Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling. No money is made from this.
Chapter 8: The Attack
The house elves in the kitchen were as hospitable as ever. They provided the group with chocolate cake, leftovers from dinner, and whatever other unhealthy snack they could think of. Yet one house elf was not very accommodating.
"Why is Master Draco here now?" Dobby asked rudely.
"Dobby? What are you doing here? I thought father got rid of you?"
"You would have liked that wouldn't you? Great Master Harry freed Dobby from evil Lucius!"
"That was nice of him. So why do you hate me again? It's not as if I ever hurt you."
"Master Harry does not like you so I don't either!"
"Aren't house elves supposed to serve and be nice?" asked Vince while stuffing his face with another chocolate éclair.
"We are free house elves we here because we want to." Dobby said with a note of arrogance.
"Whatever. We got what we came for. You guys it's getting late, I better get to Gryfindor tower before the Prefects begin their rounds. See you tomorrow in Potions." Neville said while getting up to leave.
"Alright see you tomorrow. Don't let the other Gryfindorks bother you. If they do they will have to deal with us!" Draco said while the others nodded their heads fervently.
When Neville reached his dorm room everyone seemed to be asleep, so he quietly grabbed his stuff to get ready for bed. In the Gryfindor washroom Dean came in while Neville was brushing his teeth.
"Hey Neville."
After rinsing his mouth. "Hey Dean. You're up later then usual."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong you look like you just got caught cheating on a Potions test by Snape." smirking in good humour.
"I hexed someone in one of the old abandoned classrooms and can't seem to undo it."
"Why would you need to hex someone with a spell you can't undo it and why are you asking me to help you with that? You know I'm not the best wizard."
"You're the only one I found up and I don't need this to get out. I'll be enough trouble without having all of Gryfindor being involved."
"Alright. Show me where this classroom is."
'I really have a bad feeling about this. Neville do you really believe that he cast a spell and does not know how to undo it? If he was upset then his spell could have gone haywire, right? I really hope I won't regret this.' Neville thought. As soon as he entered the dark classroom something felt off. No one was in there and the room seemed to be way too dark.
"I'm really sorry Neville." Dean said while slowly backing out of the classroom and closing the door.
As soon as Neville was about to ask why he was lead to this classroom he was hit with a variety of spells and fell onto the floor frozen. He couldn't move or speak. Starting to panic he looked around to see who cast the spells.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Slytherin supporter. Why are you back in Gryfindor tower? You know you are no longer viewed as a Gryfindor you traitor." Said Ron maliciously.
'I should have realized this was a set up. It felt like one, but I just couldn't say no to helping someone could I? No of course not. Lesson learned. Now release me and I'll forget this ever happened.' Neville thought with some hope, knowing that he very well could not say it aloud.
"You know Neville. You would think that after five years of friendship you would know who you're real friends are. No one would have been your friend if I hadn't defended you. But since you have become friendly with Malfoy we believe you need to learn what happens to those who betray us. Sectumsempra!" yelled Harry.
He wanted to scream in pain buy couldn't move enough to do so. All that was heard was a muffled whimper. He was in a lot of pain but it eventually dulled down to a painful ache. Afterwads someone kicked his the chest and he felt his skin being burned. The pain was so intense that he welcomed the darkness that being unconciousness provided.
"We should go before he wakes up. Before we go I think we should obliviate Neville so he can't say we did this. Obliviate." Whispered Harry while pointing his want at Nevilles temple.
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Draco's POV
'Damn I'm late. Severus is going to kill me if I don't make it to his class on time'
He showered and changed in record time. With about ten minutes to spare he ran to the Great Hall to grab a muffin and ate it on the way to Potions. With two minutes left he stalked into the class and gave his friends a glare that rivaled Professor Snape's.
"Tell me why you didn't wake me this morning?"
"We may be your friends Draco but we do not have a death wish. Do you remmeber what happened to Blaise last time he tried to wake you up?" asked Gregg.
"Yeah I did hex him with boils didn't I?" Draco responded with a smirk.
"No matter I'll just make sure my alarm works next time. Hey, where's Neville? He is usually on time."
"I don't know. He wasn't at breakfast either."
His conversation was cut short by the loud group of Gryfindors that barged into the classroom with only a minute to spare. Potter and his group looked way too smug this early in the morning. As soon as they sat down they kept making vague comments about last nights events and how their plan worked perfectly.
"What do they mean, their plan worked perfectly? "Do you think they may have done something to Neville?" asked Pansy who was quickly becoming worried about their absent friend.
"I'm not sure but I'll talk to Uncle Sev after class and see if he has any information."
