different | h. potter

13

Hogwarts had never established much of a popularity system; everyone got along well enough and even the most disliked students were never considered 'unpopular' - that is, until now. Thanks to his new title of Hogwarts Triwizard Champion, Cedric Diggory, who had previously been well-liked for his good looks and position of captain and seeker of the Hufflepuff Quidditch, quickly became the most admired individual among the Hogwarts student population. Harry Potter, however, became the subject of utter loathing for the same reason.

Draco was absolutely delighted that the rest of the school finally shared his views.

"Ah, look boys, it's the champion," he said to Crabbe and Goyle, the moment he spotted Potter during the first Care of Magical Creatures lesson since the champion selection. "Got your autograph books? Better get a signature now, because I doubt he's going to be around much longer ... half the Triwizard champions have died ... how long d'you reckon you're going to last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet." 

Hagrid conveniently emerged from the back of his cabin just then, sparing Potter from further harassment. He was carrying a tower of crates, each containing a large Blast-Ended Skrewt. To the class's horror, Hagrid had informed them that the reason the Skrewts had been killing each other was an excess of pent-up energy, and that the solution would be for each of the class to fix a leash on a Skrewt and take it for a short walk.

"Take this thing for a walk?" Draco repeated in disgust, staring at one of the boxes. "And where exactly are we supposed to fix the leash? Around the sting, the blasting end or the sucker?"

"Roun' the middle," said Hagrid, demonstrating. "Er - yeh might want ter put on yer dragon-hide gloves, jus' as an extra precaution, like. Harry - you come here an' help me with this big one ..."

"I would rather die than get anywhere near those things," Pansy stated. No one responded, but considering the way they were all eyeing the crates, it was obvious that they agreed.

Cassia had chosen the smallest Skrewt that she could find, which didn't make much of a difference, as the creatures had all grown to be over three feet long, and extremely powerful. No longer shell-less and colourless, they had developed a kind of thick, greyish shiny armour. They looked like a cross between giant scorpions and elongated crabs - but still without recognisable heads or eyes. If they were hard to control before, it was nothing compared to how they were now.

"Alright," Cassia grunted, struggling to hold her Skrewt still, "Let's not be difficult-"

"Here, let me," Draco offered, gripping its thrashing limbs tightly, giving Cassia access to its middle.

Together, they managed to fasten the leash around the Skrewt's waist without any casualties. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for others; a few feet away from them, Blaise, Theo, and Pansy were wrestling furiously with their Skrewt until it shot forwards several yards with a bang, leaving the trio in a groaning heap on the ground.

"An excellent start to the week, wouldn't you agree?" Cassia chortled at the sight.

Theo sent Draco a nasty glare as he said, "Absolutely."

~

The following week, Draco rushed into the Great Hall for breakfast and plopped down on the bench beside Cassia clumsily. Before anyone could utter a word, he fished something out of his bag, and set it down on the table in front of Cassia, reaching back to retrieve four more and placing them before the others. It was a badge, whose message, written in bold red letters, read:

Support CEDRIC DIGGORY - 

the REAL Hogwarts Champion!