Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.
Author's Notes: I love this scene, and I wanted to dedicate a whole chapter to it. Oh, and writing in *these* is ferret-speak - only ferret!Draco can hear/understand what he's saying.
You'll all find out who Theo saw die, when Draco finds out. I appreciate your curiosity, but please, don't pester me for that bit of info. I don't mind hearing "I wonder who he saw die", but "who did he see die" is annoying, somehow.
xenelle: Sorry, I missed your review for ch4 ... I can't answer either question yet, though.
duochang97: Well, I have a dirty mind, I can't help it ... actually, I only came up with the theory about the Skrewts the second time I read the book. Oh, they are children's books, they just have little hints in them, that if you get them, you're already corrupted anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Bob: I said they'd been plotting to set up an unofficial Quidditch league ... but it's not going to get anywhere.
Princess of Darkness: He knows the names of the old pureblood families, he doesn't know much more than their names and what side they're reputed to be on, though. *blinks at the rest of the review* uh huh *blinks a few more times to show her confusion*.
angelkas: 1; I know nothing about Baseball ... sorry. And 2; ouch. I actually don't know what treacle tart is, but it appears to be Harry's favourite dessert, in the real books. I had already planned for Theo to do that ... sorta ... you'll see, when I get that far. I agree with your problem about the age limit - it's totally stupid ... but that's the way JK wrote it, she probably just wanted to write the twins with beards *evil grin*.
Exodia Himself: *evil cackle*
Elizabeth: Ferret is in this chapter - enjoy.
Starre: Yay for you.
Hrei-siesn: S'ok, I was just trying to wheedle more reading out of my reviews - I like reviews ... but if you're one of these people who can't write long reviews, that's ok. Thank you, calling me "sick" is a great compliment - I'm serious.
Akuma-sama: Well, there's nothing wrong with a dirty mind ... I happened to like that sort of thing - quote of the week: "You're twisted, depraved, and rotten to the core - I like that in a person".
dstrbd child: Thanks.
Druscilla Black: Draco doesn't actually hate Pansy, like he did early on in my books ... she's not as clingy and annoying as she was when she was eleven ... which tells you something about how bad she was when she was eleven.
"I had an epiphany like that once. Then I mercilessly beat someone until it went away" -Andromeda
Chapter 6 - The Amazing Bouncing Ferret
"Hey, Draco." Blaise said, sitting next to me. Pansy was sitting on my other side, still alternating between mad giggles and disgust regarding our last class.
"Hi, Blaise." I replied.
"Have you seen the Prophet today?" she asked.
"No. Should I have?" I asked.
She shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet under my nose:
'FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not
yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.
Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch
World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance
of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh
embarrassment by the antics of Arnold Weasley of
the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.'
"Who's Arnold Weasley? I know a lot of their names, but I don't know that one." I asked.
"I think it means Arthur Weasley." Blaise answered.
"Oh."
' Arnold Weasley who was charged with possession of a flying
car two years ago, was yesterday involved with a tussle
with several Muggle law-keepers ('policemen') over a number
of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr Weasley appears to have
rushed to the aid of 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the aged ex-Auror who
retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the
difference between a handshake and attempted murder.
Unsurprisingly, Mr Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr
Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr Moody had once
again raised a false alarm. Mr Weasley was forced to modify
several memories before he could escape from the policemen,
but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he
had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and
potentially embarrassing scene.'
"I think it's only gonna be embarrassing because she got her hands on the story." I noted, "Hey, Theo."
Two seats down on the opposite side of the table, Theo looked up from his lunch with his mouth full, "Mmmm?"
"Do you still have yesterday's Quibbler?" I asked.
"Mmhm." he replied.
"Have you finished reading it?"
"Mmhm."
"Can I have it?"
"Mmhm." he took out the aforementioned paper from his schoolbag and threw it across the table at me.
"Thanks." I said, catching it successfully.
* * *
History class that afternoon was as usual more boring than watching paint dry. I'm talking about paint that's been charmed to stay wet indefinitely.
There were a lot of people waiting around to get into the Great Hall for lunch. So I casually leaned against the wall and looked like I wasn't part of the crowd. Crabbe and Goyle who had been following me, as per usual, were now standing around looking stupid. Theo soon appeared at my side, "What'd you want that paper for?"
"I like the article on Skeeter." I replied smirking.