Class was as boring as ever. Professor Snape took off Gryfindor house point for any little thing, but never once mentioned the absence of his lab partner. About half way through class the Headmaster relieved professor Snape and handed him a list of potions to get for the infirmary. His potion turned out near perfect, which was no surprise because he was actually good in Potions and does not get by with only the good graces of the Potions Master as everyone else thought. After he bottled his potion he left and went straight to the infirmary.
As soon as he got there he was surprised with the amount of people hovering over some prone from on the farthest bed in the room. He wanted to see who it was but did not want to interrupt their healing duties. Professor Snape waved him over to wear he was brewing two sets of potions simultaneously.
"Hello Professor."
"Good morning Draco. Why are you not in your second period class?"
"I have a headache?"
"Don't lie to me and that innocent smile of yours hasn't worked on me since you were nine. Now why is it you are here?"
"Fine I wanted to know if the person in the infirmary was Neville. Is it?"
"Officially I am not at liberty to discuss who is being treated."
"Unofficially then."
"Unofficially then your suspicions are correct. I do not know what your relationship is with Mr. Longbottom. But I will ask that you not discuss anything you hear or see here. I would also ask you to see me after dinner tonight to discuss this new development."
"I swear on the Malfoy name that this will not get out to the general public without Neville's approval. I would just like to know what happened if he will be alright?"
"Mr. Malfoy you sound genuinely concerned. This is intriguing. As I have said we will discuss some of this, this evening. Here is a pass so you won't lose house points for being late to your next class."
"Fine. I know when I'm being dismissed. See you this evening then."
The rest of the day went by in a blurr. At dinner he spoke to his friends about what Professor Snape told him. Then they discussed who could have hurt their new friend and why. They suspected that Potter and his lackeys did it with the intent of beating some house loyalty into Neville.
"I think we should just listen around and see if the Gryfindors have any other plans for Neville." Blasie suggested
"Good idea. We have no evidence and are riding our assumptions on conjecture. I will be speaking to Uncle Sev tonight so I'll get more information about what happened. He will probably also have spoken to Neville so he'll probably relay that conversation to me as well."
"I really want to hurt some of the self-righteous Gryfindors. At least when I hurt someone I don't pretend to do it for the betterment of the Wizarding World. I just admit that I'm an arse and move on." Vince said.
"I don't think plotting revenge will be effective this time you guys." Pansy finally added
"Why not Pansy? Don't you want to get back at those that hurt Neville?"
"Of course Gregg. It's just that the law is on our side if we find enough evidence. Knowing that Gryfindor is involved there is definitely evidence somewhere. There is also probably at least one of the perpetrators who is ashamed of what happened and will spill everything once you ask. Besides if we do take revenge then the Headmaster could force Neville back to Gryfindor tower under the pretense that nothing can be done because both the guilty party and the defensive party have done wrong. If we prove that Gryfindor did wrong while staying completely clean we can protect Neville by having him moved to another house or to his own rooms. There is a rule that states that any student that is not physically safe in their House has right to move dorm locations. We should use that."
"You know what Pansy? Sometimes I don't give you enough credit. We are Slytherins so our word means absolutely nothing the faculty here. So if we use the law and Hogwarts rules then the Headmaster will have no choice but the listen. If the Headmaster refuses to see reason I could use one of the Malfoy attorneys to drive the point home to protect Neville. He will eventually let go his reservations because he would not want to make a public fiasco about the event"
"If this gets ugly, which I bet it will since the Golden Boy just acted like the Dark Lord. The papers would go nuts over this and if we prove that the Headmaster tried to cover it up then we just put a dent in his credibility. What do you think Draco?" Blasie theorized.
"True. As much as pissing off the Headmaster is on my list of things to do this year, it is not as important as ensuring the Neville will not have to be hurt by those people again. It would be easier to help him if were in Slytherin, but changing houses is not allowed unless there is dire circumstance."
"But isn't being attacked by your house mates considered a dire circumstance?" Vince asked
"It would depend on the injury sustained during the attack and the absolute certainty that it was your house mates who attacked you." Pansy replied in a semi-lecture tone.
"Alright I have to go meet Uncle Sev. I'll see you in the Common room and I'll give you the summary of what I learned. Please do your essays, and bring back some library books for me to use. I predict I'll be up all night trying to do them."
"We'll help you. Now go before Professor Snape decides not to talk to you."
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Draco quickly made his way to the Dungeons and knocked on the door to Professor's Snape's Laboratory. Not many students knew of this location but he did because he had the honour of working in it this past summer. Before knocking again the door jerked open and his uncle stood there with his signature scowl and glare that would have scared anyone else.
"No need to try that scowl on me. You know that hasn't scared me since I was nine."
"Don't be a brat. Are you coming in or not?"
"Of course."
"Tea?"
"Yes. I'm assuming I'll need it."
"So what is your relationship with Mr. Longbottom?"
"Friends I guess. He has changed over the summer and we get along well. He even gets on with the rest of my friends."
