Harry Potter and the Shard of Magic.
By Wihstrum
Chapter nine: Bad Hair Days
Harry leaned casually back in his place. His eyes wandered the Great Hall, observing each person his eyes drifted over carefully. He saw Ron and his violently red hair, his best friend for about 6 years now. He wondered how their friendship would change if he knew. The rational voice in his head assured him that it was Ron and although he might not be very subtle about the matter, he would accept Harry how he was. But in the back of his mind a voice screamed no. What if he'd reject him? No, can't think like that, must have faith in our friendship.
Next his gaze moved to Hermione. The best friend a guy could wish. He knew she'd understand. It was their Hermione and she'd be there for him; she'd be there for him to mend the pieces if he got hurt. A warm feeling spread through his stomach. The intensity of their friendship making his head light, he realized that he'd never, ever let any harm come to them. They'd have to kill him first before he'd be able to get to them.
His throat went dry when Finbar leaned over to him. He still hadn't gotten over the locker-room incident, although the Gryffindor had assured him that it was alright. Finbar ignored his blush wisely and asked him silently "Are you going to tell them?"
Harry knew he'd picked up his emotions "Yes… but I think I'll tell Hermione first. After that Ron, I'm not sure how he'll react though…"
"Don't worry, if he's a real friend, he'll be there for you."
"I know, I know, …" he sighed tiredly "only a week's gone by and it feels like my whole life is upside down…"
Finbar nodded understandingly.
Draco Malfoy strolled into Transfiguration with all the superiority he could muster despite having had a marginal amount of sleep this night. He'd kept turning and twisting, always hovering on the edge of sleep and dreams.
"You're late Mister Malfoy!" McGonagall barked at him "That's five points from Slytherin!"
He raised his chin up in the air and ignored her. Stupid Hag. His icy gaze looked for an empty spot, he grunted deep in his throat when he saw only one left next to Alex. Irritated beyond words he slid down next to the pretty girl and ignored her 'Good morning Drakie-poo.'-ing him. She knew it got on his nerves, so naturally, being herself, she kept it up.
McGonagall informed them that they'd be starting the more complicated transfigurations; changing animals into other animals. Draco was relieved, because he was the endless droning on and on about the theory on that particular subject tired.
"You can come over here, pick out a duck and try changing it into a raven. If you're having trouble, please review the theory we've been going over last week…"
Ducks… Draco rolled his eyes and looked at the quacking bird on his table. He concentrated hard. Duck. Raven. Change duck into a raven… he muttered the spell but to no avail. Oh wait, if he looked closely enough the feathers were slightly darker.
He paused after a few attempts and sighed, scratching the back of his neck.
The blonde Slytherin heard Alex' duck next to him quacking affronted and he looked over to her. She was staring at the bird intently, not even blinking. He gasped when he saw it changing before his eyes. The plumpy body to a slender build, the darkening of the feathers … and barely ten seconds later it was a raven. And then it struck him. Where was her wand? His eyes drifted up to the untidy bun of unruly white hair, her wand thrust trough it. She looked at him, a wolfish grin on her face.
"There!" she exclaimed, looking incredibly proud of herself "What? Stop staring at me. Draco?" she waved her hand in front of his face.
"…How?" he pointed at the black bird on her table "You didn't use your wand…"
"Oh shit! I forgot! Does she take points for that?" she held her hand over her mouth, her green eyes wide.
Draco scooted over and leaned close to her, his whisper urgent. "Can you change it back?"
Alex gave him an odd look and shrugged, and directed herself back at the black bird perched upon the table. Draco couldn't help himself, his jaw dropping as it once again turned into a duck. Very carefully he reached out and his fingertips brushed the feathers. "Holy shit."
"Cool eh?"
"Alex, don't you get it? Nobody can do what you did! Everybody needs their wands." He pointed at the rest of the class, all muttering charms and swishing their wands. Blaise, of course, had the best result so far; his duck was ink black. Alex in meanwhile gave him a perplexed look. "I didn't know… is… Is it bad?"
"No, the ability to use wandless magic naturally is just awfully rare…"
Their silent conversation was broken up when McGonagall towered over them, and her thin lips pulled into a displeased line. "Care to share your little conversation with the whole class?"
Alex swallowed and glanced at Draco, who shrugged helplessly. "Professor, I-eh… have a little problem."
"Yes you have, that's once again 5 points from Slytherin!"
"That's not fair! I didn't do it on purpose! It just happened!" she raised her voice, her green eyes flashing. She moved to raise herself, but Draco quickly grabbed the back of her blouse and kept her at bay.
