we won't see him smirking and boasting that he succeeded in getting Dumbledore sacked. He left for the holidays, hasn't he?"
"No." Hermione replied. "And that's exactly what is worrying me. Malfoy always spends the holidays at home… well, with the exception of second and fourth year… but fourth year doesn't count, there was the Yule-ball, and he obviously didn't want to miss it… I have simply no idea why he'd want to stay here this year. But he is staying, that's for sure."
"Unfortunately…" Ron said, tossing the annual maroon sweater away. "At least Dobby will have a nice Xmas. The jumper I gave him in fourth year looks already pretty worn. He'll be glad to get a new one."
Hermione nodded. "Have you seen my gift?"
"Not yet. Which one is it?" Ron asked.
"The green package over there."
Ron hastily unwrapped the gift. "Wow, Herm, a Chudley Cannons T-shirt! And a… book…" he smirked. "Thank you, dear." he gave her a big kiss. "And here's my gift to you." he handed her a small case wrapped in violet paper.
Hermione took the case and ripped the paper from it. It was a jewel box. "Ron…" she frowned, opening it. "Oh, holy Snitch, Ron… this must have cost a fortune! Where did you get the money for this?" she took a sapphire brooch out of the box. "You didn't rob the Gringotts for it, did you?"
Ron shook his head, laughing. "Nay. You remember how upset you were when I didn't invite you to the Burrow last summer?"
She nodded, but had no idea what the lack of Ron's invitation could have to do with the brooch.
"Well, it was because I wasn't at home and I had a good reason not to let you know where I was."
"Why weren't you at the Burrow?" she furrowed her brow.
"I was working at Honeydukes."
"Whole summer?"
"Whole summer." he nodded. "I wanted to earn money to be able to surprise you with this at Christmas." he pointed at the sapphire.
"Oh, Ron…" the girl's eyes filled with joyous tears.
"That means you like the gift?"
Instead of answering, she flung her arms around his neck, giving him a lingering kiss. "Forgive me for being angry with you back in summer… I supposed that you didn't like me anymore."
Ron wiped her tears away. "You little goose…"
"Hey, don't ever call me…" she couldn't finish the sentence, since he closed her lips with another kiss.
"So that was why you didn't invite Harry, either." Hermione stated.
"Yup. I asked him to make up for my impoliteness, and invite you into his home."
"So you let him in on your little secret?"
"Yeah, he knew it all along." Ron grinned. "And supported the idea. He said he wanted to see us together since the Yule ball."
Hermione smiled. "Good ol' Harry… where can he be now?" she sighed. "Where could he be celebrating Christmas? Oh, Ron, this is our first Xmas without him… I miss him so much."
"Me too." he replied with a sad smile. "I couldn't give him the book I'd bought him."
"A book?" the girl looked amused. "You giving him a book? I thought you only could buy him dung-bombs and Quidditch-equipment."
"I was contemplating whether to give him something like that…" he admitted, "but then I saw this book in the Hogsmeade bookshop and just couldn't resist the temptation to buy it for Harry." he pull open a drawer and took out a huge book with the title 1001 reasons why You-Know-Who never played Quidditch for England by Dagobert McSweep. "A funny book…" he shrugged. "I was sure Harry would be in stitches when reading it."
"Hey…" Hermione took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Eventually you might be able to give it to Harry. Have patience, Ron."
"I'm trying." he sighed. "But it isn't easy. Especially not when I look at Ginny. She is the one who suffers the most from Harry's absence."
"I know." she replied, then decided to cheer Ron up a bit, and pinned the brooch on her robe. "Okay, what do you think?"
He whistled admiringly. "Looks much better on you than the SPEW badge."
They both burst out laughing.
Suddenly there was a loud bang, followed by a creaking noise. They looked around to see what the source of the noises was.
"Ron! An owl!" Hermione shouted, pointed at the window. The boy dashed to the window and opened it. A big tawny owl was lying on the window-ledge, a huge package beside it. The wind must have blown it into the window. From the shock of the impact the owl lost its consciousness, and slid down the glass, scratching it with its claws and beak.
"Poor little thing." Hermione reached out for the bird, gathering it into her arms. "It has fainted."
"If you'd bump into a window, you wouldn't look better." Ron declared. "Whom do you think this owl has brought this package?" he took the case, but suddenly dropped it.
"Are you crazy? It might be fragile!"
"Don't think so." Ron shook his head. "It's moving."
"Moving?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Something living is in there."
"Well, let's see the enclosed letter." she read the address on the envelope. "It's for you."
"Me?" Ron frowned. "Who'd send me an animal?"
