The Exchange – Harry Potter Madness
Haley awoke with a start that next morning. A grin spread out across her face. "I can fly!"
Quickly Haley got dressed, excitement running through her veins. She hurriedly locked her door, just as Draco was leaving his room.
"Haley-"
"Sorry, Draco. No time!" And just like that, Haley ran out of the common room, leaving a stunned Draco.
The raven-haired girl raced to the Great Hall, not caring who was staring at her fly by. She sped right up to the teacher's table and stopped right in front of Professor McGonagall, much to the elderly lady's surprise.
"Mister Potter, you're extremely energetic this morni-"
"Professor! I can fly!" Haley panted.
"What are you talking about, dear boy?" McGonagall tossed a concerned look at Professor Flitwick, who was sitting next to her. The smaller teacher's face mirrored her own.
"I mean, Quidditch! Saturday's match! I can play!" Haley was grinning ear to ear by now.
"How on Earth-"
"Last night, Professor Snape found a temporary antidote. If I can use it on Saturday-"
"You can play in Saturday's match…" Professor McGonagall finished.
Haley nodded with vigor, but then paused. "Wait. Has the team even practiced? You know, with their captain being gone?"
"Of course, Potter." The Transfiguration professor waved. "Dean Thomas has been given the role of temporary captain in your stead. I will not have my team out of shape."
"Ah. Good." The excitement returned to Haley's veins.
"How about you? Are you still fit to fly?"
"Do you really have to ask, Professor?" Haley smirked.
McGonagall smiled. "Then I suppose there's only one thing left to do." The Head of Gryffindor looked over at the other end of the table. "Severus?"
A tired-looking Snape turned at the sound of his name. "What?" he barked.
"Could you come here for a moment?" McGonagall called.
"Vile woman, you're the one calling me. You come here."
McGonagall's lips tightened. She managed to calm herself, though, and got up. Motioning Haley to follow, the two walked over to where Professor Snape was sitting.
"Good morning, Professor." Haley tried.
Snape only sneered.
"Severus, news is you've found a temporary antidote for Mister Potter."
"What of it?"
"If that's the case, Potter here might be able to play in our little match-up tomorrow afternoon."
"Well if that's the case, Minerva, then no. There is no antidote."
"Severus!"
"Professor!" the two females frowned simultaneously.
"What's all the hullabaloo?"
All three turned to see the Headmaster smiling at them.
"Albus, Severus has found a temporary antidote to Potter's problem."
"I-"
"That means," she cut the Potions professor off, "Potter can play in tomorrow's Quidditch match."
"Severus, is this true?"
After a moment of silence, Snape finally nodded. "But with the limited supply of materials I have for it, Potter's return won't be for long."
Haley's hope deflated a little in these words.
"An estimate?" Dumbledore smiled.
"Considering the extensive research performed last night, I'd say I have enough for…one hour, give or take."
"That's perfect!" Haley's grin returned.
"Are you sure, Potter?" Professor McGonagall tried. "You'll be cutting it very close."
"I'm positive." The girl turned to the Headmaster. "Please, Professor. Can I? I just want one moment of normalcy back in my life. I just want to fly."
"This'll be your only chance to do it, Potter. I will not waste more supplies on a potion I know doesn't work." Snape warned.
"Of course! I can think of no other reason to change back, if only for a moment." Haley urged.
"Then there you have it," Dumbledore chimed. "You may change back for your match as long as you're aware of the consequences if you don't finish the match on time."
"Well aware." Haley nodded sternly.
"On that note, let's all enjoy our breakfast, shall we?" Dumbledore nodded before taking his seat.
"Thank you all, Professors." Haley grinned. With that, she turned around to face a fairly empty dining area. She took her seat, giddy with the idea of being able to play.
'Finally! Something good! Something normal!'
"You're awfully perky today, Haley."
The girl looked up. "Oh, hello Leir. I, um- I'm just excited is all."
