Yello peoples! I. Am. Baaaaaaaaaaack!
Okay, that was kinda creepy. Anyways, here's another chapter for you guys, since I am really eager to get to the troll scene, and I really hope you lot are too. Now, this one probably isn't one of my best works, except maybe the middle bit, but I hope you still manage to enjoy it. I also apologize for the abrupt ending, but it was actually meant to be that way for a reason, so don't go wild over it please. Also, I wanted to mention that this chapter, and most of the ones in the near future, was and will be written in a slightly different process than normal. See, normally I just sit down and pump out three to five thousand words in one big session of several hours. However, because I have to get up at freaking six in the morning to catch the bus to school, I also have to go to bed really early too. Add into that homework and other things going on, and I really don't have much time to do much of any writing at all, let alone massive sessions. So, this one was actually written out over several days. If you could, tell me which one you prefer, so that when I actually have a choice I can decide whether to stick with this way or go back to the original.
Now then, it's getting late and I sadly have other stuff to do, so I'll let you guys go. Read, Review, and Relax. Enjoy!
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Harry looked up in surprise when he felt something leathery smack into his face, drawing his attention away from his food. His newfound reflexes barely allowed him to catch whatever it was that had hit him, stopping it from falling into his bowl of soup. Closer inspection revealed it to be a dragonhide glove, dyed red with something that looked eerily like blood. Glancing around, Harry looked for whoever had thrown the odd item at him. He didn't have to look far.
"Potter. I challenge you to a formal duel. You have slighted my honor, and the house of Nott will not stand for it." Harry raised an eyebrow at the boy standing in front of him, before glancing around. They were in the Great Hall for dinner time, and nearly all the other students who were eating were now staring at them in awe. Even Ron and Susan, who also looked a bit worried, seemed amazed. Harry couldn't blame them, really. To challenge him to a duel in the middle of the Great Hall? Nott had some stones. Then again, from the sound of his words, it sounded more political than anything. Either that, or he was trying to scare Harry away by creating a large audience. Either way, it didn't matter.
"When and where?" Harry tossed the glove back at the boy, a smirk crossing his face at the shocked look the other boy was wearing. Apparently he wasn't expecting Harry to over it quickly however, Nott frowned before leaning over the Gryffindor table Harry was seated at before hissing his reply quietly.
"Midnight, Trophy Room. Wands only, no contact. Goyle's my second." Harry raised another eyebrow at him, his smirk widening slightly.
"Oh? I thought you said you wanted an official duel. How is that meant to happen if it's past curfew?' Nott's eyes narrowed slightly before he responded, his voice growing taunting.
"I said official, not public. I thought I'd spare your dignity. Then again, I doubt you're courageous enough to come."Harry scoffed, amused by the pathetic taunt.
"I'd be more worried about you not showing, but I suppose if you've got your little minions there it won't be so bad. At least we'll be on foot this time, so you can hide behind them if need be." Harry was fairly glad that Crabbe and Goyle were too stupid to realize that he had just insulted them. Vastly overpowered magical core or not, he doubted he'd be very good in a fist fight, which was what they would initiate it they could understand him. As it were, they simply stared blankly at him as Nott's face darkened.
"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is, Potter." Harry just smiled, before glancing over at his two friends who were watching the conversation with the rest of the school. Ron didn't seem to even notice, but Susan got the message after a second.
"I'll be his second." She spoke in a soft voice, one most would think was almost shy. Harry, however, could hear the pride in it that Susan must have felt from Harry trusting her with such a task. Granted, Harry didn't understand much about duels in general, but the idea of a second seemed pretty self explanatory. Not to mention, he had made it a point of allowing Susan to decide for herself, rather than voluntelling as Nott did with Goyle. Sadly, Nott didn't seem to understand this, and instead sneered at Susan.
"You're letting the little Hufflepuff be your second? I suppose you really do have to scrape the bottom of the barrel. I don't even need to beat you to shame you, if this is what you're depending on to save you." The crowd oohed, but Harry ignored them. Instead, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, holding his chin in his hands as he tossed a lopsided grin at Nott.
