Chapter 18: Trouble in Paradise

"Potter looks like he's walking to the gallows." Seamus said as the other students watched McGonagall leading Harry away.

Theo touched Hermione's arm, "Let's go check on Neville, there's nothing we can do for Harry right now." She nodded, looking extremely worried.

As the pair started away Selwyn called, "Say goodbye to precious Potter, he'll be packing his bags before lunch." Theo shot him a glare but did not answer.

Parvati spun to face him putting her hands on her hips, "If that were true, you'd be right along side him on the train."

Dean shook his head, "You both flew without Madame Hooch watching, and you heard what she said would happen if we did that."

"The difference is that Potter got caught," Selwyn gestured to the broom at his feet. "I was back on the ground before McGonagall turned up."

"Yea think she dinnae see wha happened from one of the windaes?" Isobel pointed toward the castle, many of its windows faced the field where they were standing. "Wha yae thin made her c'mere in the firs place?"

"If I understand your meaning," Selwyn drawled, "McGonagall didn't see me, if she had I would be going with her and Potter right now. So, I am in the clear." He turned from the angry Gryffindors and said to Crabbe and Goyle, "Let's go back to the common room." Ron shoved past him and headed back toward the castle. "That wasn't very friendly of him." Selwyn snorted as he watched the redhead go.

Pansy had been snickering behind her hand, and now she stepped closer, "Yes let's go." She gave a little sarcastic wave, "See you around Parvati." The Indian girl scowled but made no comment.

After that, the two groups dispersed and headed to their separate common rooms. Once the stone wall closed on the Slytherins the first years broke their silence.

"That was a fool thing to do Selwyn." Draco said, "Do you really think they're going to kick Potter out of here?" Horatio sighed heavily and sank onto one of the leather couches.

"Oh yes Malfoy, do tell." Selwyn sneered. "We all know you and Prince are the newest members of Potter's Fan Club."

Daphne's green eyes narrowed, "As one of the founding members of Potter's Study Club, I take offense at your remarks." She tossed back her strawberry blond locks and added, "but I'm not surprised, we all know you lash out when you don't get your way."

"Ah hah! I get it now!" Millicent exclaimed in a triumphant tone. "You're jealous of Potter, of his popularity, and because you're not part of it."

"That's ridiculous!" Selwyn scoffed, but his cheeks flushed, and they knew she'd figured him out." If that were true, you'd be on the outside too Bulstrode."

"Do I look like I care?" Millicent laughed, "I don't need to be friends with Potter to make me feel important."

Daphne pointed out, "All you'd have to do to join is show up, we meet every day after dinner in the library."

"Is it true you're jealous of Potter?" Crabb asked Selwyn, his brow furrowed as he added. "Picking fights with his friends won't make him like you any better."

"It was cruel to laugh at Longbottom," Goyle frowned, running a hand through the wiry bristles on his head. "He could have really hurt himself falling from that broom."

Selwyn turned to his friends, an incredulous expression on his haughty features. "I don't need to or want to be friends with Potter, and Longbottom is so clumsy he shouldn't have been on a broomstick in the first place."

"You still shouldn't have laughed…" Goyle looked down at his feet and asked, "Did you laugh when I got hurt last week in potions class?"

"Of course not." Selwyn shook his head. "It wasn't your fault."

"This wasn't Longbottom's fault either," Crabbe grimaced, "It could have happened to any of us. Those brooms are a death trap waiting to happen."

Draco raised his eyebrows and turned away from the conversation. Horatio looked up at him quizzically. "Crabbe's right about those brooms, and I'm going to do something about it."

"What's that?" Horatio asked, he was still a bit preoccupied worrying about his earlier conversation with the Weasley twins.

"I'm going to write my parents, Father is on the Board of Governors, he'll do something about this."

Horatio smiled, pushing his glasses up his nose. "And Aunt Cissy will make sure it gets done in a timely manner."

"Exactly," Draco smirked as he headed toward their dormitory.

Horatio turned his attention to Millicent, who had extricated herself from Selwyn's conversation. "Hey Millicent, have you thought more about the first-year council position?"

She looked up from arranging her school bag, "I have, and I still have concerns about the amount of work and drama that will be involved." She nodded in Selwyn's direction, "but I'd be the only one to run against Pansy, and I really don't want to see her arbitrating disputes." She grimaced at the thought, "if you really want to nominate me, I suppose I'll do it."

Horatio relaxed into his seat, "I'm so glad to hear you say that."

"I'm curious about something though." She pointed toward the door to the boy's dormitories. "Why not put your support behind Malfoy. He could get the approval of our year-mates as easy as I could, and you and he are better mates."

