(no subject)
Display of Irony
"A new year at Hogwarts had already started. Nothing unusual had happened, as was usual. Classes seemed boring and uneventful. Even Draco Malfoy had started to run out of energy, seeing as he hadn’t started trouble in at least a month.
The Weasley’s still received the Daily Prophet in owl mail at least once a week. Headlines were still ablaze with rumors and words of Lord Voldemort’s latest appearance. On the same token, Harry’s lightning-shaped scar on his head had throbbed most of the year. He was used to it now, and the pain no longer bothered him (that much).
One thing though, that still kept the school’s magic alive, was (one of Harry’s favorite classes) Care of Magical Creatures. Even Fawkes had made a few appearances, showing off every now and then by the occasional song and even bursting into flames. (This was an accident on Hagrid’s part, having taken care of the bird during one of Dumbledore’s trips to London.) And, one can guess, that Draco was the only child in the entire class whose robes were singed to a crisp..even with no singe marks or marks of any kind.
Ron, Harry and Hermione, though mostly Ron, were discussing Malfoy’s tantrum after class.“Can you believe the nerve of that git?” Ron spat, obviously very upset.
“Well,” Hermione started to interject, “It wasn’t really all that bad-“
“AND, once again, I’ll wager he’s trying to get Hagrid sacked again. I really ought to show him, one of these days, wouldn’t you say Harry?”
“Well..” Harry started, but Ron finished for him, saying what Harry didn’t plan on even thinking..yet.
“That’s exactly right! We should definitely try something to get him back. Nice idea, Harry!”
Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to relieve some tension.
They were all getting pressed by the Instructors at Hogwarts about their N.E.W.T.’s. Ron’s mother had also been pushing him furiously.
Hermione had been pushing herself, but Ron was working on getting her to relax - a little.
At breakfast later that week, Harry noticed Draco getting a letter, via a rather oversized and sleek-looking Raven, most likely a letter from his mother. Draco read the letter and cast a rather nasty look in the direction of Harry. They both exchanged fire-starting glares, but left it at that.
That was..until later that evening. The trio were on their way to their respective dorm rooms in Gryffindor Tower, when they were approached by Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
“What the bloody was this all about?” Draco spat, throwing the letter he received earlier at Harry.
Harry caught the letter swiftly, not letting Draco’s attitude ruffle him.
“I dunno, what is it?” Harry said, reading the letter.
It was a nice, pleasant and well-wishing letter, no ill meant words at all.
‘Not what I would send,’ Harry thought, but he kept the thought to himself.
“Why, this doesn’t sound bad at all!” Hermione burst out.
Draco started to say something about ‘Mudblood’ and three wands were very soon close to his pointed nose. He swallowed the comment.
“Oh really then?” Draco said, instead. “Fine, we’ll settle this by Wizards Duel. Tomorrow night.”
Hermione, not falling for the same trick twice, pointed her wand at him. She knew that casting spells at night was against school rules, but maybe Ron had been a bad influence.
“And THIS time,” she said, her voice growing dangerous, “You’ll show up.” She gave a simple swish-and-flick motion with her wand and said, “Arrivus Punctualus!” and added, “And you’ll be on time.”
Feeling pleased with herself, she said goodnight to the others and left.
Draco had no words. He couldn’t say anything, literally. Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy were all stunned at Hermione’s behavior.
Harry, once the rotten trio were out of sight, whispered to Ron, “Did you send the letter? How could you write that? I know you, there would’ve been a curse on the parchment or something.”
Ron was as dumbfounded as Harry.
“That’s the thing, mate. I didn’t!”
Malfoy hissed at them in the hallways before Potions, “Meet in the Secret Room, at Sundown!” and they agreed. Hermione gave Draco such a dour look that they all thought his Cauldron would melt on the spot. His face grew pale, but when Snape entered the room, his complexion returned to the mere shade darker that it usually was. Snape seemed more short-tempered every year, and he had even less to say. He pointed to the blackboard with his instructions and added in a flippant tone, “Potter, this time DON’T have Granger do all your homework for you.” With that, he hastily exited, having a seemingly flounce-filled step.
But during the class, constantly, Snape bugged Harry with pointless questions and banter.
And then, reprimanded Harry for not having his assignment finished.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were all grateful when the bell sounded for class to end.
“He’s getting to be more of a git, year after year.” Ron said, when the class was far behind them. Luckily, Potions was one of their last classes of the day this year. After class, they overheard Snape talking about the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. The teacher this year, to Ron’s chagrin, was Molly Weasley, his mother.
“No, this year the job was supposed to be mine!!” they heard him snarl, “Next year is her year. I don’t know why they gave a job of such importance to HER. I was supposed to get it.”
