Chapter Eighteen: Resident Trickster of Hufflepuff
9/4/97 Thursday
As he sat in transfiguration Draco watched all the Hufflepuffs, knowing that eventually, one would be joining their group, fairly soon, and he wanted to make sure, that whoever it was, that they were the best.
"Now, today I want you all to transform your rocks into silver." McGonagall started the class off and looked at each of the Slythrins individually. "And take heed, all of you, that all money exchangers know real silver, from magicked."
Draco looked at the rock in front of him; it was black, and shinny. Draco knew this rock to be Obsidian from how much he studied rocks, as a hobby.
Closing his eyes he concentrated on the atomic matter within his little stone, and how it related to silver, thinking on how this would be the best relationship to work with.
All transfiguration was, was finding connections between people, items or animals and the thing you wanted to change it into, and then using that connection to urge the matter into the other shape with magic.
In Draco's opinion, this class required the most magic use, and control. Slowly, he figured out the connection and how to change it. Picking up his wand he pointed it at the item and visualized that connection, then willed it into its other form.
Since silver has less density then obsidian, he had to change that, so his piece of rock wobbled and gushed into a square, where Draco could control the mass per area inch.
With that done, he started to change the atomic structure. Visualizing in his head, all the neutrons and protons, he started to switch and place, and disconnect. Making sure that in all of his work that the matter, stayed within his control, while not making anything to radioactive.
Slowly, he removed all the useless atoms and opened his eyes again. There, in front of him, was a perfect piece of silver.
Smiling, he sat back in his chair, to rest from the effort, and to wait for McGonagall to inspect his work.
When she did, she picked it up and turned it around in her hands, said a spell, and dropped the silver onto the table.
"Mr. Mafloy! What in Merlin's name did you do?" she looked at him with open eyes, as the entire class followed suit.
'How can they abandon their work like that?' he thought as he looked up at the deputy headmistress. "You said, turn it into silver, so I did. What, did I do something wrong?"
"No! You just, literally made it silver!"
"Now I'm confused professor, isn't that what you told us to do?"
"Mr. Malfoy, the spell I placed on your silver, was to change it back to its original form, your silver, is in it's original form, even though I saw you change it."
"So, I?"
"Changed its atom structure, to the point where it doesn't remember ever being obsidian."
"Oh, well yeah, that's the connection I used."
"Well," she realized that they were being watched. "Go back to work all of you! This is due at the end of the hour!" and they all went back to working, even Crabbe and Goyle, whose rocks were starting to grow hair and pinfeathers. "Mr. Mafloy, I must ask that you never use your ability, or knowledge to swindle money, not that you need it. Also I must ask you never to give out how you did this, not even to me. I trust you to have enough economic sense not to ever use it your self."
"I give you my word I wont use it, and I wont tell anyone else, but Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"I have a friend I share all my secrets with, and I'm sure that she would never use it either, or tell anyone, may I at least let her know?"
"She?" McGonagall eyed him suspiciously. "We'll talk after class Mr. Mafloy, and I'll give you a pass."
Draco Nodded, but was wondering why she had suddenly wished to speak with him after class.
Crabbe at the end of the hour had successfully made a chicken out of his rock, but how he did that while trying to make silver was a mystery. Goyle had at least silver hair. Pansy make the rock have specks of silver in it, and only one other person in the class had actually made their rock into silver.
Hanna Abbot. Draco made a mental note of this.
"For homework, describe precisely what you did today, five page essay. Mr. Mafloy Ms. Abbot, you both are excused from this assignment." And the class left.
Draco told Pansy to take Crabbe and Goyle down to Potions, she agreed, reluctantly. He then went up to the front of the room.
"Yes, Professor?"
"You may tell this friend, and any other friends of yours you find trustworthy," she started. "However, I need their names, the ministry, as a precaution must know who holds this knowledge. And ask me before you tell, there are certain people, I don't want you telling." She looked at him oddly again. "Whom may I ask is this friend of yours?"
