Like A Star

"Welcome to your first Defense Against The Dark Arts class," Dumbledore began. He stood at the front of the classroom in front of the fifth year Slytherins. "As you have all probably heard, I have accepted the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Most of the Slytherins had already sunk into a boredom other otherwise induced stupor. Pansy Parkinson was busy ogling Draco Malfoy. Draco had decided the instant he walked through the doors that listening to Dumbledore wasn't going to be a top priority for the class. Blaise was scribbling something on a piece of parchment. As a prefect, he thought his duty was to pay attention, but not to Dumbledore. Millicent Bulstrode was having a hard time keeping her eyes off of either Crabbe or Goyle, no one was quite sure which of the two she liked this week. Karen Moon and Taylor Nott were both examining their fingernails and having a whispered discussion about what color they thought would look good to paint their nails next. Apparently the one brain cell Crabbe and Goyle shared was, at the moment, in Goyle's possession. Crabbe had leaned back in his seat and had his eyes closed. Goyle at least had his eyes open and was looking at Dumbledore in a way that, to an observer, gave a vague notion someone washome.

'Okay, for your first class, as I'm sure you've already heard, we will be having a scavenger hunt," Dumbledore announced. No one even looked remotely excited.

"So I suppose I shall split you into two teams," Dumbledore said. Draco's head shot forward from where he had been gazing at the ceiling.

"No professor, I'm sure we can take care of that," he insisted.

"Ah," thought Dumbledore, "at least that one was paying attention."

"Alright Mr. Malfoy, you divide the teams. Equally,"

"Alright. My team will be Zabini and these two," He said, pointing to Crabbe and Goyle, "And then the girls can be together."

"NO FAIR!" Pansy cried.

"Okay, we'll take Parkinson for Zabini," Draco laughed maliciously at Blaise as Pansy beamed happily at Millicent.

"NO FAIR!" Millicent cried.

"Won't work for you, Bulstrode," Draco spat. Blaise glared at Draco. Common knowledge around the Slytherin common room was that Karen and Taylor had a bet going to see who could be the first in Blaise's pants. Blaise generally avoided the two girls for that specific reason.

"Alright Me handed a list to each of the prefects. The list was identical to the one Gryffindor had used. Draco looked it over carefully.

"This should be easy enough," He muttered to himself.

"A few small things before you start. No magic. Of any kind. Not even summoning charms. Especially after what happened last time." Dumbledore said, "You may begin." Draco had to laugh. The entire school knew that Potter had summoned Filch's desk to the Entrance Hall. Well, everyone knew that someone had summoned Filches desk and after the incident with Firebolt in the tournament, everyone assumed it was Harry. No one else besides the professors had a summoning charm that powerful.

"So what's on the list?" Pansy cooed. She placed her hand on Draco's arm and rubbed her chest on his shoulder. Draco read the list to her.

"I know where a bunch of that stuff is in the common room," Pansy cried.

"Let's go then," Draco said. He jumped to his feet and took off towards the common room with Pansy right next to him. Crabbe and Goyle lumbered closely behind.

"So Draco, who are you going to Hogsmead with the first weekend?" Pansy cooed, as they got a little closer to the common room.

"That's not for another month, Pansy, and I truly don't know." Draco replied.

"What about me?" Pansy asked.

"I'll add you to my list of offers to consider," Draco replied haughtily. "Draco Rules," he muttered to the tapestry that covered the entrance to the Slytherin common room.

"Oh Draco, you're too much," Pansy laughed. She ran off towards the girl's dorm room. Crabbed and Goyle stood by the entrance waiting for a command from Draco.

"Sit," he prompted them. They sank down right where they sat.

"No you!" Draco began, but then decided against the exercise in futility. Reasoning with the two goons was beyond impossible. Instead, Draco pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket, picked up a quill, dipped it in green ink and wrote "Pansy Parkinson" right below Finley Alexander and Debra Bulstrode. So he hadn't been lying to Pansy; he really did have a list of offers to consider. Like he would really go anywhere with Debra Bulstrode. He did credit her for being brave enough to ask him, but then again, he wasn't sure if it had been bravery or stupidity.