Hermione shrugged. "Hopefully not Hagrid…" At that very moment one side of the package opened – or rather ripped open – and a funny, black creature with a long snout burst out of it.
"A niffler!" Ron yelled. "I've wanted to have one since Hagrid showed them to us in fourth year!" he jumped to reach the nimble animal, but missed, and fell prone. "Hey, come back, you little imp!" the niffler wasn't about to obey Ron and scurried under Neville's bed.
"Leave it and read the letter!" Hermione handed him the envelope.
Dear Ron,
You said once that you'd be happy to have a niffler and since I had no better idea what to surprise you with this year, I bought her to you from the Magical Creatures Pre-Order Catalogue. I can't wait until 25th December to see your face when you get her. If you have problems finding her a name, just ask me – I have some ideas.
Merry Christmas!
Harry
P.S. Do you know how funny it was for me to wish you Merry Christmas in August?
"It's… it's from Harry…" Ron mumbled. "He bought me this niffler back in August… and, and…" his voice was trembling, and tears were threatening to come. Ron somehow fought them back, though.
Hermione, on the contrary, was crumpling a handkerchief, sniffing.
"Harry… oh, Ron, it seems… as if he'd known that he wouldn't be here now, so he bought your present during the summer, and saw to it that you'd still get his gift. So touching…"
The boy nodded, turning his back on her, to hide the tear that finally found its way down his cheek. "He's a real friend." he said, and crouched down to pull his new pet out from under Neville's bed.
* * * * *
In the evening the usual Christmas feast took place in the Great Hall.
Only eleven students stayed in the castle: Ron, Hermione, Neville (his grandma was abroad visiting a second-cousin), Ginny, Malfoy, Crabble, Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode, two fifth-years and a second-year.
Professor McGonagall sat at the head of the table, Snape on her right, Flitwick on her left. Professor Sprout wasn't present – she was out in the greenhouses, giving the jumping blue tomatoes some liquid medicine against coughing.
Professor Trelawney chose to stay in her room to think about death, the universe, and everything. No one missed her.
Hagrid was sitting at the end of the table, deeply immersed in making himself acquainted with a huge tankard of butterbeer. He seemed to have decided to drink himself unconscious – maybe that was the best way to forget about to recent shocks shattering Hogwarts.
"Look at Malfoy." Ron whispered to his sister and Hermione. "I've never seen him this broken-down. As if it wasn't him at all. Do you think it's Moaning Myrtle disguised as Malfoy?"
"Ghosts cannot turn into people, Ron." Hermione lectured him. "Neither can they drink Polyjuice Potion."
"I know… still he looks like Myrtle in her worst moment."
Ginny nodded. "Strange that I haven't heard him making remarks on anyone… not even on me. I was kinda expecting him mocking me about my condition or Harry's disappearance, but nothing like that has happened – not yet, anyway. Not that I miss it, though…"
"Maybe he just ran out of ideas what to tease people about." Neville commented.
The feast was quite short since no one felt like partying. After dinner everyone headed for their respective dorms.
Ron didn't miss the opportunity to kiss Hermione under a garland of mistletoe.
Ginny politely diverted her eyes, fighting down the urge to chuckle. She imagined Harry kissing her like that, and let out a resigned sigh.
She went upstairs, entered her empty dorm and dropped herself on her bed. All her roommates were at home, and for a moment she felt grateful for the silence. She needed to be alone with her thoughts.
Ginny reached out for the packages on her bed – she hadn't cared to open them yet. One of them contained a book on magical tart recipes from Hermione, another a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans from Ron. *He wants to fatten me.* she smiled. *No need for that. I'll become fat sooner than he'd expect.* she placed her hands on her still flat stomach. "Merry Christmas, Sweet One." she whispered. "Mommy promises you that your next Christmas will be much better… let's hope that Daddy will be with us by then, shall we?"
Ginny reached out for a letter sent by her mother. Molly wrote that she had bought all kinds of presents for the baby but she didn't send them to Ginny. (You won't need them until June!). Ginny was happy that her mother had forgiven her and was very grateful for all the advice Molly was giving her in her letters. (Remember dear, the best method to fight down morning sickness is to drink a mug of steaming pumpkin tea!… Mood swings, dear? They are totally natural, don't worry about them – and if Ron is bugging you about them, just slap him in the face!) Ginny always had to smile at her mother's pieces of advice.
The next package was very small. Ginny curiously opened it, to find a small silver watch hanging on a chain. It was supposed to be some kind of jewellery. She unfolded the unclosed letter.