"About what?"
"I… get to go, um, home for little bit this Saturday." That was her story and that's what she was going to stick with.
"Oh that's wonderful!" Leir smiled. "I'm sure you miss your family."
"Of course."
"That's enough to make anyone perky, I suppose." Leir looked over to the teacher's table before he leaned in towards Haley. "That is, anyone but Snape. He looks positively livid."
Haley looked at the Potions professor. The man looked completely exhausted and highly irritable. She worried for the person who suffers from his wrath today. But she had to laugh. Leir did make a point.
"I'll have to remember to stay out of his way," Haley noted.
"As will I." Leir smiled. "Well, enjoy your morning. I'll see you around, Haley." The boy waved.
"Bye, Leir." She smiled as he walked over to the Hufflepuff table.
"Is that true?"
Haley stirred in hearing the voice. She turned to see Pansy standing a few feet away from her. "Is what true?"
"You're leaving on Saturday?"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Parkinson, but it's only for a little while."
"That is a disappointment," Pansy arched an eyebrow. "I wish you'd leave for good."
Haley scoffed and turned away from the girl.
However, Pansy continued on. "So does that mean that Potter boy is coming here?"
"Obviously." Haley rolled her eyes.
"It'll be interesting to see how things have changed in the Golden Boy's absence…"
Curious and confused, Haley turned back to look at Pansy. The other girl was looking at the ground, her forefinger tapping her bottom lip. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Pansy snapped out of whatever reverie she was in and looked back up into emerald eyes. "Simply this." The girl swept forward and took a seat next to Haley. "Draco's different when Pottybrain's around."
"Different how?"
"Let's just say he retreats into a darker place. The Draco you see now is not the same one when Scarhead's here. It's best you leave him be."
"How do I know you're not just trying to break up our friendship?"
"Think what you want, Jones. I'm telling you now, though. You will get hurt."
Haley leaned back away from the girl beside her. "Excuse me." She got up from her seat and as she walked away, she could still feel Pansy's eyes on her.
"Haley-"
The girl didn't respond for she was lost in the thoughts that haunted her. And for the second time that morning, Draco was denied the company of his friend.
---
"Harry Potter is coming back!" Colin Creevey grinned. The younger boy was wandering throughout the school with his ever-present camera, exclaiming the news to anyone who would listen.
Haley watched as the boy cheered on, snapping pictures of people's various reactions. From what she could tell, the news had spread like wildfire. And when the news hit the Slytherin table during their lunch hour, there were mixed feelings from all ends. Some people were excited that Potter's presence would make tomorrow's match more interesting. Others were upset, knowing that because Potter was a magnificent Seeker, their chances of winning the next day were pretty slim. But when the news reached a certain Head Boy, Haley couldn't read his reaction at all. In fact, for the rest of that day, Draco seemed lost in his own head. His expression was stern, his demeanor rather cold. He didn't speak a word to anyone.
Haley frowned. She had to wonder if Pansy was right. Maybe Draco really was a different person when Harry Potter was around. A darker person. And then she was suddenly reminded of a conversation she had with Ethan not too long ago. He claimed that Draco had two different sides as well. If Ethan had said it, and Pansy had seconded it, then… just what was this other "darker" side to Draco like?
Haley had to find out.
---
"Rumor has it, Harry Potter's coming back to play in tomorrow's Quidditch match," Blaise whispered to the girl next to him. They were in Divination class and their Professor was currently trying to predict tomorrow's weather conditions by wearing a hat with an obscene amount of plumage.
"Huh? Oh yeah." Haley responded half-heartedly. "Snape found a temporary antidote."
"Shouldn't you be overjoyed then?" Blaise tried again to shake his friend out of her reverie. "Even though it's temporary, you can go back to being you! Not only that, you get to play the game you claim to be so fond of!"
"What's Draco like when I'm around?"