"You and mister Malfoy didn't have a nice little conversation on purpose? That sounds a little odd doesn't it?"
Alex her lips formed a little 'o', understanding where McGonagall was getting at. "Professor, that's not what I meant… look." Her eyes focused and the duck became a raven, emphasizing it by holding her hands up in the air, palms up.
'OOoh'-s and 'Aaah'-s floated from the other students who'd been following the little scene and even McGonagall seemed at loss for words. She looked at the young girl intently, the look on her face stern and reproachful. "Can you do the reverse transfiguration?"
She turned the raven back into a duck, the bird seemed to get a little tired of the being switched between different bodies and waggled to the far end of the bench, hopped down and went hiding under a table.
McGonagall nodded. "I don't know what to say Miss Ladon."
"Neither do I…" her voice turned silent, so only McGonagall could hear. "I didn't even know I was supposed to use my wand…"
McGonagall turned and raised her voice "Okay, show's over! Get back to work!" and over her shoulder she muttered "It's okay, you didn't mean any harm… five points to Slytherin as an apology…" It seemed that McGonagall had to muster a great deal of willpower to say it.
Lunch time. Great Hall.
Ginny elbowed Finbar next to her, laughing slightly "Man you really need to shave yourself…"
Finbar didn't laugh at all. He turned a sickening shade of grey. He briefly touched his hairy cheek, but while doing so his sleeve fell down his arm, revealing an equal hairy arm and hand. Swiftly he tucked his hands under table, a little glad that nobody had seen. He could hit himself over the head. How could I forget?
"Guys?" his voice was a crooked whisper. Hermione looked up from her Charms book. "Can you tell the others that they don't have to look for me? I forgot to do something…" before Hermione could even respond, he'd already run off.
Hermione's famous intuition kicked in. Finbar tried hard to shield his emotions, but his eyes did all the talking. Ron bowed his head to her "What's with him?"
She narrowed her eyes and eyed the door the ebony haired youth had passed trough a minute ago "I don't really know… yet. Give me some time."
Ron smiled, that's his 'Mione. She dug back into her book and Ron looked at the cute rumple in her forehead, which always popped up when she did so. Her curly brown hair fell down just perfectly around her face… he wondered how it would feel. The redhead had been chewing on one thought since they'd gotten to Hogwards; The Winter Ball. He desperately wanted to ask her out, certainly after their quarrel in 4th grade. He wondered how he'd ask. Casually over dinner? Take her apart and gaze into her eyes? Force Harry into asking for him? Send a note in class?
His mind barely registered Alex sitting down on Finbar's empty spot. She looked uneasy and her cheeks were a little pale. Harry whom had been sharing a conversation with Neville looked over at her. "Hey Alex."
"Hi guys... I don't think I should stay long, since I'm receiving death stares from your precious housmates… but uhmn look at this…" she pulled the glass of pumpkin juice out of Harry's hand and handed over her wand to Hermione, who took it puzzled.
She closed her eyes and her face relaxed. The fluids made a crackling noise as the entire glass froze, frost covering the outside. She promptly turned it over and a cube of orangey ice plopped upon the table.
"…..Wicked…." Ron breathed.
"Your wand!" Hermione shrieked, looking at it as if it would jump up and bite her nose.
Harry pushed the cube over the edge of the table where it shattered in a thousand pieces. "Bloody Merlin."
"Exactly my thoughts…" she frowned. "Drake told me that it was rather…rare… this whole wandless magic thing…"
"Drake?" Ron coughed; choking on his potatoes.
"Eh, Draco, sorry…Anyways, McGonagall didn't seem pleased." She held her head, hiding her eyes. "What's happening…?"
Hermione reached out and clasped her hand. "You're gifted, nothing more."
"Thanks 'Mione… although I sincerely doubt that…" she shyly smiled at her and added "I wanted to ask if you wanted to help me out this eve; I'm stuck on Charms…"
"Yes, sure! Library at six?"
"Okay, thanks." She shot a forced smile at her friends and left them.
"Drake?" Ron repeated "She's being corrupted by that prat, I just feel it…"
"Oh c'mon Ron, be glad, she has to get on with him for another 2 years…" She flipped a page and muttered more softly "It's not like I encourage the fact that they get along… but have you considered the fact that it might be Alex having an influence on him and not the other way around…"
The redhead snorted. "Right and the next thing we know he'll propose to Harry."