"Here you go Draco!" Pansy cried. She had collected all of the basic items on the list for him. He surveyed the myriad of objects she had dumped into his lap. She had found a sneakoscope, a spork, a Hollyhead Harpies Hat, a "Daily Prophet", a recipe from Witch Weekly, a beater bat, a cah.

"Good job, Pansy" Draco replied. He really was quite impressed with her. Pansy smiled broadly at him.

"Hey look, they've got a Ravenclaw scarf," Draco pointed to the other group on the opposite side of the common room.

"So?" Pansy asked.

"We need a scarf from another house," replied Draco.

"Can't you just ask your sister?" Pansy asked.

"I don't feel like speaking with theou Crabbe and Goyle are going to head out towards the Whomping Willow. See if you can't pitch the idea of breaking off a branch to them. Otherwise, what is the use of having brainless goons?"

"Alright, can do," Pansy replied, "what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to get that scarf," Draco replied, an evil glint in his eye.

"Don't do anything stupid," Pansy warned. Draco grinned at her.

"Of course not." Pansy collected Crabbed, Goyle, and the bag of scavenger hunt stuff Draco had magically enlarged and headed out of the common room. Draco sat down on one of the chairs and watched the other group. Millicent was off looking for something. Karen was, again, surveying her long bluish silver nails. Taylor had draped herself over Blaise in a chair and was whispering something in his ear. The scarf lay in their pile of stuff, more towards Karen, and near the bottom of the pile. Everyone was barely paying attention, so Draco dim. He walked over, grabbed the scarf, and ran like hell out of the common room. Only Blaise noticed, and as he couldn't get Taylor off of his lap, he couldn't follow Draco.

"You freak! Get off of me! Draco got our scarf!" Draco could hear Blaise screaming as he ran down the hall towards the steps to go outside. He didn't bother slowing down until he reached the rest of his group. In fact, he ran right by them holding the scarf high above his head and letting it trail behind him like a banner.

"You got it!" Pansy squealed. She jumped up and couple of times and clapped her hands.

"Would you expect anything less?" Draco asked as he dropped the scarf into the bag.

"How did you do it?" Pansy asked. She looked wide-eyed at Draco.

"Oh it was nothing really," Draco said, trying to act nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

"Did they put up a fight?" Pansy asked.

"Nothing I couldn't handle," Draco said, smiling broadly. He laughed internally at how Pansy was devouring his brave answers, and he knew he'd be the hero of the day in the common room by that night. If only she really knew he had just grabbed the scarf and ran. The four teenagers finally reached the Whomping Willow.

"Who is going to take care of it?" Draco asked automatically, facing his two goons.

"I will," Crabbe muttered.

"No me," Goyle insisted.

"I told them I'd kiss whichever got the branches," Pansy replied. Draco looked at her, wide-eyed. His jaw dropped.

"You didn't," He laughed.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did. The only stipulation was that they had to get the branches and not get hurt," Pansy replied. She laughed evilly.

"Pansy you're evil!" Draco exclaimed.

"I know," Pansy said. She raised her eyebrow suggestively at him.

"Crabbe, go for it," Draco said. Crabbe turned to face the tree and walked tentatively over to it. Before he could even touch it, the tree hit him with a massive branch from somewhere near its top. Crabbe flew backwards and landed with a ground-shaking thud, right next to Draco and Pansy's feet.

"I broke my wrist," Crabbe announced. He clutched his right wrist to his chest and didn't bother standing up.

"Your turn, Goyle," Draco instructed his other goon.

"Try talking to it," Pansy suggested. Goyle tentatively approached the tree.

"Duh, Mr. Tree. Could I have one of your branches?" Goyle asked. Pansy and Draco waited for Goyle to get hit, but it never happened. By way of response the tree bent completely over and put her highest branch right at Goalign="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Oh my goodness Pansy, I think he's going to do it!" Draco cried. Goyle reached up and grabbed the tree branch tentatively. No sooner than he had clasped both hands around the branch firmly, did the tree straighten up as fast as she could/ Goyle flew up and over the tree. When the tree was finally standing straight up, Goyle lost his grip on the branch. He flew another 100 meters and landed with a gigantic splash right in the middle of the lake.

"Shit," muttered Pansy. She and Draco stood and stared at Goyle floundering about in the middle of the lake for about a minute.

"You know," Draco said calmly as Goyle sank below the surface yet again, "I don't think he knows how to swim."

