Small Doses [Draco Malfoy]

4

Ella entered Lupins class to see a large wardrobe that shook in its place. All the students stood in a group in front of it.

"Intriguing inst it? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?" Lupin said approaching the wardrobe.

"That's a boggart, that is," Thomas replied.

"Very good, Mr Thomas. Now can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?" Lupin asked looking over the students.

"Your worst fears," Ella asnwered, she was a bit nervous as she didn't know what her worst fear was.

"That's right Wood. Luckily a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice it now. Without wands please. After me, Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!"

"This class is Riddikulus," Draco mumbled.

Ella stood nearby, she shook her head. He always has to start things in every class.

"Very loud and clear. Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!"

"So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain. Neville, would you join me? Please?" Lupin asked looking at the chubby boy.

Neville had professor Snape appear from the closet.

"Riddikulus!"

Snape was in a grandmas clothes. Everyone laughed. Everyone formed a line. Taking turns. The room filled with laughter.

Ella was next. The snake turned into her parents. She disappointed them. She wasn't as good as Oliver, she wasn't smart as him or brave as him.

Lupin looked at her concerned. "Come on, Wood."

She lifted her wand and said the words, "Riddikulus!"

Her parents turned into clowns. Harry was next in which it turned into a dementor. Lupin leaped in front of him and it changed into the moon. He shouted the spell and it became a balloon.

"Class dismissed!"

Before Ella could leave the classroom, she heard a familiar voice talking smack behind her back. She packed her things slower so she could listen in.

"She's scared of her parents. What a loser," Draco snickered with his friends.

Ella decided to let it go this time. She felt like every second she was fighting with him and it was all because she was fighting back for once. She left the classroom, hiding behind a pillar.

"Where did she go?" Crabbe asked as they walked by the pillar.

"She couldn't have gone far," Pansy added in.

"Forget it, let's go," Draco said huffing, he didn't know why he felt it was his life goal to torture the Wood girl. He felt more intrigued to torture her this year since she started to fight back, it was interesting.

Once they passed, Ella ran off in the other direction. She ended up outside in the courtyard. She sat under a tree and with a heavy sigh, pulled out a book and tried to relax.

She heard someone clear their throat. She looked up from her book to see Draco standing in front of her. She looked both ways. His friends nowhere in sight.

"Where's your posse?" Ella asked with a raised brow.

"They are at dinner. Why aren't you at dinner?" Draco asked as he crouched down to her level where she sat on the floor with her back to the tree.

"I'm not hungry. Why do you care?" Ella asked putting her book away.

He scoffed. "I don't. I think you're not hungry because of what happened at Lupins class."

Ella rolled her eyes pushing herself up to her feet, leaning on the tree. He stood up too.

"And how is that your business?"

"There's nothing special about your brother. His a push over and an overachiever so if you think your parents are more proud of him then you then you're wrong," he said rambling on as he ran a hand through his hair.

Ella smiled slightly. "You're the first person ever say that," she said shaking her head. "I have to go."

Draco stood there for a moment after she left. He shook his head, walking off in the other direction.