"Now, now, Nott. Does your honor demand you insult a noble lady in such a manner?" The reaction was hilarious. Nott visibly jerked back as he realized his mistake, to much of the crowd's amusement.. Harry had learned, curious about how the noble families worked in the magical world, that the Bones house was a very old one, although not necessarily powerful when it came to sheer magical potential like the Potters. Sure, there were a few branches that would stand out, and they did supposedly claim ancestry to one of Helga Hufflepuff's lines, but for the most part all of their power lay in politics. Still, they were very old and prominent, whereas the Notts… weren't. They were a middling house, with some power and influence, but not remarkably strong, and more often than not were subordinates of more powerful houses such as the Malfoys. Now, Harry honestly could care less about the overarching politics of the thing, but he wasn't about to stand by and let his friend be insulted. Besides, Nott had made this entire conversation about family names when he claimed it was an honor duel. He was simply fighting fire with fire.
"I… must apologize. My tongue escaped me for a moment." Harry grinned into the glare Nott sent his way as he apologized.
"Yes, do keep a tighter hold on it. Now, midnight was it? I'll see you there." Harry waved shooingly at the boy, dismissing him. Nott went with an apparent amount of reluctance, but he did go, Harry smiling after him. After the other boy had sat down, Harry turned to his friends, smiling at their still somewhat shocked faces.
"Ah, don't you just love dealing with snobby rich kids? It's so much fun!"
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"Ugh, why do we have to get up so late for a bloody duel? Damn Nott and his robot minions."
"Shhhh!" Harry hushed Ron as they tiptoed down the stair to the common room, the redheaded boy complaining far too loudly for comfort. They were trying to sneak out of Gryffindor tower after curfew. It would not help if they ended up waking everyone inside in the process. Harry's caution ended up being for not(heh, Nott) when they descended the stairs and he saw a familiar face sitting in front of the fireplace, Even though he wasn't surprised, the raven haired boy groaned softly. He had expected Hermione Granger to attempt to stop the boys from sneaking out after she accosted them about having overheard the time and place of Harry's duel, but that didn't mean it wasn't a problem. Straightening from the stealthy crouch he had been in to walk the last few steps, Harry tossed a piercing glare in the bushy haired witch's direction.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" The girl jumped at the sound of his voice, but quickly recovered her composure, having expected such a thing to happen.
"I could say the same to you. You really shouldn't be doing this, you'll lose all those points I got from McGonagall for knowing about switching spells if you get caught." Harry snorted, giving her a wry grin.
"I suppose we'll just have to not get caught then, won't we." Ron agreed, again far too loudly, causing Hermione to huff in irritation.
:You two really don't care, do you? All you care about are yourselves. You're being really selfish, you know that."Suddenly, Harry stepped forward, his golden eyes seeming to glow in the darkness as he drilled a hard stare at Hermione.
"So protecting my house and my friends is selfish? Allowing those who slighted them to walk away scott free is a lack of caring? No, letting something like his go is a sign of weakness and cowardice. I let this go, and Nott will continue to harass all the Gryffindor's, not to mention the rest of the school." The raven haired boy took a step forward, and Hermione unconsciously quailed under the stare. Those eyes really were unnerving. The young girl could do nothing as Harry sidestepped her, Ron following after smiling at Hermione smugly. Once Harry's eyes were no longer focused on her, however, she quickly regained her courage, chasing after them.
"No! You really can't go, breaking the rules is wrong! Are you listening to-" Hermione cut herself off when she heard the sound of the portrait hole closing behind her. She had been so determined to follow the two boys that she hadn't even noticed they had left the tower! Whirling around, she saw that the Fat Lady had disappeared, leaving the entrance back inaccessible. She was stuck outside, breaking the rules!
