Snake

Chapter Three

Draco sat on the Hogwarts Express, slumped in his seat, listening to his friends discuss who their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be. He raised his head momentarily as Dean and Ginny sashayed in and squeezed in beside Ron and Hermione.

His mind lazily went over the conversation he had heard when Nayyah had first stepped into the Manor.

"Draco, Natalie will be starting at Hogwarts this year. I sincerely hope both of you will get along well enough to commence your...ah...training."

"I'm afraid we must be off now, Narcissa. Richard and I have to go to Italy, and Natalie has to make the new mansion more comfortable."

Draco started. Wasn't Nayyah supposed to start at Hogwarts this year? He couldn't believe he hadn't asked her when she had been right in front of him. Hell, closer than right in front. He began to fidget, looking at Ron. Ron was staring daggers at Dean, whose arm was around Ginny's shoulders.

"Harry, you should try a Settling Charm on your hair," Ginny said helpfully.

"I heard that Lavender uses it. Why the hell would I use a girl's charm?" Harry asked.

"I thought that charm was used to settle dust..." Ron murmured intelligently. Crookshanks was on his lap, purring deeply as he dug his claws into his leg.

"Drake, my man, you need a girl," Dean announced, and moved to make Ginny more comfortable.

"Draco, you look..." Ginny said, but stopped; she was too busy combing her hair to finish her thought.

"Dumped," Ron finished.

"I have not! Besides, Weasley, just because you don't have a girlfriend...Hermione, why are you blushing?"

"There's something you should know, Drake," Harry said, and adjusted himself so he could face him. "I caught Ron snogging Hermione in the kitchen at the Burrow when I was there last."

"How? He's over eight feet tall!"

"Excuse me? You are taller than me!" Ron blared, his skin almost the color of Crookshanks.

"Yeah, but I actually work out and try not to look like a broom."

"I thought you hated Hermione. With her head in her books and all," Dean said, his nose in Ginny's hair.

"This conversation is becoming far too disgusting for civilized people," Draco said loudly. Crookshanks left Ron, and with a leap, was on Draco's chest. He pushed his flattened face into Draco and purred enthusiastically.

"See? Even Crookshanks is sorry for you," Hermione said affectionately.

"Get this feline off before I do something you'll regret," he growled. Hermione hurriedly clamped her hands around Crookshank's middle and lifted him off and out of Draco's reach.

"Great, now that I'm cat-free, you can continue about Granger and Weasel." He stretched and got up, and stepping over the others' legs, made for the door.

"Well, she's not that bad..." He heard Ron say before he slid the door closed.

"The nerve." He strolled off to find the compartment containing Neville and Luna. Earlier, he had dumped his trunk and owl there when Dean and Ginny had joined them.

He entered, and to his horror, found Luna and Neville separate hurriedly and try their best to look as non-guilty as they could.

"I just have to take some paper and my owl, and I'll be gone," he said, trying to sound as passive as he could. He took the indignant owl by the feet and left, a sheet of Muggle paper in his pocket.

He strode through the train, searching for an empty compartment. Finding none, he ordered Crabbe and Goyle to vacate theirs and settled down, wondering how to start.

Finding his mental cogs temporarily jammed, he took to staring at the view; rolling greens flowed by peacefully. The tranquility took over him, his thoughts sliding under his immediate consciousness, and he lay back, his feet propped up on the opposite seat.

There was a knock on the door, followed immediately by a flurried Hermione.

"Letter for you! A gray screech owl just left this! Luckily for you, Ron was too busy scowling at Dean, and Harry was writing another letter to Cho."

"Err, thanks." He accepted it and hoped that Hermione would go away.

"Is it from her? Is it? Tell me!" squealed Hermione; she bounced up and down with excitement.

"I...No. It's from her mother! Oh, what a laugh!" He burst into laughter and handed her the short communiqué.

Draco,

I believe you are a bad influence on my daughter. She dyed her hair red for the ball. RED! I'm ever so pleased that Richard had the good sense to change his mind and send her to Durmstrang this year and NOT to THAT school. Give our regards to your parents.

