The Cowardly Lion (Book 1)

8: Of Hermione and Halloween

By the time October rolled around, Draco had gotten over the enormous three-headed dog that Hogwarts was housing, and was now used to his new role by Harry's side. He felt more at ease than he had felt in his entire life, walking beside the messy black-haired boy who enjoyed ruffling up Draco's carefully gelled hair, and Draco didn't even mind that he was doing it. Crabbe and Goyle were enormously disappointed that they hadn't been expelled for the midnight duel fiasco, but Harry seemed to think it was a great adventure, although he made sure not to discuss it too much when Draco was around, as Draco did not think of it the same way.

Ron wasn't too bad, either, but he seemed to prefer to spend his time annoying Granger. Privately, Draco thought it was because Ron wanted to get back at her for that night. For that matter, Draco blamed the bushy-haired witch for dragging him along. Though, logically, he knew this was Crabbe's and Goyle's fault, this did not stop him from glowering at Granger from where she sat, in Charms, beside Ron; he and Harry sat immediately behind them.

They were trying to levitate feathers. Draco hadn't tried yet, but the spell was so simple he was fairly confident in his ability to levitate it. Harry, meanwhile, was poking him. Granger and Ron were busy arguing over feathers, of all things. Draco wanted to see the disaster that it would end up as, when Ron eventually ended up losing his temper.

"What, Harry? I'm trying to watch a disaster about to happen," groaned Draco, turning to face the messy black-haired boy. Harry bit his lip.

"What - oh, you mean Hermione and Ron? When will he learn that she's simply just a Ravenclaw in disguise?" Harry said, noticing the duo up front. "I was wondering what the spell was, again," he admitted sheepishly, biting his lip.

"Oh, it's wingardium leviosa," Draco replied. "How did Quidditch practice with Wood go?" Harry had received his broomstick, a Nimbus Two Thousand, while Draco had been eating breakfast with him, and though Draco had chosen not to watch - he had bad memories of broomsticks - he supported Harry's newfound love for Quidditch.

"Wingardium leviosa!" shouted Ron, waving his arms wildly.

"Oh, it went fine," Harry said, aiming his wand at the feather in front of him. "Is that really how you're supposed to do it - Ron looks like a madman."

"No, I don't think so," Draco said conversationally. "Come on, it must've been more than fine, you can tell me! I will be coming to watch your first-ever game, won't I?"

"You're saying it wrong," Hermione was saying sharply, clearly annoyed with Ron. "It's win-gar-dium levi-o-sa."

"You do it then, if you're so clever," Ron retorted, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well, it was only our first practice, so Wood just told me the basics of Quidditch - did you know there's a black ball called a Bludger that tries to attack the players?"

"Yes, but it better not attack you," Draco said, eyes still trained on Hermione and Ron. "I'd hex it into next week."

"Wingardium Leviosa!" said Hermione, flicking her wand, and her feather hovered about four feet above their heads. She smiled at it proudly.

"Oh, well done!" exclaimed Professor Flitwick. "Look, everyone, Miss Granger's done it!"

Harry, Ron, and Draco left together after class, Ron's face still bright red from Hermione showing him up early in class.

"It's no wonder no one can stand her," he spat in Harry's direction. Draco didn't respond; he sounded an awful lot like Crabbe, and he didn't want to be shouted at.

"Mm-hmm," Harry replied, sounding as though he could care less.

"She's a nightmare, honestly," continued Ron, and Hermione bumped into Draco and Harry, her face streaked with tears.