Chapter 5 Weird happenings

Shortly before Christmas Malfoy got a letter from home. His father wanted to see him immediately. Draco had regained his usual malignancy after the nice shock Hermione arranged for him, and he just couldn't leave without letting a "Christmas gift" for his neighbour. He wanted to spoil Hermione's holidays, because he was sure she wouldn't forgive him, and this thought brought him unnatural gloomy satisfaction. He found Hermione in the common room, she was reading as usual. "I wonder if she ever does anything else" - thought he. - Listen, Granger, I'm leaving.- started he menacingly. She didn't look up. - Do you hear me? I'm leaving home in order to see my father! - he lifted up his voice which sounded now rather pleading. She closed the book and said sharply: - So what? Shall I accompany you to the station? He didn't expect her to be so sarcastically. - You know , I'm going to tell my father everything! - added he threateningly. - Yeah? For example? - wondered the girl. - For example? - Malfoy was becoming annoyed. - For example about this stupid muggle studies work! - I would be very surprised if you didn't tell it to him. - mocked Hermione. - He is your most powerful tool when dealing with problems, isn't he? Draco kept silence. The girl looked with surprise at him, and then she understood that his proud temper was touched to the quick. So she went on: - I wonder if you've ever tried to act independently! Just in order to see if you are able to do something on your own! If you're worth something without your precious father! You know what is the difference between you and Potter? Harry has no father! - exclaimed she. - I know! - Malfoy made a wry face when she said "Potter". The girl ignored his grimace. - Since I've known him, - continued she,- he's made his decisions alone, independently, at his own responsibility, and he wouldn't listen to anyone! He's his own master, he acts like a grown up man, maybe he makes mistakes, but those are his own mistakes, and he doesn't hide behind somebody's back. He lives his own life and you are just a filthy xerocopy of your monstrous father! And with this she left. Malfoy didn't know what a xerocopy was, but he guessed. As well as he guessed that she was right. Damn right! A filthy xerocopy of a monstrous father! This sentence hurt him almost physically. But he couldn't change anything. His father was really monstrous. He didn't have any chance. "He's his own master!" Damn Potter! He was free. Draco envied him badly. He'd better had no parents at all! No obedience! Now Draco would give the world to make his own master as well. He was eager to live his own live, where he could find a place for Hermione. Yet he just couldn't imagine how difficult it would be!

***** Hermione sat in the Head Prefects Common room enjoying being alone. Luckily enough Malfoy had gone home for some days because his father wanted to see him (or maybe just because he wanted to shirk his duties). Harry and Ron had trained Quidditch all day long (though it was forbidden to arrange school competitions, they were practicing every day to stay in good form). Hermione knew that the boys were dreaming of playing Quidditch for the national team and there she wouldn't impede them. Besides, Harry told so her once, Quidditch helped him to forget Voldemort for the short time. Since the Dark Lord had Harry's blood in his veins Harry could feel and knew for sure what he was doing and where he was. But that always needed a great exertion and after those efforts Harry felt really ill. It was definitely good for him that he could find his own way of relaxation. So now he was really tired and fell asleep in the common room, and Hermione, Neville and Dean put him in bed. Hermione wanted to write an essay on the History of Magic, she took her quill and parchment and was about to start, when the entrance portrait to the room burst open and somebody literally fell in. Hermione jumped up in surprise. Then the incomer gave out a weak moan, and Hermione understand, that whoever he was he needed help. She approached the lying figure and much to her astonishment discovered that it was Malfoy hooded and wrapped in cloak, so that he was difficult to recognize. He noticed her and tried to get to his feet, but failed. - Help me. .- moaned he very quietly. And added after a pause: "Please!" "What happened to you?" - Hermione got worried. "I can't tell you", - answered he. "Can you walk?"- asked she again. "Only if you'll help me" - groaned he. "Shall I bring you to the hospital wing?" "No, not there!" exclaimed he with a sudden reluctance. "I can't go anywhere. Only you can help me.." She managed to lead him to bed (To her own, because her bedroom was nearer). He just fell on it and tried not to lose consciousness. - Where does it hurt? - asked Hermione. Without saying he opened his cloak, and Hermione recoiled with a cry. She was terrified. There was no place on Draco's body, which wasn't covered with long bleeding wounds. "Who did this?" - she barely managed to ask the question so shocked she was. "My father" - said Malfoy simply. Now she was really perplexed. - But why? - He just wanted to teach me a lesson of obedience. Hermione tried to use the Healing Curse, but Malfoy, looking very gloomy, explained her, that it wouldn't work, because his fathers cane was able to leave traces, which are very painful and which can't be cured by any magic. - Oh, well, then I know the way! - exclaimed Hermione. - So what is it? - wondered Malfoy - Oh, just old muggle ways. She opened the cupboard and took some small things out of it. - I suppose your father didn't expect you to be healed with muggle medicine. Now I'm really glad my mother insisted on taking all this stuff. Well, let's have a look: iodine, cotton wool, bandage, court plaster. She cleaned his wounds, smeared salve on them, and then put on a bandage round Draco's torso. He was impressed by her skillfulness. - Where did you learn it? - wondered he. - You maybe don't know, but my muggle parents are doctors, though dentists, they still have a medical education, and my mother always insisted on training me in giving first aid. - Hermione explained with dignity. Malfoy looked at her with respect. Hermione remembered something: - Why didn't you go to Snape? He likes you, he would help you. - Yes, sure, but he might tell it my father, and he shouldn't know. - And what about me? - asked Hermione warily. - And you. you are - he paused. He just wanted to say that she was so kind, so generous, so altruistic, but he said only - well. with you it's quite another matter. My father will never talk to you.