Taylor Frost

"How exciting! Did her hair look awful?" asked Hermione.

"No. Very attractive really, ahh. And it was only a strand."

"Oh! Oh! You can go meet her in Hogsmeade this weekend! I know you can because Viktor told me! You can come with me."

"Are you sure?" Excitement bubbled in him, and he decided to hear her plan. Sitting down, Hermione told him exactly how he could accomplish it all.

"Too bad it's allowed, or it would have added more charm to it," he said, and trailed her back to their compartment.

Harry was writing busily, and Ron was trying to get Crookshanks to attack Dean, who was making out with Ginny. Draco and Hermione took their places and extracted some money for the food trolley. The rest of the journey passed fairly uneventfully except when Dean accidentally dripped some syrup from his Sickly Sweet Sweet into Ginny's hair, and Ron "accidentally" released an exuberant Chocolate Frog into Dean's pant's leg.

Thus, the greeting party at Hogwarts found an extremely irritable group of sixth-years to deal with.

* * * * * *

"Welcome, dear students! Welcome to another year of forced education and redundant rule-breaking!" Dumbledore rumbled, his beard whiter than ever. "And as before, eat before I burden you with cumbersome announcements." He sat down to applause, and food appeared on the long, polished tables.

Draco drank his soup slowly, observing with distaste the company he sat in. The teachers let the students switch places at the tables often but were strict only for one day, the first one. The new students_timid, nervous, and frightened_cast their eyes around, surveying their surroundings.

Enjoy this week, children. Then the wrath of Malfoy shall be upon you! He grinned inwardly at his craziness and moved straight on to dessert. He looked over at the Gryffindor table, and the sliver of jealousy cut his heart once more. He understood as well as his friends that no matter what side they were on, no matter how close they got, the divides would always remain.

Pushing his chair back, he balanced it dangerously on two legs and waited for Dumbledore to rise. A roundly cute Hufflepuff examined him carefully. Letting her eyes roam over him, he enjoyed the attention until her boyfriend noticed, and then he cut off the gaze with a purely Malfoy smirk.

"I see that you've done justice to the splendid cooking," said Dumbledore. "The elves will certainly be pleased!" Draco followed Dumbledore's eye to Hermione, who huffed at the mention of the poor downtrodden elves. "Let me start off by introducing your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore continued. "Please welcome Tessa Star!" He brought his hands together in applause, and the students followed suit, their gaze keen on the tall, very blonde witch who stood between Professor Sinistra and Professor Flitwick. "Would you like to say a few words, Professor?"

"Well, I'm terrible with words at moments like these, but the only thing I'd like to say is that in such times, the main things that matter are being well-prepared for anything that might come across our paths. I sincerely hope that I'll be able to equip you with all the knowledge you require in this matter. And I'm a little deaf in one ear, so please speak loudly to me in class!" Everyone laughed and turned to Dumbledore again.

"The school will be hosting this decade's National Magical Aptitude Competition," he said. He raised his hand to stave the immediate murmurings and continued. "I've asked Professor McGonnagall to brief you on the nature of this contest. You can ask her your questions. But you should know that even though no Hogwarts students can participate, you have to be extremely hospitable to our guests. But don't worry excessively about it now; there is still some time before their arrival." However, a general unrest remained in the Great Hall.

Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Filch has extended his list of Punishable Acts to 1143, and the students are welcome to peruse them at their will. The document hangs on the door of the Great Hall. The teachers would like to add that even though the forest is as forbidden as before, the students would always find a reason to go." At this, he looked over at Harry and Ron and widened his smile. "Any misfortune they encounter there will be treated with complete disdain, and they will still have to submit their homework and attend classes. Death is not an excuse." Titters broke out around the room.

"And now, if my influential prefects will be ever so kind, please guide the first-years to the houses and not to the Screeching Dungeons as they did last year." Ron flushed at this and scowled as Hermione removed herself from under his arm and hurried to the doors, herding the first-years along.

