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Harry Potter And The Game of Death
Level 1
Chapter Twelve: End of Year 3
Harry's latest discomfort from reading someone's 'Character Page' was short-lived. For as he and the two girls were leaving the Chamber of Secrets and had returned to the castle proper, a distant roar swept through the empty corridors. Worried as to what it might mean, the three young students traded glances with one another before running towards the source of the sound.
The closer they drew, the more it became clear that the sound was coming from the Great Hall. People were screaming and yelling, while the sound of spells being cast echoed in the air.
Harry felt his heart begin to race in anticipation. In anticipation of what he was not sure, but given his experiences, unexpected events at Hogwarts were rarely positive.
But much to his surprise, when he pushed the door open and ran into the room, there was no obvious thing to be worried over. There was no giant creature attacking the students. Or Dark Wizard slaughtering innocents.
Yet for some inexplicable reason, the entire place was pure bedlam.
Students were running between tables, ignoring both House and Year as they went. Some milled around in the middle of the room, where they formed small huddles and gestured fiercely at one another. Others were seated and engaged in what seemed to be an impromptu food fight if the flying plates of food were any indication. While a few brave souls had even climbed on top of the tables in fruitless attempts to garner more attention to whatever it was that they were saying. And in the midst of everything, someone was taking advantage of the tumult by indiscriminately tossing rainbow hued globes of some kind throughout the room.
The magical globes exploded into sparkling clouds that hung in the air; at a glance, there were more than a dozen of the things passively drifting through the air. Any student unfortunate enough to get hit by one had their hair, skin, and clothes turned into different hues of the rainbow. Harry saw several Slytherin's desperately trying to scrub it off while a group of upper year Ravenclaws were cursing as they cast spells to remove it to little success.
A few seconds later, a sparkling crowd of them burst into view. They were chasing the ones causing the mess whom Harry was unsurprised to see were Fred and George. The twins were cackling and tossing globes left and right as they scampered away from the angry mob.
The only thing apparently shared between each group – including the twins and their furious mob – was a special evening edition of the Daily Prophet. The thin rolls which emblazoned with the paper's colours were clutched in the hands of nearly every person, while other copies littered the tables and floor. But it was only after a delivery owl dropped Hermione's usual copy into her waiting hands that the three of them realized just why all hell had broken loose in the school.
Travesty of Justice!
Sirius Black Revealed to be Innocent!
Imprisoned Without Trial for over 12 Years!
Ministry to Blame?
By Terrace L. Wonk
At an astonishing press conference convened early this morning, the Director of the D.M.L.E., Magus Amelia Bones, and Archmagus Albus Dumbledore, in his position as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, made an announcement of shocking proportions.
That Sirius Orion Black, the known fugitive and purported follower of You-Know-Who, is INNOCENT!
Believe me dear readers when I say that we here at the Daily Prophet were as disbelieving as you must be feeling right now. Such an inflammatory statement beggar's common belief and throws into question more than a decade of established fact and certainty. After all, the story of how Mr. Black betrayed his best friend, James Potter, and indirectly caused the downfall of You-Know-Who, is the stuff of dark legend.
But brace yourself, reader. For according to these two titans of Magical Society, Sirius Black, a man hunted by Dementors and proclaimed as guilty by the Ministry of Magic for over a decade, was sentenced to life in the Prison of Azkaban… without a trial!
The press room exploded with all the force of a Dark Curse at those words. But in a display of her indomitable will, Director Bones kept speaking undeterred.
The powerful witch stated for the record that her courageous Aurors had, upon receiving new information pertaining to Mr. Black's crimes, "launched a thorough investigation over the past week," and that "upon careful examination all of the evidence, the D.M.L.E. has determined two indisputable facts: that the man known as Sirius Black was never convicted of any crime and that he is, in fact, entirely innocent of wrongdoing in the matter of the deaths of James and Lily Potter."
If this is true, and a travesty of justice with the ability to shake the foundations of our society has truly occurred, then a person with any sense might ask themself 'where is the proof?' Why should we believe you? How could a terrible crime such as this have gone unnoticed for so long?
Well, we, too, asked these questions, dear readers. And the response we were given was unsettling to say the least.
The full details remain unknown at this time, but according to Director Bones, Mr. Black may have been one of a number of people to be sent to Azkaban without a trial.