Harry, who looked behind him when he heard a small gasp, smirked slightly. Hermione was staring at the Fat Lady's portrait in horror, her face pale. "Guess you're stuck out here too. Maybe you should've just gone to bed." The bushy haired girl tried to glare at him, but Harry just chuckled. It was like Susan all over again, she couldn't really manage it. She was like a kitten. Shaking his head at her, Harry just sighed.
"Look, you can stay out here if you want, but we've got an appointment to get to. Have fun." Harry turned as if to walk away, but was stopped when Hermione called out.
"Wait! I'm coming with you." Harry paused, glancing back at her.
"And why is that?" Hermione opened her mouth to say something about not wanting to get caught by Filch, but when she looked at those exotic golden eyes, she suddenly felt like Harry could pierce her soul with them, and she suddenly felt like no lie would escape him. Instead, she rubbed her arm and looked away, trying to avoid the entrancing sight.
"It's… dark." She said reluctantly, before looking back up. Ron suddenly looked like he was trying not to laugh, but Harry didn't. He was looking at her thoughtfully, as if he hadn't expected such vulnerability from the ridiculously smart witch. She did her best to hold his gaze, but it was hard. She had never told anyone about how she was afraid of the dark, or afraid of anything really. Everyone just assumed she was too smart and logical to be afraid of anything, especially something as irrational as the dark. Normally, she just let them think that.
After a few moments of scrutinizing the bushy haired witch, Harry shrugged, turning to continue his trek. "Alright, if you want. I could care less." As Harry walked away, he mused on the revelation Hermione Granger's, the most rational witch he had ever met, rather irrational fear. He never would've guessed it, but somehow it sort of made sense. Everyone had their flaws, after all.
"Ow, that hurt!" Harry was rather promptly drawn out of his musings when he suddenly tripped over something that had been laying across the middle of the corridor, and it shouted. After struggling to regain his balance, Harry looked down to see the rather strange sight of one Neville Longbottom trying to uncurl from where he had been on the floor. Shocked rather speechless by this unexpected event, Harry stared at the boy as Hermione and Ron ran up behind him from where they had been arguing in hissed voices behind him.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Hermione, ever mindful of the fact that they were currently wandering around the castle after hours, asked in a low voice. The question snapped Harry out of his shocked state, and he turned to the other two with a bemused expression.
"It would seem Neville here has decided to become a carpet." Hermione looked behind the raven haired boy to see that there was indeed a Neville who looked like he had been sleeping on the corridor floor for at least half the night.
"Neville, what are you doing out here?" The rotund boy glanced up from shaking his head to clear it of the sleepy fuzz, and his eyes widened when he saw the three fellow Gryffindor's standing before him.
"Oh, thank Godric you three are here. I've forgotten the password!" Harry stared at the boy for a second, before sighing in exasperation.
"Of course you have. Anyways, it's pig snout, but that won't help you now. The fat lady's gone off somewhere, and we don't know when she'll come back." Neville suddenly looked terrified at the thought that he would be stuck outside the common room all night, and Harry sighed again. "Look, you can come with us, if you want. We've already got one lost puppy, we might as well have another. Besides, it also makes it a bigger audience for the buttkicking I'm going to give Nott." Neville nodded eagerly at that, looking just like the puppy dog Harry had described him as. Sure, a rather heavyweight puppy, but a puppy nonetheless. With that mess sorted, Harry continued to lead the growing crusade through the halls to the trophy room, ignoring Hermione's protests against the puppy comment. It wasn't long before they arrived at one of the entrances to the Trophy Room, and Harry was forced to groan at the sight that awaited them. Susan was there, as she had agreed to meet Ron and Harry at the spot, but the problem was the annoyed looking Slytherin and Dreamy Ravenclaw loitering in the hall with her.
"Alright, this is getting ridiculous. What's he doing here?" Harry gestured at Draco, ignoring Luna since he really wasn't surprised she had somehow managed to follow them. The strange girl seemed to know exactly what the group was doing at any given point in time.