Blaise blinked at the sudden change of subject. "Shouldn't you know? I mean, you two are-"
"I mean, as me." Haley tried again.
"Oh. That you. Well…" The boy trailed.
"He's dangerous," Ethan jumped in.
"He is not dangerous," the other boy defended. "You're just saying that because-"
"He is dangerous and you know it."
"Come off it!"
Ethan turned back to the girl. "Harry," he said quietly. "If you do change back, stay away from Malfoy."
Haley was confused. "But why-"
"Pay no attention to his rubbish, Harry. Ethan's just acting like a fool right no-"
"A fool, am I?" The hazel-eyed boy's voice began to rise.
Blaise abruptly stood. "A fool you are! You have to be a fool to do what you did to Draco!"
"Boys?" Professor Trelawny took her hat off and looked at the two arguing friends.
"You know about that?"
"Of course I know! I'm not the fool!"
"You are a fool! He's dangerous! You, of all people, would know so!"
"He might act differently, but he's hardly dangerous!"
"Boys-" Trelawny tried again. By now, everyone was staring at Haley's table.
"Fine! Different! Darker!"
"Darker? Fine! But not in the way you're implying! You're just trying to keep them from-"
"BOYS!" Trelawny boomed. All eyes fell upon the disgruntled teacher. "Both of you, a night's detention for disrupting my class. Out. Now."
The two boys quickly packed their things and carried on. Even out of the room, the entire class could tell that their squabble only picked up again in the hall. Haley was left even more confused than ever. 'Can't anyone give me a clear answer?' The girl slumped in her seat, trying not to think about all that was said today, and instead focused on the array of feathers atop the Divination professor's head.
Despite herself, Haley had to smile. "Ridiculous…"
---
Haley was currently hiding out in Hermione's room. She had had enough with hearing her real name being called throughout the halls for she was growing very tempted to look, and that would only give cause for suspicion. Hermione had rationalized that Harry Potter was the school's celebrity so of course his return would only bring excitement to his fans. In hearing this, Haley merely sighed. She wished the fans would just give it a rest and realize that beyond vanquishing the Dark Lord, Harry Potter was just a normal teen trying to make it through school.
The Slytherin collapsed onto her friend's bed. "Where's Ron?"
Hermione took a seat next to the other girl. "With you coming back to play, Dean got excited and called for an emergency practice. But I also heard that that's exactly what the Slytherins were trying to do, too."
"What's the big deal? I mean, I'm excited about playing, sure, but why is everyone else getting so riled up about it? They've never gotten so hyped about any other game we've had so far."
"Well… there've been rumors. Seamus actually remembered that time you flew with Ron and him. He's started a rumor that the real Harry's actually been training at a school keen on Quidditch players. He thinks that Haley is apart of that school as well., since she plays so well."
"That's ridiculous-"
"There've been other rumors as well. That perhaps you've actually been recruited by the Aurors to fight off any left over Death Eaters and you're only playing in tomorrow's match because it's your day off."
"That's even more ridiculous than the first one!" Haley cried, exasperated.
"And of course, there's the girls and the occasional boy that's just excited that you're back since you provide them a sense of eye candy."
Haley offered no reply to this. Merely a deep, red blush.
"Face it, Harry. The mere mention of your name can spark even the slightest of uproars."
"Well, I know one person who isn't so keen on my return…" the raven-haired girl sighed, dejectedly.
Hermione smirked. "Only one person can make you sigh like that. Malfoy?"
Haley sat up. "Three people said he's different when the real me is around. Three. It can't just be them making it up. In one form or another, they all agreed that he's 'darker.' Whatever that means."
"Darker?"
"Yes. Darker."
The Head Girl paused to think for a moment. "Have you ever talked to Malfoy about it? About you, even?"
"No. Of course not. It's weird, isn't it? Talking about yourself. How can I talk to him about me without sounding biased to anything he has to say? Plus, it's awkward hearing what people say about me. Why do you think I'm hiding out here?"
