Harry Potter: Heir of the Dark Lord

Part 39-The Boggart in the Wardrobe

(Harry pov)
Noctis didn't reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning, when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through double Potions. He entered the dungeon, his left eye was covered in bandages, and his long hair was in a different style.

We watched as he walked towards us and sat down next to Hermione.
Hermione:" You ok, Noctis?"
Noctis:" I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey gave me a potion to help with the pain."
Cyrus slithered from away Delphini and backed to Noctis as the snake quickly coiled around his neck. Both of them were speaking in parseltongue, and everyone in the room was wondering what he was saying. Me and Delphini knew exactly what they were talking about.
Seamus:" Harry, what are Noctis and Cyrus talking about?"
Harry:" Cyrus is asking Noct if he can eat Draco, and Noct is considering it."
Draco, who was sitting next to us became instantly afraid and turned to see Cyrus looking dead at him.

Snape:" Settle down, settle down. Black, control your pet before I decide to use it for potion ingredients."
Cyrus hissed at him to try, but Noctis told him to stop.
Today we were making a new potion today, a Shrinking Solution. Malfoy set up his cauldron right next to me and Ron so that we were preparing our ingredients on the same table. We expected something to happen but it was all quiet, Draco hadn't said anything or tried to use any excuse to make us do his work for him. Maybe Noctis almost losing his eye to save him from getting clawed by Buckbeak must've had an impact on him.

Draco:" Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" he asked us quietly.
Ron:" Why? It's None of your business," Ron said jerkily, without looking up.
Draco:" It might as well be as your friend won't be a teacher much longer. Father was not very happy when he heard what transpired in Care of Magical Creatures class. He'd complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know.
Harry:" And why are you telling us this?" I said with an inquisitive tone.
Draco:" I just thought I'd warn you about what will happen from now on concerning your friend."
Before Ron and I could say anything we heard Snape scolding Neville.
Snape:" Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one cat spleen was needed? Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?"

Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he was on the verge of tears.
Hermione:" Please, sir, please, I could help Neville put it right --"
I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly. "
Snape moved away, leaving Neville breathless with fear.
"Help me!" he moaned to Hermione.
Seamus:" Hey, Harry, have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning -- they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."

Harry/Ron:" Where?" we both asked quickly. On the other side of the table, Malfoy looked up, listening closely.
Seamus:" Not too far from here, It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she phoned the telephone hot line. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."
"Not too far from here . . . " Ron repeated, looking significantly at Harry. He turned around and saw Malfoy watching closely. "What, Malfoy?"
Draco:" Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?"
Harry:" Yeah, that's right," I said offhandedly.
Draco:" Of course, if it was me, I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him."
Ron:" What are you talking about, Malfoy?" he said roughly.
Draco:" Don't you know, Potter? I thought you might have already known about your connection to Sirius Black?"