"Don't worry Potter, I'm not here for you. I just came to drag my errant Housemates back to the dorms so they doesn't cause more trouble for the rest of us." With that blunt comment said, Draco returned to whatever it was he had been doing before, which appeared to be nothing at all. Harry, realizing he wasn't going to get any further answer, inclined his head at Luna questioningly, knowing the girl with strange bronze eyes would understand.
"OH, tonight's the night of certain death, but not quite. At least, that's what the lady in the dream told me." Harry quickly decided to leave that statement alone, since he doubted he'd ever be able to sort it out, but Hermione wasn't nearly as well-versed in Luna-isms.
"What lady?" Luna smiled lightly, seaming glad to hear the question for some reason.
"Oh, the bird lady. She told me tonight would be the night, so I got up and came to find you all. Well, most of you. He's not very important, and the other one still has awhile." She threw an odd look at Ron before nodding towards Neville. "Anyways, we should probably stretch, we'll be running soon." Right before Hermione could question further, Harry suddenly gestured for all of them to quiet down. They listened for a few seconds, before finally hearing a voice that struck dread into each of their eleven year old hearts.
"Yes, I can hear them, they're nearby. Don't worry my pet, we'll find them." All seven of the children looked at each other for a second before Draco spoke, almost too quietly for them to hear.
"Filch. Nott ratted you out., the coward."They all looked horrified at the thought. It was a perfectly Slytherin thing to do, but was still a dirty trick. Even Draco seemed displeased with his housemate's choice of subterfuge. A clanging from inside the room and a harsh curse brought them all back to reality, however, before they could dwell on it too much. With only a single glance, all seven of the children started running, abandoning stealth for speed. Filch couldn't punish them if he didn't catch them, after all. Winding through the corridor's, the seven tried to stick together in a tight formation, but soon Neville, Ron, and even Hermione started to drift behind. Surprisingly, it was Draco and Luna, the girl seeming to glide along while the boy practically flew, who were the fastest, despite Harry and Susan's training.
The group ran on, desperate to escape, until they suddenly came to a dead end. Blocking their way was a simple wooden door, locked tight. Draco almost slammed into it, barely stopping in time to grab the handle and attempt to wrench it open. When that failed, he tried several more times as the others gathered, until Hermione and Susan stepped forward.
"Stop that Draco, you'll break it. Hermione, do you know an unlocking spell?" Susan asked, and the bushy haired girl darted forward to cast said spell. Harry raised an eyebrow at Susan, but didn't say anything. He knew the other girl could cast the spell, as could Harry and Luna, and probably Draco, but it probably wasn't a smart idea for any of them to try it right now. With their panicked state and lack of control, any of them could very well have blown the knob off if they tried. Putting that thought aside, however, he rushed to follow the rest of the group into the room before slamming the door shut and pressing his ear to it. After listening to Filch, who had somehow caught up to them, grumble for a bit and then leave, he turned around to smile at the group, but was stopped cold by the sight of what was behind the other six, a horrible backdrop to their pale and flushed faces that were looking to him for hope.
"Um, guys? Don't look up." Of course, each and every one of them instantly raised their eyes to look at the three drooling heads hanging above them. The beast was hideous, a massive black Rottweiler with three heads. It's big jowls were dripping with a disgusting amount of drool, and the creature was just drawing its lips back to growl at them, revealing disgusting yellow teeth. The seven children took this terrifying image in in an instant, right before letting out identical ear piercing screams. Harry was practically trampled as he pushed open the door to let them all out, only being saved by his own swiftness in vacating the group barely stopped for only a second, long enough for Draco, who had shoved the door shut since he was the last to get out, look at them all, the terror still in his eyes.
"Scatter, get to your common rooms. Tomorrow." With that, all seven of the kids split, sprinting off to their common rooms, the threat of Filch or a teacher coming to investigate their screams following their heels like the devil himself. It was obvious that they had somehow managed to stumble into the third floor corridor, the forbidden one. If the teachers ever found out, they'd would probably be wishing they had stayed to hang out with the giant dog, let alone the fact that seven different students had been wandering the halls all on the same night.