The Gryffindor made a gagging noise and shuddered in disgust. "Ron please, I'm intending to keep my breakfast in my stomach, not on the table…"
"See? And besides Hermione, he called you an m-m-… you know what. Why would we care anyway?"
"That's exactly why! Don't you guys see? That's what he always does when he can't compete with someone on an emotional level."
"And you're so sure of that because?" Ron scoffed at her.
"Didn't you see his face Thursday morning? He was worried! I don't know about you guys, but something's different about him…"
Harry directed his gaze to the other side of the hall. He'd noticed Malfoy distancing himself from Crabbe and Goyle for some unknown reason. He could be seen hanging around with that Zabini character. The brown haired Slytherin on his part seemed to like Alex. He couldn't quite figure out if it meant good news or bad. He wondered what it would be like… actually being friends with Malfoy.
That evening Harry sorted out his trunk, he was alone, Ron downstairs probably beating Seamus in a game of Wizard Chess. Hermione of to the library with Alex and Finbar still missing…
He threw his clothes on his bed, needing to fold them later on. Next he picked out his grooming kit for his Firebolt, maybe he'd clean the broom up after this.
He dug in and his hands grabbed the next item, a comb. The same one from that night with Alex, a soft smile adored his lips. He placed it aside with ridiculous carefulness.
Next came the miniature Hungarian Horntail. It hissed and swiped its tail; Harry snickered and put it down. Actually it was kind off a pretty creature.
He kept emptying his truck until he suddenly felt a sharp sting in the palm of his hand. He pulled back and suckled on the small cut in his hand, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. What was that? He peered into the trunk and saw something flicker; he automatically reached out for it. Harry felt a sudden wave of nausea overtake him as he recognized it. It was a shard of the mirror Sirius had given him. He sat back and waited for the violent reaction of his body to go away. He held his breath as he more carefully this time collected all the shards. He muttered a reparo spell and saw the shards connect and shape themselves back to their original state. The mirror felt cool and lithe in his hand, reflecting the light from the candles. Suddenly his reflection smiled up at him. A brief moment the image in the mirror was Sirius'. Harry's mind reeled. "S-Sirius?" but it was already gone.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and he jumped at the contact, his heart leaped when he looked into a familiar face.
And was stamped back when he saw that it was Finbar. Not Sirius. He was seething at himself! He'd mistaken Finbar for his Godfather.
"Why are you so sad?" the latter asked, his blue eyes worried, drinking his emotions.
"H-how long were you in here?" his voice quivered.
"I heard you say 'Sirius' when I opened the door. You seemed, eh, horrified."
His heart skipped a beat. The reflection in the mirror hadn't been Finbar's! He looked at the magical item in his palm. He held it up to his face and shifted it in some positions, letting the light bounce of it, but the reflection remained his. He sighed and put the mirror next to him. He felt empty… so, so empty.
He heard Finbar sitting down on his bed, closely followed by the sound of shoes getting kicked off, then by the rest of his clothes. Harry made sure the other was dressed before looking at him. Finbar was lying down on his bed, his head supported on his arms, the black hair an untidy mess. He was only wearing his linen trousers he slept in. The mental image of Finbar's bare torso last Sunday drifted to his mind, he quickly stamped the other feeling accompanying that memory. He noticed that, well, frankly Finbar was twice as hairy as he'd been yesterday. That's impossible… right? His chest had been hair-less and right now a bush of back curls covered it. Finbar's face was pale, he looked sick.
"You okay?"
Finbar pulled a lidded eye open. "Yeah, just a rough day…" he gave him a crooked smile.
Harry stared at him for a while, not knowing what to say. "That… tattoo." He pointed "Awesome."
"Thanks, got if for my coming of age."
"You're seventeen?"
"Yeah, I had to double this year. Don't mind though."
"Why did you have to double?"
Finbar propped himself up his elbows. "Eh… don't really know."
Harry just knew he was lying, but he decided to leave him be. He wanted to talk to the dark youth, it didn't matter about what; he just needed to get his mind of the darn mirror. The refection of his departed Godfather had upset him, but he suspected that it had been a mind lapse, just wanting to see Sirius so badly he'd imagined it.
"Say, Finbar. That night at the hospital wing… you said something about a unicorn…"
A mortified look spread over Finbar's face and his jaw clenched.
"You… had unicorns at your place?" he continued carefully, he didn't want to scare him of. He let out a breath when he saw Finbar's face soften again.
"Yeah, my dad is a unicorn herder." He smiled warmly at the thought of his parents. "Magnificent creatures..."
