everything I touch turns to gold and everything I make is beautiful
honeymoon avenue
Joined March 2023
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"Affectus remotio" Draconia whispered, gritting her teeth and clenching her wand. Waiting, desperately, for something to happen, for something to change. The stack of books around her growing taller by the hour, with titles such as "Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed", and "A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions". She had been at it for hours, late into the night, casting counter-curse after counter-curse on herself. Feeling nothing change but her level of anguish.
She hadn't showered or left the library in two days. Her hair was greasy, and the bags under her eyes were heavy. "Stupid Snape. Stupid potions. Stupid magic. Stupid Potter!" Draconia shouted, knocking over one of her stacks of dusty tomes.
"Shh." Instructed a passing ghost, much to her irritation.
"Stupid ghost." she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
She looked a mess, and smelled even worse. Luckily it was several hours past midnight, and the library was completely empty. She had special permission to be out of bed this late of course, from Snape. "Good luck with your research Miss Malfoid, however, I don't suspect you will find the answers you seek in the library." What did he mean by that? Something about the way he said it bothered her. What does it mean? She looked down at her notes, full of hastily scratched spells and their counter curses, references to books that referenced other books, old anecdotes, and rumors of love hexes.
She pulled her hair again, and slammed her fist on the table. If Snape knew what was wrong with her, why wouldn't he tell her? Is this a test of some sort?
As she thought, she absent-mindedly sketched a lightning bolt in her notes.
Suddenly, she knew. Of course. It was unthinkable, but it was the only explanation. Potter used the imperius curse on her. One of the three unforgivable curses, used to control people like a puppet. Probably when she was sleeping, he snuck in and cast it on her, with a subtle enough command that it would go unnoticed. Of course! A spell that dark and that powerful wouldn't be released by simple counter-curses found in the student library.
Draconia was more relieved than angry. Finally, an explanation. Now she just needed to find Potter, get him to release the curse, and tell her father. Finally, something to get that half-blooded creep expelled.
She took out her silver hairbrush, ran it through her platinum hair, and sighed, ready to return to her dorm and get some much needed sleep.
After returning the books to their proper home, she exited the library quietly, smiling to herself. "I'm probably the first witch in history to be relieved to discover she's under the control of the imperius curse", she mused. The castle was unnerving at night, but it was never quiet. The soft roar of the torches in the corridor, the sleepless ghosts floating around, the soft snoring of the living paintings. Though she was apprehensive, at least she wasn't alone.
Alone. The word echoed in her head.
She heard footsteps around the corner in front of her. They were hurried, but light. Someone trying not to be caught. Before she could think, Draconia dove into an alcove nearby, hiding next to a suit of armor who turned to look at her, seemingly confused. She held up a finger to her mouth to quiet the armor, to which it simply shrugged and returned to it's resting position.
Draconia peeped around the corner and saw a Gryffindor robe and untidy black hair speed by. Harry?! What in Merlin's beard is he doing here?
Is he... looking for her? He must be. She gritted her teeth in anger. That creep is up to no good. Probably sneaking around looking for more ways to torment her. Though she was exhausted beyond measure, and yearned for her bed, she decided to follow him.
Harry was going somewhere she had never been before, ducking through hallways and secret doorways. Behind paintings and through dark corridors. Never once did he turn and notice her. How did this oblivious fool manage to cast such a high-level dark curse on her?
Finally, after squeezing into a dark and dusty room, Harry stopped. Draconia ducked down, peeking around a dusty sheet hanging over an abandoned globe to look at him from behind.
He was just standing there, staring at himself in a mirror. What? She continued watching him for minutes, waiting for him to do something, but he just... stood there. Staring at himself.
Draconia couldn't hold it in anymore, and she started laughing.
Harry whipped his head around, wand in hand.
"Malfoid?! What are you doing here? Did you follow me?"
"Honestly Potter, sneaking off to stare at yourself in the mirror? Such vanity!"
"I wasn't... that's not..." Harry stammered, looking away from her shyly.
"That's pathetic, even for you." Draconia giggled, her hair falling forward as she clutched her stomach.
"It's no ordinary mirror, Malfoid," Harry shot back, "It... well... come take a look."
"Sure", she laughed, approaching him. "And what exactly am I supposed to be seeing?"
"What do you mean? Just look in the mirror."
"I am, I don't see anything unusual."
"It's supposed to show you your heart's greatest desire. It's called the Mirror of Erised. Dumbledore told me about it." Harry said, his face turning red.
"Well it seems your mirror is broken, Potter." Draconia giggled, "Because I only see you and me."
"A love potion." Snape repeated flatly.
"I didn't say the word love," replied back Draconia, "But yes, something of that nature."
Snape sighed, but continued writing, not bothering to look up at her.
"What symptoms are you experiencing?"
"A quickening heart rate. Shakiness around the... suspect. Unusual emotional responses in the presence of the suspect. Intrusive thoughts of the suspect. Romantic ideation." Draconia's face blushed as she said the words aloud.
"And who might the 'suspect' be?"
"I don't see how that's relevan-"
"Miss Malfoid, this is a very serious accusation. It is my responsibility as a professor to inquire fully. Who is it?" Snape finally set his papers aside, looking up at her from his desk.
Draconia twiddled her wand in her fingertips, refusing to even look in his direction.
"...Potter.", she said, pushing a lock of silver hair behind her ear.
"Potter." Snape repeated.
"T-that's what I said, isn't it?"
"Potter can hardly brew a sleeping draught much less a-"
"Then Granger brewed it! Or he stole it! I don't know! Can you just test me? Or something?"
Snape stood up, seemingly annoyed by the whole ordeal. He turned, reaching into his cabinet of restricted potions, rustling through them, looking for something.
"And why, pray tell, would Potter do this to you?"
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't considered that. Why would he? Unless he... She shook her head, as if the thought could be shaken out of her.
"To humiliate me, obviously. I bet he's having a grand laugh right now at my expense. Stupid Potter." She clenched her fists, indignant.
Snape turned and produced a small potion of silver liquid.
"Drink this. It will cure you of whatever may, or may not be ailing you."
She swiped it from him and held it up to her lips, but paused. Why did she pause? Drinking this would cure her of the love potion, it would make these inconvenient feelings go away. So then why isn't she drinking it? She clenched her fists, and chugged the potion before she could second guess herself again. She stood there, eyes closed and cheeks pink, waiting for something to change.
"How long until it starts to wor-"
"Instantly."
She stood there for several more seconds, holding her breath, until Harry appeared in her mind again, and her pulse quickened.
Her eye twitched, "Well clearly this has been a huge waste of time."
"Obviously." Snape said flatly, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
moonlightbro retweeted
Halloween Malfoid WIP that needs some more work, and definitely more bats 🦇
#malfoid #MalfoidArt
moonlightbro retweeted
If Malfoid is to have a pet snake, it must be their biggest shipper and constantly saying things that make Harry blush and he absolutely refuses to translate for Malfoid.
moonlightbro retweeted
Tucked her into bed and she whispered “I love you Mom, I just wish the whole world belonged to me, I would make everything the way I want it to be”
moonlightbro retweeted
Winner! I really do think I prefer this to the bet. It also flips most of the scripts such that Harry truly makes the first move, rather than Dracaena (I insist on that spelling) pining behind the scenes. Instead, her feelings are mostly unconscious - but there, nicely hinted at.
“Decided who you’re going to the ball with, Draconia?” asked Goyle.
Draconia Malfoid sighed, lying back in the grass with her arms crossed behind her head.
“No, not yet. Too many boys to choose from.”
“Didn’t you say a Durmstrang boy asked you?”
“As if I’d ever go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well you’d better pick soon, time is running out.”
Draconia looked up at the sky, fiddling with her wand. The truth is, no one had asked her. Even Crabbe and Goyle, fat as they are, had several prospects.