As they ran, different thoughts ran through each of their heads. Draco was silently cursing Nott out in his head, extremely pissed off that the other boy's foolishness had nearly gotten him pissed. Susan was hoping the other's had gotten away alright, and glad for the recent active lifestyle she had started up. The little brunette doubted she'd be able to make it all the way to her common room without collapsing otherwise. Neville's thoughts were simply one long scream as the image of the giant dog's teeth continued to run through his head over and over. Ron was wondering why the bloody hell he had been there in the first place, and Harry plotting how best to humiliate Nott at breakfast the next day to repay him for nearly getting Harry and his friends-not to mention a few innocent bystanders- nearly eaten. Hermione, who had trouble getting her mind off the trapdoor she had noticed in the room while looking over her shoulder as they ran out, was wondering whether it would've been better to stay outside the portrait hole, fear of darkness be damned. Luna was thinking about the tea she had drank that morning.
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"It's official. Dumbledore's insane." Draco let out a bark of laughter at Potter's statement. They had just gathered in the great hall for breakfast, or at least, some of them had. Granger was glaring balefully at the group from her place at the Gryffindor table for some reason, and Longbottom was quivering in his seat, avoiding their eyes in favor of looking at the food he was mournfully scooping into his mouth. Draco, Lovegood, Bones, Potter, and weasley, however, had all gathered together at the Slytherin table, since Draco refused to be seen as catering to any of the others by going to the Gryffindor table as Bones and Lovegood were so wont to do. Instead, he had summoned the other four to discuss the previous night's… misadventure.
"Yes Potter, we knew that already. Don't you remember Defense class?" Draco drawled, sending a droll look in the direction of the raven haired boy. Potter, however, ignored the look, smirking.
"Of course I remember you coming to rescue me from the big bad monster. How could I ever forget?" Draco had to hold back a groan as the other boy pretended to bat his eyelashes at him. Yes, Potter was being an idiot, but Malfoys did not groan. Throwing a glare this time, Draco sat back in his chair and waited for the fool to continue making his point. "Anyways, yes, I remember Defense. I was the one being attacked after all. Still, We it is possible Dumbledore simply made a mistake in his hiring policies."
"But couldn't he have sensed that, that thing? I mean, he is the Headmaster. And I doubt something nasty like that could get through the wards without permission." Bones interrupted, earning a frown from Draco. She did make a good point…
"As I said, he might have made a mistake. That thing is latched onto Quirrel, so it is possible that in allowing Quirrel in he inadvertently allowed it in. Also, we can't be completely sure Dumbledore can see the same things as us. From what little we could find in the library, it is a very rare skill." They all nodded their assent to this. Draco hadn't been able to find anything that suggested otherwise either. "So basically, Quirrell could just be a mistake, but a giant three headed dog? There's no way something like that just waltzed into Hogwarts without being let in. i saw a mention about Cerberi in one of the books I got from Diagon Alley while shopping for school. While not always vicious, they are dark enough to warrant the wards preventing it from passing. The only way I can think it would get past is if the Headmaster-who should have the authority- let it in."As Potter finished speaking, the whole group, except Weasley who was busy stuffing his face with food, fell into contemplative silences. If the Headmaster was allowing something as dangerous as a giant three headed dog into the school, with children, then there was a reason. Draco was just about to suggest that when Lovegood decided to speak up in her dreamy voice
"Trapdoor." The whole group gave the girl odd looks, except Potter.
"Yeah, Hermione said something about that. The dog was standing on a trap door." Draco smirked. Of course bloody Granger would notice something like that. Only she would bother to look at the feet of a giant three headed dog trying to eat her. Well, except Lovegood apparently. Then again, the bronze eyed girl always seemed to know things she shouldn't. In fact, Draco could almost swear she had known Filch would appear before he actually did. Either way, a trapdoor underneath a monstrous beast like that could only mean one thing.
"It's guarding something. That's why Dumbledore let it in." They all nodded. It was obvious really. Then Bones spoke up.
