No Belonging | Draco Malfoy

Halloween

Over the last few weeks, Draco had settled into the daily routine of classes and throwing occasional insults to Potter or Weasley. He had grown a closer connection with most of the Slytherin house, especially Blaise; the two were now almost as un-separable as Crabbe and Goyle. He had found lessons the first term reasonably easy, a few classes were more challenging such as Astronomy because Draco simply had no interest in space; he had more important things to worry about. He was determined to beat Granger in the end of year test for potions, and with the extra tuition Snape had given him weekly, he stood a chance.

It was 5pm on Halloween and the group were heading up from the common room to the great hall for the Halloween feast. Spirits were high as Draco laughed at Pansy whom Blaise was playfully mocking. The hall as always was decorated to perfection, jack-o-lanterns were floating in the ceiling which tonight featured an eerie image of the full moon. The long house tables were equally decorated, full of food to feast on.

The group sat around the middle of the Slytherin table, along with some other first years. Immediately, they started tucking into the feast, Draco struggled whilst trying to pull the leg from the large roasted chicken infront of him, almost falling off his seat when it eventually gave in.

Blaise stood up and offered the tray next to him loaded with pigs in blankets to the group "Want some?"

"No, I'm good thanks" Draco called over the loud bustling of the fellow students. However, Crabbe took two big handfuls, almost making his plate topple over and Blaise returned to his seat.

They sat in silence for awhile, devouring their food, then Pansy whispered, "You never eat much Draco..." Blaise looked up from his plate obviously hearing Pansy's observation.

Draco didn't know what to respond. He knew he was skinny, but he had never had a great appetite since he was young. After all he thought it was healthier being like him than someone like Crabbe. Although Draco disliked people confronting him, he knew Pansy meant no harm, he had learnt she was a little to honest and outspoken at times. He decided to pretend Pansy said nothing and took a toffee apple from the tray to the left of him for desert.

Just as Draco was about to crunch into the apple, the Hall doors suddenly swung open and Professor Quirrell, his defence against the dark arts teacher, came running through. The whole hall fell silent and every single eye was watching Quirrell sprint to the centre of the hall and scream:

"Troll – in the dungeons- thought you ought to know!"

With that Quirrell rapidly dropped to the floor, after making himself faint with fear. There was a moment of complete silence, before utter panic set in. Draco along with everyone else started screaming and leapt up from their seats.

"Silence!" Dumbledore echoed his voice like thunder, "Prefects, lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately!"

Slightly panicking still, the group exited the hall following their Prefect a tall boy in the fifth year.

"I don't want to sound stupid, but isn't the troll in the dungeons and our common room is too?" Pansy questioned.

"I hadn't thought of that" Blaise gasped.

"We'll be safe once we get behind the portrait" Draco muttered, hoping he was correct. He could see the other houses heading up the staircases, away from the troll and they were heading down towards it. He was rather relieved when Snape caught up with them and stayed until they were all safely tucked away behind the portrait.

Normally, after dinner the group were in the routine of going to bed but due to finishing early, and it was Halloween they decided to sit around the fireplace on the green velvet armchairs.

"I wonder if they'll catch it" Blaise started the conversation.

"I heard trolls are really stupid" Goyle remarked.

"Like you!" Crabbe sniggered.

"Lets play a game!" Pansy shrieked, eager to keep them entertained.

"Do we have to" Draco groaned. To be honest he would have rather gone to bed early, he could've done with the extra sleep.

"Sounds good, what shall we play?" Blaise questioned. Draco frowned slightly that Blaise agreed with the idea, maybe he could have snuck off but now he had no chance.

"Hmm... how about, Truth or Dare!" Pansy excitedly called.

"No please, don't you have some girly friends to play with?" Draco groaned again.

"You are my girly friend" Pansy chuckled. Draco leant forward to reach a magazine on the glass coffee table in the center and simultaneously threw it at Pansy. The rest of the group laughed as Pansy shrieked "Owww!" Although his friends could be annoying, Draco was glad he had them, they almost made him forget that in a couple of weeks he would be back home for winter break.

"Right, I'll go first, Goyle, truth or dare?" Blaise asked.

"Truth" Goyle muttered.

"What do you like more, cake or Crabbe?" Blaise laughed.

"Easy, cake" Goyle acclaimed. Crabbe looked disappointed and punched him lightly on the shoulder, "Sorry" Goyle apologised, "Truth or dare, Pansy?"

"Dare!" Pansy exclaimed, over excited by the game.

"Hmm, I dare you too burn that magazine in the fire" Goyle pointed.

Hesitantly, Pansy grabbed the magazine, glanced around the room to make sure nobody was watching and chucked it into the flames, "Easy" she called. Draco watched the shiny magazine pages slowly combust into ash, almost transfixed by the flames.

"Draco, truth or dare?" Pansy questioned and made Draco lose focus on the flames.

"Umm...truth" Draco muttered, annoyed he was even playing, a truth required the least amount of effort.

"Who's your favorite friend?" Pansy asked.

Draco thought for a moment before he spoke "That's too hard, not fair, I can't decide" he moaned, "Give me another one?".

"Uhh fine" Pansy sighed, "Who do you hate the most?".

"That's easy, Harry Potter" Draco called. Truthfully, he hated too many people to count but Potter was the one who boiled his blood the most.

The group of friends continued to play until everyone slowly started retreating to their dormitories. The boys said goodnight to Pansy and entered their room.

"Why is she in our group again?" Draco groaned as they each got ready for bed.

"Leave her be, she's cool really" Blaise joked.

"I suppose" Draco sighed as he climbed into his bed and just as he was about to close the curtains there was faint knock on the door.

"Sorry, just thought I'd let you know they caught the troll" Terence popped out from behind the door.

Blaise whom had stuck his head out from the curtains questioned, "That's a relief, where was it?"

"In the girl's bathroom, its quite a funny story really, you'll never guess who found it!" Terence had now fully revealed himself as he entered the room.

"Who?" Draco quickly responded, intrigued for the answer.

"Potter and Weasley, they caught it trying to kill Granger, somehow they managed to knock it out clean!" Terence chuckled.

However Draco found nothing amusing about the news, "What a surprise" he sarcastically groaned.

Confused, Blaise asked, "How on Earth did those idiots manage that? Aren't trolls like 12ft?"

"Trolls are pretty stupid" Goyle mentioned.

"Yeah it probably just slipped in shock," Crabbe chuckled, "after seeing Potter's ugly face!"

"Probably, anyway goodnight guys, I've got to let the rest of the dorms know" Terence stated before leaving the room.

"That's just what I needed, famous Potter defeating a troll in his first year, no doubt everyone will be sucking up to him tomorrow" Draco moaned as he pulled the curtains across his bed and drifted into another restless night sleep.