“Did you hear Harry Potter got rejected?” said Goyle, chewing on some candy.
Draconia shot up.
“What?”
“He asked Cho Chang, and she laughed at him or something.”
“He asked… Cho?”
Draconia suddenly felt very hot.
“The other day, yeah. But she’s going with Cedric, I heard.”
“Might’ve been a tactic to get into Cedric’s head, try to steal his girl y’know?” chimed in Crabbe.
Draconia slowly unclenched her fists.
“I’m sorry, I just realized I’m late for studying.”
“Since when do you study?” snorted Goyle, stuffing more candies into her mouth.
Draconia smacked the box out of her hands.
“Since when do you ever stop eating?”
Draconia walked away in a huff from the courtyard, in no direction in particular. Honestly, the nerve of that Goyle. The nerve of the boys in this stupid school. She walked past a couple sitting on a bench, kissing. Gross.
“Everything alright Miss Malfoid?” asked Nearly Headless Nick, poking his head up from beneath the floor.
“Fine. Thanks.” she replied through gritted teeth, stepping through his ghost head as she walked.
She found herself in the entrance hall, alone with the Goblet of Fire. The cup was empty and lifeless, having served its purpose of spitting out the names of the Triwizard champions. The room was dimly lit by enchanted blue torches along the walls. She sighed, sitting on a bench in front of it. Mother and father would be so ashamed if she went to the ball herself. Especially after all of those letters telling her to make herself known to Cedric Diggory. “A girl of your stature needs to go with a Triwizard champion.” she repeated, sarcastically.
The door creaked open, and Draconia eyed it suspiciously as a figure with messy black hair, round glasses, and Gryffindor robes entered the room.
“What do *you* want?” Draconia sneered.
“Nothing with you, that’s for sure.” Harry Potter taunted back.
Draconia scoffed.
“Come to tamper with the goblet again, Mr. Boy-Who-Cheated?”
“I came to be alone, actually. To think. You ever try that?”
“Didn’t think you had it in you to ever want a break from the attention.”
“It’s hard sometimes, being the greatest wizard who ever lived. I slayed a dragon, you know. Not sure if you saw.”
Draconia rolled her eyes so hard she thought they’d flip into the back of her head.
“Well I’m not leaving. Got to look after the goblet, you know.” she said, gesturing to the cup, “So you may as well join me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Harry opened his mouth like he had something to say, but closed it, and sat next to her. They both sat in silence for several moments, listening to the crackle of the blue torches along the walls.
“I heard you asked Cho Chang to the ball,” Draconia said softly.
“Yeah. I got turned down.”
Draconia started giggling, and Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Well who are you going with then?” he said.
Draconia’s eye twitched.
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Too many suitors to choose from. Thinking of going with a Durmstrang boy, an older one.” Draconia said innocently, eyeing Harry as she said it.
“Durmstrang?” Harry laughed, “The Malfoid I know wouldn’t go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think, Potter,” she said, stubbornly.
“Perhaps I don’t.” Harry chuckled.
She didn’t reply, continuing to stare at the Goblet of Fire. He really didn’t. She’d attempted to use the spell that killed his parents. Avada kedavra. Moody was right. If Harry really did know her, he would hate her. Maybe he already does.
“Did you really cheat? You know, to get your name into the cup?”
“You think I’d choose to fight a dragon of my own accord?”
“Don’t play stupid Potter, you wouldn’t have known there’d be a dragon.”
“No, I didn’t put my name in the cup.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly. I don’t know who did. I thought it was you, for a while.”
“Me?” Draconia laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I dunno. To humiliate me?” Harry smirked as he said it.
“If I wanted to humiliate you I’d make sure you ended up alone at the Yule Ball,” Draconia giggled, “but I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Yeah well, it seems you’ll get your way then.”
“Since Cho turned you down?”
“I don’t care about Cho. She was my second choice anyway,” he said, defensively.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been rejected twice? How embarrassing.” Draconia said flatly, not even looking at him.
“I haven’t, you twit. Only once. I never asked the other girl.”
“Oh?”
Harry looked down at his shoes, and Draconia felt her pulse quicken.
“It’s just… how do you ask someone to the ball that you know will say no?”
“After slaying a dragon is there seriously any vapid, easily impressed girl in this school who would turn you down, Potter?”
“You would.”
“I’m not vapid, or easily impressed.”
Annoyingly, Harry looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“The girl I’m talking about is… well, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” she repeated.
“I mean, she’s beautiful. Intelligent, too. Rough around the edges, but… I dunno. I think she hates me, honestly.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, no one could hate you more than me.”
“Exactly.”
Draconia frowned. What did that mean?
“Do whatever you want, Potter. Why are you telling me this?”
“Well, you’re a girl. How would you feel?”
She sighed.
“If someone, somewhere, out there felt that way about me, I would want them to tell me, yes.”
“Even if you hated them?”
“Sure, Potter,” she said, rolling her eyes, “Even if I hated them.”
Harry rolled his wand between his fingertips, nervously.
“Then Draconia… would you like to go to the ball with me?”
Draconia blinked, suddenly feeling very hot again.
moonlightbro retweeted
ONCE AGAIN HE POSTS PEAK
“Decided who you’re going to the ball with, Draconia?” asked Goyle.
Draconia Malfoid sighed, lying back in the grass with her arms crossed behind her head.
“No, not yet. Too many boys to choose from.”
“Didn’t you say a Durmstrang boy asked you?”
“As if I’d ever go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well you’d better pick soon, time is running out.”
Draconia looked up at the sky, fiddling with her wand. The truth is, no one had asked her. Even Crabbe and Goyle, fat as they are, had several prospects.
“Did you hear Harry Potter got rejected?” said Goyle, chewing on some candy.
Draconia shot up.
“What?”
“He asked Cho Chang, and she laughed at him or something.”
“He asked… Cho?”
Draconia suddenly felt very hot.
“The other day, yeah. But she’s going with Cedric, I heard.”
“Might’ve been a tactic to get into Cedric’s head, try to steal his girl y’know?” chimed in Crabbe.
Draconia slowly unclenched her fists.
“I’m sorry, I just realized I’m late for studying.”
“Since when do you study?” snorted Goyle, stuffing more candies into her mouth.
Draconia smacked the box out of her hands.
“Since when do you ever stop eating?”
Draconia walked away in a huff from the courtyard, in no direction in particular. Honestly, the nerve of that Goyle. The nerve of the boys in this stupid school. She walked past a couple sitting on a bench, kissing. Gross.
“Everything alright Miss Malfoid?” asked Nearly Headless Nick, poking his head up from beneath the floor.
“Fine. Thanks.” she replied through gritted teeth, stepping through his ghost head as she walked.
She found herself in the entrance hall, alone with the Goblet of Fire. The cup was empty and lifeless, having served its purpose of spitting out the names of the Triwizard champions. The room was dimly lit by enchanted blue torches along the walls. She sighed, sitting on a bench in front of it. Mother and father would be so ashamed if she went to the ball herself. Especially after all of those letters telling her to make herself known to Cedric Diggory. “A girl of your stature needs to go with a Triwizard champion.” she repeated, sarcastically.
The door creaked open, and Draconia eyed it suspiciously as a figure with messy black hair, round glasses, and Gryffindor robes entered the room.
“What do *you* want?” Draconia sneered.
“Nothing with you, that’s for sure.” Harry Potter taunted back.
Draconia scoffed.
“Come to tamper with the goblet again, Mr. Boy-Who-Cheated?”
“I came to be alone, actually. To think. You ever try that?”
“Didn’t think you had it in you to ever want a break from the attention.”
“It’s hard sometimes, being the greatest wizard who ever lived. I slayed a dragon, you know. Not sure if you saw.”
Draconia rolled her eyes so hard she thought they’d flip into the back of her head.
