The Hogwarts Founders Return

chapter seventeen Transfiguration is not a form of punishment

After a class Malfoy was arguing with Harry, Ron and Hermione. When the three turned their back Malfoy pulled out his wand.

BANG!

Several people screamed- Harry felt something white-hot graze the side of his face- he plunged his hand into his robes for his wand, but before he's even touch it, he heard a second loud BANG, and a roar that echoed through the entrance hall.

"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"

Harry spun around. Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out, and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing.

There was a terrified silence in the entrance hall. Nobody but Moody was moving a muscle. Moody turned to look at Harry- at least, his normal eye was looking at Harry; the other one was pointing to the back of his head.

"Did he get you?" Moody growled. His voice was low and gravelly.

"No," said Harry, "missed."

"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted.

"Leave- what?" Harry said, bewildered.

"Not you-him!" Moody growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Crabbe, who had just frozen, about to pick up the white ferret. It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical and could see out of the back of his head.

Moody started to limp toward Crabbed, Goyle, and the ferret, which was terrified and squeak and took off, streaking toward the dungeons.

"I don't think so!" roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again- it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounce upward once more.

"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's backs turned," growled Moody as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do..."

The ferret flew through the air, its legs and tail flailing helplessly.

"Never- do- that- again-" said Moody, speaking each word as the ferret hit the stone floor and bounced upward again.

"Professor Moody!" said a shocked voice.

Professor McGonagall and Professor J. Potter was coming down the marble staircase with both of her arms full of books.

"Hello Professor McGonagall, Professor Potter," said Moody calmly, bouncing the ferret higher and higher.

James laughing into the pile of books he is carrying.

"What- what are you doing?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air.

"Teaching," said Moody.

"Teach- Moody is that a student?" shrieked Professor McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms.

"Yep," said Moody.

James dropped his books laughing.

"No!" cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek blond hair all over his now brilliantly pink face. He got to his feet, wincing.

"Now moody in trouble," whispered James to Harry.

"Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" said Professor McGonagall weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mention it, yeah," said Moody, scratching his chin unconcernedly, "but I thought a good sharp shock-"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"

"I'll do that, then," said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike.

Malfoy, whose pale eyes were still watering with pain and humiliation, looked malevolently up at Moody and muttered something in which the words "my father" were distinguishable.

"Oh yeah?" said Moody quietly, limping forward a few steps, the dull clunk of his wooden leg echoing around the hall. "Well, I know your father of old, boy.... You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son.... you tell him that from me.... Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes," said Malfoy resentfully.

"Another old friend," growled Moody. "I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape... Come on, you...."

And he seized Malfoy's upper arm and marched him towards the dungeons.

Professor McGonagall stared anxiously after them for a few moments, then waved her wand at her fallen books, causing them to soar up into the air and back into her arms. Then stormed away.

James picked up all his books he was carrying. Then he glanced over at Harry.

"Great now she is in a bad mood and I'm going to have to deal with her all day, your mom says hi by the way she said on break go up to see her she misses you it hard for her to climb all these stairs even though she wants to come down to see everyone," said James. Leaving to follow McGonagall.

"Don't talk to me," Ron said quietly to Harry and Hermione as they sat down at the Gryffindor table a few minutes later, surrounded by excited talk on all sides about what just happened.

"Why not?" said Hermione in surprise.

"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever," said Ron, his eyes closed and an uplifted expression on his face. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret..."