"Umm." Draco didn't know what to say.
"From your lack to tell me, I guess that I should let you know, I wont tell anyone of your friendship if its necessary, but Mr. Malfoy, I need to know the name." sighing she stood up. "To tell you the truth, I really was surprised to know you actually had a friend you trusted this much. I taught your father, and he never told anyone, all of his secrets, and I presumed that he would teach you such. I guess I was wrong." She looked at him with some kind of respect.
"Hermione Granger professor."
"What about Ms. Granger?" she was a bit taken aback at the name of her best student.
"She's my friend, the one I trust, and I would highly appreciate if you didn't let anyone besides those you need to know of this."
"Who would you consider needing to know?"
"Dumbledore, but none of the other teachers. Don't let anyone at the ministry know that were friends, just say we both happen to know. And no one else needs to know." He looked up at her pleadingly.
"I wont tell."
"Thank you professor."
"And one more thing, Mr. Mafloy."
"Yes?"
"Glad you have someone you trust, however, I need to ask you to tell me if anything happens with Ms. Granger, such as relapses or day nightmares, anything out of the normal."
"Why?"
"I believe that you recall your last potion class?"
"I do."
"We must avoid that happening at all costs."
"Of course professor."
"Thank you."
And Draco left.
"Mr. Mafloy!" she ran up to him with a piece of parchment. "Your pass." He accepted it and left to the dungeons.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once he reached the classroom, he was four minutes late. Though he really didn't need to calculate that, considering the first words he heard when he entered Snape's domain were "YOU'RE FOUR MINUTES LATE!"
"I have a pass professor." And he brandished the piece of parchment.
"Well, bring it here." Draco did so, all while getting odd looks from the rest of the class. 'Why would Draco Malfoy, teacher's pet, be late?' he guessed they were all thinking. Suddenly he had a strange urge to punch them all, but held it back, since logically, it was his thought he was angry at.
"Mr. Malfoy?" he looked at the professor.
"Yes, sir?"
"I expect to see you after class, now sit down."
"Yes sir." And he walked towards the Slythrin table with Pansy Crabbe and Goyle. Sitting Reluctantly on the edge, he looked up and gave his entire attention to Snape.
"Now, as some of you may have noticed, Ms. Ganger isn't with us today. She wont ever be joining us again for the rest of the year. So I suggest you ask her why." He changed footing. "Now onto a more important matter, only twenty percent of you actually completed the last potions assigned, to standards.
AS so, today, you will all need pens and paper and I want you to write a five-page essay on how you screwed up. Then when done, you may start your homework. You have two hours; I expect all pages to be perfect." And he sat down again.
The class would have groaned at this, but five pages was quite a lot, and they needed their energy, not more pages.
After class was over, Draco was nursing a sore wrist when he walked up to Snapes Desk.
"You wished to see me professor?"
"Yes, I would like to know, as your head of house, why Minerva wanted you after her class. You weren't misbehaving in transfiguration were you, because if you were, you'll have a detention tonight, with me."
"No professor, she just wanted to ask me for a favor, that's all." Draco said honestly, since their conversation could be translated that way.
"I see." Snape stood. "Mr. Malfoy, if I find that you are lying to me, then not only will you get a detention, but I will personally see to it that you don't play Quidditch this year, understood."
"Perfectly, professor."
"You are dismissed, good day, Mr. Malfoy."
One thing everyone didn't know was, that even for Draco, the potions master was quite evil, actually, Draco had a feeling that Snape was worse to him then any of the other Slythrins.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
About around nine that night, Draco sat down his quill, his homework completed. According to Hermione, at nine thirty was the time Mrs. Norris and Snape went down Slythrin corridor. Sighing he walked over to the door that lead to the common room and looked in, no one was there.
Grabbing his broom, Draco preceded to leave Slythrin dungeons and head up to head tower.
On passing the great hall, Draco nearly keeled over. Some one was up, and inside, with all the candles lit. Just to make sure it wasn't a teacher, Draco peered in.