"What do you mean changed? Other then the fact that he has received a substantial intelligence boost."
"I think he was always smart just to nervous to focus and perform well. Gryfindor did more harm then good for him."
"I see. So when did you see him this summer."
"I told you about running into Pothead and his followers at the Leaky Cauldron. Well what I didn't say was that Neville was there and they had a falling out. Potter didn't see it as such but Neville was pretty clear that he wanted nothing more then Potter to stuff his fame up his arse. It was highly amusing, I think you may have enjoyed that."
"I have no doubt about that. You seem to have respect for him and seem to have more then platonic intentions with towards to him."
"Blasie said that to me too. I know I'm not that obvious. But since you know better then my own parents I'll concede. He has certainly captured my attention. That is all I wish to say about this moment."
"That's fine. So what else changed about Neville that has captured you're interest. That is no easy feat since you are very particular."
"As you probably know his Grandmother is dead and left him with everything. His mother was a Barbier, which you also know because you attended school with her, so he was also left with access to that fortune. I think the old hag held him back more then helped him, because Neville certainly is ambitious. He started his own project. I'm under an oath not to tell."
"Under an oath? Interesting. Let me guess all your friends took the oath and told each other where you stand to invoke trust."
"Yes. It is very effective."
"I see. You could give me a hint as to what Mr. Longbottom has been doing this summer."
"I suppose. But you must never let on that you know. I don't think he trusts you. Not that I blame him really, you have been ruthless on him since the beginning."
"I haven't been lately because he seems to have grown up some. I don't insult people who have a mind of their own. If you remember I was ruthless to you until you listened to other people's opinions outside of you fathers propaganda."
"Yes you did. I thank you for that, even though I didn't at the time. Alright as for your hint. Where did you get this year's potion supplies?"
"I get them from Greece every year, you know that. But I did get it through this new company or something. Their plants are very fresh which has increased the potency of my potions. Why do you ask?"
"Think about it."
"That isn't a hint. That ….. Does the NL by any chance stand for Neville Longbottom?"
"Good show. Now you know. He has expressed concern that if you knew he grew those ingredients you wouldn't have ever gave then a shot."
"He's right I wouldn't have. But now that I have I still plan on using them. He really must be exceptional at Herbology outside the classroom."
"Yes he is. Now that I explained where I stand. Will you please tell me about what happened to Neville?"
"He was found by a house elf that was doing their morning rounds. He had secondary burns on face and arms, two broken ribs, a broken arm, and lost quite a bit of blood. Someone or several people really let him have it."
"Do you know who did it? Have you spoken to him?"
"When the Headmaster and I spoke to him he said he didn't remember anything. The Headmaster assumed that he simply didn't see his attackers and that he will tell the Gryfindors to look out for him. Now I on the other hand have a problem with this. Neville did not even remember being attacked or what happened just prior to being attacked, which suggests that someone obliviated him. Since he was found near Gryfindor tower that also leads me to believe that they may have been involved as well."
"My friends and I came to that conclusion as well. Since he was obliviated can we remove the block?"
"Yes, but I need the headmasters permission, which he will not give me because he doesn't believe that he was obliviated."
"I see. But if his attackers were from Gryfindor then isn't dangerous to send him back there?"
"That would be obvious. But we both know that the Headmaster believes that his Gryfindors can do no wrong."
""I need to prove that Potter and his lackeys did this, but how?"
"You sound positive that Potter had a hand in this."
"I'm willing to stake some serious money on this assumption Sev. The Gryfindors were very livid when Neville stuck up for Slytherin and you know how they get when they see someone not following their ideals."
"Yes they do tend to be violent. I wouldn't surprise if they ate their young too. I have an idea, but it could backfire. The Headmaster may still not believe the testimony even under veritaserum. "
"If they say the truth under veritaserum then I could get my attorney involved. He has expressed interest in taking a stab at Dumbledore."
"My next class was to make you brew the antidote of veritaserum. So if before class everyone took veritaserum under the pretense that I'm motivating them to brew a successful antidote to the potion, then you could tactfully ask questions."
"That could work. Start by asking stupid questions, then move up to what happened to Neville. Gryfindorks tend to talk when they feel safe. Brilliant idea!"
"Yes I know. I'm a genius now off to bed before a prefect finds you out after curfew."
"Thanks uncle Sev."
'I would hug him, but that is just not the Malfoy way. But I know he knows I'm thankful. This plan can work perfectly and has little chance of backfiring since I haven't done anything against the rules, yet. I will have to steer clear as any sexual orientation questions to avoid telling everyone about my sexual preference. I would make the Gryfindors month if that little tid bit came out. But the risk is worth it. I will bring down the bastards who hurt Neville. He was hurt badly, it wasn't a simple punch in the face it was a damn beating. Potter will pay. No one messes with a Malfoy.'