The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 5

Everyone was spreading the rumor as fast as they could during dinnertime that Harry Potter made it on the Slytherin Quidditch team. Draco heard firsthand that it was true.

''McGonagall took me up to Professor Snape's office and he decided that I would join since my father and everyone else in Gryffindor are apparently so talented that Slytherin hasn't won in years. Even though I'm the only first year to have ever been on a team, it's probably only because Snape just really wants to win the House Cup.''

Draco smiled in what he hoped was a supportive way. ''Regardless, you're really good at flying, you took everyone's breath away. And now you're even more famous than you were before. Nobody can stop talking about it. What position do you play?''

''Seeker. I don't really know what it all means, all the Quidditch stuff, but if it means I can keep flying, I'm game. Professor McGonagall told me I'm the youngest House player in about a century!''

Draco heard footsteps and looked up from the conversation to see Pansy Parkinson sauntering over to them. He gave her a dirty look, he didn't care if she was part of an influential pure-blood family. She was just a bully that looked to guys like Crabbe and Goyle to save her if she ever got into any physical trouble.

''Having your last meal, Potter? Are you finally leaving Hogwarts?'' she asked smugly.

''You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends protecting you,'' said Harry coolly. There was nothing little about Crabbe and Goyle of course, but since teachers were watching all they could do was crack their knuckles and scowl.

''I can take you anytime on my own, Potter,'' Pansy snarled. ''Tonight. A wizard's duel. Wands only. Are you in?''

Draco acted fast. He was the champion of the Junior Dueling Division when he was little. Harry couldn't lose with him on his side. ''He is in. I'm his second, who's yours?''

Pansy sized up Crabbe and Goyle. ''Crabbe. We're doing this at midnight, in the trophy room. You better be there.''

There was silence for a moment after Pansy had turned on her heel and left. Harry and Draco looked at each other, Harry's expression saying he had no idea what he had just gotten himself into.

''What is a wizard's duel? And what is a second?'' Harry asked.

''It's just a fight with wands, trying to disarm, stun, defeat, injure, or kill your opponent,'' Draco explained, then laughed when Harry turned white with fear. ''Nobody's actually going to kill anybody. I got you, since I'm your second my role is to support you. And if you get really hurt, my father will hear about this. He'll sue.'' This seemed to relax Harry a bit. ''Meet me there at half past eleven.''

Draco didn't dare go to sleep. He couldn't sleep anyway, teaching Hermione how to play wizard's chess with Ron, who seemed to have gotten over his initial distrust of Draco. They both went to bed at ten, and Draco opened a random book to avoid suspicion, but he was really going over all the duels he'd had and trying to cobble together a strategy.

Right at half past eleven Draco picked up his wand and quickly crept across the common room, but Hermione and Ron stopped him. Guess they hadn't gone to sleep after all, they had just been lying in wait. ''I couldn't help but overhear that you and Harry are going to fight Pansy, and I want in,'' said Ron.

''We aren't going to fight, we're going to have a proper wizarding duel. And no, you can't come,'' Draco replied.

''You can't go! You're going to lose us Gryffindor points and get into trouble! This has to be against the rules or something,'' Hermione fretted.

''Well, sometimes you have to go against the rules,'' Draco said as he climbed out of the portrait hole with Hermione and Ron in tow. As Hermione turned back, she saw that the Fat Lady had disappeared. She was locked out.

''Guess you're coming with us,'' Ron laughed at Hermione's dismay.

''There is no us,'' Draco hissed. ''I'm going alone. You two have to find your own way back.''

Ron giggled so loud that Draco had to put a hand over his mouth. ''Be quiet!''

There was no way out. The three of them ran as softly as they could through the corridors, with only the soft moonlight filtering through the windows to light their way. With Ron's help, they managed to find the trophy room before midnight. Harry stood alone, twirling his wand in between his fingers. Pansy was nowhere in sight. 

''Why'd you bring a whole party?'' Harry asked, gesturing to Hermione and Ron.

''They came on their own,'' Draco huffed, but fell silent as they heard Filch's footsteps. Filch was the caretaker of Hogwarts, but seemed to hate the students with a passion. Draco didn't want any run-ins with him.

Filch came closer, muttering angrily about how he disliked when students were out of bed. His menacing cat, Mrs. Norris laid her yellow eyes on them and meowed loudly to alert Filch. We're done for, Draco thought, and he ran. 

Harry, Hermione, and Ron hurried after him. Draco didn't know where he was going, he just knew he had to get as far away as possible. When he saw his Charms classroom, which was miles away from the trophy room, he stopped and leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

''We've lost him,'' Ron wheezed. ''Time to go back to Gryffindor Tower?'' He paled as Hermione shook her head and motioned for him to be quiet. Filch was near, having used secret passageways to catch up. They all sprinted away once again to a random locked door.

Hermione pushed the boys aside and tapped the lock with her wand, whispering ''Alohomora''. The lock opened with a click and they all slipped inside, but they were met with a monstrous sight.

A huge dog filled the room, its three heads staring at them, its six yellow eyes flashing intently, its dozens of fangs dripping thick ropes of saliva. Draco knew the only reason all four of them weren't dead yet was because their sudden appearance had caught it by surprise, but not for long.

Draco groped behind him for the doorknob while he pulled Harry, who pulled Ron, who pulled Hermione out of the room. Hermione kicked the door closed behind them and they all ran like Death itself was chasing them. 

Nobody stopped until they reached Gryffindor Tower. ''Pig snout!'' Ron nearly screamed as the very confused Fat Lady let them in. They all collapsed on the armchairs in the Common Room and quickly fell asleep.