Only one person was in there, and it was a Hufflepuff, to his luck. He opened the door a crack and quietly walked in.
It wasn't just any Hufflepuff it was Hanna.
And she was doing a sort of fighting. All the tables were moved to the sides, and she had lots of room to jump kick, hit and spin kick while in the air.
Draco, who only knew how to duel, and fence, was pretty impressed. So he put down his broom and started clapping.
This shocked Hanna into flying ten feet up. "God Draco!" she called, once she had caught her breath. "Quiet will you? I don't want to be caught, nor tarnish my perfect record, not like I haven't had reason to before but gees!" she whispered.
"What were you doing?"
"Karate, it's a muggle form of fighting that helps me concentrate, and focus."
"Hum, interesting, care to teach me?"
"Sure, but, what time is it?"
Draco took out his pocket watch. "Around nine fifteen."
"Shit!" she started to grab everything she owned, and then with a wave of her wand, the hall was back to normal. She grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him from the hall, as she put out all the lights. "where were you headed, she whispered.
"Head tower." He answered.
"Good, lets go now." And Draco realized that he would have to lead her.
"Quick question, if you don't mind?"
"What?"
"Why are we running? Its quieter if we walk fast."
"Because this way isn't being checked yet, and we barley missed Snape heading for the dungeons."
Draco looked at her with awe. "This isn't the first time you've done this, is it?"
"Nope, what was your first guess?"
"I don't know, probably the fact that you seem to know pretty well what your doing." They glanced around a corner, and continued up to the tower.
"So, Draco, what are you doing out after hours?"
"You'll see, since your obviously coming with me, not matter what I presume?
"Correct."
Draco Nodded and then headed up the stairs and down the last corridor, until he found the painting of the Hogworts crest. "Verde!"
He turned the handle and stepped inside. Hanna followed, not quite knowing what she just got herself into.
*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: so, thoughts? I kept remembering in the second book, when all the Hufflepuffs were talking, I noticed how each of them acted, and I chose accordingly. I do hope you like my choice.
Anyhow, this time I would actually like to thank some reviews personally. So please be patient, and don't get mad if I don't mention you, I still appreciate your reviews, just these people have either given me above average reviews that have helped me a lot, or they have been supportive throughout my entire story.
f0xyness39- you're awesome. You've been there from start to finish and you've been patient with me even though my blocks, thanks bunches! People who are reading, This person was my first constant reviewer.
Sasery- I agree with you completely on those story plots, main reason I wrote this, was to prove that those aren't the only way that this can happen. I also appreciate your support, and understanding. Also I'm very glad you like how realistic my story is, I do try. You have submitted the longest review I think, I may be mistaken about that, but it is also the most recent. Thanks. Also Draco, love him? Glad, I do too in my story. I'm quite happy on how he turned out. Your review did make my day and I hope you continue to read my story.
Hedwig7up- you are also one of my five or so, constant reviewers thanks a lot, I really enjoy your positive supports on all my stories, you are also the one and only reviewer of Raven, I really do appreciate that.
Heavengurl899 + purplelily - Thanks Heavengurl for being a constant reviewer, and that's lily for reading, I'm glad you think its cute, I hope you keep reading.
Miz Zag- my first reviewer ever, thanks so much!
Draco Lover- Once again thanks for reviewing, I'm trying to get my story out as fast as I can so you and everyone else can read it. But for a good story, time is necessary. I do hope all your questions are eventually answered.
KAOS- how on earth did I almost forget you! I love your stories, and I'm glad you like mine, your also one of my constants and I'm glad to have your opinion, because it means a lot.
I know that there is a lot more of you out there, and I thank all of you, your reviews mean so much to me!
Review still I'm glad to know your insight, you all do realize that writers don't read their story they way you all do right? We see things happening in the background that aren't in words, simply because we know why its happening and what its affecting, to know what your seeing, helps us correct mistakes we may have made, and allows us to make the story flow better.
