A/N: Sorry for the wait! I was away at Bible camp for a week. :)
Anyway, moving on…
Chapter 17
Draco and Hermione were walking down the corridors for stakeout duty when they were attacked.
It was now January, after the Hogwarts students had returned from the Christmas holidays. The Slytherin and the Gryffindor were, for the first time, having a proper conversation. Hermione found Draco surprisingly nice to talk to. He was a well-rounded person, and she found him to be rather bright.
They had just moved on to a new topic (whether Professor Binns should or should not be replaced) when from out of the shadows appeared a tall man clad in black.
Draco and Hermione pulled forth their battle weapons.
"You," growled the Death Eater.
Draco didn't stop to chat. He shouted out a jinx.
This Death Eater was far better than the others. He sidestepped the curse easily.
"I don't think the Dark Lord approves of this new side you are taking, Mr. Malfoy."
As quickly as a Pidgeot (Pokemon! Yeah:D) which had just spotted its prey, the guy screamed some lines of gibberish.
Some lines of gibberish they were, though. Draco was hurled backward. He hit the wall with a loud and sickening thump.
Hermione started to retaliate, but to her surprise the man had…gone. Only his voice, disembodied and ghost-like, floated through the air.
"He's been hit by my new and patented Regression Curse. One hour from now, he will have the brains and emotional stability of a five-year-old. Soon, he'll be like a baby…then he dies. There's no countercurse for it…By the way, this is a recording (don't bother asking how), so don't bother looking for me as I will have gone on to the darkness yonder…"
Hermione was stricken with horror and panic.
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Hermione was walking a finally-conscious Draco to Dumbledore's office. Wincing, she could see the evil curse already beginning to work its foul magic. Already, he was deteriorating. She could see the pompous little brat she had smacked in the face three years ago returning to the surface.
"What do you think you're doing, dragging me around like this?" Draco whined from behind her. "Just wait until my father hears about this!"
"And you are a pompous git. So shut it or I'll be forced to drop-kick you out of this school." Hermione looked at her watch and pushed on towards her goal.
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"—And that was what happened," Hermione concluded.
The headmaster looked concerned. "And where is Mr. Malfoy?"
"Outside your office, sir. I asked him to wait there while I talked to you." She allowed herself a small smirk. "It wasn't a problem—he was too fascinated with the gargoyles at your door to fight me on the matter. Shall I call him in?"
"Please do."
She headed outside.
"Mal—Draco?"
There was no response. Hermione when she saw that the corridor was empty.
"MALFOY!"
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Harry came out of Divination to a shocked crowd. Curious, he pushed his way through.
"What the—"
His voice trailed off.
Draco Malfoy was squatting atop a statue. His school tie dangled from one hand, and he occasionally yanked it up before lowering it again.
"What are you doing?" Harry screamed up at him.
"Fishing," Draco replied innocently.
"Huh?" everyone exclaimed at the same time.
Harry saw the childlike fascination in Draco's eyes as he continued to toy with his makeshift fishing rod.
"He's gone stark raving mad."
Harry took a couple of deep breaths to compose himself and willed a kind smile onto his face. He just knew he was going to regret this.
"Malfoy—erm, Draco. Come down from there. It's dangerous."
Draco shook his head stubbornly. "I don't want to. I'm scared."
"Here, climb onto my shoulders. I'll take you to see Professor Dumbledore. Wouldn't that be nice? He'll give you a big lollipop."
"Strawberry?"
"Strawberry."
Draco looked a bit uncertain. "Be careful."
"I will, don't worry," Harry promised. "OK, now take my hands and sit properly."
Slowly, Draco lowered himself onto Harry's shoulders. The black-haired boy staggered under the weight, but he managed to keep himself upright.
The crowd opened up a path for them. Harry took one step, then another—
CRASH!
Harry's knees buckled and he fell, pitching Draco forward.
"Ow! Hey!" Draco whined. "You said you'd be careful!"
"Draco!" Hermione ran up. "There you are!"
Harry was completely appalled as Draco looked up at Hermione with wide, innocent eyes.
"Let's go to Uncle Dumbledore, OK?" Hermione said gently to Draco. "Harry, help me keep an eye on him until we get there, please?"
He shrugged. "Sure."
They left the stunned crowd behind.
"What's with him?" Harry asked. "And what's going on?" He looked his best friend in the eye.
Hermione swallowed. "Erm, shall we get to Dumbledore first?"
Harry decided not to argue. "Fine. But you'll be telling me. By the way, Hermione, I think you should've gone with Grandpa Dumbledore…"
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Dumbledore shook his head. "Our cover is blown. Voldemort will know by now that Mr. Malfoy is fighting for the light."
"What exactly is going on?" Harry piped up.
Hermione waved one of the headmaster's silver trinkets in front of Draco's nose. "Has any counterjinx been found, sir?"
"What exactly is going on?" Harry asked.
"I have put the professors on the case, but I have yet to receive word from them," the aged wizard replied.
"What exactly is going on?" Harry repeated.
"Miss Granger, would you mind bringing Mr. Malfoy to some place where he can enjoy his childhood?" Dumbledore asked brightly. "There's something I must clear with Harry."
"Toy store!" Draco squealed.
The others cringed.
"I'll never get used to hearing a grown man squeal," Dumbledore muttered.
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A/N: For being with me through it all, from the mountains to the valley, I praise and thank my Lord Jesus Christ.
The idea for the Regression Curse comes from one of my favorite Cantonese movies, Future Cops, starring Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, and Aaron Kwok.
And to my reviewers:
Me- Great theory:)) Sadly, that's not the case—Artie Anders is just a normal Gryffindor first-year who just happens to look wimpy.
American Deer Hunter 73- Thanks:)
Kiwi-San- Thanks:) Sure, I'd love to check out that site! Could you post the link again, though? It's not showing up…
Flavagurl- Thanks:)
Rose- Thanks:)
Sissified- Thanks:) Sadly, I'm not sure if there will be any more scenes like that
Cold-eyes-for-you- Thanks:) It's OK—your review cheers me all the same
Lazy- Thanks:)
I hate you- With all due respect, I don't think I am. If the problem is that I like Harry Potter, I do because I don't think the books themselves are bad. It is only when taken and used improperly that it becomes bad—as with much literature. For me, Harry Potter is just that—a book, and the Potterverse is just a unique setting. I love and respect God dearly, and for the writing ability He has given me, I continue to accord to Him the thanks He deserves.
Peanutilover- Thanks:)
xOxOkIsSmYaSsXoXo- Thanks:)
Sacagawea- Thanks:) And don't worry, that was not stupid at all—I say that a lot too
Badbunny- Thanks:)
Red and Gold- Thanks:)
Goodybad- Thanks:) That guy was just a random Death Eater who was supposed to be watching Harry. He got bored, and decided to have a little fun with the bunnies. :))
Future movie maker- Thanks:) The dark-clad person was a Death Eater who slipped while Stunning bunny rabbits from up in a tree. :D
Crimson Girl- Thanks:)
Coming up: Oh, the sweetness…