Harry Malfoy's Trials | Book One

| This is Halloween

September and October moved quickly for Harry. He did not know where the time went but before he knew it, he and Draco were at Hogwarts for nearly two months. Their lessons were becoming more and more interesting now that they had mastered the basics.

On Halloween morning Draco sat with Ron and Harry during charms class where Professor Flitwick announced that he thought they were ready to make things fly, something the class was very eager to start to do. Professor Flitwick put the class into pairs to practice. Harry was partnered with his brother, which was a relief because Neville had been trying to catch his eye. Ron, however, was to be working with Hermione Granger. It was hard to tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this.

"Now, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" Flitwick squeaked, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too—never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

It was very difficult. Harry and Draco swished and flicked, but the feather they were supposed to be sending skyward just lay on the desktop. Harry glanced at Draco and saw that he was getting very impatience. "Stupid spell," he grumbled. He moved his wand and said, "Wingdardium Leviosa!" The feather didn't move, but instead, miraculously, sparked on fire!

Draco gave a small sound of fright, jumping upwards, knocking his glasses off as Harry leaned over to put the fire out with his hat. Draco was grumbling to himself as he bent to pick up his glasses. Harry giggled and leaned in to whisper, "You're saying it wrong Draco, it's 'Wingardium' not 'Wingdardium.'"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Draco muttered moving up. Harry just giggled and helped Draco adjust his classes. Harry looked at Ron, who wasn't fairing any better.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.

"You're saying it wrong," Harry heard Hermione snap. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.

Hermione rolled up her sleeves, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.

"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick cried, clapping. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!"

Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class. "It's no wonder no one can stand her," he said to Harry and Draco as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, Blaise following them, "she's a nightmare, honestly."

Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face—and was startled to see that she was in tears.

"I think she heard you."

"So? She must have noticed she has no friends," Ron said, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. Draco sighed and shook his head. "You're hopeless Weasley," he said.

"Yeah, you are," Blaise nodded he looked at Harry and said, "I think you should keep from kissing him for a week or so."

"No! You can't do that," Ron said, looking drastically between Harry and Blaise. "Harry, you're not going to do that are you?"

Harry just shrugged. Hermione didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Ron overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls' bathroom and wanted to be left alone. Ron looked still more awkward at this, but a moment later they had entered the Great Hall, where the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of their minds.