Thanks again
Relena
9/4/97 Thursday
As he sat in transfiguration Draco watched all the Hufflepuffs, knowing that eventually, one would be joining their group, fairly soon, and he wanted to make sure, that whoever it was, that they were the best.
"Now, today I want you all to transform your rocks into silver." McGonagall started the class off and looked at each of the Slythrins individually. "And take heed, all of you, that all money exchangers know real silver, from magicked."
Draco looked at the rock in front of him; it was black, and shinny. Draco knew this rock to be Obsidian from how much he studied rocks, as a hobby.
Closing his eyes he concentrated on the atomic matter within his little stone, and how it related to silver, thinking on how this would be the best relationship to work with.
All transfiguration was, was finding connections between people, items or animals and the thing you wanted to change it into, and then using that connection to urge the matter into the other shape with magic.
In Draco's opinion, this class required the most magic use, and control. Slowly, he figured out the connection and how to change it. Picking up his wand he pointed it at the item and visualized that connection, then willed it into its other form.
Since silver has less density then obsidian, he had to change that, so his piece of rock wobbled and gushed into a square, where Draco could control the mass per area inch.
With that done, he started to change the atomic structure. Visualizing in his head, all the neutrons and protons, he started to switch and place, and disconnect. Making sure that in all of his work that the matter, stayed within his control, while not making anything to radioactive.
Slowly, he removed all the useless atoms and opened his eyes again. There, in front of him, was a perfect piece of silver.
Smiling, he sat back in his chair, to rest from the effort, and to wait for McGonagall to inspect his work.
When she did, she picked it up and turned it around in her hands, said a spell, and dropped the silver onto the table.
"Mr. Mafloy! What in Merlin's name did you do?" she looked at him with open eyes, as the entire class followed suit.
'How can they abandon their work like that?' he thought as he looked up at the deputy headmistress. "You said, turn it into silver, so I did. What, did I do something wrong?"
"No! You just, literally made it silver!"
"Now I'm confused professor, isn't that what you told us to do?"
"Mr. Malfoy, the spell I placed on your silver, was to change it back to its original form, your silver, is in it's original form, even though I saw you change it."
"So, I?"
"Changed its atom structure, to the point where it doesn't remember ever being obsidian."
"Oh, well yeah, that's the connection I used."
"Well," she realized that they were being watched. "Go back to work all of you! This is due at the end of the hour!" and they all went back to working, even Crabbe and Goyle, whose rocks were starting to grow hair and pinfeathers. "Mr. Mafloy, I must ask that you never use your ability, or knowledge to swindle money, not that you need it. Also I must ask you never to give out how you did this, not even to me. I trust you to have enough economic sense not to ever use it your self."
"I give you my word I wont use it, and I wont tell anyone else, but Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"I have a friend I share all my secrets with, and I'm sure that she would never use it either, or tell anyone, may I at least let her know?"
"She?" McGonagall eyed him suspiciously. "We'll talk after class Mr. Mafloy, and I'll give you a pass."
Draco Nodded, but was wondering why she had suddenly wished to speak with him after class.
Crabbe at the end of the hour had successfully made a chicken out of his rock, but how he did that while trying to make silver was a mystery. Goyle had at least silver hair. Pansy make the rock have specks of silver in it, and only one other person in the class had actually made their rock into silver.
Hanna Abbot. Draco made a mental note of this.
"For homework, describe precisely what you did today, five page essay. Mr. Mafloy Ms. Abbot, you both are excused from this assignment." And the class left.
Draco told Pansy to take Crabbe and Goyle down to Potions, she agreed, reluctantly. He then went up to the front of the room.
"Yes, Professor?"
"You may tell this friend, and any other friends of yours you find trustworthy," she started. "However, I need their names, the ministry, as a precaution must know who holds this knowledge. And ask me before you tell, there are certain people, I don't want you telling." She looked at him oddly again. "Whom may I ask is this friend of yours?"
"Umm." Draco didn't know what to say.
