The Forging of the Bonds

Chapter 7. Through the night.

Michael entered the Gryffindor common room and was greeted by a loud cheer. "Congrats, Mike!" Kate shouted, hugging him. Dave playfully punched him on the shoulder.

Mike wished he could be happy.

He slumped down on the couch. "We're going to lose this," he said.

"What?"

"Hogwarts. We're going to lose this tournament. It's going to be dependent on teamwork with Malfoy. We're going to lose. Twin brothers from Durmstrang, best friends from Beauxbatons, and... Malfoy and myself. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen."

None of his friends knew what to say. "I'm going to bed," he told them.

He did go up to the dorm, but he didn't sleep. Instead, he pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment, and began to write.

Dear mum and dad,

If you haven't heard by now, there is a Triwizard Tournament this year at Hogwarts, and I entered to compete. I have been selected. However, each school now has two champions, and I've got Malfoy as a "partner". That's bad enough, but Professor Potter seemed pleased with that, and gave me detention when I said I couldn't work with her. How am I supposed to? Her father probably taught her all about the Dark Arts, he is a Death Eater after all. For all I know, she'll try to kill me for being a half-blood. Anyway, could you do something? I want Hogwarts to win this tournament--I want to win this tournament. With Malfoy as my co-champion, neither of these things will happen. I hope you can help.

Love,

Mike.

P.S. First task is at 9 A.M. on Nov. 13. Will you come to watch?

Mike sealed the letter and sneaked out of the dorm to the Owlery. He was risking another detention, but he didn't really care. This was too important to wait.

He found Annabel, his owl, and gave her a treat. "Take this to mum and dad, will you?" The owl hooted and flew off.

"Whining to your parents, Weasley?" He turned around. Malfoy was tying a letter to the leg of large black owl. The bird gave a hoot as it disappeared into the night.

"I could ask you the same," he said.

"I hear them, my pet," a quiet voice said from below.

"Filch!" Mike whispered.

"No shit, We--"

"Shut up!"

Not saying anything, both of them tiptoed out of the Owlery and into the corridor. Mike looked right. Filch was there, seen thanks to the pale moonlight shining through one of the castle windows. There was no sign of Mrs. Norris.

Mike headed left, although this meant a longer route back to the Gryffindor dorms. He looked behind. Malfoy was following... no, heading in the same direction. That was different.

They turned a corner, and Mike froze in fear.

Pale yellow eyes were staring at him. Mr. Norris meowed and ran off.

"Run!" he shouted for some reason to Elizabeth and ran himself. He had a plan, but the presence of Malfoy complicated things. He didn't want to show this to her. However, one detention was bad enough, and he didn't want another.

Safety won over. Mike ran to a familiar wall and tapped a large stone apple with his wand twice. He then breathed and ran through the wall. Moments later, Malfoy bumped into him from behind.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Disguised chamber. You have to know exactly where to tap to make the wall permeable. Filch's a Squib, so he couldn't get in even if he knew about it--which he doesn't. We're safe."

"Yeah, Weasley. Whatever." He heard rustling of robes. "Lumos!" Malfoy said.

Mike yelped. Right in front of him was the head of large black cat.

A panther.

The panther sprang up and was replaced by the form of a man. "Filch doesn't know about this place," Potter said, "but I do." He stepped through the wall and beckoned them to follow. "Another fifty points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley. Miss Malfoy, you will be joining Mr. Weasley tomorrow in detention. And twenty points from Slytherin."

He escorted them both to the dormitories. "And stay inside this time, will you?" he told Malfoy.

Later, at the picture of the Fat Lady that represented the entrance to the Gryffindor dormitories, Mike finally worked up the courage to confront Potter. "Professor, this is not fair! You took only twenty points from--"

"I didn't give you a second detention. Good night, Mr. Weasley," he said, and watched carefully as Mike entered the room, and had the Fat Lady close the door behind him.