Draco had suddenly found himself without friends. The feeling irked him. Nobody wanted to talk to him anymore, now that one hundred fifty points had been lost because of him. Not even the study group would acknowledge him. It was only Harry, Ron, and Hermione who could stand to exchange a few words with him.
One day, Draco had heard people in the library talk about him behind his back. The whispers were like knives stabbing straight through him, saying things like, ''it's all his fault.'' Fuming, Draco stomped out of the library, then stopped short when he heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. Draco could recognize that voice anywhere. It was Professor Quirell.
''No - no - not again, please -'' It sounded like someone was threatening him. Draco moved closer as quietly as he could, his heart hammering madly in his chest. ''All right - all right - '' Quirell sobbed. Draco's throat dried up so much it felt painful.
Next second, Quirell came hurrying out of the classroom, straightening his turban. He was deathly pale and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight, with Draco right under his nose. Draco waited until Quirell's footsteps had receded into nothing, then peered into the classroom. It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. Draco was halfway toward it before he remembered the mess he was in. I got into all this trouble by meddling in other people's business, so I don't think I should be doing this.
The next day, all Draco heard was that Professor Snape was walking around with a spring in his step. Draco was willing to bet his family's whole estate that it was Snape who threatened Quirell yesterday. Quirell seemed to have given in at last.
Draco went to the Gryffindor common room, where Hermione was in a quiet corner, testing Ron on Astronomy for their final exams. Wait, maybe I should start studying too. They're getting closer. Draco told them what he had heard the previous day.
''Snape's done it, then,'' said Ron. ''If Quirell's told him how to break his Anti - Dark Force spell, then -''
''There's still Fluffy, though,'' said Hermione, organizing her notes. She shivered a little when she said Fluffy, like she still remembered the fear she felt the first time she saw him.
''Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid,'' Ron added, looking at all Hermione's books piled up around them. ''I bet there's a book somewhere in the library telling you how to get past a giant three - headed dog. So what do we do, Draco.''
''Let's ask Harry, I'm pretty sure he's read the whole library by now,'' Draco laughed. He saw the the light of adventure kindling again in Ron's eyes, and Draco would be lying if he said he didn't feel a thrill as well. Lying was not Draco's forte.
''We should go to Dumbledore. That's what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we'll be thrown out for sure,'' Hermione huffed.
''With what proof ?'' Draco asked, the words spitting savagely out of his mouth. ''Quirell's too scared to back us up. Snape's only got to say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor - who's word do you think they'll believe? Him or us? It's not exactly a secret that we hate him, Dumbledore will think we just made it up to get him sacked.''
''Filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it, especially after the stunt we recently pulled to land us in detention,'' Ron added, running a hand through his fiery hair.
''Yes, he's too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he'll think. And don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining.'' Hermione sighed dejectedly. Draco knew she hated when she was wrong. He also hated when he was wrong too.
''This is hurting my brain,'' Draco said as he stretched his legs and stood up. ''I'm going to take a walk to the kitchens, get some snacks, clear my head a bit.''
It was true ; Draco's mind felt full of fog. He wasn't sure what to do. One one hand, he could go to Dumbledore, or ask Harry to go to Dumbledore since Dumbledore seemed to like Harry better, but there was the big chance that nobody believed their accusations. On the other hand, they could keep following Snape and Quirell, keep poking around, but there was a huge chance that they would get into even more trouble. I don't have a clue what to do.
If I were someone else smart, kind of like Hermione, and not as much of a risk taker, then what would I do? So, if I were Harry, what would I do?
Like a figment of his worst ideas, Harry sidled up next to Draco, coming from seemingly nowhere again. ''You have to stop just... materializing next to me. It's super creepy. Especially when I was just thinking about you!''
''Awww, you were thinking about me? That's so cute!'' A mischievous smile twisted delicately on Harry's lips. ''What, pray tell, were you thinking about when you were thinking about me? Little old me?''
Draco rolled his eyes. ''Just wondering what you would do in a situation. Nothing more. So don't go getting a superiority complex or something.''
''I will get nothing of the sort,'' Harry replied with a soft chuckle. ''What's the situation?''
Leaning against the corridor wall, Draco recounted what he'd seen Snape and Quirell do. Harry's brow was furrowed, his green eyes moving rapidly, sorting out the pieces in the puzzle. ''And then Quirell just... left?'' When Draco nodded, Harry made a noise sounding like a condescending snort. ''I expected that from him. Time and time again, he's shown that he doesn't have a backbone. Such an invertebrate.''
Draco chuckled too, his shoulders relaxing. ''Definitely. But... what do you think we should do about it? Snape's dangerous, this incident shows that he's out to get Quirell - and maybe out to get us, you really never know.''
''I would say go straight to Dumbledore, but if I think about how this looks, there's no way in hell any teacher would believe us. No concrete evidence, no proof, no believable statement. They're going to see this as one big false accusation.''
''Yeah, Hermione, Ron, and I gathered that. So, what other option is there? Not counting the option that we just bury our heads in the sand and forget this ever happened. We know too much.''
Harry's emerald eyes seemed to calm, settling on one path. ''Then - then we follow the trail Snape and Quirell has left us. If we don't keep searching, then... who will?''
YOU ARE READING
The Bravest Snake
FanfictionDraco Malfoy is determined to get away from his terrible parents and start a new life at the best wizarding school, Hogwarts. Maybe he'll even make a friend or two. Harry Potter is determined to learn more about his magic and his world during his ti...
