Later that evening, Draco sauntered over to Potter and Weasley with Orla, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"Is that your last meal, Potter?" he asked smugly. "When's the train coming to take you back to those muggles?"
"You're alot braver down on the ground with your friends, Malfoy," Potter replied, coolly. Draco scowled, as did Orla.
"I'll take you on anytime on my own," Draco scowled. "Tonight if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only - no contact." Potter looked at him blankly.
"What's the matter, never heard of a wizard's duel before?" scoffed Orla.
"Course he has," retorted Weasley. "I'm his second. Who's yours?" Draco turned to size up his friends.
"Crabbe," he said, finally. "Midnight, all right? We'll meet you in the Trophy room, that's always unlocked." Weasley nodded.
"Midnight." The four Slytherins turned on their heels and sauntered back to their table, grinning.
"Do you think he is stupid enough to do it," Orla asked Draco.
"Course he is. He wants to prove himself. The Boy Who Lived. He has to try and live up to his name," he winked back at her as they sat down to a large, steaming bowl of thick beef stew and dumplings each.
Back in the common room later that evening, they sat with Daphne, Blaise and Theodore discussing what had happened over dinner time, laughing.
"Shall we tell Filch?" offered Daphne. "They'll get into even more trouble then."
"I'll do it," said Orla, getting up.
"I'll come with you," Theodore said, ignoring the looks the others were giving him. The pair left the dungeons and headed for the caretakers office. They didn't have to go far. As soon as they got to the Entrance Hall, Filch was there with his cat, Mrs Norris. Her red eyes always gave Orla the creeps, but she shoved that feeling aside and walked up to the caretaker.
"What are you two doing up here, it's almost your curfew," wheezed the old caretaker.
"We wanted to let you know we had overheard a couple of students saying they were going to the Trophy room tonight," Orla told him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Excellent." The old man rubbed his hands together, and smiled in glee. "Come on my pretty," he said to Mrs Norris, "we have some punishment forms to get ready."
Draco and Orla were so surprised to see Potter and Weasley the next morning at breakfast, that Orla choked on her porridge. Daphne banged her on the back, trying not to glare in the direction of the Gryffindor table.
"What happened? I thought you told Filch?" she asked.
"We did," said Theodore.
"Looks like Potter is going to be trickier than we thought," growled Orla.
Halloween morning arrived, and as they owls flooded into the Hall with the post, Draco spotted one carrying an awkwardly sized parcel, a shape that looked rather familiar.
"Come on," he whispered to Orla, Crabbe, and Goyle once he saw was being delivered to the Gryffindor table. "Lets get Potter." They left the table and waited in the Entrance Hall for Potter and Weasley to come out.
"That's a broomstick, that it," snarled Draco, snatching the parcel from Potter and feeling it. "First years aren't allowed brooms. How did you get one?" he asked, feeling a mixture of jealousy and spite.
