Draco Malfoy and the Muggle Contraption

Draco Malfoy and the Muggle Contraption

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Chapter 4

Instant Owler

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Draco woke up at the usual time and immediately noticed that something was wrong. He couldn't figure out what exactly though. He reached for the note Pansy always left by his bed for him to read in the morning, but he couldn't find it. It was then that the events of the night before started to come back to him. He remembered the fight with Pansy over the computer hacking group. Thinking about that made him seriously doubt whether or not he had done the right thing in agreeing to do this computer junk. At first he was entirely against it, but Malcolm convinced him to give it a try . . .

~Draco's memory~

"Draco, I think it would be a good idea."

I turned to look at the boy sitting across from me, wondering if I had done the right thing in trusting the child of new Death Eaters, who happened to also have some knowledge of these Muggle computers, with what could quite possibly be the most important DEHP project of the year. Truth be told, Malcolm was pretty good at figuring out who would be good for this project. Still, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to follow this part of the plan.

"Draco?"

"Yeah, sorry Malcolm, I'm a little out of it."

"So will you do it?"

"I don't think so. I really don't fancy the idea of spending my spare time with some muggle abomination that I can't even us. Especially helping that muggle-loving fool, Dumbledore."

"Are you willing to listen to the reasons why I think you should join?"

"Sure, why not? I've got time."

"First of all, I did sit in your class for one period, and I thought you were pretty good with the computer. Second, you'd be doing a service to the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters. Third, it'll be fun, a bunch of us hanging out together, beating the Gryffindors at their own muggle games."

"Fine, I'll do it, but only as a good DEHPer. I still do object to using those stupid muggle machines."

~End Draco's Memory~

Draco rolled out of bed and quickly dressed himself. He ran to breakfast, remembering that Professor Dumbledore has asked the entire school to show up for breakfast at six o'clock that morning. He hoped he wouldn't make too much of a scene walking in at 6:15.

Draco walked in quietly and took a seat near the end of the table, next to Malcolm. He noticed that the whole school was sitting silently, waiting for Professor Dumbledore to stand up and tell them why they were all there at such an ungodly hour of the morning.

Ten minutes later, Professor Dumbledore stood up. "Good morning, students," he said. "I have called you here to say a few words. I spoke to Professor Gabs last night and he told me how wonderfully all of you are doing in his class. He also informed me that he has already selected the students that are to participate in the hacking experiment. I--"

"WHAT?" Malcolm screamed loudly.

"Shh!" Draco whispered. "Don't be so loud. He might figure out that we're up to something!"

"Sorry, Draco," Malcolm said in a quieter voice, "But we're doomed. We haven't had time to train anyone yet!"

"I know," Draco replied. "I know."

Professor Dumbledore saw that Draco and Malcolm had stopped talking and continued. "Now that Mr. Baddock has expressed his surprise with the efficiency of our newest professor, I will read off the list of names. If I call your name, please go to the computer lab, where Professor Gabs will be waiting for you. Thank you.

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. From Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbot--"

Professor Dumbledore was interrupted by loud applause from the Hufflepuff table. "If everyone could please save their applause until I finish reading all of the names, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. As I was saying, from Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan, and Kevin Whitby. From Gryffindor, Joshua BenAmi, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Seamus Finnigan, and Ginny Weasley. From Ravenclaw, Stewart Ackerley, Mandy Brocklehurst, Cho Chang, Padma Patil, and Orla Quirke. And finally, from Slytherin, Malcolm Baddock, Joanna Corman, Raina Longsmith, Draco Malfoy, and Lea Parner. Thank you for your time, and you may now continue with your breakfast."

Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief. All five of the Slytherin students were in Operation Hacker. Now he had to decide what to do with the Operation Hacker students that weren't accepted into Professor Gabs's group. He turned to talk to Draco, and saw Draco sitting with his head in his hands*.

"Draco?" he said softly.

"It's over. It is officially over. Now that I'm in that stupid computer group, she's never going to want me back. Ever. My life is over. What's Father going to say? The Parkinsons are a respectable family that we needed to be connected to, and I broke that with a stupid Muggle piece of crap. Why, why, why?"

"Draco," Malcolm said, "Let's go to the meeting with Professor Gabs."

Draco and Malcolm walked into the computer lab to see 18 students and Professor Gabs waiting for them. "Now that Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Baddock have finally decided to grace us with their presence," Professor Gabs said, "let's begin. Everyone, please sit in front of a computer."

Draco sat in front of the same computer he used in class, and Malcolm sat down next to him. He noticed that Hermione Granger was sitting on his other side. "Mudblood," he mumbled quietly.

Professor Gabs instructed them to turn on the computers. Once the computers were on, he showed them how to open a program called "Hogwarts Owler."

"This program," he explained, "is an instant Messaging program. It allows you to communicate with another user in real-time. You send a message and the other person gets it instantly. It's like having a normal conversation, except that you can't indicate tone of voice or cut someone else off in mid-sentence."

There were a few small laughs at this joke, which encouraged Professor Gabs to continue. "The first step is to create an OwlName, or a handle. This is your screen name. Before I show you how to do that, are there any questions?"

Ginny Weasley raised her hand. "Professor Gabs?"

"Yes, Ginny?"

"What's a handle?"

"It's the name you use online to separate you from other people and to make sure that your messages go to you, and not someone else. For example, if your handle was GWeasley and I sent a message to that screen name, it would go to you and only you. Understand?"

Ginny nodded. "Good. Any other questions?" When he saw that there were no more questions, Professor Gabs illustrated how to set up an OwlName.

"When you are done setting up your OwlName, please come and write it on the list that's on my desk, and then you may leave."

Professor Gabs sat in his chair drinking his coffee and watching the students try to decide what to make their OwlNames. He allowed himself to take a 10-minute nap, and when his nap was over, he saw that the classroom was empty. He looked at the list on his desk. It read:

Draco Malfoy- PureBlood99*

Malcolm Baddock- HackerBoy

Hermione Granger- StudyGirl

Harry Potter- Quidditch

Josh BenAmi- Imaginary1

Ginny Weasley- RedHairGirl

Seamus Finnigan- IrishLad

Joanna Corman- Slytherer

Raina Longsmith- RLShort

Lea Parner- PrincessSW

Hannah Abbot- Pigtails81

Susan Bones- SBHuffPuff

Justin Finch-Fletchley- EtonGenius

Ernie Macmillan- ErnieMac

Kevin Whitby- Kevin11

Stewart Ackerley- SARaven

Mandy Brocklehurst- MB5Year

Cho Chang- SeekerGirl

Padma Patil- TwinPad

Orla Quirke- Quirkey1