Chapter Seven

Malfoy's Mysterious Plan

Ron and Hermione didn't return until well into the afternoon. Harry was grateful for their timely arrival; Neville had just begun retelling (for about the hundredth time), his spectacular trip to the quidditch hall of fame. Harry had found it quite interesting for the first few times, but after an hour of Neville's constant gloating, combined with Luna's oddly timed laughter, Harry found himself hoping something bad would happen; and sooner rather than later. He was in luck as the compartment door burst open and Hermione came in looking quite flustered.

"Well you didn't have to go and say that," she said, criticizing Ron, who had just come filing in sporting a rather nasty looking black eye, "You know what he's like, of course he would retaliate."

"You heard what he said about my family," retorted Ron as he threw himself into the seat next to Harry, "I've had just about enough of him."

"What happened?" Harry asked to no one in particular.

"What happened? Malfoy happened!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his prefect badge to the floor with a loud clang. "That stupid git, I'm gonna kill 'im."

Harry, still confused, turned to Hermione.

"Malfoy came into the prefect's car carrying on about more rules against first years and who can do what and so on," she started, picking Ron's badge up, "after several people disagreed with him in a rather blunt way, he said he was quitting."

"Quitting?" Harry asked, feeling a rush of excitement. Malfoy had caused a lot of hassle as a prefect last year. It also didn't help that he had also been on the inquisitorial squad as well. With all the problems Harry was going to most likely be facing this year, knowing that Malfoy wouldn't be causing too much hassle was a welcome thought indeed.

"Yes," Hermione said matter-of-factly, "he said he didn't need to follow our stupid rules and that he'd be moving well on shortly. That's when Ron made the comment."

She glared at Ron and Harry smiled.

"You took the dad approach, didn't you?" he asked, knowing the answer he'd receive. Ron nodded and sniggered. "Brilliant," Harry chimed before the two of them exploded into laughter.

"You helped him -devise that ridiculous comment?" Hermione said, giving Harry a dirty look.

"Helped me?" Ron gasped in between laughs, "Harry here thought it up!"

Hermione frowned.

"Harry, I'd never have thought it of you," and with that, she turned to Neville and Luna who were watching in amusement. "Well, how was your summer Neville?"

As Neville started his story about the quidditch hall of fame yet again, Harry felt that if he heard the story again, he'd explode.

"I'm going to see if I can get something off of the trolley before we get to Hogsmeade," he said as he stood up and made for the door. "Ron, are you coming?"

Ron looked as if he was about to stand up but suddenly sat back when he noticed Hermione's eyes fixed on him in an icy stare.

"Er, I'm good mate," He muttered before looking out the window. Harry shook his head laughingly and left the compartment.

The main corridors of the cars were mostly deserted. Harry guessed that most of the students were getting changed and packing their things together before they arrived. The wilderness outside the train was thinning out and after four trips on the Hogwarts Express Harry knew that this meant they had less than an hour left of the ride.

A couple of third year girls giggled and gave Harry looks as he approached the compartment where the trolley lady was resting. He was about to knock on the door when it flew open.

"Need something dear?" the large, vibrant lady asked him before he could put his hand down.

"Er-how did you know-" Harry stammered, but the lady had already walked past him and was pulling the cart full of treats towards them.

"I can hear a hungry stomach from a mile away dear," she said with a slight chuckle, "take what you need, no need to bother with paying."

"But I have plenty of-"

"You've done plenty for all of us already dear," the lady stated, pushing more chocolate frogs into Harry's already full arms. "Don't you worry; it'll be our little secret."

"Uh-thanks then," Harry muttered. He took the chocolate frogs and started back towards the back of the train.

"Don't spoil your supper now dear," the lady called as Harry opened the door to the next car, "there's plenty for later!"

Harry slammed the door shut and sighed. He hated getting stuff for free, especially stuff he didn't really need. He had plenty of Galleons to spare, and had seen what could be done with them (Weasley's Wizard Wheezes) when put to good use. He shook his head again, and continued down the corridor.

As he approached the next car, he noticed the corridors were filling up again. The sun was well past the horizon now, and the train seemed to be slowing. There wasn't much time left before they'd arrive in Hogsmeade. Harry started fighting his way through the gathering crowds of girls who were now popping up everywhere. He had just gotten past some hyperactive second years when he turned and walked straight into Romilda Vane, sending his handfuls of sweets to the floor.

"I'm so sorry Harry!" Romilda shrieked, sounding as if she'd just broken something irreplaceable, "Here, let me help you."

The two of them bent down to pick up the sweets, and their heads collided.

"Ouch, sorry," she said, her face turning pink.