"Draco! We've got to save him!" Pansy squealed. Before she could do anything a giant tentacle gently wrapped itself around Goyle and pushed him towards the shore.

"No we don't," Draco replied as the tentacle boosted Goyle onto the bank, "the Giant Squid did." He and Pansy both looked over to Goyle's massive form lying motionlessly on the beach.

"I think he just gave a whole new meaning to the phrase beached whale," Draco muttered.

"I got the branch!" Goyle cried suddenly. He sat up and waved a handful of leafy green matter at Draco and Pansy.

"That might just work!" Draco said. He and Pansy ran over to Goyle and pulled the branches from his hand. By that time, Crabbe had gotten up and was lumbering towards the school. Goyle got up and followed him.

"They're going to be necessary for the next part of my plan!" Draco said suddenly. He sprinted forward and caught up with the two goons. He quickly did a healing spell on Crabbe's wrist while Pansy="Normal" align="left" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"So what is the next part of your plan?" She asked as she walked up to the three boys.

"We've got to get Gillyweed somehow, right?" Draco asked.

"Yes," Pansy said.

"Well you and I are going to cause a distraction to lure Snape out of his classroom and you two are going to sneak in and steal some Gillyweed. Do you think you can handle that?" Draco asked Crabbe and Goyle. Goyle nodded dumbly.

"Gillyweed?" Crabbe asked.

a jar in a cabinet in Snape's office. I want you to hide in that little area right next to the door until Snape comes out of the room. When we get him out of sight, you all go in and grab the Gillyweed," Draco instructed.

"You've got to get out as fast as you can," Pansy added.

"Where do we go when we got it?" Crabbe asked. The brain cell was back in his possession.

"The common room," Draco replied.

"The common room?" Crabbe asked. Draco pulled the door to the castle open and began walking over towards the steps leading down to the dungeon. His team followed him.

"Okay guys, now what are you supposed to do?" Pansy asked Crabbe and Goyle.<" style=" padding: 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm 0.00mm; ">

"Stand next to potions room and wait for a distraction," Crabbe began shakily. Goyle took the brain cell.

"Then when Snape runs out go to his office," Goyle added. He passed the cell back to Crabbe.

"Then get some Gillyweed."

"And go to the common room!" Goyle finished excitedly. They were drawing closer to the potions room.

"Very good guys!" Pansy cheered.

"You're really good with them," Draco laughed.

"Stay here until Snape runs out," he hissed at them. They both nodded dumbly. Then Draco turned and took Pansy's hand. He led her down the hall about 15 meters in front of Snape's door.

"What are we going to do?" She asked as they walked.

"How good of an actress are you?" Draco asked.

"I don't know," Pansy replied.

"We're in so much trouble," Pansy muttered.

"Just play along. I'll talk us out of it," Draco replied under his breath. Pansy hurried and zipped up her robes before their irate potions master reached them.

"PANSY PARKINSON AND DRACO MALFOY!" Snape screamed loudly enough for most of the castle to hear.

"Yes professor Snape?" Draco asked. He mustered a very innocent smile. Pansy tried to stand up straight and breathe regularly.

"What was that little spectacle about?" Snape asked. His voice had reached the level of quiet calm that couldn't signify anything positive.

"Hey guys, did you get the Gillyweed?" Pansy asked, ignoring Draco and walking over to Crabbe and Goyle. Crabbed reached down and opened a bag sitting at his feet. He pulled out four jars, three flasks, and a teapot.

"We couldn't remember what we were getting so we brought everything green and slimy." Goyle explained. Draco picked up the teapot and looked inside. Sure enough, it was filled with something green and slimy.

"I think this is it," Pansy said. She shook a jar of seaweed looking material in front of her own face.

"Boy's you're geniuses," Draco claimed, when he noticed the cozy on the teapot.

"They are?" Pansy asked.

t us a tea cozy and that's on the list," Draco replied. He pulled the cozy off of the pot and tossed it, a long with some of the Gillyweed into the bag.

"So what do we have left?" Pansy asked.

"Books, air, Skelegrow, a picture, a feather, and a CD, whatever that is." Draco read.

"Air?" Pansy asked.

"From the Divination classroom" Draco replied.

"Okay, I'll go get the books and the air, you all can see about the Skelegrow," Pansy said. "Then we'll see what we can do about the picture."