"Oh. So did I." Theo noted, "Oh, there's Luna." and he was gone ... short attention span much?
Boredom if ever I did offend thee. "Hey, you two - wanna see something funny?" I asked Crabbe and Goyle - I only deign to speak to them when I really have nothing better to do.
"Yeah." Crabbe said, looking daft.
I showed them the Prophet ... after they'd been looking blankly at it for two minutes, I turned it the right way up and pointed to the article they were supposed to read. Goyle squinted and looked like he was trying to read it but not succeeding. Crabbe on the other hand, seemed not to be having so much difficulty, "What's 'aggressive' mean?"
"Violent." I answered, glaring at him, "I thought you, being an expert at violence, would at least have known that."
"Oh ..." and he continued to read. Then sniggered. Then Goyle sniggered, pretending to have read it too. I could tell by the cluelessness that he had no idea what was supposed to be funny.
I rolled my eyes at them both and snatched back the Prophet, but was soon distracted by the beacon of red hair that was a Weasley - Potter's pet Weasley to be specific. For the first time in my life I was glad to see him - if only to alleviate the boredom.
"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!" I shouted.
"What?" Weasley snapped back.
"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" I said, waving the Prophet for them to see which one I was talking about, "Listen to this!" I then proceeded to read from the paper, loud enough for the rest of the Hall to hear. I paused at the same point as I had done when I first read it, "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley," I said, looking up at Weasley with an evil grin, "It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" with more dramatic flair than necessary, to ensure people paid more attention to me, I finished reading the quote. Then, "And there's a picture, Weasley!" I turned the paper round and held it up for Weasley to see, "A picture of your parents outside their house - if you can call it a house!" he's not reacting ... need to insult more, "Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"
"Get stuffed, Malfoy." Potter said, too calmly, "C'mon Ron ..."
Weasley, however, looked ready to kill. Well, if Potter's going to stand up for his boyfriend I may as well at least direct some of my comments to him, "Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter? So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just this picture?" Actually, to be honest, I could call Hagrid fatter than that picture ... but she's not exactly scrawny and it seems to bother Weasley ... insulting family is the easiest way to piss anyone off.
Potter and Hermione had by this stage both grabbed Weasley to stop him attacking me ... spoilsports. "You know your mother, Malfoy." Potter started, "That expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?"
Sinking to my level - who'd have thought it of the Gryffindor Golden Boy? That was sarcasm, in case you didn't recognise it.
"Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter." I said that as an automatic reaction - he's not the first person to try to insult her in my presence - the last person is still running a treadmill in a cage somewhere (a white mouse, I believe Father turned him into) ... although now I think about it, that was supposed to be insulting me, wasn't it?
"Keep your fat mouth shut then." Potter said coldly, turning to walk away from me. My wand, unlike Weasley's, won't backfire ... and the curse is an awfully pretty colour ... plus the fact it doesn't need words so who knows what curse I used if they can't hear me cast it ... I pointed my wand at him, and shot a blast of green light at him ... I've seen Weasley vomit slugs, now it's Potter's turn.
Several people screamed. Potter somehow managed to dodge it. Damn.
"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!" crap - Moody - that's the last thing I need. Then something hit me from behind. Next thing I knew I was on the floor. I looked at my hands - correction, paws ... oh shit, what has that paranoid bastard done to me!? I could hear voices - Potter and Moody - but I couldn't make out what they were saying ... this was weird. I tried scratching the floor to see how sharp my claws were - maybe I could kill Moody while he had his back turned ... what was I anyway? I glanced over my shoulder ... I'm just guessing here, but the word ferret springs to mind ... bugger it ... one more reason to kill him. The whole point of my project was that no one would recognise me!
I saw Crabbe move to pick me up ... *try it and lose a finger, you nit-wit.*
"LEAVE IT!" Moody snapped. Crabbe froze.
"Leave - what?" Potter asked sounding confused.
I looked up to see what was going on ... Moody wasn't even looking at me. "Not you - him!" he pointed over his shoulder at Crabbe. He can see out the back of his head ... well there goes the kill-him-while-his-back's-turned plan. He started limping towards us ... I took one look at him, squeaked loudly - and what I hope sounded like a threat - and bolted. I didn't want to let him catch me - gods know what that paranoid freak would do to me. "I don't think so!" he shouted after me - next thing I know I'm flying into the air, and land painfully on the floor.