As many readers will recall, in the confusing months after the Boy-Who-Lived defeated You-Know-Who many of the fallen Dark Wizard's former followers were hunted down. Some, like the dreaded Abraxas Malfoy, were slain in combat by our valiant Aurors. While others, like the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange, were cast into Azkaban to rot for the rest of their unnatural lives. Still more were proven to be innocent victims, such as the esteemed Lucius Malfoy, who had been placed under the vile Imperius Curse by his own father.
Yet the Director and the Chief Warlock's words suggested the existence of a fourth category. A category of the innocent, who have been castigated and abused by the very government that should have protected them.
This supposition was soon affirmed. For when questioned, Chief Warlock Dumbledore unequivocally stated that "there is indeed such a category, containing people whose terrible plight has gone unnoticed for over a decade" and that Mr. Black "is absolutely among their number." From what information the two were able to uncover – information since verified by the Prophet's own Rita Skeeter and which will be detailed further in her column – the Ministry of Magic, and Aurors under the command of the former Director of the D.M.L.E., Bartemius Crouch, Sr., captured, chained, and deposited Mr. Black based purely upon the eyewitness statements of multiple Muggles who were in the vicinity of where the event occurred. And Muggles, as we all know, are highly susceptible to memory modification spells.
But wait, you might say, surely the Muggles were tested for signs of being under magical influence?
No, my dear readers, they were not! Mr. Black, heir to one of the most prestigious magical families in all of Magical Britain, was thrown into the dreaded prison of Azkaban without so much as a Prior Incantato cast upon his wand. So certain of their judgment were these renegade individuals that they did not see fit to even use Veritaserum!
Furthermore, Chief Warlock Dumbledore revealed that several of Mr. Black's close friends and family – such as the renowned Professor Minerva McGonagall and the recently widowed Andromeda Tonks nee Black – had requested at the time of Mr. Black's initial incarceration that a stay of sentence be granted until any evidence could be tested by a neutral third party. Such a request is a common part of our legal system, as many might know, and it is an important tool in ensuring that our rights as citizens remain intact in the face of Ministerial overreach.
But their request – and a second filed by Dumbledore himself two days later – was summarily ignored by then-Minster for Magic Millicent Bagnold! In what appears to be a conspiracy at the highest levels of our government, Minister Bagnold and those working under her deprived Mr. Black of his freedom without trial, silenced those who sought his exoneration, and buried the lack of paperwork under layers of bureaucratic red tape.
Layers which, until the recent arrest of Mr. Black on the grounds of Hogwarts herself, proved to be impenetrable to even the most powerful members of our society.
According to the Chief Warlock, he had "for many years sought to unearth the records concerning Mr. Black's imprisonment. But key employees of the Ministry of Magic fought…" each and every one of his requests at every turn. It was, apparently, one of the main reasons why the greatest wizard of our times returned to the position of Chief Warlock in the first place when he already held two other demanding positions in his roles as Headmaster of Hogwarts and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.
But what, then, does this mean for the average witch and wizard? How might this affect us?
What it means, my fellow citizens, is that it is time for some hard questions to be asked lest our society proceed any further down this slippery slope. Mr. Black's unlawful incarceration, and its subsequent cover-up, has grave implications for every one of us. For if a leading member of our great society, such as the heir to a renowned and respectable noble house, could be so easily deprived of his rights and freedom without our knowledge, then what about the rest of us?
The implications are terrifying. And it begs the question:
What else might the Ministry be hiding?
Continued Page 7
(For More on Sirius Black, Fearsome Auror and Legendary Ladies Man, See Page 2)
(For More on the Prestigious Black Family, See Page 5)
(For the Official Response of the Minister's Office by the Undersecretary, See page 18)
"It's happening," Harry whispered in disbelief. His hands shook as they tightly gripped the newspaper and tears came to his eyes as he read it again. "They did it. The Headmaster and Bones did it. They saved Sirius!"
After finishing the article for a third time, Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione and brought her in for a bone crushing hug. Because with their destruction of the Horcrux and the news about Sirius' innocence, today might just be the best day in his entire life.
