Chapter Three: I Hate the way you Treat my Friends
"I'm fed up with him, Parvati! I can't stand this endless torture with him any longer! I could have gotten into serious trouble today. If the teacher had been McGonagall or Snape, they would have murdered me!"
"Then consider yourself lucky. My arm hasn't felt the same since I did that detention. If it was in better condition, and there was no such thing as consequences, I'd hit that Draco Malfoy so hard he'd surely regret that he ever messed with us!"
I sighed, realizing that it was pointless now to challenge Malfoy. Parvati and I could only dream about what we wanted to do him. That's all it was though, a dream. Malfoy had the upper hand of being really cunning, being a Slytherin and all. I just didn't think that Parvati and I could reach to his level of intelligence. He had come up with a surprisingly good idea. I felt envious towards him, and this feeling only led me to become more miserable over what had happened.
"It's hopeless, Parvati," I said on the following Monday afternoon, as the two of us thought of ways to out do Malfoy. The sun was shining and I felt at peace lying on the soft green grass, sipping pumpkin juice and eating chocolate frogs, but inside me there was a grey cloud destroying that peace, and its name was Draco Malfoy.
"Oh, come on Lavender!" Parvati said, tossing the seventh Dumbledore Chocolate Frog card we'd gotten today. "It isn't as hopeless as you may feel. There's thousands of way's we can out do Malfoy. We just haven't thought of it yet. We just got to put our brains together and come up with something wonderful."
"We've already tried that," I said miserably.
I was glad that Parvati was so into trying, but to me the whole thing was pointless. We could only go so far, and right now I'd felt I'd gone as far as I could with the battle with Malfoy. I didn't want to tell Parvati straight away though.
A part of me still had that small glimmer of hope, the kind of hope that encourages you to just keep going. So I kept my mouth shut and listened to Parvati go on about just seeing how my next lesson was like, which was what I did. I can tell you now it changed my mind in seconds about what Parvati had said about going on.
In our third lesson of Charms, Flitwick assessed our ability to pour drinks into glasses, from the other side of the room this time. After that we moved on to mixing ingredients together, using cake mix ingredients. I can tell you right now that stirring isn't easy when you have to rely on magic. At least for a first timer, like I was.
"Come on, Ms Brown. If you can pour five drinks, this task should be a piece of cake," Professor Flitwick had said encouragingly.
I agreed with him on that, but with Draco Malfoy inches away from me, possibly plotting a little scheme, I was too frightened to do anything without him in my view, so I failed to concentrate on the task that was at hand. This didn't please me, or Flitwick.
"I'm sorry sir," I said miserably, at yet another failed attempt. "I don't know what's come over me."
I then heard a small laugh, and turned, realizing Draco was laughing at me. I glared, realizing that he understood that his presence was causing me to do badly. The thought annoyed me, so I decided to forget that he was there, and simply focus as hard as I could at stirring that spoon.
I blocked him out of my mind. The torture he had put me through, his face, even that stupid laugh of his. I waved my wand and the spoon began stirring like crazy. I stared in amazement, realizing it had worked. I had done it! Flitwick was equally impressed with me. Draco certainly wasn't, and all my happiness dropped there at the look on his face. I knew he wouldn't let me get away with it, and I was right.
"Good job today, Ms Brown, Mr. Malfoy," Flitwick sad, as we packed up our things. "You two are progressing very quickly, even for Advanced Charms students. I am very proud of you both, and look forward to seeing you on Friday afternoon."
I'm happy to say I escaped the classroom unscathed. I knew there was something wrong though. Malfoy wouldn't have let me escape that easily. As it so happens, he followed me. He followed me all the way to the Gryffindor tower. Well, he would have, but I stopped and turned around, sensing there was someone behind me.
"What do you want," I snapped staring at him.
As usual he had that stupid smirk on his face. I really wished he didn't look at me like that. It was bad enough that I knew he was already up to something. I just didn't know what yet, and frankly I didn't want to know. It was Draco Malfoy so it had to be something nasty.
"Oh nothing," he said simply, kicking the floor with his feet. "I just thought I'd follow you up here, you know. I need tips for being such a great student, like you."
I glared at him, realizing that once again all he wanted to do was taunt me. To me it seemed really pathetic, a real Slytherin type thing to do. So I did what any Gryffindor would do. I turned around and walked away. Big mistake!
"Hey Lavatory," he yelled. "Take this!"
I turned around, yet another stupid mistake, and could do nothing but watch as a tomato headed towards my direction, and splattered all over my face. He laughed wickedly, and walked away. All I did was stand there in shock for a while, before I ran off, all the way to the safety of the girl's dormitory, crying my eyes out.
I just couldn't take much more of Draco Malfoy. He may just be an ordinary guy, who wanted to feel loved, and there was nothing with that. But he was making me want to give up my education and just hide away in a hole or something. I didn't feel I was able to compete up to his standard of his little tricks. He was just way too cunning. I just wanted to give up and hide away from the world.
Fortunately, Parvati found me, buried under many sheets and pillows of my bed. It was lunch time, so I don't know why she came up to our room. Parvati was usually right on top of things. But I'm glad she found me.
"Its Malfoy again, isn't it?" she asked.
I nodded, but didn't look up. I felt ashamed enough that I had let him reduce me to being upset, let alone having him succeed at actually making me cry. That really made me mad, especially at myself. Parvati had different views on the situation though.
"It's not your fault at all, Lavender!" she exclaimed, shaking me. "It's all that Malfoy's fault! He's done this to you." She glared into space, obviously thinking about revenge. "His got not right to pick on you like he has been, and it's about time we teach that little slimy ferret a lesson."
