A Walk in the Forest

Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, and Fang the Boarhound took the right path. The forest was dark and creepy, but Draco tried gallantly not to show any fear he may have had. Neville, on the other hand, was alight with terror. Fang padded along beside them, not very thrilled about being away from Hagrid. The narrow walkway twisted and turned through the tall, forbidding trees. The Gryffindor's steps were ungainly compared to the Slytherin's, who chuckled quite a few times under his breath.

"You can't even walk straight, Longbottom. Maybe you should stop breathing, that way your mind can focus on only one action at a time."

In lieu of a response from the insulted, a howl rang through the forest. For a moment, the cocky boy faltered, feeling an imaginary bite on his shoulder. Fang whimpered, lowering himself to the ground, tail between his legs. The already terrified boy instinctively hid behind Draco, eyes wide with fear. The Slytherin laughed.

"Some Gryffindor you are. Brave at heart? Yeah, right. I've seen kittens braver than you, Longbottom. Maybe the Sorting Hat got confused on its way through all of the empty space in your head."

"Maybe the Hat..."Neville started weakly.

"Are you talking?"

"Shut up, Malfoy."

Draco pinned Neville against a tree, his wand pressed against his throat.

"Oh, so it can form coherent sentences? I thought that all of your chicken instincts had taken away your speaking ability." He shoved Neville in front of him. "I'll make you brave, Godric. You go first."

They walked in silence for a moment. Neville almost wished that they would meet something, in hopes that it would eat Malfoy.

"I know your secret," Draco said quietly.

"What secret?"

"An insane secret."

"I-I-don't know-."

"Your parents, Longbottom, your brain-dead parents. I know all about them. Though one could probably learn a lot about them by looking at you. I know that stupidity runs in your family."

Draco glanced at Neville and was extremely pleased to see the rounder boy shaking.

"They were good," the prey responded boldly.

"If they were so good, why are they in the loony bin? My father told me that my Aunt Bellatrix sent them over the edge, back when the Dark Lord disappeared. Very powerful witch, my aunt. She was one of the best Death Eaters ever. My mum, who is still able to tell me stories, told me that she almost killed Dumbledore in a duel one time, but decided not to. She knew how much the Dark Lord wanted him for himself. When he rises again, scum like you will be lining up to lick my shoes."

"He's gone, Malfoy."

"What do you know? You don't know the difference between a werewolf and a Weasley. Even if you did know, your stupid mind wouldn't retain it for long. You might resemble an elephant, but your memory is abysmal."

"Twelve, twelve, twelve," Neville repeated quietly.

"What? Twelve?" Draco laughed. "You're already cracking up, and Aunt Bella is still in Azkaban. Very powerful witch, my aunt. It's only a matter of time until she's out."

"The dementors will hold her there forever."

"Have it your way, Longbottom. But don't be surprised when she gets out. One day you'll be walking along, calm as anything, and then suddenly-!" He grabbed him from behind, and Neville let out a scream, frantically shooting red sparks into the air.