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Harry woke up with a loud scream. Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville jumped out of their beds. -What's up? - wondered they at once . - Nothing, - answered Harry looking very pale. -- I just need to talk to Dumbledore. - You can't just walk there alone. Its two o'clock! - said Ron. He was about to accompany him. - No, Ron, you stay here! - said Harry, leaving for the common room. But Ron followed him. In the common room Harry took a medallion that he was wearing under his clothes and never took off since Dumbledore gave it to him, and muttered: "Sir, I need to see you. It's urgent!" Then he noticed Ron, who was glaring at him with a strange look. - Where is it?! - yelled he. - What? - Harry couldn't understand what annoyed his friend so hard. - The amulet! You've promised to keep it on! - shouted Ron. Harry was taken aback. - I. I probably lost it while playing Quidditch. No need to worry, Ron, I'll find it! Just calm down! This very moment Dumbledore appeared. "Come with me, my boy!" - ordered he in a soft tone. He and Harry left. Ron looked very pale. He neared the door, when Dean, who came to the room because of the loud cries, asked: "Where are you going to?" Ron stopped abruptly. " I need. I need to go. I need to see Fudge," told he in a faint voice. "But you can't go there." said Neville who came to the room as well. Ron looked like he would fight anyone who would hinder him. Dean and Seamus seemed to understand that something wrong was going on. "You won't go anywhere!" barked Dean. "Yes I will!" - yelled Ron turning greenish. He started trembling nervously. "You can't stop me!" "We'll try!" - said Neville with a sudden determination. He quickly raised his wand and yelled "Impedimenta!" But Ron managed to block the curse. "Averto!" - shouted he, and Neville fell down. "Petrificus totalus" and "Locomotor Mortis" yelled Dean and Seamus at ones, and Ron fell to the ground as well. But somehow he was still moving. Dean and Seamus didn't know what to do. They didn't want to hurt him, just to stop. But their curses didn't work on him. Ron raised his wand again and pronounced very distinctly "AVADA ." The boys couldn't believe their ears. "Expelliarmus!"- roared a voice. The wands flew out of the boys' hands and landed into Professor McGonagall's. "What's going on here?! I'm waiting for explanation! But first." She pointed her wand at Ron and then at Neville: "Finite Incantatem!" Neville moved and tried to get up, but Ron was still lying on the floor breathing hard. "Professor! - started Dean. - Ron was about to kill us with the Unforgivable Curse! He must be mad!" Ron had an expression on his face just like as if he didn't know who and where he was. "Are you all right, Mr. Weasley?" - asked Professor. "What happened? What have I done?" muttered Ron, and suddenly burst into tears. McGonagall sank into a chair: "Tell me everything!" - ordered she. The boys did it, interrupting each other. While they were speaking McGonagall turned paler and paler. When they finished with "Avada Kedavra", she looked ashy. Ron sat on the floor crying, and the girls, who had been woken up, tried to soothe him, but he was having a fit of hysterics indeed. "We should have known that something like this might happen" - said Professor in a low voice. "Boys, you shall be very patient with him, and I'll take his wand. He is really ill, but we can't bring him to the hospital wing, or he'll be expelled, and you three too. Remember the rules! It would be better for him to go home for some time. I will send an owl to his mother." "But what's wrong with him, Professor?" wondered Neville. - If it is what I suppose so you'd better don't know. - answered she in a very sad tone. - Just don't remind him of what he had done, and if he shows any signs of this insanity again, call me immediately. And. don't tell Harry anything about it. By the way, Harry will stay for some time in the hospital wing, you can visit him later.

The three boys and other Gryffindors sat silent in their common room after McGonagall had left and they'd put Ron in bed. - If only Dumbledore was still the Headmaster. - said Dennis Creevey, who had changed a lot after his elder brother's death. - Yeah, he could explain us everything. - sighed Parvati. - No, Dennis means that nothing like this would have happen. - explained Neville. - Yeah, - sighed Dean.