"I've only seen them during Care of Magical Creatures…" he took great care in not spilling the memory about the dead one in the forest…
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while Harry was packing his trunk, placing the mirror, the comb and the miniature dragon on his nightstand.
"Oy Finbar…" he heard a mumble followed by a snore. Harry snickered and tiptoed over to his friend, whom had drifted of to sleep. As he leaned over the bed, Finbar roared another loud snore. "Yeah good night to you to…" He climbed into his own bed, pulled the curtains shut and waited for sleep to come.
2 a.m. Slytherin dungeon.
Draco Malfoy tossed and turned. Once again sleep wouldn't come; he'd been suffering from it since that one day in the summer vacation. He moaned and sat up, maybe if he'd go down for a while, read a book and try again. He got up groggily and headed for the common room. Slumping down in a large leather couch he closed his eyes, letting his head fall back.
"Morning Drakie-poo…"
He raised his head and looked into a pair of blazing green eyes, their surreal glint present. "What are you doing down here?"
"Sleeping, as I've been doing since that wonderful incident Thursday morning."
Draco saw she'd taken her blankets with her, wrapped tightly around, her hair a complete mess. "You should braid your hair when you go to sleep…"
"I can't braid… the only time I had a braid, was because Harry made it…"
"Potter? You two sleeping together?"
"No, because of circumstances we ended up in one room together and he braided my hair." she said carefully. This was a no touchy-subject.
"Gah, Potter has no finesse for something like that!" he folded his arms.
"Whatever Drakie-poo…"
Draco glared as menacing a she could at her, but noticed that although she looked like she'd been run-over by the Hogwards Express, he had to admit that she was strangely beautiful… she looked… Dare he say? She looked like an angel.
"Why thank you."
Draco's head snapped up "Thank you what?"
"Saying I'm pretty." She wagged her eyebrows and stalked over to him, plopping down next to him "Saying that I look like an angel…" she fluttered her eyelashes in a perfect imitation of Pansy.
"I didn't say that!" he protested.
"Yes you did!" Alex frowned and poked him in the ribs "10 seconds ago, loud and clear."
"You can read my mind…"
"Don't be ridiculous…"
"You can read my mind!"
"Oh c'mon…"
"Okay pinky swear you can't…'
"Oh Merlin, the Great Draco Malfoy pinky swears…"
"Shut up and pinky swear me!"
They interlocked their pinkies and shook.
"There! Happy now?"
"Yup…" he looked at her trough hooded eyes and had an incredible smug look on his face. Slowly he formed next thought into his mind: Wanna fuck like rabbits?
Immediately he was slapped over the back of his head, Alex towering over him, hand ready to deliver another powerful one into his face. "Pervert!"
"AH! You can read my mind!" he stood up, surpassing her easily in length looking at her wide-eyed. They stared at one other for a while and the blonde Slytherin noticed the completely shocked surprise on Alex' face.
"Ow… you didn't have to hit me that hard, I was just kidding…" he snickered, rubbing the back of his head.
"Serves you right, dammit." But she grinned at him while saying so. "I didn't know I could do that… it sounded like you spoke out loud…"
They sat back down, face to face, Alex crossing her legs. "Okay, Okay, think something."
"Like what?"
"A number or something…"
Eeeeh…. Number…. Ehm 56.
"56!" she repeated victoriously.
"Holy cow… okay another one…"
1009647
"1009647!"
"Man this is creepy… you got them both right…" a wide grin settled on his face. "Imagine the possibilities…"
"I thought you'd be mad."
"You know, the only thing I'm worried about is that you could read my mind without me having a choice in it…" he muttered, a displeased smirk on his face.
Alex wiggled her nose and played with a strand of her hair. "Maybe we should look it up in the library… I wouldn't want to know what you're thinking all day long… sick bastard."
Draco grinned. "Wench."
"Blondie…"
"You're blonde as well!" he snarled affronted.
"No my hair is white. Anyway, I wonder if we're able to do the reverse thing as well…" she closed her eyes and thought a number.
"No… nothing." He responded.
"Ah" implored Alex, tapping her chin "Hmmm, wait I got an idea." She reached out for his hand.
Draco sidled away from her and flinched at the close contact. "Oh don't be such a wuss, give me your hand…" she scowled.
He glared at her but did as told. Alex thought a number once again. 11!
"Eleven!" he grinned, while he pulled his eyebrows up. They slowly closed their eyes and tried to make a mental contact.