"Its fine," Harry said rather forcefully, "I'll do it myself."

"Are you sure," Romilda asked, reaching for a pepper imp that had slid under the door to a nearby compartment. Harry's hand got there before hers and swiped it up.

"Just go."

Looking rather hurt, Romilda got up and gave Harry a disdainful look before running off to catch up with her friends. Harry scooped up the rest of the sweets and stood up. Just as he took his first step, he heard a voice that made him stop dead in his tracks.

"They won't even know what's coming," said a voice through the door of the compartment his chocolate frog had just been under. It was Malfoy. Harry looked around to see if anyone was looking before pressing his ear to the compartment door. The unmistakable voices of Malfoy and his cronies caught his ear. The next line he heard however caused a lump in his throat.

"With him gone, they'll be left in chaos." Harry heard laughter from the other side of the door. Just then his foot slipped and hit the door.

"Did you hear that?" Malfoy said quietly, "Crabbe, check the door."

Harry quickly pulled his ear away and made for the end of the corridor. He heard the compartment door open and could only guess that Crabbe was looking in his direction. He reached the end of the corridor with no trouble though, and rushed back to his own compartment.

Inside, Luna had transformed into her rather menacing looking cat state. The others were admiring her with looks of awe.

"I didn't know Lynxes could get that big," Ron said as Harry pushed past him, throwing his horde of sweets onto his seat. "Harry, did you know Luna was an anim-"

"Yeah, I knew." Harry said as he rummaged through his bag for his invisibility cloak. He had to go back and hear what Malfoy was up to. He had mentioned something about getting rid of someone. That was definitely not good news considering what had just happened with Ron.

"Lynxes can grow as large as a small mountain lion Ron," Neville responded, patting Luna on the head, "In fact they fit right at home in forests and mountains, so she'll love it at Hogwarts." Hermione gave Neville a reproachful look.

"She's a person Neville, not some wild animal."

Harry found his cloak and quickly stuffed it into his jacket before making for the door again.

"Where are you going Harry?" Hermione asked in a suspicious tone, "we're about to arrive at Hogsmeade, you need to get changed."

"I-er-forgot a few sweets back in the corridor, I dropped them," Harry lied, quickly throwing open the door and stepping out. No one was in the corridor so he threw the invisibility cloak on and stepped in the direction of Malfoy's compartment before he felt a quick tug and heard a ripping noise. A piece of his cloak had gotten stuck in the door. He pulled a bit harder and it came free. Not bothering to pick it up, he hurried for the next car.

When Harry reached Malfoy's compartment, he put his ear to the door again. He was in luck; Malfoy was still in there talking with his gang of Slytherins. Harry kicked the door lightly, causing Crabbe to swing the door open again to look for the cause of the noise. This time, Harry stepped under Crabbe's bulky arm and slid into the compartment.

The compartment was full of people Harry loathed. Malfoy was lying with his head on the lap of Pansy Parkinson, who was twirling her fingers through his hair. Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini were sitting across from them, with the usual dumbfounded looks on their faces.

"So where was I?" Malfoy said, giving Pansy a smirk that caused her to giggle and turn pink, "oh yeah, the plan."

"What plan?" Crabbe asked, taking the words out of Harry's mouth.

"What plan?" Malfoy sneered, giving Crabbe a dirty look, "the plan I just mentioned, you moron. The one involving that thing, and the whole school, you know?"

"Oh, right," Crabbe said, still looking as clueless as before.

"So anyways," Malfoy continued, lowering his voice, "I was thinking that once he sees what I'm capable of, I won't have to return to this stupid school anymore." Pansy grinned and stroked Malfoy's hair.

"What if you get caught though?" Goyle asked, probably to Crabbe's relief. He now looked as if he wouldn't be able to tie his own shoes.

"You must really be as dense as you look Goyle," Malfoy hissed, sitting up, "I've already told you. Once phase one starts, there'll be so much confusion and paranoia, we'll be way under the radar. We'll be able to do what we please."

It finally seemed that this was something Crabbe and Goyle understood, for they started bashing their fists together and grunting happily. Malfoy turned to Zabini who had been quiet the entire time.

"So Zabini, who's the first person you're going after?"

"I think I'm going for the Longbottom kid, that bumbling fool…" Zabini said, an evil smile crossing his face. Malfoy stood up and walked towards the door. Harry had to step out of the way quickly. For a second, he thought Malfoy had noticed something was wrong, but Malfoy continued until he was only a foot or so away from the door.

"I'm having a hard time deciding who I'm going for," he said, sounding quite amused, "Weasley definitely needs to go, and by the look of his robes this year, his family could really afford to lose a waste of money like him."