Horatio smiled; he'd been anticipating this question. "Draco is my best mate, and he was interested in the position, but he has a tendency to get angered in a conflict, which would make it hard for him to be impartial."

"Fair point," Millicent conceded, she tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair as she thought. "Alright Prince, you can put my name forward for the position. I don't want to see Selwyn's puppet on the council any more than you do."


Friday morning there were new announcements on all the houses noticeboards. The flying lessons were going to be shuffled; from now on Slytherin would be learning with Ravenclaw on Wednesday mornings, and Gryffindor would be learning with Hufflepuff on Thursday mornings. Potter's Study Club had discussed the incident the night before, so its members explained to their year-mates about what happened, and by breakfast the news was passing through the school. When the post owls arrived, Pollux landed in front of Horatio with a package bound to his legs.

"Looks like Mother sent you another gift," Draco remarked with a smirk.

"I didn't ask for anything." Horatio said as he untied the cords from Pollux's legs. "Thanks for carrying this, Buddy." He offered the eagle owl a piece of bacon which he took with a pleased hoot. There were two packages bound together, one was slim like a book and bore Draco's name on the wrapping, and the other was boxy and his name was written on it. "Here this is for you."

Draco took the package and tore into it; his grey eyes were alight with eagerness as he revealed a calendar. Horatio snickered when he realized that each month held an image of a different hippogriff. Draco paid him no mind as he flipped through the pages until he was halfway through the year. He stopped in June and showed the picture to Horatio. Standing in a meadow of wildflowers, with his head held imperiously high and fiery orange eyes fixed on the viewer, was Buckbeak. His wings were half raised as if he was about to take flight. In the top corner of the picture Narcissa had written a message.

Draco, we asked the publisher to put Beaky on your birth month as part of our agreement to allow our herd to be photographed. Your father and I hope this makes you very happy. All my love, Mum

" That's nice of them," Horatio grinned. "And it's a good picture too, Beaky looks fierce."

"He does, doesn't he?" Draco beamed as he continued to gaze at the image. His expression faltered for a moment as he lightly brushed the inscription at the top with a finger.

"You miss them." Horatio said

"I do, more than I thought I would." Draco sighed. He pointed to the wrapped package, "Let's see what they sent you then."

Horatio peeled back the heavy brown paper to reveal a wizard chess set, and a note from Draco's mother folded on top. The board was made up of black and silver squares, and when he lifted the lid, he realized the pieces were made of a polished stone, maybe marble. He was surprised that Pollux had been able to carry the board, but a quick read of the note explained, a featherlight charm had been placed on the parcel. "Wow, Aunt Cissy, you really do think of everything." He marveled as he folded the parchment and slipped it into the board for safekeeping. He would write to thank her over the weekend.

"We should play with Zabini, Rivers, and Roper during break." Draco suggested. "You'll need to break in the new pieces, show them you know what you're doing."

Horatio nodded, "Alright, let's invite Ron too."

Draco smirked, "I was already including him; besides, I don't think Miss Sophie would have it any other way, I think she fancies him."

Horatio nearly choked on his mint tea, "Why do you say that?"

"Because she let him win their last game."


The Gryffindors and Slytherins came face to face again as they were queuing outside the dungeon for Potions class that afternoon. The two groups were arranged on either side of the corridor and mostly ignoring one another. Draco, Horatio, and Ron were standing together near the dungeon door, discussing the games they had played with the three Ravenclaws during break.

"You thought you had him after you took his second knight." Ron said to Draco, "Then he brought his bishop out of nowhere and put your king in check."

Draco sighed, "Must you give a blow by blow of my defeat?"

"It was a good game," Ron protested. "You both played well."

Horatio chuckled, "Draco just doesn't like to lose."

Goyle tapped Ron on the shoulder, "Hey Weasley, do you mind if I switch partners? Vince doesn't want to work with Dominic today."

Ron frowned, looking around the two groups, "Who would I work with then?"

"You can work with me Weasley," Millicent said, "Otherwise I'd be stuck with her." She nodded in Pansy's direction. The other girl was busy trying to convince Adamaris Runcorn and Harriet Travers to support her for the Slytherin House Council. "Seeing as we're running against each other, I don't want to be stuck working with her for the whole double period."

Goyle raised a hand to touch the frame of his glasses as he frowned, "Or I could work with Weasley if you'd be willing to work with Vince."

Millicent nodded amiably, "I don't mind that at all."

The door to the dungeon opened at that moment, and Snape beckoned the class inside. Selwyn looked around as the four Slytherins sat together. "Who am I supposed to partner with?" He asked as he approached their table.

"Looks like Pansy needs a partner too." Millicent pointed to her rival who was standing in the isle between the two rows of desks.