Hermione squeezed Harry back and held him close. When they finally parted, Harry was wiping tears of joy from his eyes as peals of laughter let loose from his throat. And now that he knew the reason as to why everyone was going nuts, he could make sense of what the students were saying. They were talking about the article, and every single one of them seemed to have a different an opinion.
Some believed the article unconditionally. To Harry's joy, this faction seemed to be headed by the Gryffindor Quidditch team, with an angry Wood and Angelina boisterously defending their stances.
While another faction, headed by Percy, argued that the Ministry could not have made such a terrible mistake. That the justice system had checks and balances, that Sirius Black's true trial records must have been sealed and hidden away for the public's own good.
Then there were the conspiracy theories led by the likes of Roger Davies of Ravenclaw and Justin Finch Fletchley of Hufflepuff. This faction tried to argue a dozen different things: that the story was all just a plot by some Death Eaters to free Black and turn him into the new Dark Lord. Or that if he were to be freed and exonerated, Black would return to Azkaban to free his cousin Bellatrix so as to bring about a new monarchy with themselves as the monarchs.
But their belief or disbelief in the article's veracity was of no concern to Harry. Because the one person he needed to speak to the most about this news was not present.
After seeing Hermione and Ginny off as the two dove into the fray, Harry left the hall to find the man he sought. He exited just as an irate Professor McGonagall entered, held her wand up, and let loose a thundering bang to quell the chaos.
Eventually, Harry located Professor Lupin in his emptied office. The usually dour faced man was wearing a giant, beaming smile on his face. And for the first time that Harry could remember, the Professor's smile seemed to have no hint of sadness. It was merely one of pure and heartfelt joy.
Ding!
Quest Alert Notification
Save Your Teacher's Job
Professor Lupin was in Danger of Quitting his Job Due to the Influence of a Horcrux Powered Curse
Progress:
You Have Found and Destroyed the Horcrux Located in Hogwarts Before Lupin Left
The Good News About Sirius Has Convinced Him to Stay
Stay Behind and Celebrate your Good Fortune!
Quest Complete
The quest to save the professor's job was complete. Even if it was somewhat anti-climactic.
But while not having to engage in a deadly battle in order to achieve his goal felt odd, as that was what always happened to Harry when it came to these sorts of things… well, it was odd in a good way. And one that made him feel happy enough to accept the Game's advice without any worry whatsoever.
The next morning found a silent castle. Though one person did not find the silence as comforting as they usually did. Especially when he was forced to delay his well-earned rest by waiting in the Headmaster's office for the man to return.
How it galled Severus to know that he had cleared the name of that human shaped piece of garbage Sirius Black. Not even the knowledge that he had one over the man could fully dull the acidic taste in his mouth.
Because without Severus having rendered his assistance, it was quite likely that events would have turned out differently. For the batch of Veritaserum supplied for Black's questioning – as well as the two nearest batches located within the Auror supply cabinets – had been laced with a powerful poison. One that only the most accomplished of Potion Masters could detect.
If only it had caused Black to owe Severus a Life Debt. Then he might have obtained some small glimmer of satisfaction out of the matter. But alas, such a thing was highly unlikely to manifest. Magic always took intent into matters where magical connections like Life Debts were concerned, and Severus' intentions at that time had been anything but positive when it came to Black.
Severus shifted in his chair and glared angrily at the room's unlit fireplace. But his glower failed to summon the old goat's presence, and Severus could only count the minutes as they slowly ticked past.
After an interminable wait, the flames in the fireplace finally lit and turned to green. They soon parted to reveal Dumbledore's lanky form as the elderly wizard stepped through the fire and into his office. The old man deftly shook the hem of his robe free of soot before making his way to his desk, where he sank into the heavily padded chair placed behind it.
"Alright, Albus," Severus rasped darkly. After going forty-eight hours without rest, he had no desire to exchange meaningless pleasantries with the man in front of him. "I've done as you asked and saved that pretentious moron from his well-deserved fate. Now spit out what else you would ask of me so that we can both get some rest."
Dumbledore matched Severus' glare with a simple, peaceful smile. One that never failed to get under Severus' skin.
"Be still, my dear friend, and pardon my tardiness" Dumbledore said calmly. The old man steepled his fingers and gave Severus a considering gaze. "For I have recently come into possession of new information that concerns the source of the Dark Lord's faulty immortality and was merely pursuing a lead on how we might go about ending it."