Dear Ginny,
I heard about your incident with the wolves and got a bit scared. You have to take better care of yourself, young lady! Think of your child! Please, always wear this watch, and should you get into trouble, just flick it open and push that little purple button in it. I might have left the school, but I'll be always there for you if you need me.
A very merry Christmas!
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. I promised Harry to take care of you, just before he left, and I always keep my word.
Ginny was touched by the ex-headmaster's thoughtfulness. I'll be always there for you… A single tear coursed down Ginny's face. She reached out and wiped her cheek. *If only Harry was here for me…* she thought, putting the chain around her neck.
She opened her last package and pulled out a loose-fitting blue dress. As she touched it, the material changed into pink.
There was a card enclosed.
Dear Sis,
We thought you'd be needing this soon. Originally we wanted to send you a liquid toilet seat (our new, award-winning invention), but eventually decided to surprise you with something useful. (How unusual from us, huh?) Hope you like it, Merry Christmas!
Gred and Forge
Ginny stepped to the mirror, holding the (now green) dress in front of her, then, with a sudden thought she dropped her robes and put on the twins' present. She swirled in front of the mirror, the dress flowing around her. *This would be big enough for Madame Maxime.* she smirked. She was three months pregnant, and of course wasn't showing yet. *Well, in time it will.* she thought and reached out for a pillow. She stuffed it under the dress, inspecting herself once more.
A huge smile spread on her face. *Oh, my, I look so funny. If only Harry could see me like this.* Then another voice in her mind answered: *Hey, sister, there's plenty of time until your baby is born. Harry might be back by then!*
She acknowledged the statement with a nod.
She was abruptly shaken out of her reveries by a knock on the door. She dropped the pillow back on the bed and shouted 'Come in!'
The door opened and a very pale Neville entered.
"Neville… what happened?" she asked, almost frightened by the expression on the boy's face.
"I've just got to know why Malfoy was so sad." he replied.
"And?" Ginny had no idea how Draco's bad mood could affect Neville so deeply. As far as she knew, the two boys never liked each other.
Neville opened his mouth to say something, but no voice came out of it.
Ginny saw that the boy badly needed her support, so she took him by the hand and led him to the neighbouring bed. "Sit down and tell me what happened." she also seated herself on her bed.
"Crucio…" he muttered.
"What?" she knitted her eyebrows. Of course she'd heard about the unforgivable curses – Mad Eye Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.) had told them about the Imperiatus, Cruciatus and Avada Kedavra curses – but she couldn't imagine what Cruciatus could have to do with Draco Malfoy.
"Would you expand on it?"
Neville nodded, then seemed to be collecting himself for a moment. Finally he took a deep breath. "Malfoy's father was tortured by the Cruciatus Curse."
Ginny's eyes widened. "How do you know?"
Longbottom handed her a paper – the Evening Prophet.
LUCIUS MALFOY IN ST. MUNGO
by Rita Skeeter
It seems that ill-luck is striking the Malfoy-family's path nowadays. Only three month have passed since Arthur Weasley from the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office caught Lucius Malfoy hiding illegal objects of dark magic at his mansion.
Mr. Malfoy was fined 500 galleons, but that – as we all know – didn't shatter his financial status at all. While the loss of such an amount didn't affect the family in the least, certain events – happened recently – managed to do so.
A week ago Lucius Malfoy was taken to St. Mungo Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries – the very hospital he had given a considerable amount of money three years ago. His mental state – according to specialists – is critical, and alas, incurable.
What got him into his condition? – we may ask. If the opinion of Dr. Fiddlesticks, director of the hospital, can be trusted, then Mr. Malfoy had undergone the Cruciatus curse. Who was brave – or foolish – enough to implement one of the unforgivable curses on this well-known and generous nobleman?
We can only guess. It might have been carried out by a death eater – or the Dark Lord Himself.
Why would they torment Lucius Malfoy?
A good question.
It seems that Mr. Malfoy might have known something that he refused to reveal. According to Dr. Fiddlesticks, the perpetrator didn't manage to break into Mr. Malfoy's mind, but neither did the medics at St. Mungo succeed in accessing his memories.
"Such things happen when someone fights for the privacy of his thoughts to such an extent, that neither Imperio, nor Cruciatus can drag his secrets out of him. This unfortunate man," Dr. Fiddlesticks gives Lucius Malfoy a pitiful glance, "was tough enough to resist Imperio, but Crucio finally broke him mentally. He kept his secret – and is likely to keep it forever. He namely cannot talk, nor remember."
Now poor Mr. Malfoy is spending his days – and very possibly the rest of his life - in St. Mungo, but at least in great comfort, thanks to his generous donation.
His wife, Narcissa Malfoy got a nervous breakdown when she heard about her husband's terrible fate. Their son, Draco, seventh year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has to spend the holidays in the school.