"You're so modest, Harry. You've done amazing things and yet your ego is practically non-existent. Ron on the other hand… he wins one game of wizard's chess against me and he exclaims it to the world." Haley smiled as Hermione rolled her eyes at the memory. "Anyway, maybe you should take the chance to find out how he really feels about the real you. And since you're friends, I'm sure his 'darker' side will be held at bay."
"Well, I've tried talking to him today. He's really been out of it after hearing of my return."
Hermione could only shrug. "I'm sure he has his reasons."
Haley lay back down on the bed. "Sure… Dark ones…"
---
When Haley entered the Slytherin common room, she immediately caught sight of Draco. He was currently with Blaise, who was seemingly doing all the talking. Whatever the pair might be talking about, it seemed serious. Blaise was the type who normally donned a light smile, but now there were no traces of the friendly smirk.
Haley frowned. 'Maybe I shouldn't bother them…'
However, the decision was made for her when a light tap came on her shoulder.
"Hello, Ethan."
"Hello." The boy rubbed the back of his neck. He looked to where Blaise was with Draco back to the girl. "You're still my friend, aren't you?"
"You and Blaise aren't friends?" Haley gaped.
"Well, maybe no so far as that, but I do know he's hardly in my favor." The dark-haired boy slumped into a nearby seat.
"Cheer up." Haley took a seat across from him. "I'm sure things will calm down and before you know it, Blaise and you will act as if nothing had happened."
"He has a point though. I am a fool."
"You are no-"
"But I am. I knew, probably from the very beginning, that I could never have you. This was only made more apparent when I figured out who you really are. And yet, I still hoped…"
"Ethan…" She didn't know what to say. What could she say?
"Well, enough of this humdrum. I think we've been spotted."
Haley followed Ethan's gaze. Draco was staring directly at the other boy, a feral look in his eyes. Blaise, on the other hand, was just shaking his head.
"I think this is where I take my leave," Ethan stood. "Detention with Madame Hooch. I think it'll be a night full of shoveling. Tomorrow's the big game after all." He smirked. "I hope you have fun 'back home', Miss Jones."
Haley smiled. "I'm sure I will. See you later, Ethan."
The boy just nodded and headed out of the room.
The girl debated whether or not she should go over to where Draco and Blaise were. Blaise would be leaving soon and she really didn't want to deal with a foul Draco. 'What's his problem with me? Sure we've had a number of quarrels in the past, with the occasional hexing and jinxing, but… does he really despise me that much?'
She thought back on her short time as Haley. She thought about all the fun she had with Draco; all the jokes that they shared and the words of friendship that were exchanged. 'If he truly despises me, then… this is the only time I have with him.' She thought she wanted to know what Draco was like when Harry Potter was around and she got a taste of it. But thinking back on everything that has happened, Haley realized that she wasn't ready to find out. She wasn't ready to give up what little friendship she had with him. She knew that the topic of Harry Potter would only upset him and she didn't want to spend the rest of her time annoyed with the boy.
Haley slumped back into her seat and scoffed. 'And this was supposed to be a good day, too…'
---
Late that night, a light knock came upon her door, but the girl was already resting up for the next day. When there was no response, Draco sighed. "Good night, Harry."
Author's Note/Disclaimer: I own naught Harry Potter and other related objects other than Ethan, Leir, and… well… this story. Muahahaha…
Tra la la. I have nothing to say about this chapter. Haha.
But yay! More than half of you responded with my monkey request! I especially liked how the flying monkey DarkRubberNeck slipped in so many flying monkeys so subtly. I almost didn't notice them at all. Hehe. Flying monkey. And I really do want to respond to all of your questions about where the heck this is going or why this was done and so on and so forth, but I fear that I might let too much slip. And I really don't think you want the story to be spoiled, do you? But I love all the speculation. It makes me happy. That and evil snowboards. Wait, what?