Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me! (Obviously) All Rowling's.
A/N: Sorry, short chapter this time...if any one cares, that is. heh. In a foul mood. It gets discouraging when the only review you get is from your friend from school...pitiful, eh? Whatever. Sorry. I'll feel happier later...hopefully.
Chapter 5
Snape had a habit of showing up at times like these (Harry faintly recalled his second year when he and Ron had flown to the castle by Mr. Weasley's car.) "Potter! What are you doing out here - looking like that?" Snape barked, eyeing Harry's torn and muddy clothes suspiciously. "And Mr. Malfoy, I'm surprised." He acknowledged. "Mr. Malfoy, go get cleaned up and then return to the feast. Potter, you come with me." Draco shrugged his shoulders apologetically and obediently walked back to the slytherin dormitories. Harry sighed and followed Snape to his office. "I'll have you now, Potter, after so many years of mischief." As he turned around behind his desk and sat he began his interrogation, "Where were you? Why weren't you at the feast? What were you doing? And with Mr. Malfoy? Answer me!"
"Well, had you let me talk I would have answered you. Sir." Harry spat back.
"Do not use that tone when speaking to me! I shall inform the headmaster about this, Potter." Harry kept silent. He still felt strange towards Dumbledore from last year. "Stay here. And don't touch anything. Keep that abnormally big head of yours out of my pensieve." He added and stalked off to the Great Hall. Harry sat down and sighed deeply. It wasn't fair. Why did Malfoy get off without trouble? Favoritism, obviously. It wasn't long before Snape came back with Dumbledore and McGonagall following closely behind. Dumbledore observed Harry over his half-moon spectacles.
"Professor Snape has informed myself and Professor Dumbledore that you returned late from Hogsmeade with Mr. Malfoy in the terrible state that you are in now! Explain yourself, Potter!" McGonagall demanded.
"I was going to Hogsmeade and Malfoy challenged me to a duel. I didn't want to at first, but he sort of insisted so I went with it. We walked outside of Hogsmeade and - " Harry felt a fleeting moment of bitterness, "- dueled. We lost track of time. I'm sorry." He finished. If Dumbledore wanted to keep things from him, Harry felt justified to do the same; he didn't care if the old man had good intents. He didn't want to and wouldn't care anymore.
"Malfoy asked you to duel and you dueled! You know the rules Potter. You will have detention for a week and fifty points from Gryffindor. I will not have any students from my house being so undisciplined! Rest assured - " McGonnagall added, shooting Snape a glance, " - It is only fair that Malfoy receives the same punishment."
"I believe that decision is up to me, is it not? After all, I am the head of Mr. Malfoy's house." Snape sneered.
"Ah, Severus, I believe Minerva is right. It is only fair, considering Mr. Malfoy did indeed initiate it." Dumbledore said, speaking up for the first time since he had arrived.
"As you like, Headmaster," said Snape indifferently.
"Harry, you may go. I believe that they are now starting dessert." Dumbledore added.
Harry got up and left as fast as he could. He didn't go to the Great Hall. He ran up the stairs to the gryffindor tower, cleaned up and climbed into bed. He did not want to talk to Ron. About half an hour later the whole school began to move and return to their nights rest. When the other four boys returned to their rooms, they found Harry asleep. Ron looked at Harry for a moment before getting into his own bed. When Harry was sure that they were all asleep he slipped out of bed, grabbed his invisibility cloak and crept downstairs to the kitchens. Drat. He had forgotten to take the marauder's map with him. just as he rounded the last corner before approaching the kitchens he almost ran headlong into someone. Harry stopped himself in time and held his breath. It was Draco. How did he know about the kitchens? I guess it's not an uncommon place for people to know about. Harry doubled back, took off his invisibility cloak and walked towards Draco, startling the boy.
"Potter! You scared me out my skin!" Draco hissed at Harry. Harry grinned.
"Well, are you going to stand there all day?" Harry asked. At that, Draco tickled the green pear, twisted the doorknob and climbed through the portrait hole with Harry following behind him.
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