Hopefully his mother will get better by the beginning of the summer holiday.
Ginny looked up from the newspaper. "Terrible…"
Neville nodded. "For the first time in my life I feel sympathy for Malfoy."
"That is understandable." the girl replied. "His father has gone crazy, his mother might also go mad…"
Tears appeared in the boy's eyes, slowly coursing down on his cheeks. "I've always hated Malfoy, but not even my archenemy would I wish to suffer from the same thing as I do."
"The same thing as you do?" she looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"My parents… are also in St. Mungo. They were tortured by Bartemius Crouch's son and three other death eaters, right after the fall of You-Know-Who… Cruciatus drove them mad. They don't recognise me when I visit them."
"Oh, Neville!" Ginny pulled him into a firm embrace. The boy nestled his pudgy face into her shoulder, sobbing. "You poor one…" she bent down and kissed his cheek. Suddenly Neville stuck his mouth to her lips.
"Neville!" she yelled, pushing him away. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I'm… I'm sorry…" he muttered. "I've lost my mind. I'm crazy… crazy in love with you."
Ginny stared at him, shocked. "You're in love with me?"
"I have always been." the boy admitted with downcast eyes.
For a moment he looked so innocent and helpless that she felt pity for him. "Hey…" she cupped his chin, lifting his head to look into her eyes. "It's okay, Neville. I'm not angry."
"You are so good, Ginny." he muttered. "I love you so much. If… well… should Harry never come back, I'd gladly marry you and be a good father to your child, and…" she put her hand on his lips to silence him, shaking her head.
"No. No, Neville. Harry WILL come back. He will, I feel it."
The boy nodded. "I just wanted you to know that I love you… that I'd do anything to make you happy… but if your happiness is with Harry, then I won't stand in your way. I want you to be happy, Gin. Truly."
"Thank you." she smiled. "You're a wonderful friend."
Neville forced himself to smile, when some clamour from downstairs broke the silence. A loud bang, a crash, followed by yells and outraged cries could be heard, although it was nearly midnight.
"What the…" Neville blinked.
"Dunno. C'mon, let's have a look!" Ginny suggested, beckoning him to follow her. He shrugged and ran after the girl, who seemed to have forgotten that she was still wearing the twins' present (lilac, at the moment.)
By the time they got downstairs, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall and a fifth-year were already back at the Great Hall, curious about the noises.
They all looked shocked by the sight of an overturned table before the fireplace, along with fallen chairs, littered plates and a moving heap of table-cloth, that was giving out plaintive moans.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, as she ran to Neville and Ginny, followed by Ron, who was carrying his niffler.
"Nice dress, sis." Ron remarked.
"Thanks." Ginny blushed.
"Are we having an uninvited visitor?" Hermione wondered.
"Stand up and show yourself!" Snape shouted, his wand pointed at the huge, whimpering bulge covered with tablecloth.
Now the 'bulge' rose to its feet, visibly trembling. As it straightened its back, the tablecloth fell to the ground to reveal a very scared, fat, blonde boy.
"It's Dudley Dursley!" Ron shouted.
"Who?" Snape scowled at the newcomer.
"Harry's cousin." Ron replied.
"Is this true?" McGonagall pressed her lips together. "Are you Potter's Muggle cousin?"
Dudley nodded with an expression that suggested that he was close to fainting.
"What are you doing here?" Minerva asked.
"I've… I've come to give someone a Christmas present." the Dursley boy muttered. "I thought everyone would be asleep by now."
"You could have sent the gift by owl-post." McGonagall declared. "Using the floo-network is strictly forbidden in our school… especially for Muggles."
"Exactly." Snape nodded. (For the first time he and McGonagall agreed on something!)
"How did you get to know how to travel by floo?" Minerva inquired.
Ron gulped. "Oh, no…" he whispered. "If he tells them that he saw it from us, dad will lose his job!"
"What do you mean that he saw it from you?" the girl whispered back.
"We went for Harry by floo before the Quidditch World Cup. Don't you remember?"
"Oh, yeah." she nodded. "You mentioned it."
"Well…" Dudley drawled, "I saw Millicent using it."
"Millicent?" shouted Snape, McGonagall, Ron and Hermione in chorus.
"WHAT Millicent?" Minerva knitted her eyebrows.
"B…Bulstrode." Dudley mumbled.
"Where could you see Ms. Bulstrode using floo-powder?" Severus Snape lowered his wand.
"Um, at Mrs. Figg's house…" Dudley shrugged. "After she visited Harry at our place."
"Visited Harry?" Ginny gaped.