Ron rolled his eyes. “That prat better not try to hex my Mum. I’ll kick him a good one for that.”
Harry muttered, “Like you’d need an excuse…”
When dark came around, they all met in the vacant room. It was adorned with cushions and nothing else. Goyle, Crabbe, Hermione and Ron stayed out and sat on cushions around the room to wait until they were needed. Ron made the refereeing arrangements to start the match.
“Wands, at the ready!” he called, and Harry and Draco got into their dueling positions.
Ron gave the signal to start and Harry attempted to disarm Draco at the start.
The spell missed, to Draco’s advantage. He wasn’t about to do the Serpent-Summoning like their last match, since Harry was a Parselmouth.
Harry couldn’t catch the spell Malfoy used next, but he was soon rocketed backwards into the wall, safely landing in a cushion.
The two exchanged blows by wand. Draco pulled an unexpected and nasty spell, with too many syllables to spell, and Harry’s arm was nearly blown off. He was able to use his other hand to cast a spell and knock Malfoy straight in the face. It was obvious his nose was broken.
Hermione was shocked. But, she was also surprised that the spell actually landed.
Draco tagged in Goyle and Harry stood at the ready again.
Goyle cast a Summon spell and, to Harry’s dismay, a Giant landed in front of him. The room seemed to grow to compliment the Giant’s size, making Harry and the other humans seem even more miniscule.
“Accio Broomstick!” Harry cried, and his broomstick rushed to his side, nearly in the nick of time.
The Giant’s hand rushed down to where Harry had stood a moment before.
Hermione was stunned.
“This is going too far.” She said, and motioned for Harry to tag her in.
Harry refused and shook his head “no” so hard he almost fell off his broom.
But, too late. There was a sickening crack, and Harry and his broom fell to the ground, broom in shambles.
“Okay,” Harry said, running out of options, “You’re in!”
Hermione nodded and got straight to business. She pointed her wand at the skyscraper-like creature.
“Summonus Revertum!” she said. The Giant disappeared, and Goyle’s eyes got huge.
“Now,” she said, “It’s time to play fair.”
Her eyes grew dark. It wasn’t a good thing, to make Hermione mad. Especially with a wand in her hand..
“Accio Wand!” she said, before any reaction could be made. Goyle’s wand rushed to her, and she held it precariously in her hands, as they were positioned to where she could easily snap the wand in two.
Draco saw his chance to cheat.
“Summon Sortir!” he said, and a larger than the first and more viscious looking snake appeared, rearing to strike.
Harry immediately stepped in his role of snake-charmer. He attempted to talk the snake into attacking Draco and the others, but this one was intelligent. He didn’t wish to attack anyone..except Mr. Potter.
While they were busy, Draco attempted to make a dangerous move and put his arm around Hermione’s neck.
He had grown more muscle over the summer break, and things were more dangerous for her now.
Harry was still busy with the serpent, and Hermione was in danger, as she couldn’t speak to say any spell to save herself.
Ron tapped him on the back. He turned around, using Hermione as a shield.
But to no avail.
Ron shoved his wand at Draco’s face, poking him hard in the eye. He let go of Hermione and his hands rushed to protect his face.
Too late, though.
Harry came up from behind, having summoned his own snake, the one from the London Zoo. The snake was happily keeping Crabbe and Goyle.. “Company”, making occasional lunges to frighten them.
Once given the chance, Harry grabbed Draco’s arms, breaking one, and dislocating the shoulder in the other. “Now, Ron!” He cried, and Ron took his chance.
Gathering all his strength into one massive punch, he let all that energy fly, his fist connecting VERY hard with Draco’s face.
Draco’s eyes rolled up into his head, and he passed out, cold.
Ron cracked his knuckles and glared at the two, now entrapped by the snake.
Harry growled, his eyes growing furious. He lowered his wand to face the other two.
“Who’s next?”
Crabbe and Goyle lowered their heads in shame. “That’s it. We’re done.”
Harry told the snake to release them, and he did. To Harry’s surprise, he laughed jovially and said, “Any time. Are you ssure I can’t eat them? They’re jussst about a mouthful…”
The snake’s eyes grew pouty.
Harry shook his head. “No. Sorry, that wouldn’t go over too well. But, I’m sure Hermione appreciates the thought.” Harry inclined his head as a way of thanks.
He reversed the Summon spell and the snake vanished with a smile.
He glowered at Crabbe and Goyle. “Get. Out.”
They did, but it was more like leaving at a speeding run.
Ron, Hermione and Harry left triumphantly without any complications. They collapsed into bed, feeling refreshed. “That was fun, wasn’t it?” Harry said to Ron, later that evening.
“Yeah..” Ron said, smiling. “And it was slightly..satisfying, too.” "
-End