*Son of a Blast-Ended Skrewt! That bloody hurt!* Then I was in the air again. *I'm going to kill you, you bastard, you know that don't you?*
"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned."
*That's rich, seeing how you've done it to me twice in as many minutes!* Boing - I hit the floor again ... and bounced. *Die, shit face, die!* Boing. *Arse hole!* Boing. *Stupid git.* Boing. *You are gonna -* boing *- die!* Boing. *Ouch, that hurts, you bastard!* Boing.
"Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do ..."
*Talking to yourself? That's a sign of insanity you know.* Boing. *Ouch, damn it!*
"Never -" boing "- do -" boing "- that -" boing "- again -" boing.
*Go - to - hell.*
"Professor Moody!" who - what? That sounded like McGonagall.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall." Moody said too bloody calmly.
*Git. I'll ... claw your eye out, and you can shove the magical eye up where the sun don't shine!* Boing. *Ouch, bloody hell!*
"What - what are you doing?" McGonagall asked.
*Help me! Damn it, I never thought I'd beg a Gryffindor, but please McGonagall, help me!*
"Teaching." Moody said coolly.
"Teach- Moody, is that a student?!" McGonagall shrieked, horrified, dropping her pile of books on the floor.
*Yes, I'm a student - help me!!!*
"Yep." Moody said cheerfully.
"No!" McGonagall shouted, rushing down the stairs drawing her wand and a moment later I was me again. Lying on the floor, my hair falling in my face. I'm going to kill that man if it's the last thing I do. I slowly picked myself up, glaring at Moody, and wincing as I stood. "Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment! Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?" McGonagall asked.
"He might've mentioned it, yeah, but I thought a good sharp shock -" Moody started.
"We give detentions, Moody!" McGonagall said, exasperated, "Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"
"I'll do that then." Moody said, giving me the sort of hateful look most people I know reserve for Muggles.
"Just you wait till my father hears about this." I muttered, still glaring right back at him.
"Oh yeah?" he asked, walking slowly towards me, "Well, I know your father of old, boy ... you tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son ... you tell him that from me ... now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"
"Yes." I answered, still glaring.
"Another old friend. I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape ... come on, you ..." he grabbed my arm and led me away towards the dungeons.
I'm going to kill him. I just need to figure out a good way to do so and not get caught. We finally got to Snape's office - that old git Moody can barely walk - and he knocked on the door.
Snape appeared immediately, "What is it?" he asked, then he recognised Moody, saw that he was holding me by the arm, did a double take, and then asked, "What did Mr Malfoy do?"
I gave Snape an affronted look for jumping to conclusions like that. Meanwhile, Moody spoke, "He tried to curse the Potter boy. I didn't hear what curse he used, but it was green."
"Vomiting Slugs hex." I muttered.
"And here I thought you were more creative than that?" Moody asked coldly.
I shrugged, "It's more creative than some green curses I've read about."
Moody glared at me, I glared back.
"And what do you want me to do about it?" Snape asked.
"Punish the boy, Snape. You are his Head of House, after all." Moody growled.
"What sort of punishment would you deem appropriate?" Snape asked in a cold tone that gave me the feeling he'd deliberately give me a punishment he was sure Moody wouldn't like once he found out what Moody wanted him to do.
"Well, McGonagall suggested detention. I was of the opinion, however, that something a bit more ... realistic ... might be appropriate." Moody said.
"Like turning me into a ferret?" I asked angrily.
"What?" Snape asked, surprised.
Moody gave me a glare, "I cast a basic inner-nature Transfiguration curse ... most Death Eaters turn into bugs or smaller rodents."
I snorted.
"That sort of punishment is not condoned in this school. If you wanted to Transfigure students, you should have taught at Durmstrang." Snape said coldly. "And I thought you weren't into that type of curse? Too unpredictable, I believe you told me, once?"
"Well, there are always exceptions to the rule." Moody said, eyeing me carefully with both eyes, "Now I know what your inner beast is boy."
I rolled my eyes, "So?"
"I'm keeping my eye on you."
"You said that before."
He glared at me, then turned to Snape, "I trust you will punish him appropriately?"
"Of course." Snape answered. Moody then let go of my arm, and hobbled off.