“Well I’m not leaving. Got to look after the goblet, you know.” she said, gesturing to the cup, “So you may as well join me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Harry opened his mouth like he had something to say, but closed it, and sat next to her. They both sat in silence for several moments, listening to the crackle of the blue torches along the walls.
“I heard you asked Cho Chang to the ball,” Draconia said softly.
“Yeah. I got turned down.”
Draconia started giggling, and Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Well who are you going with then?” he said.
Draconia’s eye twitched.
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Too many suitors to choose from. Thinking of going with a Durmstrang boy, an older one.” Draconia said innocently, eyeing Harry as she said it.
“Durmstrang?” Harry laughed, “The Malfoid I know wouldn’t go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think, Potter,” she said, stubbornly.
“Perhaps I don’t.” Harry chuckled.
She didn’t reply, continuing to stare at the Goblet of Fire. He really didn’t. She’d attempted to use the spell that killed his parents. Avada kedavra. Moody was right. If Harry really did know her, he would hate her. Maybe he already does.
“Did you really cheat? You know, to get your name into the cup?”
“You think I’d choose to fight a dragon of my own accord?”
“Don’t play stupid Potter, you wouldn’t have known there’d be a dragon.”
“No, I didn’t put my name in the cup.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly. I don’t know who did. I thought it was you, for a while.”
“Me?” Draconia laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I dunno. To humiliate me?” Harry smirked as he said it.
“If I wanted to humiliate you I’d make sure you ended up alone at the Yule Ball,” Draconia giggled, “but I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Yeah well, it seems you’ll get your way then.”
“Since Cho turned you down?”
“I don’t care about Cho. She was my second choice anyway,” he said, defensively.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been rejected twice? How embarrassing.” Draconia said flatly, not even looking at him.
“I haven’t, you twit. Only once. I never asked the other girl.”
“Oh?”
Harry looked down at his shoes, and Draconia felt her pulse quicken.
“It’s just… how do you ask someone to the ball that you know will say no?”
“After slaying a dragon is there seriously any vapid, easily impressed girl in this school who would turn you down, Potter?”
“You would.”
“I’m not vapid, or easily impressed.”
Annoyingly, Harry looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“The girl I’m talking about is… well, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” she repeated.
“I mean, she’s beautiful. Intelligent, too. Rough around the edges, but… I dunno. I think she hates me, honestly.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, no one could hate you more than me.”
“Exactly.”
Draconia frowned. What did that mean?
“Do whatever you want, Potter. Why are you telling me this?”
“Well, you’re a girl. How would you feel?”
She sighed.
“If someone, somewhere, out there felt that way about me, I would want them to tell me, yes.”
“Even if you hated them?”
“Sure, Potter,” she said, rolling her eyes, “Even if I hated them.”
Harry rolled his wand between his fingertips, nervously.
“Then Draconia… would you like to go to the ball with me?”
Draconia blinked, suddenly feeling very hot again.
moonlightbro retweeted
"..."
"..."
"I'm... certain I misheard-"
"You didn't."
“Decided who you’re going to the ball with, Draconia?” asked Goyle.
Draconia Malfoid sighed, lying back in the grass with her arms crossed behind her head.
“No, not yet. Too many boys to choose from.”
“Didn’t you say a Durmstrang boy asked you?”
“As if I’d ever go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well you’d better pick soon, time is running out.”
Draconia looked up at the sky, fiddling with her wand. The truth is, no one had asked her. Even Crabbe and Goyle, fat as they are, had several prospects.
“Did you hear Harry Potter got rejected?” said Goyle, chewing on some candy.
Draconia shot up.
“What?”
“He asked Cho Chang, and she laughed at him or something.”
“He asked… Cho?”
Draconia suddenly felt very hot.
“The other day, yeah. But she’s going with Cedric, I heard.”
“Might’ve been a tactic to get into Cedric’s head, try to steal his girl y’know?” chimed in Crabbe.
Draconia slowly unclenched her fists.
“I’m sorry, I just realized I’m late for studying.”
“Since when do you study?” snorted Goyle, stuffing more candies into her mouth.
Draconia smacked the box out of her hands.
“Since when do you ever stop eating?”
Draconia walked away in a huff from the courtyard, in no direction in particular. Honestly, the nerve of that Goyle. The nerve of the boys in this stupid school. She walked past a couple sitting on a bench, kissing. Gross.
“Everything alright Miss Malfoid?” asked Nearly Headless Nick, poking his head up from beneath the floor.
“Fine. Thanks.” she replied through gritted teeth, stepping through his ghost head as she walked.
She found herself in the entrance hall, alone with the Goblet of Fire. The cup was empty and lifeless, having served its purpose of spitting out the names of the Triwizard champions. The room was dimly lit by enchanted blue torches along the walls. She sighed, sitting on a bench in front of it. Mother and father would be so ashamed if she went to the ball herself. Especially after all of those letters telling her to make herself known to Cedric Diggory. “A girl of your stature needs to go with a Triwizard champion.” she repeated, sarcastically.
The door creaked open, and Draconia eyed it suspiciously as a figure with messy black hair, round glasses, and Gryffindor robes entered the room.
“What do *you* want?” Draconia sneered.
“Nothing with you, that’s for sure.” Harry Potter taunted back.
Draconia scoffed.
“Come to tamper with the goblet again, Mr. Boy-Who-Cheated?”
“I came to be alone, actually. To think. You ever try that?”
“Didn’t think you had it in you to ever want a break from the attention.”
“It’s hard sometimes, being the greatest wizard who ever lived. I slayed a dragon, you know. Not sure if you saw.”
Draconia rolled her eyes so hard she thought they’d flip into the back of her head.
“Well I’m not leaving. Got to look after the goblet, you know.” she said, gesturing to the cup, “So you may as well join me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Harry opened his mouth like he had something to say, but closed it, and sat next to her. They both sat in silence for several moments, listening to the crackle of the blue torches along the walls.
“I heard you asked Cho Chang to the ball,” Draconia said softly.
“Yeah. I got turned down.”
Draconia started giggling, and Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Well who are you going with then?” he said.
Draconia’s eye twitched.
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Too many suitors to choose from. Thinking of going with a Durmstrang boy, an older one.” Draconia said innocently, eyeing Harry as she said it.
“Durmstrang?” Harry laughed, “The Malfoid I know wouldn’t go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think, Potter,” she said, stubbornly.
“Perhaps I don’t.” Harry chuckled.
She didn’t reply, continuing to stare at the Goblet of Fire. He really didn’t. She’d attempted to use the spell that killed his parents. Avada kedavra. Moody was right. If Harry really did know her, he would hate her. Maybe he already does.
“Did you really cheat? You know, to get your name into the cup?”
“You think I’d choose to fight a dragon of my own accord?”
“Don’t play stupid Potter, you wouldn’t have known there’d be a dragon.”
“No, I didn’t put my name in the cup.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly. I don’t know who did. I thought it was you, for a while.”
“Me?” Draconia laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I dunno. To humiliate me?” Harry smirked as he said it.
“If I wanted to humiliate you I’d make sure you ended up alone at the Yule Ball,” Draconia giggled, “but I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Yeah well, it seems you’ll get your way then.”
“Since Cho turned you down?”
“I don’t care about Cho. She was my second choice anyway,” he said, defensively.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been rejected twice? How embarrassing.” Draconia said flatly, not even looking at him.
“I haven’t, you twit. Only once. I never asked the other girl.”
“Oh?”
Harry looked down at his shoes, and Draconia felt her pulse quicken.
“It’s just… how do you ask someone to the ball that you know will say no?”
“After slaying a dragon is there seriously any vapid, easily impressed girl in this school who would turn you down, Potter?”
“You would.”
“I’m not vapid, or easily impressed.”