"Seriously, I took a wrong turn! Does he have to put me on the spot like that?" Ron complained as Draco appeared at his arm.

"Yeah, amazing what one left instead of a right can do," he replied, and hurried along with the crowd.

* * * * * *

"Nayyah, you done packing?" Narcissa called, and entered the room.

"Almost. I don't have any more space. Can you send me these last two robes?" she asked, clasping her trunk shut.

"Of course. Now, how do you get to that school?"

"I just go to the nearest port and 'buy' a ticket for the Polly Marie cruiser. That's the Durmstrang ship with Muggle repellants and cloaks. That takes us directly to the school."

"All right. Do you want me to accompany you?"

"No, thank you. I just want your permission to take a car to the port."

"Certainly. And I will get Draco to visit you."

"Thank you."

And thanks to the wonders of magically adapted cars, she was at the Gum worth Port in less than three hours.

"Where to, missy?" asked the stubbly ticket master.

"Russia. One ticket for the Polly Marie, please."

"Long way to travel alone." He counted out her change and handed her a tiny scrap of paper.

She said nothing and went up the gangway after the boy with her trunk.

"Which room?"

"Number seventy."

"There are only twelve rooms." He stared.

"So they've changed the ship. Room ten, then."

She sat on her trunk and waited for the other students to arrive. Sighing, she took out the crystal ball and searched its fog.

"Draco, you there?"

"Yeah. Where are you?" came the reply.

"In a room the size of a cup board waiting for the other students to arrive so they can remove the damn magical cloak."

"Fascinating. When were you planning on telling me that you weren't coming to Hogwarts this year?"

"I wasn't. My own mother told me three days ago. Besides, we didn't exactly talk much."

"Great. Now I'll feel guilty flirting with other girls."

She burst out laughing. "Yeah. Like that will ever happen."

"What? The feeling guilty or the flirting?"

"The guilty part. I hate this, you know."

He ignored the bitterness and continued. "Your mother sent me the most enigmatic letter I've ever read. She says I'm a bad influence on you."

"You are. I was thinking about you when I should have been learning how to make a perfect blancmange."

"Lovely to know that I'm in your thoughts," he said, his voce almost a growl at the back of his throat.

"I love_oh my God, they're here! I have to go!" She smacked an exaggerated kiss through the mystical link and cut off the connection.

Hurriedly replacing the ball in her handbag, she got up to hug Keligra.

"I wish they'd hurry up and remove the cloak," Keli groaned, and brushed an eternity of dust off a table before sitting on it. "But while we wait...details!"

And they settled down, giggling and discussing the finer points of guys in general. Draco and Greg, their current romantic interests, were discussed with the clinical thoroughness only teenage girls could manage.

* * * * * *

Draco looked at his crystal ball and put it into his pocket.

Harry knocked, argued with the vase over the password and entered. "Why the long face?"

"Wondering on the tragedies of life."

"Don't. It's pointless and infinitely depressing. Hermione and Ron have disappeared." He sighed and looked around. "Great place you got here. Who's the other room for?"

"Any new student who arrives." He showed Harry around the rooms. Both were decorated in muted shades of green and exuberant silvers. The only features in each were a large, canopied bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. Joined in the middle by a common room, the overall impression was restive.

They settled down on the armchairs. The fire was crackling weakly.

"Why do you wish that Ron hadn't fallen for Herm?" Draco asked.

"I don't really know. I suppose it's because I'm always used to having at least one of them around, if not both. And now, if one goes, the other follows." Harry ran his fingers along the arm of his chair.

"At least you can talk to them."

Realizing that he had touched a nerve, Harry started to backtrack. "Hey, I didn't mean..."

"Relax. I was raised to be able to survive without friends. But Granger and Weasel are being uncharacteristically selfish and romantic."

"Yeah, I'll deal. So tell me, do you really have a girlfriend?"

"Has Hermione...? Never mind. No, I don't." Draco rubbed his temples.

"Oh come on. Nayyah's very pretty and seems pretty nice."