* * *
End of chapter 6
Author's Notes: I love this scene, and I wanted to dedicate a whole chapter to it. Oh, and writing in *these* is ferret-speak - only ferret!Draco can hear/understand what he's saying.
You'll all find out who Theo saw die, when Draco finds out. I appreciate your curiosity, but please, don't pester me for that bit of info. I don't mind hearing "I wonder who he saw die", but "who did he see die" is annoying, somehow.
xenelle: Sorry, I missed your review for ch4 ... I can't answer either question yet, though.
duochang97: Well, I have a dirty mind, I can't help it ... actually, I only came up with the theory about the Skrewts the second time I read the book. Oh, they are children's books, they just have little hints in them, that if you get them, you're already corrupted anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Bob: I said they'd been plotting to set up an unofficial Quidditch league ... but it's not going to get anywhere.
Princess of Darkness: He knows the names of the old pureblood families, he doesn't know much more than their names and what side they're reputed to be on, though. *blinks at the rest of the review* uh huh *blinks a few more times to show her confusion*.
angelkas: 1; I know nothing about Baseball ... sorry. And 2; ouch. I actually don't know what treacle tart is, but it appears to be Harry's favourite dessert, in the real books. I had already planned for Theo to do that ... sorta ... you'll see, when I get that far. I agree with your problem about the age limit - it's totally stupid ... but that's the way JK wrote it, she probably just wanted to write the twins with beards *evil grin*.
Exodia Himself: *evil cackle*
Elizabeth: Ferret is in this chapter - enjoy.
Starre: Yay for you.
Hrei-siesn: S'ok, I was just trying to wheedle more reading out of my reviews - I like reviews ... but if you're one of these people who can't write long reviews, that's ok. Thank you, calling me "sick" is a great compliment - I'm serious.
Akuma-sama: Well, there's nothing wrong with a dirty mind ... I happened to like that sort of thing - quote of the week: "You're twisted, depraved, and rotten to the core - I like that in a person".
dstrbd child: Thanks.
Druscilla Black: Draco doesn't actually hate Pansy, like he did early on in my books ... she's not as clingy and annoying as she was when she was eleven ... which tells you something about how bad she was when she was eleven.
"I had an epiphany like that once. Then I mercilessly beat someone until it went away" -Andromeda
Chapter 6 - The Amazing Bouncing Ferret
"Hey, Draco." Blaise said, sitting next to me. Pansy was sitting on my other side, still alternating between mad giggles and disgust regarding our last class.
"Hi, Blaise." I replied.
"Have you seen the Prophet today?" she asked.
"No. Should I have?" I asked.
She shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet under my nose:
'FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not
yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.
Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch
World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance
of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh
embarrassment by the antics of Arnold Weasley of
the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.'
"Who's Arnold Weasley? I know a lot of their names, but I don't know that one." I asked.
"I think it means Arthur Weasley." Blaise answered.
"Oh."
' Arnold Weasley who was charged with possession of a flying
car two years ago, was yesterday involved with a tussle
with several Muggle law-keepers ('policemen') over a number
of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr Weasley appears to have
rushed to the aid of 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the aged ex-Auror who
retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the
difference between a handshake and attempted murder.
Unsurprisingly, Mr Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr
Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr Moody had once
again raised a false alarm. Mr Weasley was forced to modify
several memories before he could escape from the policemen,
but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he
had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and
potentially embarrassing scene.'
"I think it's only gonna be embarrassing because she got her hands on the story." I noted, "Hey, Theo."
Two seats down on the opposite side of the table, Theo looked up from his lunch with his mouth full, "Mmmm?"
"Do you still have yesterday's Quibbler?" I asked.
"Mmhm." he replied.
"Have you finished reading it?"
"Mmhm."
"Can I have it?"
"Mmhm." he took out the aforementioned paper from his schoolbag and threw it across the table at me.
"Thanks." I said, catching it successfully.
* * *
History class that afternoon was as usual more boring than watching paint dry. I'm talking about paint that's been charmed to stay wet indefinitely.
There were a lot of people waiting around to get into the Great Hall for lunch. So I casually leaned against the wall and looked like I wasn't part of the crowd. Crabbe and Goyle who had been following me, as per usual, were now standing around looking stupid. Theo soon appeared at my side, "What'd you want that paper for?"
"I like the article on Skeeter." I replied smirking.