Annoyingly, Harry looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“The girl I’m talking about is… well, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” she repeated.
“I mean, she’s beautiful. Intelligent, too. Rough around the edges, but… I dunno. I think she hates me, honestly.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, no one could hate you more than me.”
“Exactly.”
Draconia frowned. What did that mean?
“Do whatever you want, Potter. Why are you telling me this?”
“Well, you’re a girl. How would you feel?”
She sighed.
“If someone, somewhere, out there felt that way about me, I would want them to tell me, yes.”
“Even if you hated them?”
“Sure, Potter,” she said, rolling her eyes, “Even if I hated them.”
Harry rolled his wand between his fingertips, nervously.
“Then Draconia… would you like to go to the ball with me?”
Draconia blinked, suddenly feeling very hot again.
moonlightbro retweeted
NEW MOONLIGHT POST
“Decided who you’re going to the ball with, Draconia?” asked Goyle.
Draconia Malfoid sighed, lying back in the grass with her arms crossed behind her head.
“No, not yet. Too many boys to choose from.”
“Didn’t you say a Durmstrang boy asked you?”
“As if I’d ever go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well you’d better pick soon, time is running out.”
Draconia looked up at the sky, fiddling with her wand. The truth is, no one had asked her. Even Crabbe and Goyle, fat as they are, had several prospects.
“Did you hear Harry Potter got rejected?” said Goyle, chewing on some candy.
Draconia shot up.
“What?”
“He asked Cho Chang, and she laughed at him or something.”
“He asked… Cho?”
Draconia suddenly felt very hot.
“The other day, yeah. But she’s going with Cedric, I heard.”
“Might’ve been a tactic to get into Cedric’s head, try to steal his girl y’know?” chimed in Crabbe.
Draconia slowly unclenched her fists.
“I’m sorry, I just realized I’m late for studying.”
“Since when do you study?” snorted Goyle, stuffing more candies into her mouth.
Draconia smacked the box out of her hands.
“Since when do you ever stop eating?”
Draconia walked away in a huff from the courtyard, in no direction in particular. Honestly, the nerve of that Goyle. The nerve of the boys in this stupid school. She walked past a couple sitting on a bench, kissing. Gross.
“Everything alright Miss Malfoid?” asked Nearly Headless Nick, poking his head up from beneath the floor.
“Fine. Thanks.” she replied through gritted teeth, stepping through his ghost head as she walked.
She found herself in the entrance hall, alone with the Goblet of Fire. The cup was empty and lifeless, having served its purpose of spitting out the names of the Triwizard champions. The room was dimly lit by enchanted blue torches along the walls. She sighed, sitting on a bench in front of it. Mother and father would be so ashamed if she went to the ball herself. Especially after all of those letters telling her to make herself known to Cedric Diggory. “A girl of your stature needs to go with a Triwizard champion.” she repeated, sarcastically.
The door creaked open, and Draconia eyed it suspiciously as a figure with messy black hair, round glasses, and Gryffindor robes entered the room.
“What do *you* want?” Draconia sneered.
“Nothing with you, that’s for sure.” Harry Potter taunted back.
Draconia scoffed.
“Come to tamper with the goblet again, Mr. Boy-Who-Cheated?”
“I came to be alone, actually. To think. You ever try that?”
“Didn’t think you had it in you to ever want a break from the attention.”
“It’s hard sometimes, being the greatest wizard who ever lived. I slayed a dragon, you know. Not sure if you saw.”
Draconia rolled her eyes so hard she thought they’d flip into the back of her head.
“Well I’m not leaving. Got to look after the goblet, you know.” she said, gesturing to the cup, “So you may as well join me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Harry opened his mouth like he had something to say, but closed it, and sat next to her. They both sat in silence for several moments, listening to the crackle of the blue torches along the walls.
“I heard you asked Cho Chang to the ball,” Draconia said softly.
“Yeah. I got turned down.”
Draconia started giggling, and Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Well who are you going with then?” he said.
Draconia’s eye twitched.
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Too many suitors to choose from. Thinking of going with a Durmstrang boy, an older one.” Draconia said innocently, eyeing Harry as she said it.
“Durmstrang?” Harry laughed, “The Malfoid I know wouldn’t go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think, Potter,” she said, stubbornly.
“Perhaps I don’t.” Harry chuckled.
She didn’t reply, continuing to stare at the Goblet of Fire. He really didn’t. She’d attempted to use the spell that killed his parents. Avada kedavra. Moody was right. If Harry really did know her, he would hate her. Maybe he already does.
“Did you really cheat? You know, to get your name into the cup?”
“You think I’d choose to fight a dragon of my own accord?”
“Don’t play stupid Potter, you wouldn’t have known there’d be a dragon.”
“No, I didn’t put my name in the cup.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly. I don’t know who did. I thought it was you, for a while.”
“Me?” Draconia laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I dunno. To humiliate me?” Harry smirked as he said it.
“If I wanted to humiliate you I’d make sure you ended up alone at the Yule Ball,” Draconia giggled, “but I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Yeah well, it seems you’ll get your way then.”
“Since Cho turned you down?”
“I don’t care about Cho. She was my second choice anyway,” he said, defensively.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been rejected twice? How embarrassing.” Draconia said flatly, not even looking at him.
“I haven’t, you twit. Only once. I never asked the other girl.”
“Oh?”
Harry looked down at his shoes, and Draconia felt her pulse quicken.
“It’s just… how do you ask someone to the ball that you know will say no?”
“After slaying a dragon is there seriously any vapid, easily impressed girl in this school who would turn you down, Potter?”
“You would.”
“I’m not vapid, or easily impressed.”
Annoyingly, Harry looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“The girl I’m talking about is… well, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” she repeated.
“I mean, she’s beautiful. Intelligent, too. Rough around the edges, but… I dunno. I think she hates me, honestly.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, no one could hate you more than me.”
“Exactly.”
Draconia frowned. What did that mean?
“Do whatever you want, Potter. Why are you telling me this?”
“Well, you’re a girl. How would you feel?”
She sighed.
“If someone, somewhere, out there felt that way about me, I would want them to tell me, yes.”
“Even if you hated them?”
“Sure, Potter,” she said, rolling her eyes, “Even if I hated them.”
Harry rolled his wand between his fingertips, nervously.
“Then Draconia… would you like to go to the ball with me?”
Draconia blinked, suddenly feeling very hot again.
moonlightbro retweeted
"Ron, Harry, watch out, it's a Deporter."
"W-what's it doing here, Hermione? Non of us are illegal."
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*s q u e a k*
“A galleon on the dragon.” Crabbe leaned over, smugly.
“Shut up Crabbe,” Draconia Malfoid replied, clasping her hands together.
A cannon erupted, and Potter appeared, with his messy black hair and his perpetually-cracked glasses, waving to the crowd. The dragon didn’t give him a beat, slamming its tail in his direction. He rolled out of the way, and Draconia yelped involuntarily. Goyle was laughing like an idiot beside her. Didn’t she know this was real?
“Accio Firebolt!” Potter shouted, and nothing happened. The dragon roared, blowing fire in all directions, straining against the chain that held it to the ground. Even from here, in the stands, the heat was almost unbearable. Potter leapt behind a rock, hiding himself from the flame. The dragon pressed harder, blowing more flame in his direction, its spines standing on end.
Suddenly, a broom shot into the arena, and Potter jumped onto it. The crowd erupted, chanting his name. Draconia had to bite back the urge to chant alongside them. Harry was showboating again, flying circles around the dragon. She rolled her eyes, smiling to herself.
“Typical Potter, cheating again.” said Goyle, with a mouthful of popcorn.
“Shut up Goyle.”