"But what? What could possibly warrant not only such heavy protection, but also to risk putting such a beast in a school full of children like us? Harry's right, It's mad." At that, Potter smiled.
"Thanks Susan. Although, we can figure that out later. What I'm more interested in right now is Nott." Weasley finally looked up at the name of the coward, speaking through a mouth full of food.
"Thaf, bloofy toward? Kif his aff!" For a moment, everybody was silent as they all stared at the redhead. He didn't seem to notice, however, and returned to his meal, the call of food too hard to ignore for the glutton. Shaking his head, Draco turned back to the attentive part of the group.
"Anyways, you don't need to worry about Nott. He's been dealt with."Potter started to ask how, but was quickly cut off by a loud exclamation by Lovegood.
"Hehe, they look pretty!" Draco grinned. Sounded like the party had arrived. Turning in his seat, the blonde gestured at the commotion that was forming at the front of the hall. There, in all his cowardly glory, was Nott. His hair had been dyed a bright gold and was floating around his head as if he were a lion, and it his mane. His robes were a flamboyant scarlet, and written across his forehead were the words 'cowardly lion'. He even had whisker marks stretched across his blazing face as he marched up to the Slytherin table.
Crabbe and Goyle were both colored and marked as the tin man and scarecrow, although Draco couldn't remember which was which. Still, it was hilarious, and he was the one who had done it.
"Potter! Thought you'd get a last bit of revenge before they ship you off, did you!?" Draco had to work hard to stifle his laughter as Nott slammed his hands down on the table in rage and glared at Potter. This was too good!
"Me? I have nooooo idea what you're talking about, Nott. Nice makeup by the way." Draco quirked an eyebrow at the comment. Potter was going to have a lot of fun with this.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I'll be the one laughing when your train is pulling out of the station to drag your sorry self home." Wow, it took skill to pull off such a degrading tone, especially when in that getup.
Now why would I be on going home?" Potter mocked looking around as if to see if anyone would answer his question. When no one did, he turned his golden gaze back to the other boy. "It's not like someone tried to trick me into getting caught wandering around after hours. Right, Nott?" The Slytherin glared at Potter for a few moments, before turning around and storming away without another word. Watching him go, Potter leaned over to Draco without taking his eyes off the retreating boy's back. "So, Wizard of Oz? Really?" Draco shrugged in response.
"I had a rebellious stint a few years ago, and since my father hates pretty much everything muggle, I picked up a few things." Susan giggled at his response, before leaning over and asking quietly, "So if they're the tin man, scarecrow and cowardly lion, who's Dorothy?" Draco smirked, and the others at the table shuddered at the sight. "Parkinson." This answer brought more grins to the table. Pansy Parkinson was well known by most of the first year as a snooty, mean girl, who spent most of her time simpering over Draco and other rich pureblood heirs. Draco, for his own part, had done it because the aggravating witch had nearly gotten him caught by McGonagall when he was returning to the Slytherin quarters the previous night. He was looking forward to when she finally gave up on trying to get rid of the transformation and was forced to come up from the dungeons for class. It might even get the stick out of Granger's behind and make her laugh for once.
"How'd you do it?" Potter asked, trying to hide his eagerness. If he could pull off something like that… well, Harry doubted Hogwarts would have a bullying problem for long..
"My mother may have taught me a few tricks. Said she got them from a cousin of hers."
"Could you teach me?" Draco shook his head, smirking at the obvious desire in the question.
"Nah, family secrets. Only those with Black blood are allowed to know." Draco laughed at the defeated look on Potter's face at his answer. He looked like a kicked puppy dog. When Draco realized what he was doing though, he stopped abruptly. What was he doing? He shouldn't be sitting here, joking and messing about. The prank had been his revenge for Nott nearly getting him killed, even if it was inadvertent. He wasn't trying to make friends. his face turned cold, becoming an expressionless mask. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to class." Draco stood and left the hall quickly, leaving the others to stare after him in confusion.