Harry felt his ears go red. He reached for his wand with his right hand, his left clenched tightly in a fist.

"Although," Malfoy added, turning to look through Harry at Pansy, "Granger really needs to be put in her place."

"Yeah Draco, you should teach that prissy know-it-all a lesson," Pansy screeched clapping her hands together.

"It's settled then. As soon as phase one begins, the first person I'm taking care of is that filthy mudblood Granger."

Harry felt his blood starting to boil. He pulled his left hand up to swing at Malfoy, but to his surprise, someone shoved him out of the way, causing his cloak to fall to the floor. A fist came flying through the now open door, catching Malfoy square in the nose.

"Don't just stand there, get him!" Malfoy squealed, falling to the ground. Pansy Parkinson screamed and threw herself at Malfoy who was now bleeding quite steadily.

Ron stepped into the room, drawing his wand. Crabbe and Goyle were reaching for theirs but Zabini already had his aimed.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at Zabini. The spell caught him in the chest, dropping him like a brick.

"Expelliarmus!" Ron yelled, but his wand was knocked out of his hands by a swing Goyle. Crabbe got a hold of Ron and threw him in Harry's direction, knocking both of them over. Malfoy, who was still whimpering, grabbed his wand and aimed it at Harry.

"Crucio-"

"Subsisto Temporis!"

Everyone in the room suddenly stopped moving. Harry moved his eyes towards the door and saw a silvery mass of hair. The mass of hair disappeared behind Goyle for a moment then reappeared in the middle of the room. Waving hair of out her face, Harry could see a look of rage in Professor Yewdine's eyes.

"What's going on in here?" She asked sounding more like a child imitating a scolding parent than anything else. Harry attempted to speak but couldn't. His mouth was frozen shut.

"You," she said, pointing at Malfoy who immediately became reanimated.

"We were just… Who're you?" he sneered suddenly realizing he was explaining himself to a child.

"Cagja Yewdine," she said angrily, "but you can address me as professor Yewdine."

"Professor?" Malfoy laughed, "You, a professor? Don't make-"

"Finish that sentence and you'll wish you had stayed frozen," Professor Yewdine snapped, silencing Malfoy. Just then she turned and noticed Harry.

"Harry, what're you doing here?" and with that Harry was free to move and speak again.

"Er-well," Harry began, looking around the room, "we were just um... playing around. Yeah, you know how friends get professor." He glanced over at Malfoy and received a disgusted look that quickly faded as professor Yewdine looked at him again.

"Is this true?"

"Y-yes, it's true," Malfoy said half heartedly. The second professor Yewdine had looked away he made a rude hand gesture in Harry's direction.

"This looks a little rough for horseplay," Professor Yewdine said catching a look at Zabini who was stiff as a board, his head lying under one of the seats.

"Well, we were just um… practicing," Harry lied, looking uncertainly at Ron. Ron's eyes told him it was a clever line. "You can never be too prepared, professor."

She seemed to be contemplating something, but after a moment, professor Yewdine snapped her fingers and everyone in the room returned to normal.

"Very well, but next time, be a little more careful," she said, glaring at Malfoy's clearly broken nose, "You may want to get something for that Mr. Malfoy," she added before stepping out of the compartment and shutting the door.

For a moment there was an awkward silence. Then, Malfoy stood up and sneered at Harry and Ron, blood still trickling from his nose. He glanced at the cloak on the ground, causing Harry to pick it up and stuff it back into his coat hastily.

"An Invisibility cloak eh Potter? Think you're clever?"

"Piss off Malfoy," Ron retorted.

Crabbe pushed Ron knocking him back to the floor. He raised his wand and pointed it at Ron, but Malfoy threw his hand out.

"Not now Crabbe. We'll get them back, don't worry."

Crabbe put his wand away, looking disappointed. Harry took the cue and pulled Ron up and out of the door.

They didn't talk again until they had reached the next car.

"That was wicked Harry," Ron beamed at Harry, his black eye shining ever more purple, "did you see Malfoy's nose? It's broken for sure!"

"How did you know I was in there?" Harry asked suddenly, now thankful that Ron had indeed arrived when he did.

"Hermione heard your cloak tear, and I looked out the door of the compartment and saw part of your shoe walking away so I followed." Ron said simply.

"So then you heard it to, Malfoy's plan?" Harry said as they reached their compartment and opened the door.

"I didn't hear anything about a plan," Ron said stepping into the compartment. Hermione stood up with a look of concern.

"What happened?" she gasped, noticing Harry's torn shirt.

"Malfoy's up to something," Harry replied, "and it doesn't sound good."