"From your lack to tell me, I guess that I should let you know, I wont tell anyone of your friendship if its necessary, but Mr. Malfoy, I need to know the name." sighing she stood up. "To tell you the truth, I really was surprised to know you actually had a friend you trusted this much. I taught your father, and he never told anyone, all of his secrets, and I presumed that he would teach you such. I guess I was wrong." She looked at him with some kind of respect.
"Hermione Granger professor."
"What about Ms. Granger?" she was a bit taken aback at the name of her best student.
"She's my friend, the one I trust, and I would highly appreciate if you didn't let anyone besides those you need to know of this."
"Who would you consider needing to know?"
"Dumbledore, but none of the other teachers. Don't let anyone at the ministry know that were friends, just say we both happen to know. And no one else needs to know." He looked up at her pleadingly.
"I wont tell."
"Thank you professor."
"And one more thing, Mr. Mafloy."
"Yes?"
"Glad you have someone you trust, however, I need to ask you to tell me if anything happens with Ms. Granger, such as relapses or day nightmares, anything out of the normal."
"Why?"
"I believe that you recall your last potion class?"
"I do."
"We must avoid that happening at all costs."
"Of course professor."
"Thank you."
And Draco left.
"Mr. Mafloy!" she ran up to him with a piece of parchment. "Your pass." He accepted it and left to the dungeons.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once he reached the classroom, he was four minutes late. Though he really didn't need to calculate that, considering the first words he heard when he entered Snape's domain were "YOU'RE FOUR MINUTES LATE!"
"I have a pass professor." And he brandished the piece of parchment.
"Well, bring it here." Draco did so, all while getting odd looks from the rest of the class. 'Why would Draco Malfoy, teacher's pet, be late?' he guessed they were all thinking. Suddenly he had a strange urge to punch them all, but held it back, since logically, it was his thought he was angry at.
"Mr. Malfoy?" he looked at the professor.
"Yes, sir?"
"I expect to see you after class, now sit down."
"Yes sir." And he walked towards the Slythrin table with Pansy Crabbe and Goyle. Sitting Reluctantly on the edge, he looked up and gave his entire attention to Snape.
"Now, as some of you may have noticed, Ms. Ganger isn't with us today. She wont ever be joining us again for the rest of the year. So I suggest you ask her why." He changed footing. "Now onto a more important matter, only twenty percent of you actually completed the last potions assigned, to standards.
AS so, today, you will all need pens and paper and I want you to write a five-page essay on how you screwed up. Then when done, you may start your homework. You have two hours; I expect all pages to be perfect." And he sat down again.
The class would have groaned at this, but five pages was quite a lot, and they needed their energy, not more pages.
After class was over, Draco was nursing a sore wrist when he walked up to Snapes Desk.
"You wished to see me professor?"
"Yes, I would like to know, as your head of house, why Minerva wanted you after her class. You weren't misbehaving in transfiguration were you, because if you were, you'll have a detention tonight, with me."
"No professor, she just wanted to ask me for a favor, that's all." Draco said honestly, since their conversation could be translated that way.
"I see." Snape stood. "Mr. Malfoy, if I find that you are lying to me, then not only will you get a detention, but I will personally see to it that you don't play Quidditch this year, understood."
"Perfectly, professor."
"You are dismissed, good day, Mr. Malfoy."
One thing everyone didn't know was, that even for Draco, the potions master was quite evil, actually, Draco had a feeling that Snape was worse to him then any of the other Slythrins.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
About around nine that night, Draco sat down his quill, his homework completed. According to Hermione, at nine thirty was the time Mrs. Norris and Snape went down Slythrin corridor. Sighing he walked over to the door that lead to the common room and looked in, no one was there.
Grabbing his broom, Draco preceded to leave Slythrin dungeons and head up to head tower.
On passing the great hall, Draco nearly keeled over. Some one was up, and inside, with all the candles lit. Just to make sure it wasn't a teacher, Draco peered in.