"Thanks Parvati," I mumbled into the pillow, but she could still somehow hear. I got up, wiping my eyes, seeing her giving me an awkward smile. I returned it, looking out the window. "I just don't think I can cope much longer. I think I want to drop Advanced Charms."
"No!!" Parvati yelled, staring at me in shock. "Please, Lavender! You have to reconsider this! You can't just up and give up after three lessons! Draco may be the biggest pain the butt ever, but you can't just give up! We haven't tried our ideas yet. We haven't even attempted anything yet! Please don give up, Lavender! Don't let him win!"
I looked away, knowing that despite Parvati's determination to help me succeed in defeating Draco Malfoy, there seemed little point in me forcing myself through this torture that he was putting me through. So, I got up, and walked out, as bravely as I could, ignoring Parvati's cries of protest all the way to Professor Flitwick's office.
"Please, Lavender, I … I have the best plan! Just give me second … Lavender! Please don't knock on the door! This doesn't have to happen, we just need more time … Lavender!"
"Parvati, stop it," I said, turning to her. "I know this is properly the biggest mistake I've ever made, but you need to understand me for a moment. It may be the first week, I know that." I sighed deeply, taking in all the words I was saying to her. "I don't want to pull out by the time it's too late, so please understand that."
Parvati just stood there, staring at me, but her not responding clearly told me it was okay to continue on with my plan; no matter how much she hated it. So I knocked on Flitwick's door, walked in and sat down, while he examined Parvati and I with much curiosity. Parvati looked at me, making it clear that I should get it over with. So I took a deep breath.
"I want to drop advanced Charms," I announced. Professor Flitwick's reaction was nearly as bad as Parvati's, only for different reasons.
"Why Lavender?" he asked. "Where has this come from?"
"Well …" I began, not knowing exactly how to answer the question realistically. "I guess that in today's lesson, my poor performance has kind of discouraged me into continuing with it. I feel that I may not be able to live up to the expectations of Advanced Charms."
"Oh Lavender," he said laughing. "A few mistakes doesn't mean anything. You really are gifted at charms and it'd be a shame to see you leave after one lesson"
"It's just how I feel sir," I replied, realizing Professor Flitwick really did think I was brilliant and Charms, and thought my reason wasn't good enough.
"Well, Lavender, I think that you should wait until next lesson to see how you feel. If, by the end of the lesson you still feel that way, then I'll consider letting you go."
Parvati and I left his office, just as the bell for the last two lessons of the day went. Flitwick's words seemed to have given her more encouragement to get revenge on Draco Malfoy. As we passed the dungeons, having spent most of the walk from Flitwick's office in silence, she turned to me, her face glowing.
"I'm going to get revenge on that slimy ferret, if it's the last thing I do," she declared.
I smiled, realizing more than ever, what a kind friend she was. Unfortunately, one of Draco's buddies overheard what Parvati had said. I'm assuming this because of what happened at dinner that night.
"Hey Harry, long time no see."
At dinner, I arrived fairly early, but I was still surprised to see that Parvati was no where in sight. So I sat beside Harry and Ron, who didn't seem to mind my appearance.
"Hey Lavender," Harry said, staring into space.
I couldn't help but notice Ron stuffing his face like no tomorrow. I felt kind of disgusted, but couldn't help but think of how cute he could be. I thought that if I ever did get together with him, the first thing I was going to change was his eating behaviors.
"Where's Hermione?" I asked; noticing she was nowhere to be seen. Ron mumbled something that sounded along the lines of 'library'. Harry however, stared darkly into space.
"I don't care," he said, finally brought back to life. He picked up his fork and began stuffing meat pie into his mouth. I raised my eyebrows, wondering what was going on. Before I could pry more into the subject, I heard a sudden cry, a cry that sounded a lot like Parvati. I was right about that.
I got up from the table and ran around towards the Slytherin table where I had heard her. I gasped in horror to find her standing there, soaking from head to toe. I stared in shock, completely ignoring Draco Malfoy, Pansy and all the other Slytherin's there who were laughing at Parvati.
"He threw water at me!" Parvati choked.
I just grabbed her arm and dragged her all the way up to our common room. I waited there while she changed in the girls dormitory, before emerging, completely dry. At least most of her.
"I don't know why they did it to me," she said, sitting beside me. "I was just walking past, one of them called my name and next thing I know I'm covered in water!"
"What an idiot!"
I looked up to see Hermione walking through the portrait hole. We stared at her, wondering how she knew.
"Ron told me," she answered angrily, reading the looks on our faces. "I've had it up to here with Draco Malfoy picking on you two."
I looked at Parvati in alarm, while she just looked guilty.
"Sorry, I had to tell her," she confessed. I didn't blame Parvati for what she did though. She was only looking out for me, and Hermione was smart. She obviously figured she'd be able to help with the great revenge plan.
"I'm going to find Malfoy and give him a piece of my mind," Hermione growled, interrupting my thoughts.
"Hermione, wait!" I cried, getting up. It was too late though. Hermione had already managed to escape the room before I noticed. I sighed, looking over at Parvati miserably. "This is only going to cause more conflict between Malfoy and us," I said, and boy was I right.
For the next two days and a half before my next Advanced Charms lesson, Hermione and Parvati were forced to face Malfoy's wrath. After Hermione encountered him, she had food thrown at her every meal time, fell out of her chair as Malfoy was pulling it back with magic, as well as having things summoned out of her bag.
It was okay for her though, she figured out a few counter spells. Poor Parvati was having glasses of water chasing her around the school. As lunch time ended on Friday, one had finally caught up with her.
After I made sure she was okay, I stormed all the way to Advanced Charms class. When Flitwick wasn't watching, I grabbed Malfoy's collar, looked him right in the eye and snapped, "I hate the way you treat my friends!"