Severus felt his breath hitch. If true, then in it would be worth the wait. And even the ignominy of saving Black's worthless life. But the old man had better not be playing him as part of some twisted scheme. Not when it concerned avenging Lily's death.
"Tell me what you know, Albus, and don't you dare toy with me," Severus hissed. "I'm in no mood for your games."
"Hm… in that case, I will put it simply." Dumbledore's warm blue eyes sharpened to needles of ice as the man smiled coldly. "I need to know all that you know about Horcrux', Severus, and how one might go about searching for them."
Severus felt his breath hitch again. He knew that term. Knew what it entailed and knew what had to be done in order to forge one.
But most importantly of all, he also knew the many weaknesses they carried and how to exploit them.
"I know a great deal, Headmaster," Severus said with a dark smile. The vile mood he had been in earlier was gone, replaced by one of elation and cold focus. "Where would you like me to start?"
The next few days passed by in a blur.
The media storm around Sirius' wrongful imprisonment had apparently done some good. A political firestorm was beginning to rage as the Ministry's increasingly desperate attempts to quiet the situation only seemed to backfire. While the swell of positive public opinion had enabled Dumbledore and Amelia Bones to more openly target those who were trying to obstruct their efforts. While the nation's papers seemed to sense blood in the political waters.
Quite literally so for one publication named the Quibbler. An article Harry had seen in it, written by someone named Luna Lovegood, had argued that Minister Fudge had personally waded into the Hogwarts Lake seven moons ago as part of some Dark ritual that involved the sacrifice of Merpeople. But that he had been chased away by a flock of Hippogriffs who were still angry over his failed decision to kill a member of their heard earlier that year.
But the best news of all had been when Professor Lupin had stopped Harry in the hallway one evening after dinner. The older man had said that he would be helping Sirius readjust to things once he got out of some place called St. Mungo's, and that the two of them were adamant about having Harry join them over the summer. And that unlike the time Harry spent over the summer with the Weasleys, it would not be a part time thing.
A teary-eyed Harry, overcome with emotion at the thought of leaving the Dursley's for good, had hugged the man on the spot.
After fondly patting Harry on the back, Remus had passed along two letters, with strict orders to leave the second one unopened until he had read the first one.
The only dark cloud on the horizon during this time had been contained within a note from Professor Dumbledore. After a brief statement saying that Sirius had asked the Headmaster for assistance on becoming Harry's legal guardian and that Dumbledore had agreed to support him, the note had gone on to talk about far darker affairs. Dumbledore mentioned in the note that he was looking into the Horcrux trait Harry had discovered, and that the two of them would need to talk about it, face to face, once the Headmaster had gathered further information.
A follow-up message delivered by owl the day before the Hogwarts Express arrived stated that the conversation would happen sometime during the summer. A situation which was less than ideal considering that it pertained to Harry's life and well-being. But with all the other good that was happening in his life, Harry allowed the Headmaster to delay their talk without raising a fuss over it.
Eventually the day of departure came. And though it felt like the longest year yet, Harry was, for once, almost looking forward to leaving Hogwarts for the summer. He packed his things into his trunk, bid farewell to a sobbing Dobby as the Elf took it away, and made the rounds amongst his fellow Gryffindors. Which mainly involved turning down proposals to visit people – he would be unable to do so when with the Dursleys, and he had no idea when Remus and Sirius would be able to come for him – and bidding farewell to the departing Seventh Years.
Soon enough he found himself seated on the crimson train as it barrelled across the countryside. It was just him and Hermione in the compartment as both Ron and Ginny had made promises to join the compartments of others. For Ron, it was a continuation of what he had said in the hospital; in the days since, he had been spending more time with other members of the house and getting involved with them. While Ginny had said that one of her friends in another house would have otherwise been alone and was shy of meeting others.
After chatting with Hermione about what they hoped to do over the summer, Harry found his eyes beginning to grow heavy. He propped up his school robe as a pillow and laid down on the bench to take a nap.
Only to find that just as he closed his eyes, a certain someone who had been missing in action recently finally reared their slimy head.
The doorway to Harry's compartment opened with a crashing rattle. In stepped Draco Malfoy, flanked as usual by his two dim-witted goons, Crabbe and Goyle. The two large boys stood behind the blond ponce, their much bigger frames drawn up in as intimidating a manner as possible.