"Meet us at the picture of Ravenclaw below the library," Draco instructed.

"Right," Pansy said. She got up and walked calmly out of the common room.

"All right boys, any ideas about how we can get Skelegrow?" Draco asked Crabbe and Goyle.

"Ask?" Crabbe suggested logically.

"Too logical," Draco shot down the idea, "How about Goyle, you break Crabbe's finger and then Crabbe, ask for Skelegrow but don't take it." Crabbe and Goyle nodded dumbly. Draco suspected Crabbe would let Goyle break one of the fingers on his left hand, as that was the wrist he broke against the willow so that when the pain spell wore off in a few hours, Crabbe could have all of his injuries on one hand. Instead, Crabbe stupidly extended his right hand. Goyle grabbed Crabbe's right index finger and bent it backwards. It snapped crudely right where it attacheroom. Draco jumped up and followed him and Goyle lumbered along a few meters behind Draco.

When Draco and Goyle reached the hospital wing, they found Crabbe lying in bed guzzling Skelegrow from Madam Pomfrey.

"Oh bloody hell," Draco muttered. He fell back against the wall and sank down to the floor. Crabbe took a dose of dreamless sleep potion from Madam Pomfrey.

"Whadda we do now?" Goyle asked dumbly.

"Walk in there and grab the little bottle with the skeleton top," Draco replied sarcastically. Before he could mention that he was kidding, Goyle had entered the hospital wing. He walked over to where Crabbe was laying in the bed and picked up bottle of potion on the bedside table. He slipped it into his pocket and calmly left the hospital wing just like he had entered.

"Like that?" He asked when he handed Draco the bottle.

"Yes Goyle, just like that," Draco said. He took the bottle and headed down towards the prearranged meeting spot with Pansy. Pansy met them halfway between the meeting spot and the hospital wing.

"I got the stuff," she said, pulling Draco the other direction, "Let's go."

"You even got Rowena Ravenclaw."

"Yes," Pansy said, "But Zabini is now bleeding from several orifices so we need to go."

"Zabini is WHAT?"

"He was trying to take the portrait from me while I took it off the wall so I kicked him in his balls and then when he fell over, in his face," Pansy replied with a sly smile. "His nose is bleeding a bit."

"Note to self, don't make Pansy mad," Draco muttered as they headed back towards the Defense classroom.

"So what exactly is a CD?" Draco asked, "It's the only thing left on our list."

"Good question," Pansy replied, "maybe your sister will know. She lived with muggles for all of those years."

"How many times must I repeat myself? I am in NO mood to talk to the traitor!" Draco replied.

"Fine then, I'll talk to her!" Pansy said. She stomped off in the other direction to find Astrid. Draco and Goyle headed into the defense classroom to wait for her. Dumbledore wasn't in the room, so Draco took the opportunity to catch a quick nap.

"Draco! This is a CD!" Pansy shrieked as she stomped into the classroom waving a small, thin plastic box in Draco's face.

"Woman! Has any one ever told you that you have the voice of a banshee when waking one from a nap?" Draco asked groggily.

"A CD is a device for listening to muggle music. While they won't work on Hogwarts grounds, they do work in Hogsmeade and on the train, so many students have them in their possession" Pansy screeched.

"A dirty rotten trick to make us talk to muggle-borns," Draco spat.

"Right on one Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said. He had just appeared in the front of the classroom. Draco glared at Dumbledore. Millicent Bulstrode entered the classroom followed by Taylor, Blaise and Karen. Blaise, who was having trouble walking, had an arm around Karen and Taylor. He had dried blood below his nose and dark purpled circles under both eyes. His nose had swollen considerably.

"What happened to you Mr. Zabini?" Dumbledore asked.

"I fell down the stairs," Blaise said, throwing an icy glare in Pansy's direction.

"Alright. Class is dismissed. Leave your bags at the front of the room. Miss Nott and Miss Moon, will you please escort Mr. Zabini to the hospital wing?" Dumbledore asked. Blaise with his Taylor and Karen crutches limped back out of the room. Millicent and Goyle waited for Pansy and Draco to leave.

"Anotheo muttered. Pansy elbowed him playfully, and Draco made a silent mental note to elevate her status on the list of Hogsmeade offers.