"Oh. So did I." Theo noted, "Oh, there's Luna." and he was gone ... short attention span much?
Boredom if ever I did offend thee. "Hey, you two - wanna see something funny?" I asked Crabbe and Goyle - I only deign to speak to them when I really have nothing better to do.
"Yeah." Crabbe said, looking daft.
I showed them the Prophet ... after they'd been looking blankly at it for two minutes, I turned it the right way up and pointed to the article they were supposed to read. Goyle squinted and looked like he was trying to read it but not succeeding. Crabbe on the other hand, seemed not to be having so much difficulty, "What's 'aggressive' mean?"
"Violent." I answered, glaring at him, "I thought you, being an expert at violence, would at least have known that."
"Oh ..." and he continued to read. Then sniggered. Then Goyle sniggered, pretending to have read it too. I could tell by the cluelessness that he had no idea what was supposed to be funny.
I rolled my eyes at them both and snatched back the Prophet, but was soon distracted by the beacon of red hair that was a Weasley - Potter's pet Weasley to be specific. For the first time in my life I was glad to see him - if only to alleviate the boredom.
"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!" I shouted.
"What?" Weasley snapped back.
"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" I said, waving the Prophet for them to see which one I was talking about, "Listen to this!" I then proceeded to read from the paper, loud enough for the rest of the Hall to hear. I paused at the same point as I had done when I first read it, "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley," I said, looking up at Weasley with an evil grin, "It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" with more dramatic flair than necessary, to ensure people paid more attention to me, I finished reading the quote. Then, "And there's a picture, Weasley!" I turned the paper round and held it up for Weasley to see, "A picture of your parents outside their house - if you can call it a house!" he's not reacting ... need to insult more, "Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"
"Get stuffed, Malfoy." Potter said, too calmly, "C'mon Ron ..."
Weasley, however, looked ready to kill. Well, if Potter's going to stand up for his boyfriend I may as well at least direct some of my comments to him, "Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter? So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just this picture?" Actually, to be honest, I could call Hagrid fatter than that picture ... but she's not exactly scrawny and it seems to bother Weasley ... insulting family is the easiest way to piss anyone off.
Potter and Hermione had by this stage both grabbed Weasley to stop him attacking me ... spoilsports. "You know your mother, Malfoy." Potter started, "That expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?"
Sinking to my level - who'd have thought it of the Gryffindor Golden Boy? That was sarcasm, in case you didn't recognise it.
"Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter." I said that as an automatic reaction - he's not the first person to try to insult her in my presence - the last person is still running a treadmill in a cage somewhere (a white mouse, I believe Father turned him into) ... although now I think about it, that was supposed to be insulting me, wasn't it?
"Keep your fat mouth shut then." Potter said coldly, turning to walk away from me. My wand, unlike Weasley's, won't backfire ... and the curse is an awfully pretty colour ... plus the fact it doesn't need words so who knows what curse I used if they can't hear me cast it ... I pointed my wand at him, and shot a blast of green light at him ... I've seen Weasley vomit slugs, now it's Potter's turn.
Several people screamed. Potter somehow managed to dodge it. Damn.
"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!" crap - Moody - that's the last thing I need. Then something hit me from behind. Next thing I knew I was on the floor. I looked at my hands - correction, paws ... oh shit, what has that paranoid bastard done to me!? I could hear voices - Potter and Moody - but I couldn't make out what they were saying ... this was weird. I tried scratching the floor to see how sharp my claws were - maybe I could kill Moody while he had his back turned ... what was I anyway? I glanced over my shoulder ... I'm just guessing here, but the word ferret springs to mind ... bugger it ... one more reason to kill him. The whole point of my project was that no one would recognise me!
I saw Crabbe move to pick me up ... *try it and lose a finger, you nit-wit.*
"LEAVE IT!" Moody snapped. Crabbe froze.
"Leave - what?" Potter asked sounding confused.
I looked up to see what was going on ... Moody wasn't even looking at me. "Not you - him!" he pointed over his shoulder at Crabbe. He can see out the back of his head ... well there goes the kill-him-while-his-back's-turned plan. He started limping towards us ... I took one look at him, squeaked loudly - and what I hope sounded like a threat - and bolted. I didn't want to let him catch me - gods know what that paranoid freak would do to me. "I don't think so!" he shouted after me - next thing I know I'm flying into the air, and land painfully on the floor.
