Weakness Guides The Heart

Chapter seven

"Now, class, as all of you know, magic is dangerous." Malcurious began, his eyebrow quirked, jerked upwards by the deceitful solemn straining his features. "So, it is important you learn the key defences, which could potentially save your lives..." His words trailed, lingering behind the sudden tilt in his head; his eyes resting upon the raven-haired boy's disinterested stare.

"...once again."

Hermione's hand shot upwards; a joyful smile shimmering Malcurious's lips.

"Hermione."

"Well, we are only required to be taught this subject until fifth year, unless of course, we advance-"

"Well, Miss Granger, following...passed events, McGonagall has declared this subject mandatory, for every year group." Ron scoffed beside her, shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's like a breeding ground for mini Voldemort's." He hissed quietly under his breath; Hermione and Harry being the only two to hear his snide remark. Mister Malcurious pretended he'd heard nothing at all.

"Now, unfortunately, we must go back to the basics, ensuring all students know the defences against every...potentially harmful spell. So, let us begin with the knockback jinx."

The class chorused a dull groan, the echoing sound gliding carelessly around the room; a pleasant melody to Malcurious' ears.

"Now, now-we'll get to the juice stuff soon, but for now...may I have two volunteers?" A mischievous glint glimmered in his eyes; one Draco sensed, sending his head upwards; a chilling shiver slithering along his spine, evoking a quiet gasp of disbelief.

"Ah, Draco! You should never make eye contact with the teacher-up you get!" The class silenced; fearful greys twinkling within the student's eyes, their minds flashing back; memories streaming through their bodies.

Draco's shoulders slumped; the weight of his peers' stares dropping his head, eyes following the cobbled grey of the floor. Instinctively, he wrapped one arm around his waist; his own hand offering the comfort he desired.

"Harry, you're looking rather eager today-why don't you come and join us?"

Draco knew what was happening; this was a test, the previous mornings' memory urging the professor to explore the emotions between the boys in more depth. Harry stood, bravely as ever; his wand firm in his hand, pointing gloatingly at the blonde; a determined smirk seeping passed its edges.

"Now, you both know the spell, and hopefully, the defence is already on the tip of your tongue." Malcurious sniggered. "Alright, Harry, you'll be inflicting the jinx-Draco, the defence."

Reluctantly, Draco's eyes rose; the silver spheres wide, uncertain; a sudden tug deep within his body halting his movements, his wand still limply laced between his fingertips.

Harry noticed, eyes narrowing; a deep furrow creasing his skin, his lips smoothing into a tight line, no incline of a smile tugging at the edges.

Malcurious noticed too.

"Wands at the ready." The two boys stood, wands now pointed, poised anxiously, awaiting the spells. "Whenever you're ready."

Harry stared, a narrow twitch focusing in his green orbs; pupil studying the stance of his competitor. His body was dull, his shoulders rounded; every ounce of confidence once cherished in his body scurrying into the corners of the room, desperate to find a worthy holder. Confusion tangled the blues and yellows of Harry's eyes; the green eager to centre his mind.

"Flipendo!" Harry shouted, horror etching his features as Draco tumbled backwards; his wand trembling from his fingers; back cracking against the ground, head barely held upwards; shame forcing his shoulders onto the cool exterior, like a heavy boot stomping on his stomach, keeping him from grasping for dignity.

"Well, we saw the dark arts...just not the defence." Malcurious chuckle was twisted with bitterness, coated by salty spite, yet shielded with concern. Only Draco sensed the hidden resentment. "Here."

He offered Draco his hand; the very hand that had crushed his bones, restrained him; forced memories from his mind. He took it, wincing at the sharp spike of his uncle's nails.

"Right, let's try this again, shall we."

Harry was struck with confusion, lightning igniting his bewilderment; thunderous clouds shadowing his comprehension. He stared, mimicking the shock of his friends; Ron's chuckle not going unnoticed, echoing above the bitter silence.

Draco helplessly stood, eyes laced with unforgiving clarity; reluctance. The emotion penetrated Harry. Draco was merely offering a defence, why was he so reluctant?

The class shifted their seats closure, eager to see another failure from the young blonde; Hermione frowned, studying the defeated demeanour of the boy.

"Draco, focus." His eyes watched Harry's wand, unable to gaze into the careful concentration curling around those emerald orbs; his mind whirling, waves pummelling his own attentiveness.

"Flipendo-"

"Expelliarmus." Draco breathed, his words drowned by the strength of Harry's voice; his wand striking the jinx mightily, weakening Draco's stance; feet betraying his body for the second time that day, a choir of chuckles illuminating the room, flushing Draco's cheeks; his mind perplexed by his own actions.

"Right, thank you very much, boys-let's move on." Malcurious mumbled, before turning towards the board before him, hand already twirling words onto the black slate.

Draco forced his body upwards, standing with inelegance; body tumbling back towards his seat, wand wounded, mind suffering, controlled by his overpowering thoughts; his emotions, his feelings, consuming him.

"That was...weird."

"I told you, Draco's acting strangely-"

"Maybe he just wants everyone to feel sorry for him, so that they don't feel that intense desire to-"

"Somethings wrong with him." Harry muttered, eyes lingering on the Slytherin cowering in the back row, shrinking behind his silky robes; nose brushing the paper on which he wrote, parchment suffering from the gentle twist of Draco's quill.

"Why do you even care?"