Only one person was in there, and it was a Hufflepuff, to his luck. He opened the door a crack and quietly walked in.
It wasn't just any Hufflepuff it was Hanna.
And she was doing a sort of fighting. All the tables were moved to the sides, and she had lots of room to jump kick, hit and spin kick while in the air.
Draco, who only knew how to duel, and fence, was pretty impressed. So he put down his broom and started clapping.
This shocked Hanna into flying ten feet up. "God Draco!" she called, once she had caught her breath. "Quiet will you? I don't want to be caught, nor tarnish my perfect record, not like I haven't had reason to before but gees!" she whispered.
"What were you doing?"
"Karate, it's a muggle form of fighting that helps me concentrate, and focus."
"Hum, interesting, care to teach me?"
"Sure, but, what time is it?"
Draco took out his pocket watch. "Around nine fifteen."
"Shit!" she started to grab everything she owned, and then with a wave of her wand, the hall was back to normal. She grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him from the hall, as she put out all the lights. "where were you headed, she whispered.
"Head tower." He answered.
"Good, lets go now." And Draco realized that he would have to lead her.
"Quick question, if you don't mind?"
"What?"
"Why are we running? Its quieter if we walk fast."
"Because this way isn't being checked yet, and we barley missed Snape heading for the dungeons."
Draco looked at her with awe. "This isn't the first time you've done this, is it?"
"Nope, what was your first guess?"
"I don't know, probably the fact that you seem to know pretty well what your doing." They glanced around a corner, and continued up to the tower.
"So, Draco, what are you doing out after hours?"
"You'll see, since your obviously coming with me, not matter what I presume?
"Correct."
Draco Nodded and then headed up the stairs and down the last corridor, until he found the painting of the Hogworts crest. "Verde!"
He turned the handle and stepped inside. Hanna followed, not quite knowing what she just got herself into.
*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: so, thoughts? I kept remembering in the second book, when all the Hufflepuffs were talking, I noticed how each of them acted, and I chose accordingly. I do hope you like my choice.
Anyhow, this time I would actually like to thank some reviews personally. So please be patient, and don't get mad if I don't mention you, I still appreciate your reviews, just these people have either given me above average reviews that have helped me a lot, or they have been supportive throughout my entire story.
f0xyness39- you're awesome. You've been there from start to finish and you've been patient with me even though my blocks, thanks bunches! People who are reading, This person was my first constant reviewer.
Sasery- I agree with you completely on those story plots, main reason I wrote this, was to prove that those aren't the only way that this can happen. I also appreciate your support, and understanding. Also I'm very glad you like how realistic my story is, I do try. You have submitted the longest review I think, I may be mistaken about that, but it is also the most recent. Thanks. Also Draco, love him? Glad, I do too in my story. I'm quite happy on how he turned out. Your review did make my day and I hope you continue to read my story.
Hedwig7up- you are also one of my five or so, constant reviewers thanks a lot, I really enjoy your positive supports on all my stories, you are also the one and only reviewer of Raven, I really do appreciate that.
Heavengurl899 + purplelily - Thanks Heavengurl for being a constant reviewer, and that's lily for reading, I'm glad you think its cute, I hope you keep reading.
Miz Zag- my first reviewer ever, thanks so much!
Draco Lover- Once again thanks for reviewing, I'm trying to get my story out as fast as I can so you and everyone else can read it. But for a good story, time is necessary. I do hope all your questions are eventually answered.
KAOS- how on earth did I almost forget you! I love your stories, and I'm glad you like mine, your also one of my constants and I'm glad to have your opinion, because it means a lot.
I know that there is a lot more of you out there, and I thank all of you, your reviews mean so much to me!
Review still I'm glad to know your insight, you all do realize that writers don't read their story they way you all do right? We see things happening in the background that aren't in words, simply because we know why its happening and what its affecting, to know what your seeing, helps us correct mistakes we may have made, and allows us to make the story flow better.
Thanks again
Relena