Dudley turned red, and nodded.
"But… why did she visit him?" McGonagall asked.
Dudley stared down on his shoes. "'Cause she loves him."
"LOVES HIM?" Ginny was about to freak out. "LOVES MY HARRY?"
"Uh-huh." the fat boy replied, his gaze still directed at his shoes.
"And why are YOU here now, if I may ask?" Snape growled. "Running after a girl who loves another?"
"I've come to give Milli my present." Dudley blushed even more.
"ME?" came a voice from the door.
Everyone turned around to see Millicent Bulstrode standing there, already in her night-gown.
"Milli!" Dudley's face lit up.
"Dudley?" the girl rewarded him with a disgusted look. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Just brought you a Christmas gift," Snape informed the girl, "…since he is in love with you… aren't you, Muggle?... And do you know," he turned to Millicent, "do you know how he got here?"
The girl gulped, and shook her head.
"Do you deny having visited Potter through the Floo-network?" Snape stepped closer to her, his voice raising in pitch. "Do you deny having ignored the prohibition of using the fireplaces for travelling at Hogwarts? Do you deny…?"
"NO! I don't!" she yelled, burying her face into her hands.
"This is the second time we see her cry." Ron remarked. "When crying she looks even uglier than usual."
Hermione hushed him, indicating that she didn't want to miss a second from the scene: Snape telling off a Slytherin. Things like that happen only once in a lifetime.
Snape really looked outraged. "I'm deeply disappointed in you, Bulstrode. Fetch your damned gift and get out of my sight! Two hundred points from Slytherin!"
"WHAT?????" all the Gryffindors gasped. This couldn't possibly be happening… it was too good to be true.
Millicent ripped the small package out of Dudley's hand and ran out of the Great Hall.
"And now… back to you, Muggle." Snape turned to Dudley. "Tell me, is this the first time you're visiting Ms. Bulstrode?"
The boy shook his head, anxiously blinking with his watery blue eyes.
"When did you come here? And how many times?"
"Just… just once." Dudley muttered. "Right after she left Privet Drive. I wanted to come after her and tell her about my feelings…"
"And did you tell her?" McGonagall cut in.
"No. I didn't meet her then… only Draco Malfoy."
"Draco?" Ron and Hermione exchanged a confused look.
"Fishy." Ron whispered, and the girl nodded.
"And how did Mr. Malfoy react upon your sudden arrival?" Snape inquired.
"Wanted to kill me." Dudley shrugged.
"Pity that he didn't." Ron remarked, stroking his niffler's head.
"And what else did Malfoy do?" Minerva asked.
Dudley cringed from the witch's strict voice. "Nothing." he replied – a very insecure reply it was.
"Are you sure?" McGonagall stepped closer. "What do you think, Severus, should we try the veritaserum on him? I have a feeling that he is lying."
Snape shook his greasy head. "Malfoy couldn't have done anything that should be kept a secret, right, Dudley?"
The boy vividly shook his blonde head no, while his eyes were telling yes.
"I'm not convinced at all." the new headmistress folded her arms before her chest. "I suggest we use the veritaserum."
Snape shrugged. "As you wish."
Now Dudley was truly shaking, believing the veritaserum to be some special torture-chamber-equipment. "No need for that!" he blurted out. "I'll tell you everything!"
"Everything?" McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "We are curiously waiting, Mr. Dursley."
"It… it wasn't my idea! Draco forced me to oblige! I didn't want to hurt Harry, but he persuaded me – surely with magic, and…"
"What do you mean by hurting Harry?" Minerva scowled.
Snape started to fidget uneasily. He had a certain feeling that this discussion wasn't about to favour Draco – neither the Slytherin house.
"Yes, out with it, Porky!" Ron yelled. "What did you two do to my friend?"
Dudley's lips trembled.
"I'm giving you a three-count…" Ginny raised her wand.
"Ms. Weasley, threatening Muggles with the prospect of hexes is forbidden by the 1703 law of Muggle Protection, section four…" Professor McGonagall began, but somehow felt like agreeing with the girl. "Speak up, Mr. Dursley!"
"Draco… gave me… a potion… I don't know its name… but it helped us get rid of Harry…"
"WHAAAAAT???" everyone in the hall – with the exception of Snape – hissed.
"What have you done to MY Harry?" Ginny lunged at him, almost knocking the gigantic boy
off his feet.
Ron and Hermione acted at once, grabbing Ginny's colour-changing dress, pulling her back at the very moment she was about to scratch out Dudley's eyes.
McGonagall turned to the fifth-year who happened to be a Slytherin.
"Get Malfoy! NOW!!!"