Alex: Can you hear me?
Draco: Loud and clear!
Alex: Man this is odd… it sounds hollow in your head. Might wanna watch the amount of gell you put on…
Draco: Shut up!
Alex: Blondie…
Draco: Are you gonna bug me like this too? He opened his eyes and stared affronted into her face. Actually, secretly he found this… amusing, although he wasn't too keen on the hand-holding thing.
Alex: You bet ya I am! Imagine what we could do on tests! She grinned at him wolfishly.
Draco: Yeah right, like you're the genius of us two! He thought, rolling his eyes.
Alex: At least I'm not blonde. She smirked and stuck out her tongue.
Draco: Knock it off! Draco's perfect brow furrowed in annoyance.
Alex: Nor a Narcist , nor a wanker, nor a sexually frustrated git, nor
Draco: I'm not sexually frustrated!
Alex: Oh c'mon! Fuck like rabbits?
Draco: I'm a healthy young man, in the blossom of his life. You got a problem with that?
Alex: Wanna bet 5 galleons you're as gay as it gets?
Draco: you and your betting metal equivalent of rolling eyes… Oh wait, back up! Gay? Who says I'm gay? I didn't say I'm gay.
Alex: The hair blondie, it's all about the hair…
Draco: Nothing wrong with being refined. He touched his hair protectively.
Alex: snort Yeah sure. Anyway, try letting go…
The stormy eyed youth let go, a little relieved. Draco: Still there?
Alex: Yeah, but not as clear as a moment ago.
Draco: Maybe if we keep practicing this, we'll get better at it.
Alex: You wanna keep this up? Her mental voice was pleasantly surprised.
Draco: …Yeah.
Alex: Ah! Give it up, you like me!
Draco: I don't like you. I can tolerate you.
Alex snickered out loud and smiled at him.
Thursday morning.
Hermione caught up with Harry and Ron in the corridor to the Great Hall, falling into a same pace besides them. She glanced sideways at their faces. Both had a gaunt expression. "What's the matter…?"
"Finbar didn't come back yesterday evening. We checked his bed and we're sure nobody has slept in it tonight." Harry explained, his face worried.
"And he hasn't been himself last few days." Ron sighed "He looked sick, he didn't eat, sleep and he distanced himself from us…"
Hermione frowned and bit her bottom lip. Then the proverbial light bulb seemed to go on. She stopped in her tracks, mouth agape.
Both Gryffindors turned and looked at her quizzically. "Ron! Harry! Defense Against the Dark Arts!" she stamped her foot "How come I didn't notice it earlier…? …I must be out of practice."
"Hold on, Mione, what exactly has DADA got to do with Finbar being gone?" Ron pointed out.
Harry brought his hand up his mouth. "The hair!"
"What hair? Hello? Could someone fill me in here?"
Hermione and Harry both looked at each other and stated in unison. "Moony!"
"Okay that's it; you've both lost me…"
"Ron… hello? Don't you get it? Professor Lupin – Finbar… Lupin – Finbar…Lupin-Finbar…" she said in an awfully friendly tone, as directing herself to a child.
Ron goldfished.
"Gets a bit hairier than normal once a month, looking ill and exhausted, Remus' been gone since Tuesday, Finbar since last night" Harry provided him. "No? Merlin helps us Ron, it was a full moon this night!"
They could literally hear all the screws and wheels turns in Ron's head. "Are you saying that he's a werewolf?"
"Bingo! Good boy Ron. Now that wasn't hard, was it?"
Ron shot his bushy friend an irritated look. Meanwhile they strolled into the great hall, heading for their table. Once they sat down, they leaned in conspiracy-like. "Why didn't he just say so?" Ron muttered; a little pained at Finbar's distrust.
"He told us he's had some 'problems' at Durmstrang… I bet he's been kicked out for being lycanthropic…" Hermione pointed out.
"Uh-huh, they don't accept 'half'-bloods at Durmstrang. Meaning he's only got bitten not so long ago…" Harry added. It made perfect sense.
"Poor guy…" the redhead said empathic. "Are we gonna tell him we know?"
Hermione frowned. "Don't really know, I think we should wait until he tells us himself..."
Friday Morning. Potions. Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Snape was in a particular foul mood today. Merely 10 minutes had passed and Gryffindor had lost over 20 house points; for breathing too loudly, coughing on purpose and just the fact that they were there in the first place.
