Guard Dog
"No way!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry had just explained what had happened after he disappeared with Snape. The trio sat at the dinner table, Ron had a fork full of food half way to his mouth, forgotten.
"But… seeker, you can't be, there's a rule against first years playing," Ron went on.
"Snape said he could work something out with Dumbledore," Harry said distractedly.
"Whoa. You must be the youngest player in… well, a very long time anyway."
"In a century," Draco noted sourly, poking his food. Ron gaped more, if that was possible.
Harry shrugged, piling food onto his plate. "Flint says he wants to keep it quiet 'til the first match so don't tell anyone."
Just then a familiar face came into the hall and walked over to where they sat. "Harry, Flint just told me the news. I'm on the team too."
"Oh, Adrian wasn't it?"
"That's right. I play chaser. You should be careful of Higgs since you're replacing him."
"Flint said the same thing. Do you think he would do something?" Harry asked anxiously.
"Probably not, but he might. He gets jealous sometimes. Don't worry too much. Anyway I'll see you at practice," He left.
Harry turned back to his meal and was about to ask Draco about a homework assignment but realized he wasn't there.
"Ron where did Draco go?"
"Hmm? I didn't notice he left. I'm sure he'll turn up later."
But Draco didn't turn up later. He wasn't back before curfew and his friends were getting worried.
"Maybe we should go look for him. If he's caught in the halls he'll get in trouble," Harry said to Ron.
"If we're caught in the halls, we'll get in trouble,"
"So we just have to be careful. Come on, I know you're worried too."
"Alright, fine. Let's go."
They left the common room sticking to the shadows as they searched the castle. They thought they might have heard Peeves or Filch once or twice but managed to avoid them. They found Draco eventually, staring out a window in the Charms corridor.
"Draco! Its past curfew, you'll get in trouble out here," Harry whispered harshly.
Draco said nothing staring sullenly out at the lake.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Draco turned to glare at him. "You. It's only the second week of school and already you're on the Quidditch team. You don't even know how to play."
"Wha…?" Harry was stunned.
"Draco, he wasn't even trying to get on the team--"
"That just makes it worse." Draco cut Ron off.
"I was only trying to do what I thought was right. I didn't know Snape would see or that he would put me on the team. I mean I expected to get expelled."
Draco grumbled and turned back to the window, scowling.
"Draco," Harry said tentatively, "I know you told me you wanted to be seeker, you still could be next year."
Draco snorted.
"You also said you wanted to be beater. There's no need to get so jealous."
Draco grumbled some more.
"Jealous?" Ron asked, "Is that what this is all about? You know, you can't always have things go your own way."
Draco stuck out his tongue at Ron. Ron stuck his tongue out at Draco.
"Maybe you don't know, but I do know what its like not to have your own way. I have a big family after all. So stop being a spoiled brat and get over it."
Draco pouted. "But I wanted to be seeker."
Ron rolled his eyes but before he could say anything there was a noise at the end of the hall. It was Mrs. Norris.
"Hide!" Harry shouted.
They ran down the hall around the corner to a dead end with a locked door.
"Oh no! We'll get it now!" Ron whimpered.
"Not yet we won't," Draco sneakily. He pulled out his wand and pointed it to the locked door. "Alohomora." The door opened and they rushed inside hastily shutting the door behind them. They listened intently.
"What is it, my dear? Students out of bed again?" It was Filch, no doubt. "Find them my sweet," Filch's voice came closer but soon passed and grew fainter.
"He thinks the door is locked so he wouldn't come down here," Harry said relieved.
"Thank goodness you knew that spell Draco," Ron said. "Draco? What are you looking--?"
Ron didn't finish. As he turned he saw quite clearly what Draco was looking at. It turned out that the locked door was the door to the forbidden hall on the third floor. Now they all knew why it was forbidden.
In the middle of the hall was resting a gigantic three-headed dog. It took up most of the corridor, six eyes blinked sleepily at the intruders, three noses twitched in their direction. It began to growl.
The three scrambled for the door and ran out as fast as their feet could carry them, Filch or no Filch. It was better to be caught than to be eaten. But Filch must have gone another way because they didn't see him anywhere.
They nearly flew back to the dungeons and their common room finally falling into cozy armchairs. A few minutes passed as they caught their breath.
"Well…" Draco said finally, "that was interesting."
"Interesting! That's not the word I would have used!" Ron gasped, still out of breath.
"Did you see what that dog was standing on?"
"No, actually I didn't. I was a bit preoccupied with its heads!"
"It was a trapdoor. It's a guard dog. And I think I know what it's guarding."
"What?"
"Remember what Harry said about the Gringotts break-in article from the Daily Prophet?"
"You think whatever Hagrid took out is under there?" Harry asked.
"It seems like it. I wonder what it is?"
"Yes, well, that's just dandy but I'm going to bed now," Ron huffed. He went to bed. As Harry was about to follow Draco stopped him.
"Harry? Um… about earlier…I'm, uh, it's just…"
"No problem. It's forgotten, mate," Harry smiled at Draco. Draco smiled back.