The chain snapped. Harry nearly fell off his broom in surprise as the dragon leapt up to bite at him. He zipped around the arena, the dragon hot on his tail, blasts of fire in every direction. The dragon swooped near the crowd, and hundreds ducked. Draconia frantically looked around for Dumbledore. Why isn’t anyone doing anything? Potter and the dragon continued to race, each bite and breath of flame just barely missing him. He flew over the stands, headed away from the crowd and towards Hogwarts. The crowd was completely silent, and all she could hear were flaps of dragon wings, fading into the distance.
Without thinking, she started pushing through the people beside her to exit the stands. Running down the stairs, her mind racing faster than her feet, bumping into people on her way out of the arena. Her legs carried her as fast as she could go, the cold wind biting at her face as she ran through the grass toward the front gate of Hogwarts. Harry and the dragon outpaced her, and she lost track of them as they continued their pursuit in between the high towers of Hogwarts.
Draconia reached the front gate, panting. She looked up and gasped. Harry had been knocked from his broom, scrambling on an outcropping with his broom out of reach. The dragon landed with a massive thud, and began slithering up the tower, its claws digging into the brick as it sniffed out its prey.
Draconia pulled out her wand, aiming it at the dragon. Her hands were shaking. She knew the words, her father had taught them to her. It’s not unforgivable to save a life, is it?
“AVADA KEDA-“
“EXPELLIARMUS!”
Her wand snapped out of her hand, landing in the grass. She spun around in a rage to see Professor Moody, pointing his wand at her.
“Don’t interfere, girl.”
“How dare you!” she shrieked, jumping towards her wand. Moody was faster, wrapping his arms around her, holding her in place.
“Let me GO!” she shouted, struggling against his hold, kicking her feet and screaming.
“Watch, girl.”
Harry was on his broom again, outrunning the dragon. But he wasn’t as fast as he was before. The dragon was getting closer, nipping at the back of his broomstick with each flap of its wings. They were headed towards the bridge.
Draconia squirmed out of Moody’s grasp, and leapt towards her wand, landing in the mud. She snatched it, rolled over, and aimed at the dragon hundreds of yards away.
“STUPEFY!”
Harry threaded the needle between the arches of the bridge, and the dragon stumbled in its attempt to follow, knocking itself against the hard stone. It shrieked in pain, slamming its head into the arches before spiraling into the chasm below.
“YES!” Draconia squealed, feeling relief wash over her. Moody gave her a contemptuous glare with that freakish false-eye of his.
“Come with me," Professor Moody growled, yanking her by the arm. She was so relieved she didn’t even care. From behind, she could hear the entire arena erupt in cheers.
They walked through the empty halls of Hogwarts in silence. Draconia couldn’t stop smiling to herself. Everyone else was away, watching the first task. Filch and his mangy cat were probably the only ones here, she thought. Moody took a drink of his flask. He was always doing that, drinking on the job. Another thing she’d have to tell her father about, how far Hogwarts has fallen to allow drunks to teach. Moody’s steps were belabored and uneven, and his false eye darted around in seeming paranoia. Eventually, they reached his office.
“Sit down.” he said, gruffly.
She did, choosing not to say anything.
Moody looked down at her ‘Potter stinks’ badge.
“Made those yourself, did you?”
“I most certainly did not.“
“Happy to wear something with his name on it. Hm? Is that it?”
“Excuse m-“
“Quiet. Dumbledore asked me to look after Potter. And the last thing he needs is some lovesick harpy meddling in the tournament, understand?”
“I tried to save him!” she shouted incredulously, standing as she did. How dare this brutish, ugly, vulgar, piece of-
Moody flicked his wand, and she was thrust back into her chair.
“You just as easily could’ve killed him. Then what, hm? You think of that? If that spell went a wee bit to the left and struck Mr. Potter?”
“I-“
“Think you can aim a spell with any accuracy from 500 yards, do you?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but couldn’t find the words.
“The killing curse as a first resort. You’re just like your father,” he continued.
She stayed silent. She really could’ve killed him. It would’ve been all her fault.
“I didn’t mean to.” she said, meekly.
“How do you think Mr. Potter would feel if he were to find out about this? Think he’d approve of you attempting to use the spell that killed his parents?”
“I was only trying to-“
“It doesn’t matter. Stay away from Potter.”
“What?!”
“You heard me. Whether you want to kiss him or curse him, he’s better off without you.”
Draconia’s jaw dropped in shock. The sheer audacity of this cretin to speak to her this way. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, composing herself as she stood.
“If that’s all, Professor, I will be going now,” she said, with ice in her voice.
Moody took another swig of his flask.
“Tell your father Professor Moody sends his regards.”
She bit her tongue and stood, storming out of the office. Moody only stared at her with that freakish eye of his as she did. Anger bubbled inside her. How dare he. This ugly creature thinks he can tell her what to do. This freak thinks he can lord his meager school authority over her? Her father would hear about this. Her father would take care of him. Her shoes clicked against the marble floor as she strode down the hallway. She entered the girl’s bathroom, brushing the dried mud on her robes onto the floor.
Draconia approached the sink, standing before a broken mirror, and bent down to wash the dirt from her face.
“Stay away from Potter?” she muttered, looking up to glare at herself in the cracked glass.
Never.
"Riddikulus!"
A frilly pink dress suddenly materialized around the torso of the troll, who nearly dropped his club in surprise. Harry couldn't stop himself from smiling, and the whole class erupted in laughter.
"Well done, well done! Malfoid, you're up next!" said Professor Lupin.
This was their second lesson with the boggart, and it was even better than the last. Hard for it not to be, considering the last one was cut short. Harry shuddered just remembering it. The boggart assumes your biggest fear, and for him it took the form of a dementor.
"What kind of fear do you reckon she has? Being a frigid witch like she is, and all." Ron whispered to him.
"Probably a kitten." Harry snickered.
"Or a hippogriff." Ron replied.
The boys started chuckling to themselves, earning an irritated look from Hermione.
Malfoid stepped forward, wand at the ready, staring down the boggart. Harry wondered what form it would take. He didn't really know her that well, after all. Maybe it really would be a hippogriff. Harry remembered how proudly she told him that her father would be pushing to have Buckbeak executed, as if she expected him to be happy also. It shouldn't have attacked her, that's true. But to kill it?
The troll began to dissolve, shifting its form as it approached Malfoid. Like smoke, its skin began to melt to the floor, coalescing into a pair of black boots. The boggart shifted and changed, forming the bottom of a cane and a lonely pair of legs as it continued to rise upward. Malfoid looked uneasy. The confident pose she wore only moments before was replaced by one of apprehension.
"Riddi... Riddikul-" She was clutching her wand in fear, barely able to speak from breathing so fast. Tips of long platinum hair began to form on the unfinished torso of the boggart, and Harry noticed the top of the cane had formed into the head of a silver snake.
Malfoid turned and quickly ran out of the classroom, keeping her head down, and the boggart turned its attention to the student behind her, morphing into some sort of arachnid.
"Well that was a letdown," Ron whined, "We didn't even get to see what it was."
"Would someone be so kind as to check on Miss Malfoid? I can't leave the boggart unattended." Professor Lupin called out.
Harry's legs moved before his mind did. In fact, he was the only one who moved at all. Harry ran through the classroom door, and saw platinum hair swish around the corner at the end of the hall. He remembered his own encounter with the boggart, and the terror he'd felt. Thank goodness for Professor Lupin. Harry ran even faster after her as she turned to rush up the stairs.
"Malfoid!" He called, and she whipped her head around to glare at him.
"Don't look at me!" she shouted back.
Harry didn't listen. He never listened to what she told him to do anyway, so why start now? Hasty footsteps echoed around the stone walls of the spiral staircase as they both hurriedly ran up the tower. This was the astronomy tower, the highest tower in Hogwarts, and Harry did not forget that fact as his legs began to burn. Reaching the top, he pushed open the door, panting. This tower had tall archways exposed to the outside, and the floor was dusted with a light layer of snow.