Harry added some onions to the potion he and Ron had been brewing, his stomach lurched at the stench coming from the substance and vaguely wondered why it wasn't blue, but orange… oh crap…
Snape batted around the class shooting snipe comments at the Gryffindors. Eventually he stopped at their table and shook his head gleefully "Seems like once again managed to screw this potion up Mister Potter and we barely started 2 minutes ago! That's it; I'm not planning on wasting any more precious supplies on your dreadful potion-skills for the rest of the year…" he growled and added "Therefore, Weasely next to Ladon."
Ron pretended to be chagrined, but failed nonetheless as Alex tried to do the same. Eventually they ended up grinning madly at each other as Ron dropped his bag and plonked down next to her.
"And Potter… why don't you go sit next to Mister Malfoy…"
Harry bashed his forehead against his potions book and moaned. Malfoy… off all people. He gathered his stuff and dropped them unceremoniously next to Malfoy who kept glaring at him as if he were the reason Christmas was cancelled.
Snape shot one last menacing glare at Harry, whom slowly gathered the supplies needed for the potion. He had to keep himself from throwing them at Malfoy's nasty scowl.
"Better do as I say Potter, you're gonna regret it if you fuck it up…" he hissed at him.
"Rot in hell Malfoy…" he replied as he jotted down the correct ingredients this time.
"Don't understand how you managed to mess it up anyway; most of us weren't even started yet! I was still shredding the mint leaves when you already messed up yours…" he drawled.
Harry's jaw clenched and he muttered: "Can't we just try and get on with this, the longer we argue, the longer it takes. And I for one don't plan on spending more time than necessary with you."
Draco glared, but nodded slowly, meanwhile started to prepare the Salamander toes. He felt a careful 'knock' in his mind; Alex tried to make a mental link. They'd gotten better over it past few days, mostly arguing during lessons, but he actually enjoyed talking to her. She'd found a solution considering the fact that she would be able to overhear him all the time. Draco had been relieved at being able to block her out when he needed to. A smile crept up his face as he responded to her.
Alex: Having a good time there blondie? Be nice to Harry, you know I'm kinda fond of him. Wouldn't want kick your ass after class.
Draco: Oh shut up wench…
Harry glanced sideways at Malfoy who had a weird look on his face. Sometimes he snickered softly, or his eyebrows would shoot up, he even snorted all of a sudden. See there he went again.
"Hey Malfoy… hearing voices?" he queried with a sly grin.
Draco brutally snapped out of his mental conversation and saw Potter looking at him as if he'd grown two heads. "What?"
"I asked if you were hearing voices…"
"No Potter, I'm not hearing any" Alex: Actually, you are.
Suddenly he turned around and snorted at Alex who was barely able to keep herself from laughing out loud.
Harry looked from Malfoy to Alex and back. What was going on here?
Draco tried to block out the mental equivalent of snickering coming from Alex so he could concentrate once more on his potion. He commanded Potter to crush the Chickweed while he stirred the thick mixture.
The potion they were brewing was used when one wanted to fall into a deep trance and was often used in divination; therefore the damp clouding out of it lulled Draco into a daydream.
He was looking at Potter's hair with a sort of detached half-interest. It reminded him of the raven Alex had transfigurated earlier this week. It had the same shimmering quality to it and was as deep black. He wondered whether or not it felt just as soft and silky… he reached out.
Harry violently stumped the Chickweed to powder. Stupid Malfoy. Insufferable git…
He felt a soft brush trough his hair, with a jerk he looked up… and saw Malfoy stroking his hair. The Gryffindor jumped up, throwing over the bowl with chickweed. "What are you doing?"
Draco snapped out of his trance he looked at Potter perplexed. "You're not a bird!"
"Damn straight I'm not a bird! It's not like I said Harry wants a cracker!"
"Mister Potter, what exactly seems to be the problem?" Snape snarled.
"Malfoy petted me!" he pointed at the blonde.
"I didn't pet you Potter! I was in a trance! I thought you were a bird!"
"Do I look like a bird?"
"You have the same stupid look on your face!"
"You were stroking my hair!" Harry screeched again, utterly shocked.
"That's enough, both of you! Sunday evening detention; Malfoy because you couldn't imagine Potter as something more ridiculous and Potter because… because I just can!"
Harry's mouth fell open at the distinct unfairness with which he received detention. He gave Malfoy a prompt swat over the head when Snape turned his back on them "Idiot!"
Draco hissed and pointed at the cauldron "It isn't my fault! It was the potion's fault!"
"It isn't my fault! It was the potion's fault!" Harry echoed in a girlish falsetto.