"Are we clear on how this will work?" Grey asked the assembled group. Willow had woken Spike early, collected him and Neville, and brought them to the Gryffindor common room. Grey, Ron, Hermione, and Harry had been waiting and plotting. An hour later, the plan was complete.
"You guys don't have to do this. I hit Malfoy. It's plenty fair."
"It's not fair, Neville," Harry argued. "You were defending yourself."
"Yeah, it's not your fault Malfoy's a stupid git," Ron chipped in. "He's got no right to do that."
"But it's not worth you all getting in trouble. I mean…" His voice trailed off as the assemblage all gave him a look. "Mr. Blood, I don't even know you." Spike and Willow laughed.
"It's Spike, lad. Just Spike. And I'm just doin' it because it will be fun."
"Wish I could be there to see it," Ron grumbled. Harry elbowed him to be quiet.
"I'm not sure it's such a good idea. I mean, terrorizing students, even Malfoy, is really against the rules," Hermione said.
"Snape terrorizes us," Harry responded. "It's only fair. Besides, it's Malfoy." She had already acquiesced, and only nodded to Harry's comment.
"So, everybody ready?" Nods all around. Grey checked each face, especially Hermione's, to make sure. "Okay. Willow, take Neville back to the hospital wing now. If Madame Pomfrey asks, Giles needed to see him." She nodded and left. "The rest of you know what to do."
The banging at the door woke Draco Malfoy with a start. Whatever Pomfrey had given him to fix his broken nose, it had put him to sleep fast. Still groggy, he saw Weasley talking to the nurse. He caught the words "Harry … broom … fell" from the frantic Gryffindor before the she grabbed a bag off the floor and ran out. He wanted to laugh, but he was nearly back asleep. What a perfect day … Potter and Longbottom … have to get Weasley next …
That was when he heard the growl.
Everything seemed fuzzy. Blinking his eyes failed to clear the fog of sleep, but through the haze, he thought he saw someone enter. Two someones. Both large.
"What do you think, Spike? Easy pickings?" It was that idiot bodyguard, the one who only wore blue. And the groundskeeper, the new one who scared the pants off of everyone. He growled his assent. Malfoy squinted. Something seemed to be wrong with their faces. They walked over to Longbottom, and Malfoy heard screaming. Then they turned on him. Their faces were covered in blood. They were both growling.
And they had fangs.
Malfoy realized that he was the only one screaming now. They crept towards him, followed suddenly by Longbottom. He had fangs too. Three vampires, all coming for him. He felt something warm and wet spread down his leg right before he passed out.
When he woke up, Longbottom seemed to be sleeping soundly. Despite Malfoy's memory of Potter and a broom accident, the infirmary was otherwise unoccupied. Unfortunately, his bed was still wet.
Across the room, Neville held in a snicker. "Hey, Draco, you awake?"
"Yes, Longbottom. What is it?"
"What's that smell?"