"Malfoid?"
She didn't answer. Malfoid was nowhere to be seen. But he heard her, sitting behind one of the telescopes, sniffling to herself. Harry wiped his brow and sat on the other side of the telescope from her. Silence.
"That was your father, wasn't it?" Harry asked, softly.
Draconia stayed silent.
"The boggart, I mean." Harry quickly added.
She snorted. "I know, Potter."
An owl hooted in the rafters above.
"It's a foul thing to put in a classroom, something that takes on your biggest fear."
"I wasn't scared."
"Right."
"You wouldn't understand."
"I know how difficult family can be."
She sniffled, "I can imagine it would be difficult, yes, being raised by that oaf Hagrid like one of his beasts."
Harry started to regret even coming here.
"I wasn't raised by Hagrid, you dolt."
"Grew up in the wild, did you? Figures."
Harry really started to regret even coming here.
"I'm just kidding, Potter." she quietly added.
A gust of wind blew through the tower, then subsided. Harry rubbed his hands together to keep warm.
"You're right though. I don't know much about families. I haven't got one, not really. I was raised by my aunt, but to her I was more like, I dunno, a house elf or something."
"I'd like to meet her, I think her and I could get along." Draconia chuckled through a cracked voice.
"Not likely, she's a muggle after all."
"One of the good ones, I guess."
Harry rolled his eyes. This was like trying to pet a snake.
"Even she's not as bad as my Godfather. Sirius Black, if you'd believe me."
"You're right, I don't believe you."
"It's true. He was friends with my mum and dad."
"You're serious?"
"No, he's Sirius."
Draconia giggled. It was the first time Harry ever heard her laugh not at someone's expense.
They sat there in silence for another moment, backs to one another behind the telescope. Snow was blowing through the archways, and Harry shivered.
"What was it like?" Draconia asked.
"What was what like?"
"The dementor."
"Oh... I suppose... it was sort of like... I felt like I'd never be happy again."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"It was a dementor too, that knocked you off your broom that day, wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry." she said, with a softness in her voice he'd never heard before.
"Sorry for what?"
"Nothing."
He heard her teeth chatter. It really was cold up here. Harry stood up, and poked his head around to look at her. Draconia was looking away from him, holding her knees to her chest. Her eyes were red, and she was shivering. Harry took off his robe and wrapped it around her.
"Come on Draconia, let's get back to class."
She nodded, and stood, wiping her eyes and straightening her hair. She wasn't a snake. She was just a girl.
"Gryffindor robes are scratchy. What kind of street animal is this made of?"
Harry only rolled his eyes, and smiled. Maybe just a little bit of a snake.
Part 7
“Decided who you’re going to the ball with, Draconia?” asked Goyle.
Draconia Malfoid sighed, lying back in the grass with her arms crossed behind her head.
“No, not yet. Too many boys to choose from.”
“Didn’t you say a Durmstrang boy asked you?”
“As if I’d ever go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well you’d better pick soon, time is running out.”
Draconia looked up at the sky, fiddling with her wand. The truth is, no one had asked her. Even Crabbe and Goyle, fat as they are, had several prospects.
“Did you hear Harry Potter got rejected?” said Goyle, chewing on some candy.
Draconia shot up.
“What?”
“He asked Cho Chang, and she laughed at him or something.”
“He asked… Cho?”
Draconia suddenly felt very hot.
“The other day, yeah. But she’s going with Cedric, I heard.”
“Might’ve been a tactic to get into Cedric’s head, try to steal his girl y’know?” chimed in Crabbe.
Draconia slowly unclenched her fists.
“I’m sorry, I just realized I’m late for studying.”
“Since when do you study?” snorted Goyle, stuffing more candies into her mouth.
Draconia smacked the box out of her hands.
“Since when do you ever stop eating?”
Draconia walked away in a huff from the courtyard, in no direction in particular. Honestly, the nerve of that Goyle. The nerve of the boys in this stupid school. She walked past a couple sitting on a bench, kissing. Gross.
“Everything alright Miss Malfoid?” asked Nearly Headless Nick, poking his head up from beneath the floor.
“Fine. Thanks.” she replied through gritted teeth, stepping through his ghost head as she walked.
She found herself in the entrance hall, alone with the Goblet of Fire. The cup was empty and lifeless, having served its purpose of spitting out the names of the Triwizard champions. The room was dimly lit by enchanted blue torches along the walls. She sighed, sitting on a bench in front of it. Mother and father would be so ashamed if she went to the ball herself. Especially after all of those letters telling her to make herself known to Cedric Diggory. “A girl of your stature needs to go with a Triwizard champion.” she repeated, sarcastically.
The door creaked open, and Draconia eyed it suspiciously as a figure with messy black hair, round glasses, and Gryffindor robes entered the room.
“What do *you* want?” Draconia sneered.
“Nothing with you, that’s for sure.” Harry Potter taunted back.
Draconia scoffed.
“Come to tamper with the goblet again, Mr. Boy-Who-Cheated?”
“I came to be alone, actually. To think. You ever try that?”
“Didn’t think you had it in you to ever want a break from the attention.”
“It’s hard sometimes, being the greatest wizard who ever lived. I slayed a dragon, you know. Not sure if you saw.”
Draconia rolled her eyes so hard she thought they’d flip into the back of her head.
“Well I’m not leaving. Got to look after the goblet, you know.” she said, gesturing to the cup, “So you may as well join me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Harry opened his mouth like he had something to say, but closed it, and sat next to her. They both sat in silence for several moments, listening to the crackle of the blue torches along the walls.
“I heard you asked Cho Chang to the ball,” Draconia said softly.
“Yeah. I got turned down.”
Draconia started giggling, and Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Well who are you going with then?” he said.
Draconia’s eye twitched.
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Too many suitors to choose from. Thinking of going with a Durmstrang boy, an older one.” Draconia said innocently, eyeing Harry as she said it.
“Durmstrang?” Harry laughed, “The Malfoid I know wouldn’t go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think, Potter,” she said, stubbornly.
“Perhaps I don’t.” Harry chuckled.
She didn’t reply, continuing to stare at the Goblet of Fire. He really didn’t. She’d attempted to use the spell that killed his parents. Avada kedavra. Moody was right. If Harry really did know her, he would hate her. Maybe he already does.
“Did you really cheat? You know, to get your name into the cup?”
“You think I’d choose to fight a dragon of my own accord?”
“Don’t play stupid Potter, you wouldn’t have known there’d be a dragon.”
“No, I didn’t put my name in the cup.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly. I don’t know who did. I thought it was you, for a while.”
“Me?” Draconia laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I dunno. To humiliate me?” Harry smirked as he said it.
“If I wanted to humiliate you I’d make sure you ended up alone at the Yule Ball,” Draconia giggled, “but I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Yeah well, it seems you’ll get your way then.”
“Since Cho turned you down?”
“I don’t care about Cho. She was my second choice anyway,” he said, defensively.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been rejected twice? How embarrassing.” Draconia said flatly, not even looking at him.
“I haven’t, you twit. Only once. I never asked the other girl.”
“Oh?”
Harry looked down at his shoes, and Draconia felt her pulse quicken.
“It’s just… how do you ask someone to the ball that you know will say no?”
“After slaying a dragon is there seriously any vapid, easily impressed girl in this school who would turn you down, Potter?”
“You would.”
“I’m not vapid, or easily impressed.”
Annoyingly, Harry looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“The girl I’m talking about is… well, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” she repeated.
“I mean, she’s beautiful. Intelligent, too. Rough around the edges, but… I dunno. I think she hates me, honestly.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, no one could hate you more than me.”
“Exactly.”
Draconia frowned. What did that mean?
“Do whatever you want, Potter. Why are you telling me this?”