"How the hell? What do you know?"

Harry decided not to answer. "Hermione's a great friend in a lot of ways." He sighed peacefully and stretched. "So are you going to meet her in Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"I'm thinking about it. Is Herm going to see Krum?"

"She might not, not if Ron can help it. Those two are getting extremely close, if you know what I mean."

"I'd rather not think about it. The mental picture it creates is just too horrifying."

"Good man. I'd better go; Ron might think I've died."

Harry left Draco slumped in the armchair, looking as though he'd had his soul sucked out through his ears.

* * * * * *

Hogsmeade Weekend

Durmstrang

"How many of you actually practiced the incantation for the Advanced Locomotion Charm?" Professor Keene asked, her elbow on her desk. She nodded at the general murmur of assent and looked sleepily over the class. "Ms. Frost, would you care to demonstrate? Remember, an anticlockwise twirl and a flick."

Nayyah stepped up in front of the class. She said the incantation and flicked her wand. The flask of perfume she was supposed to move from one table to another levitated momentarily before moving faster than anyone could follow and smashing into the wall, filling the room with the pleasant odor of jasmine and lilies.

"Ms. Frost."

"Sorry! I didn't realize it'd be so strong." She stood there blushing as most of the class snickered.

"Ms. Frost, you have the same problem you've had all along. All the strong charms and curses you can handle, but any moderately delicate work, and you fail."

"I know. Even with all the classes I took, I just can't control it."

"You must clear your mind of any and all problems. That's the main problem with all of you. Your magical powers are either very strong or not cooperating at all. You must focus because now it is not just about passing our exams or getting a job but about being alive, with our friends around us. And since you are laughing so hard, Mr. Hargitay, perhaps you'd like to go next."

"Yeah Rick, go move some perfume!" Keli said, rubbing Lola's Ever Soft Moisturizer into her hands.

He went to the front and waited as Professor Keene levitated another flask onto the table.

"Whenever you are ready."

Rick squinted in concentration, raising his wand and casting the spell. The flask trembled in midair and smashed into his chest.

The class left the room, laughing as Rick hurried to the bathrooms, trying to rid himself of Scent of a Woman.

"Hey Keli, Keli! Keligra! Wait up!" Nayyah yelled, her bag thumping uncomfortably against her hip.

"Hey, girl. Heard you have a visit planned for today."

"Yup. Draco's coming over, so I'm going to have to ditch Transfiguration. Can you give the Professor this note?"

"Lucky git. I'd give anything to miss Transfiguration. Sure. Have fun. Oh, and Rick has that class free for Quidditch. Be careful. You know what he's like."

Nayyah walked to the main gate with the beginnings of a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Pushing open the door, she paused to switch her bag from one shoulder to the other and looked around for Draco and any suggestion of a warm afternoon. She sighed loudly, her breath fogging, and saw the Quidditch players approaching in the distance.

Stamping her feet, she buried her nose a few times in her fur collar, thanking the world for her school cloak. Although they made students look like yaks from a distance, they were surprisingly warm.

The team arrived, boisterous and wild, ready to ride the wind. She spotted Rick and waved half-heartedly. His eyes lit up, and he parted from the group, swearing that he'd be back in a minute.

"What're are you doing out here? You could catch a cold," he said, aching to reach out and touch her hair, which lay in thick, shiny tresses on her shoulders.

"Draco's coming. The Visitor's Room is busy, so I had to meet him outside."

"Malfoy? You know he's no good. I've heard rumors about him." His eyes hardened, and half their warmth left.

Unbeknownst to them, Draco had already arrived and stood behind them, his hands in his pockets, listening. His heart burned as he looked at the guy standing so close to Nayyah.

"Look, I really like him, OK? So, I'd really appreciate it if you don't smash furniture at the mention of his name. Or tell me rumors. 'Cause I don't want to know."

"Breaking that table was an accident. And I thought we had something going."

The shock on her face was apparent. "Rick! What made you think that? The only other person I actually seriously liked in that fashion was Dave, and he's dead. You are one of my best friends. That's all."