Draco graced Harry with his customary sneer. "I see that you managed to survive yet another year, Potter. The mudblood, too. What a shame it couldn't have been otherwise."
Harry stared in annoyance at his wannabe rival. This sort of interaction on the train had become a yearly tradition for them, though it was one Harry dearly wished Malfoy would end.
"But what's this? Someone seems to be missing from this picture. A dirty smell that reeks of poverty and poor breeding. Hm…. What could it be?" Draco gave an exaggerated motion of trying to think of the answer. Then he snapped his fingers and opened his arms to gesture in a grandiose manner. "Ah yes. Good ol' Weasel face isn't here, right? Did he perhaps die? Or is it that the failure finally got tired of your pompous personalities?"
Harry gritted his teeth at the boy's words. Ron's departure, though amicable, still stung, and having Draco prod it like this was not making it feel any better.
Harry stood up from his bench and glared at his blond foe. "Sorry to disappoint you, Malfoy, but Ron's just hanging out with the other Gryffindor boys right now. If you're that interested in him, I could tell you what compartment they're in so you could drop by for a chat. Maybe you'll even get hexed a few times if you forget to speak politely. For old times'sake."
"Heh. As if I would ever seek out that pathetic excuse for a wizard. The only one in our year worse than him is Longbottom, and neither one of those pathetic idiots is worth even a second of my valuable time."
"Lucky for them," Harry replied with a roll of his eyes. "What do I have to do to get on their level? Because if doing so means not seeing you ever again, then it'd definitely be worth doing."
"Shut it, Potter!"
Ooh, that remark had hit the bullseye. Harry made a note to remember it for future use.
Draco's pale face was scrunched up as he spluttered angrily. "For the record, a disgusting half-breed like you isn't worth my time either."
"Then what does bring you here today, Malfoy?" Hermione said dryly. "Did you perhaps come to get punched in the face for a second time?"
Her words, delivered without ever removing her eyes from her book, hit Malfoy like a slap across the face. The boy's grey eyes furrowed in anger as he turned to face her, small spots of red appearing on his too pale cheeks.
"I'd watch my words if I were you, mudblood," he said in a threatening tone of voice. "You may have gotten off easy last year, but the next time filthy things like you are hunted, well, you might not be so lucky."
That was the point where Harry had heard enough. Draco could insult him all day long. But insulting and threatening Hermione like that crossed the line.
He drew his wand and slowly began to raise it. "Alright, Malfoy, it's time to go. The next time you call Hermione that filthy term is when I hit your face with a hex that not even the best Healer can fix."
Draco's sneer deepened at Harry's words. And for a moment it looked like he would fully cross Harry's red line and insult Hermione yet again.
But after a tense period of silence the blond shook his head and backed down. "Whatever, Potter. Like I said, you and Granger aren't worth my time any more than Longbottom or Weasel. I'm just here to deliver a little message."
"What? That daddy dearest is mad at us?"
The blond prat glowered at Harry over the jab. "Poor choice of words there, Potter. You'd best mark my own, because my father's enemies don't tend to live for very long. And with some of the recent developments in the wizarding world beginning to shake things loose… let's just say that my family's fortune is looking brighter than ever. And that if my father has his way, then next year the entire world will have a front row seat to see you die."
Message delivered, Malfoy turned on his heels without waiting to hear Harry's reply and Slytherin swept out of the compartment in a poor imitation of Snape's menacing stalk. The door rattled shut as his two goons followed him out and back into the corridor.
And though he was happy to see them go, there was one thing he needed to do before they were gone. Harry silently crept to the door and quietly cast a quick 'Observe' on each member of the slimy trio.
Hermione glanced up from her book as he closed the door with a soft click. "Did you get their stats?"
"Yep. If you can get something out to write with, we can go over them before the train arrives."
"On it."
After gently waking Crookshanks up and asking him to move from his place at her side, Hermione took out her writing set along with a blank sheet of parchment. Harry brought up the Game's notifications and passed the information along, and in short order the two were pouring over a complete readout of the slimy trio.
