Title: Hobbled (2/?)

Author: elgatoneun

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: It's going to be Harry/Draco

Summary: The ancient practice of hobbling is discovered. Several of Hogwarts' finest find that they have not been living up to their full potential.

Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me.

Spoilers: Everything up to and including book 4.

Feedback: Would be appreciated

Notes: This takes place during the gang's 6th year. The year before was relatively quiet with no overt Voldemort activity.

Draco Malfoy looked over at his two companions, wondering for the hundredth time if either of them had been dropped on their heads in infancy. It would explain so much.

He watched Crabbe and Goyle fight over the last chocolate frog. Crabbe was a bit larger and a bit more intelligent than Goyle, which was rather like saying the Weasel annoyed him slightly less than Granger. It was a matter of minuscule degree really.

However, the thick bandages wrapped around his hands and face hampered Crabbe's vision and maneuverability. Ultimately, he lost to Goyle's relentless determination. Goyle was rather like a Hufflepuff in that way. Draco frowned thoughtfully, Goyle had been acting rather peculiar lately, fawning all over that girl with Granger. Why she wasn't even a proper witch! He'd had to literally push the big oaf so they could get Crabbe.

They had escorted Crabbe back to the Slytherin dungeons after his brief trip to the infirmary. It was the second time this year that he had somehow managed to get stuck to the portrait of Lady Caroline Huxley. He couldn't understand Crabbe's fascination with it. Well, except for the fact that she continually tried to hang herself. The real Lady Caroline had been famous for the many inventive ways in which she had tried to kill herself so she wouldn't have to testify against her ex-husband, Lord Sylvester Huxley, a celebrated murderer of the time.

Crabbe slumped down on the chaise lounge closest to the corridor leading to the dormitories. He grunted in pain when he clumsily smacked his injured hand on the wooden leg of the lounge.

"Quit whimpering. Serves you right." Draco wasn't sympathetic to anyone's pain but his own.

"What were you doing on that side of the castle anyway?" Crabbe shut his one good eye.

"Draco, maybe you should leave him alone." Goyle suggested gently. Draco turned to face him, clearly astonished.

"What?" This outburst was noticed by several inhabitants of the room. Draco looked up and glowered at them fiercely. All but one hastily turned away. Blaise Zabini gave him a bemused smile.

Draco turned his attention back to Goyle. He took a moment to calm himself down.

"Are you ill?" he asked crisply, clearly expecting some sort of reasonable answer as to why Goyle would be acting in this extraordinary manner.

Goyle sheepishly mumbled out a "No."

"Then why would …"

"Draco, don't chastise them in front of the younger years," Blaise interrupted, "bad form, you know better than that."

Draco was clearly fuming, but gave Blaise a terse nod. He walked imperiously towards their chambers without looking back, obviously expecting his friends to follow, which they did.

Blaise walked in with Crabbe and Goyle. Draco merely lifted an eyebrow at him. Blaise shrugged in response.

"I'm bored. I thought this might be entertaining." Draco acknowledged this with a slight expression of displeasure, but didn't dismiss him.

"Alright, explain. Now." Crabbe cleared his throat, looked at Goyle anxiously.

Draco was incensed. It became absolutely clear; Crabbe and Goyle were keeping something from him. He scowled at Crabbe.

"You first. What were you doing by the greenhouses? How did you get stuck to that picture?"

"I was looking for the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room." Crabbe looked at the floor shamefully. Draco watched as a dull red flush crept up his fat, partially covered face. Why in the world would Crabbe want to … Good Lord!

"A Hufflepuff? A HUFFLEPUFF!" Draco fell back against his bed. Blaise started laughing hysterically. Draco pinned him with a glare.

"Belt up, you!"

Goyle was patting Crabbe on the shoulder awkwardly, a kindly gesture that disgusted Draco even further.

"Who?" Blaise asked, looking morbidly fascinated.

"Susan Bones. She's in our year." Crabbe sat down at this point. Blaise moved forward, thinking of the titillating gossip session he would have with Pansy later. This was just too good.

"She's a Prefect, right? With the red hair? At least you're consistent in your tastes." Blaise wanted to rub his hands together with glee.

This was not the time to bring that up as it just stoked Draco's temper again.

"I can't believe this Crabbe. First, that Jenny Weasley last year, and now a Hufflepuff? Don't you have any pride at all?"

"It's Ginny."

"What?"

"Not Jenny Weasley, Ginny Weasley." Crabbe explained.

"What do I care? There's so many of those blasted Weasleys, who could be bothered to remember all their names." Draco turned to Goyle abruptly.

"And you! Ogling that mousy Squib in the corridor. At least Crabbe has the decency to be ashamed. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Goyle just looked at him and obstinately refused to answer, enraging Draco further.

"Draco, they can't help who they like. It's just the way things are." Blaise said soothingly.

"Look at them, those girls wouldn't give them the time of day," Goyle's face fell at this obvious truth, "they're miserable."

This appeased Draco somewhat; he did enjoy reveling in other people's misery. Crabbe and Goyle looked absolutely pathetic. Satisfied that Draco had calmed down a bit, Blaise asked the question that had been burning in the back of his mind.

"But how did you get stuck to the picture?"

"Well, the Gryffindors have a picture guarding their room," this was all common knowledge as they were the only ones stupid enough to make their dormitory location privy to all, "I thought this one might be the one for the Hufflepuffs."

"Yes …" Blaise coaxed gently, encouraging Crabbe to continue.

"I was trying to bribe Lady Caroline for the password. She, uh, told me to come closer, then she grabbed my head and I don't know, I got stuck somehow."

"But, what about the first time?"

Crabbe looked even more miserable than before, if that was possible.

"Um, I threatened her the first time. Said I would slash the painting of her husband in the East Hall if she didn't tell me." Blaise and Draco exchanged incredulous glances at Crabbe's stupidity. Lady Caroline's loyalty to her ex-husband was legendary; she had even divorced him at his request so that he could carry on with her sister.

Even Goyle had never done anything that stupid … twice.

Draco closed his eyes. He brought his fingers up to his temple, and massaged the area as if he had a headache.

"You two, leave," he said tiredly, gesturing towards the door.

Crabbe and Goyle walked dejectedly out of the room. Blaise considerately waited until they were out of earshot before pealing into fresh gales of laughter.

Draco opened his eyes and sighed.

"I've got to get new minions."