“Well, you’re a girl. How would you feel?”
She sighed.
“If someone, somewhere, out there felt that way about me, I would want them to tell me, yes.”
“Even if you hated them?”
“Sure, Potter,” she said, rolling her eyes, “Even if I hated them.”
Harry rolled his wand between his fingertips, nervously.
“Then Draconia… would you like to go to the ball with me?”
Draconia blinked, suddenly feeling very hot again.
“Decided who you’re going to the ball with, Draconia?” asked Goyle.
Draconia Malfoid sighed, lying back in the grass with her arms crossed behind her head.
“No, not yet. Too many boys to choose from.”
“Didn’t you say a Durmstrang boy asked you?”
“As if I’d ever go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well you’d better pick soon, time is running out.”
Draconia looked up at the sky, fiddling with her wand. The truth is, no one had asked her. Even Crabbe and Goyle, fat as they are, had several prospects.
“Did you hear Harry Potter got rejected?” said Goyle, chewing on some candy.
Draconia shot up.
“What?”
“He asked Cho Chang, and she laughed at him or something.”
“He asked… Cho?”
Draconia suddenly felt very hot.
“The other day, yeah. But she’s going with Cedric, I heard.”
“Might’ve been a tactic to get into Cedric’s head, try to steal his girl y’know?” chimed in Crabbe.
Draconia slowly unclenched her fists.
“I’m sorry, I just realized I’m late for studying.”
“Since when do you study?” snorted Goyle, stuffing more candies into her mouth.
Draconia smacked the box out of her hands.
“Since when do you ever stop eating?”
Draconia walked away in a huff from the courtyard, in no direction in particular. Honestly, the nerve of that Goyle. The nerve of the boys in this stupid school. She walked past a couple sitting on a bench, kissing. Gross.
“Everything alright Miss Malfoid?” asked Nearly Headless Nick, poking his head up from beneath the floor.
“Fine. Thanks.” she replied through gritted teeth, stepping through his ghost head as she walked.
She found herself in the entrance hall, alone with the Goblet of Fire. The cup was empty and lifeless, having served its purpose of spitting out the names of the Triwizard champions. The room was dimly lit by enchanted blue torches along the walls. She sighed, sitting on a bench in front of it. Mother and father would be so ashamed if she went to the ball herself. Especially after all of those letters telling her to make herself known to Cedric Diggory. “A girl of your stature needs to go with a Triwizard champion.” she repeated, sarcastically.
The door creaked open, and Draconia eyed it suspiciously as a figure with messy black hair, round glasses, and Gryffindor robes entered the room.
“What do *you* want?” Draconia sneered.
“Nothing with you, that’s for sure.” Harry Potter taunted back.
Draconia scoffed.
“Come to tamper with the goblet again, Mr. Boy-Who-Cheated?”
“I came to be alone, actually. To think. You ever try that?”
“Didn’t think you had it in you to ever want a break from the attention.”
“It’s hard sometimes, being the greatest wizard who ever lived. I slayed a dragon, you know. Not sure if you saw.”
Draconia rolled her eyes so hard she thought they’d flip into the back of her head.
“Well I’m not leaving. Got to look after the goblet, you know.” she said, gesturing to the cup, “So you may as well join me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Harry opened his mouth like he had something to say, but closed it, and sat next to her. They both sat in silence for several moments, listening to the crackle of the blue torches along the walls.
“I heard you asked Cho Chang to the ball,” Draconia said softly.
“Yeah. I got turned down.”
Draconia started giggling, and Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Well who are you going with then?” he said.
Draconia’s eye twitched.
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Too many suitors to choose from. Thinking of going with a Durmstrang boy, an older one.” Draconia said innocently, eyeing Harry as she said it.
“Durmstrang?” Harry laughed, “The Malfoid I know wouldn’t go to the ball with one of those troll-brained idiots.”
“Well perhaps you don’t know me as well as you think, Potter,” she said, stubbornly.
“Perhaps I don’t.” Harry chuckled.
She didn’t reply, continuing to stare at the Goblet of Fire. He really didn’t. She’d attempted to use the spell that killed his parents. Avada kedavra. Moody was right. If Harry really did know her, he would hate her. Maybe he already does.
“Did you really cheat? You know, to get your name into the cup?”
“You think I’d choose to fight a dragon of my own accord?”
“Don’t play stupid Potter, you wouldn’t have known there’d be a dragon.”
“No, I didn’t put my name in the cup.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly. I don’t know who did. I thought it was you, for a while.”
“Me?” Draconia laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I dunno. To humiliate me?” Harry smirked as he said it.
“If I wanted to humiliate you I’d make sure you ended up alone at the Yule Ball,” Draconia giggled, “but I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Yeah well, it seems you’ll get your way then.”
“Since Cho turned you down?”
“I don’t care about Cho. She was my second choice anyway,” he said, defensively.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been rejected twice? How embarrassing.” Draconia said flatly, not even looking at him.
“I haven’t, you twit. Only once. I never asked the other girl.”
“Oh?”
Harry looked down at his shoes, and Draconia felt her pulse quicken.
“It’s just… how do you ask someone to the ball that you know will say no?”
“After slaying a dragon is there seriously any vapid, easily impressed girl in this school who would turn you down, Potter?”
“You would.”
“I’m not vapid, or easily impressed.”
Annoyingly, Harry looked like he was stifling a laugh.
“The girl I’m talking about is… well, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated.” she repeated.
“I mean, she’s beautiful. Intelligent, too. Rough around the edges, but… I dunno. I think she hates me, honestly.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, no one could hate you more than me.”
“Exactly.”
Draconia frowned. What did that mean?
“Do whatever you want, Potter. Why are you telling me this?”
“Well, you’re a girl. How would you feel?”
She sighed.
“If someone, somewhere, out there felt that way about me, I would want them to tell me, yes.”
“Even if you hated them?”
“Sure, Potter,” she said, rolling her eyes, “Even if I hated them.”
Harry rolled his wand between his fingertips, nervously.
“Then Draconia… would you like to go to the ball with me?”
Draconia blinked, suddenly feeling very hot again.
“A galleon on the dragon.” Crabbe leaned over, smugly.
“Shut up Crabbe,” Draconia Malfoid replied, clasping her hands together.
A cannon erupted, and Potter appeared, with his messy black hair and his perpetually-cracked glasses, waving to the crowd. The dragon didn’t give him a beat, slamming its tail in his direction. He rolled out of the way, and Draconia yelped involuntarily. Goyle was laughing like an idiot beside her. Didn’t she know this was real?
“Accio Firebolt!” Potter shouted, and nothing happened. The dragon roared, blowing fire in all directions, straining against the chain that held it to the ground. Even from here, in the stands, the heat was almost unbearable. Potter leapt behind a rock, hiding himself from the flame. The dragon pressed harder, blowing more flame in his direction, its spines standing on end.
Suddenly, a broom shot into the arena, and Potter jumped onto it. The crowd erupted, chanting his name. Draconia had to bite back the urge to chant alongside them. Harry was showboating again, flying circles around the dragon. She rolled her eyes, smiling to herself.
“Typical Potter, cheating again.” said Goyle, with a mouthful of popcorn.
“Shut up Goyle.”
The chain snapped. Harry nearly fell off his broom in surprise as the dragon leapt up to bite at him. He zipped around the arena, the dragon hot on his tail, blasts of fire in every direction. The dragon swooped near the crowd, and hundreds ducked. Draconia frantically looked around for Dumbledore. Why isn’t anyone doing anything? Potter and the dragon continued to race, each bite and breath of flame just barely missing him. He flew over the stands, headed away from the crowd and towards Hogwarts. The crowd was completely silent, and all she could hear were flaps of dragon wings, fading into the distance.