Vincent Crabbe
Son of Vincent Crabbe Sr., a Death Eater, he and his friend Gregory Goyle follow Draco Malfoy on orders from their fathers. There's not much going on in his head. While he looks dangerous, all it takes are one or two quick spells and he will fold like a sack of potatoes. (See Character Page for Further Information)
Age: 14
Level 23
Stats:
STR: 32
DEX: 33
CON: 40
INT: 7
WIS: 1
CHA: 3
Traits:
Follower
Amateur Quidditch Player
Faint Heart
Dark Arts Initiate
Slothful One
Gregory Goyle
Son of Gregory Goyle Senior, a Death Eater, he and his friend Vincent Crabbe follow Draco Malfoy on orders from their fathers. There's not much going on in his head. While he looks dangerous, all it takes are one or two quick spells and he will fold like a sack of potatoes. (See Character Page for Further Information)
Age: 14
Level 23
Stats:
STR: 32
DEX: 33
CON: 40
INT: 7
WIS: 1
CHA: 3
Traits:
Follower
Amateur Quidditch Player
Faint Heart
Dark Arts Initiate
Slothful One
Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy thinks of himself as being destined for greatness. By fighting Harry Potter at every turn, Draco believes that he is advancing the goals of his father and Lord Voldemort. He is rude, crude, and not the brightest of wizards, but one should never turn their back on him. Shooting a hex at someone while their back is turned is the safest way to do it, words from his father that Draco took to heart at an early age. (See Character Page for Further Information)
Age: 13
Heir Apparent to the Malfoy Family
Level 24
Stats:
STR: 35
DEX: 33
CON: 42
INT: 10
WIS: 0
CHA: 30
Traits:
Envious One
Gullible
Gossipmonger
Dedicated
Pureblood
Fair Weather Friend
School Quidditch Player
Pureblood Supremacist
Dark Arts Initiate
Blue Blood
Spoiled
Vain
Gullible:
Anyone bearing this trait is easily fooled. It has reached the point where it is ingrained in their being. It gives an automatic -10000 reputation points to anyone with the traits Paranoia, Cold Heart, Ambitious, or Calculating. This trait can be removed or changed over time with great difficulty.
Spoiled:
Any creature with this trait has been spoiled by the ones who take care of them. Gives an automatic -5 to both mental attributes, -10 to the charisma attribute, and -1000 reputation points with anyone. This trait can be removed or changed over time with great difficulty.
Vain:
A person bearing this trait likes to look good. They will spend an unnecessary amount of time making sure that they look good before appearing in public, and hate it when someone or something ruins their appearance. Gives an automatic +10 to charisma, -10 to both mental attributes, -2000 reputation to anyone without the vain trait, and +5000 reputation to anyone with the fanboy or fangirl traits. This trait can be removed or changed over time with great difficulty.
If the Game was correct – and it had proven to be correct about such things thus far – then Malfoy and his goons were pathetic. They may have been around the same average level as their peers, but their non-physical stats and traits were horrendous!
Harry eagerly pointed to Draco's traits.
"Vain? Yep, no one has hair that well styled unless they spend way too much time on it. Gullible? With the number of times we've fooled him over the years, it would've been more surprising to not see a trait like that. And as for this Spoiled trait…" Harry pitched his voice in imitation of Malfoy. "I'll tell my father about all of the horrid things your Game has said about me, Potter, and then you'll get what's coming to you!"
Hermione giggled at the impersonation. "You're terrible at doing his voice, Harry. Just leave it to Ron. He's much better at it than you are."
Harry shrugged his shoulders, not bothered in the slightest by the criticism. "Eh, that's fine by me. Trying to sound like him puts a terrible taste in my mouth anyway."
"I'd imagine so. Now, please select the further information option in the Game of Death; we need all the info we can get on them. And so far, the Game has already told us that Crabbe and Goyle's fathers are Death Eaters, which gives us two more people we can mark as being known enemies."
After a moment's hesitation, where Harry once again wondered what she may have discovered about him as well as herself by using this very same option, Harry did as she asked.
Alas, it seemed that the Game loved to torment Harry with this feature.
Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy thinks of himself as being destined for greatness. By fighting Harry Potter at every turn, Draco believes that he is advancing the goals of his father and Lord Voldemort. He is rude, crude, and not the brightest of wizards, but one should never turn their back on him. Shooting a hex at someone while their back is turned is the safest way to do it, words from his father that Draco took to heart at an early age.