"Why are you sitting with them?" Pansy asked the girls she'd been speaking with who had just sat across from Esme and Isobel.

"Because there were seats open?" Harrie's voice lacked her usual cheer.

"No, so you'll stop badgering us." Maris corrected with a frustrated sigh.

Professor Snape turned from perusing the instructions on the blackboard. "Mr. Selwyn, Ms. Parkinson, kindly find your seats, before I am forced to take points from my own house."

Across the dungeon Theo raised his eyebrows watching the last two Slytherins take their places, "Looks like there is trouble in paradise. If you can call a friendship with Selwyn that…"

"I don't like Selwyn," Neville shrugged, "but Goyle actually asked how I was feeling earlier."

"And now Runcorn and Travers are sitting with Esme and Izzy?" Hermione asked sounding puzzled.

Harry smiled to himself and said to his friends, "Looks like us being friendly with Ron has had more of an impact than we expected."

The lesson went smoothly after that, Harry let Hermione take the lead in the brewing as his mind was on the upcoming detention. With this latest development Selwyn was sure to be in a foul mood. At least he had the Inter-House Student Alliance meeting to look forward to afterward, and his second dinner with his godfather and Draco.


The two wrongdoers met in the Entrance Hall to head to their detention. Madame Hooch was examining her watch as they approached, "Good, you're both on time, follow me." She led the way out the oak front doors and down the stone steps. The two boys studiously ignored one another as they crossed the grounds towards the Quidditch pitch, and beyond it to the sheds where the school brooms were stored. She pointed to a table in the middle of the space, "You'll find twig clippers and jars of polish and rags over there." She settled onto a chair in the corner to watch them. "Straighten the twigs whenever possible before clipping and be careful of splinters."

Harry nodded and headed over to their supplies without protest.

Selwyn scowled, "How long do we have to do this servant stuff?"

"Until I say so," The flying instructor narrowed her hawk-like eyes. "You're lucky Professor McGonagall chose your punishment; I'd give you a week's worth of detention for flying without supervision. I don't care how much natural talent or experience you think you have, it's not safe to jump on a broomstick without proper instruction." She gestured again to the table, "Now stop gabbing and get to work."

Harry worked quietly, trimming the worst of the arrent twigs, and carefully polishing the broom handles. The smell of polish reminded him of cleaning at Private Drive. Occasionally a splinter would trouble him, and he paused to carefully extract it by hand. Across the table Selwyn continued to mutter darkly, words like, "Rubbishy brooms" or "Bloody splinters" would break through Harry's reverie. After their efforts, the brooms lining the walls looked better, but it was obvious they were still in poor condition.

Finally, Madame Hooch called a halt, "It's about dinner time, you two are dismissed." The three of them exited the shed and she tapped the lock with her wand.

As they started to walk back to the castle Harry asked, "Madame Hooch, is it true that Selwyn and I are banned from flying lessons?"

"I'm considering it." She said briskly. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you said you'd give us detention for a week for what we did."

"Yes, I did."

"What if Selwyn and I agreed to do more detentions to be able to rejoin the flying lessons?"

"I haven't agreed to anything, Potter." Selwyn scowled. "I have enough splinters in me from one detention's worth."

Madame Hooch tilted her chin, "Why should I agree to that?"

"Because we'd be proving that we want the lessons, and we're dedicated to doing what it takes to get there." Harry shrugged with a sheepish grin, "Besides, you'd have more of the school brooms in the best condition for the lessons, which would be better for everyone."

She stared into the darkening sky for a moment and nodded, "Alright Potter, I'll expect you here after your lessons on Monday." Her sharp eyes turned to the other boy, "As for you Selwyn, you better come too, do the work without complaining this time, and I might just give you flying lessons. If you don't, I'll follow the recommendation of your Head of House, and you won't see a broomstick while you're at Hogwarts." She walked into the brightly lit Great Hall, leaving the two boys behind.

Selwyn gaped after her before turning on Harry. "Why would you suggest we do more wretched manual labor?"

Harry shrugged, "You really shouldn't complain Selwyn I did you a favor." He walked away before the Slytherin could start winging again.


A/N: Another shorter chapter for you all. You can consider this as sort of a part two of the previous chapter. We're kind of in a holding pattern before Halloween, but we needed to deal with the rest of the fallout from the Flying incident. In the meantime, will a version of "The Midnight Duel" happen? Will the search for a Gryffindor Seeker draw Harry onto the Quidditch team? I guess we'll find out together.

Disclaimer: You should know this isn't mine by now. I'm just playing in J.K. Rowling's sandbox and building a different sandcastle.