Without thinking, she started pushing through the people beside her to exit the stands. Running down the stairs, her mind racing faster than her feet, bumping into people on her way out of the arena. Her legs carried her as fast as she could go, the cold wind biting at her face as she ran through the grass toward the front gate of Hogwarts. Harry and the dragon outpaced her, and she lost track of them as they continued their pursuit in between the high towers of Hogwarts.
Draconia reached the front gate, panting. She looked up and gasped. Harry had been knocked from his broom, scrambling on an outcropping with his broom out of reach. The dragon landed with a massive thud, and began slithering up the tower, its claws digging into the brick as it sniffed out its prey.
Draconia pulled out her wand, aiming it at the dragon. Her hands were shaking. She knew the words, her father had taught them to her. It’s not unforgivable to save a life, is it?
“AVADA KEDA-“
“EXPELLIARMUS!”
Her wand snapped out of her hand, landing in the grass. She spun around in a rage to see Professor Moody, pointing his wand at her.
“Don’t interfere, girl.”
“How dare you!” she shrieked, jumping towards her wand. Moody was faster, wrapping his arms around her, holding her in place.
“Let me GO!” she shouted, struggling against his hold, kicking her feet and screaming.
“Watch, girl.”
Harry was on his broom again, outrunning the dragon. But he wasn’t as fast as he was before. The dragon was getting closer, nipping at the back of his broomstick with each flap of its wings. They were headed towards the bridge.
Draconia squirmed out of Moody’s grasp, and leapt towards her wand, landing in the mud. She snatched it, rolled over, and aimed at the dragon hundreds of yards away.
“STUPEFY!”
Harry threaded the needle between the arches of the bridge, and the dragon stumbled in its attempt to follow, knocking itself against the hard stone. It shrieked in pain, slamming its head into the arches before spiraling into the chasm below.
“YES!” Draconia squealed, feeling relief wash over her. Moody gave her a contemptuous glare with that freakish false-eye of his.
“Come with me," Professor Moody growled, yanking her by the arm. She was so relieved she didn’t even care. From behind, she could hear the entire arena erupt in cheers.
They walked through the empty halls of Hogwarts in silence. Draconia couldn’t stop smiling to herself. Everyone else was away, watching the first task. Filch and his mangy cat were probably the only ones here, she thought. Moody took a drink of his flask. He was always doing that, drinking on the job. Another thing she’d have to tell her father about, how far Hogwarts has fallen to allow drunks to teach. Moody’s steps were belabored and uneven, and his false eye darted around in seeming paranoia. Eventually, they reached his office.
“Sit down.” he said, gruffly.
She did, choosing not to say anything.
Moody looked down at her ‘Potter stinks’ badge.
“Made those yourself, did you?”
“I most certainly did not.“
“Happy to wear something with his name on it. Hm? Is that it?”
“Excuse m-“
“Quiet. Dumbledore asked me to look after Potter. And the last thing he needs is some lovesick harpy meddling in the tournament, understand?”
“I tried to save him!” she shouted incredulously, standing as she did. How dare this brutish, ugly, vulgar, piece of-
Moody flicked his wand, and she was thrust back into her chair.
“You just as easily could’ve killed him. Then what, hm? You think of that? If that spell went a wee bit to the left and struck Mr. Potter?”
“I-“
“Think you can aim a spell with any accuracy from 500 yards, do you?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but couldn’t find the words.
“The killing curse as a first resort. You’re just like your father,” he continued.
She stayed silent. She really could’ve killed him. It would’ve been all her fault.
“I didn’t mean to.” she said, meekly.
“How do you think Mr. Potter would feel if he were to find out about this? Think he’d approve of you attempting to use the spell that killed his parents?”
“I was only trying to-“
“It doesn’t matter. Stay away from Potter.”
“What?!”
“You heard me. Whether you want to kiss him or curse him, he’s better off without you.”
Draconia’s jaw dropped in shock. The sheer audacity of this cretin to speak to her this way. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, composing herself as she stood.
“If that’s all, Professor, I will be going now,” she said, with ice in her voice.
Moody took another swig of his flask.
“Tell your father Professor Moody sends his regards.”
She bit her tongue and stood, storming out of the office. Moody only stared at her with that freakish eye of his as she did. Anger bubbled inside her. How dare he. This ugly creature thinks he can tell her what to do. This freak thinks he can lord his meager school authority over her? Her father would hear about this. Her father would take care of him. Her shoes clicked against the marble floor as she strode down the hallway. She entered the girl’s bathroom, brushing the dried mud on her robes onto the floor.
Draconia approached the sink, standing before a broken mirror, and bent down to wash the dirt from her face.
“Stay away from Potter?” she muttered, looking up to glare at herself in the cracked glass.
Never.
moonlightbro retweeted
Here are my own thoughts on this matter, since I've posted it in pieces elsewhere:
Harry doesn't get to make mistakes very often. Sure, he wrongly accuses Snape in the first book, because Snape is a dick. He blames Malfoy for the events of the second, for similar reasons. But it all works out in the end, because dead ends are just part of the mystery.
Maybe that's just the nature of being the titular hero, or of the type of story that JK wrote early on, but he's never really punished for leaping before he looks. Everything is just brushed aside with a light detention at worst, and another 50 points to Gryffindor if he managed to save the school this year.
Sectum Sempra is his first real fuck-up with consequences. For whatever reason, Harry never thought to take his textbook out behind Hagrid's hut and fire off a few test spells. He just reached straight for the killing curse, not realizing that it was on the level of Avada Kedavra. It's the equivalent of a teenaged boy finding a loaded gun and using it to play laser tag because he'd only ever seen Cowboys and Indians fall over after being shot. 𝑂ℎ 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑡 doesn't begin to cover it.
So we rewrite it, yeah? Easy enough, we're already rewriting everything from Goblet of Fire onward to fit Malfoid neatly into the narrative. We can have our story as fluffy and romantical as we want, and nobody can say otherwise.
It's fine.
Just 2 things.
Number 1, you're removing the deepest plunge of the roller coaster. You've been to the summit, at the Yule Ball, and during whatever romantic shenanigans you want to come up with during the following ~4-6 months leading up to the graveyard and Cedric's death. But a proper enemy/rivals-to-lovers story needs a plunge. You can't just started at the bottom in their first year and work your way up, that's -- forgive me -- dreadfully boring. That's a checklist, not a story. Dracaena deserves better, which means she deserves her own character growth. The Sectum Sempara scene gives it to the both of them, and gives them a good point to rebuild from before the end of the story so that it's not just a rushed mess in the final 2 chapters.
Number 2, and nearly just as important; you're not just changing that one scene. You'd also be changing the context of a later scene, after Dumbledore falls, and Harry again attempts to use the curse on Snape. Canonically this is his second time attempting it, and now he knows exactly what it does. Harry is ready to 𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 a Hogwarts teacher for what he sees as the ultimate betrayal, and for the first time in his life he's shooting with the intent to kill.
There's nothing wrong with wanting a more light-hearted approach to the story. The "Lumos/Lumos" animation I reposted earlier is a wonderful example of this. But if you do remove it from the bathroom scene, just be aware that you're changing far more than a simple lover's quarrel in the girl's toilets. You're taking away a very strong point of agency and growth from two characters that could really use a kick in the teeth to get them back on the right track.
moonlightbro retweeted
I wanted to do some voice acting cause this art reminded me of this scene.
#malfoid
moonlightbro retweeted
I made this video based on the cute little head-canon story of @moonlightbro , with Harry and Malfoid watching the Quidditch World Cup final together.
I hope y'all enjoy it, I also made sure to add subtitles this time. #malfoid #HarryPotter #fanfic
moonlightbro retweeted
Whenever I tell anyone that I'm generally against the idea of democracy they're like "but you know if democracy is cancelled then YOU won't be able to vote either, right??" and it's like wow man I never thought of that. You just changed everything