Draco loves and respects his father more than anything else in the world and takes his word as biblical truth. Lucius Malfoy raised Draco in his own image from birth; as a result, Draco has grown up with political intrigue and the Dark Arts from his earliest days. He has a cold relationship with Narcissa, who he knows is not his birth mother. Their relationship has only chilled further since his father informed Draco of their impending divorce.
He is fond of his two followers, Crabbe and Goyle, and somewhat fond of his betrothed Pansy. Beyond the three of them his circle of friends is non-existent. Everyone around him is seen either a tool to be used on his way to greatness, or an opponent who needs to be crushed.
Draco dreams of becoming the Dark Lord's right-hand man and ruling magical Britain by his side. He believes that the Malfoy family is fated to ascend to the highest ranks of power the day he takes over from his father.
Draco Malfoy has white-blond hair, stormy grey eyes, white skin, and stands at 4'6. He has broad shoulders and is not well-endowed for his age.
Allies: Lucius Malfoy
Friendly: Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy
Acquaintances: Fellow Slytherin students
Hostile: Anyone in Gryffindor or associated with either Harry or Dumbledore.
Hated Ones: Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy
Romantic Affections: Harry Potter (strong), Narcissa Malfoy (strong), Pansy Parkinson (moderate), Daphne Greengrass (moderate), Astoria Greengrass (moderate), Cedric Diggory (moderate) Hermione Granger (weak), Ronald Weasley (weak)
Whether it was about Draco's family history, his delusions of grandeur, or the fact that he both hated and was attracted to Harry and his own mother… Draco Malfoy was seriously messed up. Harry did not even know where to begin and found himself reading through it in horrified fascination several times before he read it aloud.
Hermione, though, treated it all with a clinician's sense of detachment. The brainy girl only paused when he reached the part of how Draco was attracted to his stepmother, whom Harry remembered as being a rather pretty platinum blonde.
"You're joking with me," Hermione said in a deadpan tone. "You have to be. It's just not possible that Draco wants her like that. Because if that's true, then, ewwww! Gross!"
Harry nodded absent-mindedly. "I wish I were joking, Hermione. Really. But it's all right there. According to the Game, Draco definitely wants her. Bad. As well as you. And Ron. And me, too. With a few others added in for good measure. Oh, and did I forget to say me? Because evidently Draco really likes me. Like, more than anyone other than his step mum. Blech!"
Harry might have been freaking out about that part a little. But he rationalized it by telling himself that anyone other than a human shaped piece of slime would also feel the same way if they were put in his position. No one, regardless of gender, should have to bear being liked by Draco Malfoy.
But as if to challenge Harry's internal rationalization, Hermione hummed softly as she began to muse aloud. "Well, aside from his mother – although I guess that she's apparently his step mum, so while it's still bad, it's not quite incestuous – the rest of his romantic affections do make sense."
"What?" Harry yelled. His eyes widened and he stood up out of shock. "How? Why? What part other than the bit about Parkinson and the Greengrasses does not come as a surprise to you? You're a Muggleborn for Merlin's sake! While Ron, Cedric and I are all boys! Who happen to like girls!"
At least Harry and Ron did. He had not looked at Cedric's character page… but given his poor track record with them of late, Harry was willing to assume that Cedric was the same and not investigate it in detail.
The brown-haired girl shot him an evaluative look as she paused in her writing. "Harry, come on. I can't believe that you haven't considered the idea."
"Then you're wrong!" Yep. He was officially freaking out over this. Maybe pacing would help him to feel better. And yelling. Lots of yelling. "Because I hadn't. Ever! And especially not with Draco Malfoy!"
"Well, considering Draco's upbringing, none of the romantic information is really all that surprising." Hermione pointed to herself. "Think about it. Where I'm concerned, it's because he clearly wants to dominate that which he views as being below him, yet still finds threatening. The same probably holds true for Daphne and her sister to a certain extent." She paused to hum softly once again. "Actually, that's probably the same reason why his step mum is on the list as well now that I think about it. It's probably a thing with women in general too, which is why Pansy Parkinson is the only girl I ever see around him."
"What does Pansy being around him even… ugh, okay, whatever. Even if that's all true, then why the boys? Why? And why me in particular? Malfoy hates me!"
