Breakfast in the Great Hall was tense the next morning. While spooning oatmeal into his mouth, Draco kept his eyes fixed onto the hallway. Ten minutes passed, fifteen, then he gave up. Ginny would never have the guts to pull such a stunt. As he entered the Great Hall, she had left with her head low and her cheeks red. She had probably been too nervous to do anything. He sighed; he always had to do everything, not that he minded.

They would have double potions with the Gryffidors before lunch. Crabbe and Goyle were still in the hospital wing and Draco was quite glad. Those buffoons were nice bodyguards, but he was sure that if he combined their O.W.L.S, the idiots would wind up with a negative number. With Crabbe and Goyle out of his hair and the prospect of making Potter's life miserable, he happily helped himself to a piece of toast. To top things off, Pansy had dyed her face an electric blue because she misread the directions on the cosmetic spell and she was now with Madam Pomfrey.

Today was a glorious day. He leaned forward to take a bite out of toast when he gagged. A smell that rivaled dragon dung permeated the air. People began to cough. From the entrance hall, the local celebrity arrived. So the little red head did have the guts. Half of the Great Hall was quickly vacated. The remainder held their noses and made snide remarks about the smells that were on Harry Potter and his friend Ronald Weasely.

Hermione sat two seats away from them out of what seemed like loyalty, but even she was turning slightly green. Draco had lost his appetite completely, but he stayed to watch the show. Everyone who was left was whispering to each other.

"Wonder how those blasted things got into our robes?" Weasely said.

"Just leave me alone," grumbled Potter. Weasely looked at Draco.

"Reckon he did it," he nodded his head at Draco.

"Oh like I would sink that low," Draco called back, keeping his distance.

"There is no low for you, Malfoy," Hermione said, protecting her friends.

"Keep out of this, Granger."

"I think I'll just ignore you, Malfoy," Hermione snapped, "and I suggest you, Harry, do the same."

Harry glared sullenly, but started on some scrambled eggs. Ron reached for a piece of toast and dipped his knife into the butter and spread a generous layer onto it.

"Wow, the house elves really outdid themselves today," he exclaimed, cheerfully, "it tastes just like cre--" Hermione screamed. A bright yellow canary sat on the table. It chirped nervously. There was an explosion of laughter.

"Bloody, brilliant! Weasely is sacked by his own brothers." Draco laughed hysterically. It seemed that cream from the Canary cream puffs were now stronger since Ron just flapped his wings indignantly. "You know I'll be out a business soon," Draco joked, "because I'm willing to bet your crazy brothers will finish you off before I have a chance." Ron divebombed onto Draco and began to peck his head.

"Ouch! Get off of me, you bloody little bird." There was a slight explosion of yellow feathers and Ron landed on top of Draco. "Get off me before I curse you," Draco screamed. Ron scrambled off the now bright red Draco.

"I think, Malfoy, that red is quite a good color for you," Ron said conversationally, "you should blush more often." With all the dignity, Draco had left; he stood up and began to pull the feathers out of his hair and off his clothes.

Potter choked on his eggs and gulped down some of his pumpkin juice. Potter disappeared and a small squirrel appeared on his chair. It panicked and jumped onto the table and began to run in circles.

"Squirrel sugar syrup," Ron said, "Fred told me about that. I thought he was joking." He and Hermione made a dive for the frantic squirrel. They both missed and banged into each other. The squirrel knocked pitchers of pumpkin juice and baskets of muffins while it tried to dodge the two Gryffidors. Draco started laughing so hard that his face turned from vermilion to a dark purple. Seamus Finnigan tried to help but got his front splattered with bacon as the squirrel agilely dodged him.

The laughter now in the Great Hall was like firecrackers. Finally, the squirrel shed its fur and turned back into Harry Potter. Blushing furiously, he ran out of the Great Hall humiliated with bits of fur still on his face and his robes covered with food. A feathered Weasely and worried Granger were close behind.

Now that the show was over, everyone left giggling madly. "Today was bound to be exciting," Draco thought. He dusted the last of the feathers off of him and walked toward Professor Sprout's class.

During Professor Binn's class, which was directly before Potions, Draco opened the book.

Dear Journal,

I did it. During Care of Magical Creatures, Colin Creevey told me about Harry and my brother. I giggled like mad. I should have stayed to watch, but I was afraid I would get caught. That should teach those two not to mess with me. But then I saw Ron yelling at Fred and George, I feel bad about getting those two in trouble.

We were learning about unicorns today and I got to touch a foal. However, I was thinking too much about Harry that I forgot about Hagrid. He had to ask me three times to name the uses of unicorn hair and I didn't know the answer. He sighed and looked disappointed. Now I feel terrible, what should I do?

Write back soon,

Ginny



Should Draco tell her to ignore Hagrid? No, she liked Hagrid too much and might stop listening to him. But he hated that ugly, hairy bloke. He couldn't see how that fool, Dumbledore, actually hired him. Gritting his teeth, he wrote.



Dear Ginny,

I think you should apologize to Hagrid, personal life is important but not as much as studies. You have to do well. About your brothers, remember all those times they put spiders in your bed, well this is your revenge. Perhaps, you should lie low a bit and wait until your brother and Harry are unsuspecting before you strike again.

~Your journal



"Mr. Malfoy, would you care to tell us what you are doing?" said a gravelly voice. Draco jumped. Everyone was staring at him.

"It's nothing," he muttered and quickly transfigured the book into a quill.

"Then would you like to answer the question?"

"Alright."

"Could you tell the class who was Bellerophon and his role in developing winged horses?" 'Thank Merlin's beard that Hermione wasn't the only one who reads ahead, 'he thought.

"Bellerophon was an early Greek wizard and he created the first winged horse by breeding a horse and a hippogriff." Professor Binns humphed as if annoyed that Draco had been able to answer the question without paying attention to class.

"Well, then can you please tell us--" the bell rang and Draco gathered his things.

"Mr. Malfoy may I see you for a moment?" Professor Binns said. Draco nodded and approached the desk. The ghosts translucent form and glowing eyes made him a bit frightening. "Your behavior in the last few days has been less than satisfactory. If this continues, I'll be forced to notify your father."

"My father," Draco choked. His father would strangle him if he got less than perfect scores.

"I'll be good, sir," he said hurriedly.

"Good, now run along," the ghost made a shooing motion with one hand. Draco rushed to potions. 'Harry Potter,' he thought, 'watch your back!'