*Son of a Blast-Ended Skrewt! That bloody hurt!* Then I was in the air again. *I'm going to kill you, you bastard, you know that don't you?*
"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned."
*That's rich, seeing how you've done it to me twice in as many minutes!* Boing - I hit the floor again ... and bounced. *Die, shit face, die!* Boing. *Arse hole!* Boing. *Stupid git.* Boing. *You are gonna -* boing *- die!* Boing. *Ouch, that hurts, you bastard!* Boing.
"Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do ..."
*Talking to yourself? That's a sign of insanity you know.* Boing. *Ouch, damn it!*
"Never -" boing "- do -" boing "- that -" boing "- again -" boing.
*Go - to - hell.*
"Professor Moody!" who - what? That sounded like McGonagall.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall." Moody said too bloody calmly.
*Git. I'll ... claw your eye out, and you can shove the magical eye up where the sun don't shine!* Boing. *Ouch, bloody hell!*
"What - what are you doing?" McGonagall asked.
*Help me! Damn it, I never thought I'd beg a Gryffindor, but please McGonagall, help me!*
"Teaching." Moody said coolly.
"Teach- Moody, is that a student?!" McGonagall shrieked, horrified, dropping her pile of books on the floor.
*Yes, I'm a student - help me!!!*
"Yep." Moody said cheerfully.
"No!" McGonagall shouted, rushing down the stairs drawing her wand and a moment later I was me again. Lying on the floor, my hair falling in my face. I'm going to kill that man if it's the last thing I do. I slowly picked myself up, glaring at Moody, and wincing as I stood. "Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment! Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?" McGonagall asked.
"He might've mentioned it, yeah, but I thought a good sharp shock -" Moody started.
"We give detentions, Moody!" McGonagall said, exasperated, "Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"
"I'll do that then." Moody said, giving me the sort of hateful look most people I know reserve for Muggles.
"Just you wait till my father hears about this." I muttered, still glaring right back at him.
"Oh yeah?" he asked, walking slowly towards me, "Well, I know your father of old, boy ... you tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son ... you tell him that from me ... now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"
"Yes." I answered, still glaring.
"Another old friend. I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape ... come on, you ..." he grabbed my arm and led me away towards the dungeons.
I'm going to kill him. I just need to figure out a good way to do so and not get caught. We finally got to Snape's office - that old git Moody can barely walk - and he knocked on the door.
Snape appeared immediately, "What is it?" he asked, then he recognised Moody, saw that he was holding me by the arm, did a double take, and then asked, "What did Mr Malfoy do?"
I gave Snape an affronted look for jumping to conclusions like that. Meanwhile, Moody spoke, "He tried to curse the Potter boy. I didn't hear what curse he used, but it was green."
"Vomiting Slugs hex." I muttered.
"And here I thought you were more creative than that?" Moody asked coldly.
I shrugged, "It's more creative than some green curses I've read about."
Moody glared at me, I glared back.
"And what do you want me to do about it?" Snape asked.
"Punish the boy, Snape. You are his Head of House, after all." Moody growled.
"What sort of punishment would you deem appropriate?" Snape asked in a cold tone that gave me the feeling he'd deliberately give me a punishment he was sure Moody wouldn't like once he found out what Moody wanted him to do.
"Well, McGonagall suggested detention. I was of the opinion, however, that something a bit more ... realistic ... might be appropriate." Moody said.
"Like turning me into a ferret?" I asked angrily.
"What?" Snape asked, surprised.
Moody gave me a glare, "I cast a basic inner-nature Transfiguration curse ... most Death Eaters turn into bugs or smaller rodents."
I snorted.
"That sort of punishment is not condoned in this school. If you wanted to Transfigure students, you should have taught at Durmstrang." Snape said coldly. "And I thought you weren't into that type of curse? Too unpredictable, I believe you told me, once?"
"Well, there are always exceptions to the rule." Moody said, eyeing me carefully with both eyes, "Now I know what your inner beast is boy."
I rolled my eyes, "So?"
"I'm keeping my eye on you."
"You said that before."
He glared at me, then turned to Snape, "I trust you will punish him appropriately?"
"Of course." Snape answered. Moody then let go of my arm, and hobbled off.
* * *
End of chapter 6