"Because life isn't always that simple, Harry," Hermione said with a small laugh. "Especially yours. And sometimes in life – although I recommend asking Sirius and Professor Lupin about this subject over the summer for the details – some people like both boys and girls. Neither you nor I are like that, but Draco is. Just remember that it's his other qualities, or lack thereof, which make him a bad person and not the fact that he happens to like you and a few other boys."
Harry groaned and hit his head against his seat's backboard. Damn Draco Malfoy! And damn the Game of Death for at last finding a way to turn the boy into a credible threat! Because while the blond ponce was the furthest thing from a threat to Harry in a fight, magical or otherwise, the prospect of being asked out on a date by the prat was utterly horrifying.
"Besides," Hermione said in a teasing tone of voice that raised the hairs on the back of Harry's neck, "it finally explains why he always stops by to see you throughout the year."
Harry opened his eyes and looked at her in trepidation. "Please don't say what I think you're about to say."
"Hm… You know, I believe that there's a Japanese term for people like Draco. What was it again? Aha! It's called being a Tsundere!" Hermione's eyes glittered with amusement as she snapped her fingers and leaned in close. "Draco hates you, but he loves you too. He won't stop arguing with you and can't stop thinking about you!"
"That's not funny. At all."
"Says you!" Hermione wore a grin on her face that could have come straight from the furry face of a satisfied kitty. "I happen to find it rather fascinating. Who knows, Draco might even feel that the threats you exchange with one another are some weird type of flirting, where you're actually communicating your mutual attraction to one another in a way that others could never comprehend."
"I mean every word I say to him," Harry stated flatly. "Especially the ones where I mention how much I loathe him."
"Which is exactly why he likes you so much! Because just like the many girls who are after you, Draco understands that you are a kind and sincere boy who would treat him like the gentle little darling he really is on the inside."
"Oh, blech! C'mon Hermione, give me a break already. Please!" Harry groaned aloud as he placed his hands over his head. "Give it a rest before I throw up."
Hermione giggled and poked his side. "Spoilsport."
But after giggling and gently poking his side a few more times, she did respect Harry's wishes and end her teasing. Thereby allowing Harry to begin the process of burying the memory of Malfoy's affections towards him as deep into his subconscious as was humanly possible.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. And when the train's warning bell sounded that they were ten minutes out, it was with the great reluctance that Harry changed from his school robes and into his ill-fitting street clothes. Once the train had come to a complete stop, Harry and Hermione grabbed their trunks and made their way out of the train.
The two of them greeted a few people along the way, like the Weasley twins and the Gryffindor Chaser trio. Harry also shook hands with Oliver Wood one final time and wished the older boy best of luck in making it onto a professional Quidditch team. While to Harry's great surprise, Hermione exchanged cordial farewells with the Slytherin beauty Daphne Greengrass. Who in turn gave Harry a polite nod as she walked away with a swish of her fancy robes.
After they had finished saying goodbye to Ron and Ginny, both of whom mentioned how excited they were for when Harry and Hermione would visit their home during the summer, it was time for the last, and hardest, parting of all.
Hermione grabbed Harry in a hug tight enough to crack his spine, one which Harry returned with equal intensity. No words were exchanged between them as they simply relaxed into the other's presence.
But they could not stay like that forever, and eventually they had to depart for the barrier to the Muggle side.
Hermione moved to her parents, who gave Harry a friendly wave, while Harry moved to where a surly Vernon Dursley stood dressed in a pinstriped business suit. The walrus of a man was already glaring at Harry, his bushy moustache almost bristling in anger.
But for once Harry did not mind. Because he had some news which would both cheer and frighten the ugly man who had neglected Harry throughout his childhood.
Ding!
Quest Alert Notification
Leave the Dursleys and Never Look Back
Quest Reward:
Peace of Mind
A New and Better Life
+5 Levels
Quest Failure
Continue Living with the Dursleys
Magical and Emotional Growth Stunted
Effects of the Walking Target Trait Multiple by a Factor of Five
Please Select
Yes or No
Harry selected 'yes' on the quest without slowing down.
A/N: And with that Year 3 has come to an end. From here on out the AU parts of this story only grow stronger as I add events, change character ages, and even meddle with the rules of Quidditch itself.
Until Next Time,
Elsil