"What made me think? Forget it. If that Malfoy comes here, I'll rearrange his features so you'll find nothing to like."

"Here I am, Hargitay. You were saying?"

"Draco!" Relief dripped from her voice, and she moved closer to him. But Rick beat her to it and lurched at Draco, his fist ready in a hook that knocked most people to the floor. Draco moved out of the way and tripped him up. Panting with cold and exertion, Rick pushed himself up and uttered a series of colorful swear words.

"Stop it!" Nayyah screamed, dropping her bag and running to them. Rick took out his wand and hurled a cloud of smoke at Draco. Draco avoided it as best he could, but he didn't see Rick's fist coming before it smashed into his face.

"Rick! Just go away!" She took hold of Draco's shoulder to pull him up, her cloak weighing her down. Draco got up, his gray eyes shining through the blood. For a few seconds, he was too shocked to do anything but feel the pain of his broken nose. Luckily, he saw the next punch coming and ducked, his foot scissoring out and bringing Rick to the ground.

"Somebody help!" Nayyah yelled, attracting the other players. They dashed over and pinned Rick to the ground before he could do more damage.

"My ankle hurts," Rick moaned.

"He broke it. Let's levitate him to the nurse," the captain said, inspecting the ankle and taking out his wand.

"Draco?" She led him inside, taking advantage of his shock. She knew it wouldn't last long. She hurried to the infirmary. She entered a tiny room and sat him down on a bed. "Hold on, I'll get the nurse." She shed her cloak and left, shutting the door behind her.

Draco's mind was in a whirl from what had just happened. He raised his hand to his nose and felt the bone sticking out from the front.

The door slammed open and Nayyah returned, a wad of cloth in her hand and a small bottle of water in the other.

"I'm so sorry, you wouldn't believe it. The nurse is trying to fix Rick's ankle, and the guys have called the professor to knock some sense into his head." She wetted the cloth and held it to his nose. She wiped his face with her other hand, her face inches from his. Draco looked intently into her eyes and realized that she was avoiding his.

"OK. Now, I'm pretty good at healing. But I've never exactly done it on somebody I actually liked, so if I do anything weird, I apologize beforehand."

"Go ahead. I'm prepared to lead the rest of my life disfigured."

"I said I was good!" She scowled, and straightening up, she leveled her wand at him. Focusing, she channeled her thoughts into the spell and let the energy flow.

Draco looked at her, entranced, oblivious to the literal magic she was working on him.

"See? All better," she said proudly, and dug into her pocket for her compact.

He looked at a magnified version of his face self-consciously and was astonished. He looked at her and was speechless for the third time that day.

"Ah, I see you haven't let your emotions get in the way, Ms. Frost. You are a lucky man, Mr. Malfoy." A tall, handsome man stood framed in the doorway.

"Professor Gerhardt! I totally had it in control!" Nayyah exclaimed proudly.

"I see that. Now I'm going to leave you and think up a good detention for our Mr. Hargitay. Do you think I should call Ms. Lane to comfort him?"

"I don't think you'll find her. Keli is busy coloring her hair gold."

The principal threw back his head and laughed before leaving.

"So I finally have you all to myself," Draco said, coming up behind her and locking his arms around her. She turned and kissed him.

"Have you any idea how much I've missed you?" he asked severely, when they pulled apart.

"No. You'll just have to show me," she whispered before he kissed her again.

A few minutes later, the two of them were standing by the lake, waiting for his boat back to Hogwarts. "So much for a romantic meeting." He sighed.

"It was good. All that happened was that my best friend got jealous, cheated in the basic rules of engagement, and broke your nose."

"So," he said.

"See you later," she said sadly, and waved at him as he climbed into the boat.

"Goodbye," he said gloomily. The last thing he saw of her was her cloak and her hair beating against her in the wind as the boat pulled away from shore. It sank into a magical whirlpool and emerged in the lake beside Hogsmeade.

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OK? Who is "his" here?