Draco's thoughts were interrupted by loud chomping noises behind him. He turned around, irritation flashing in his silver-grey eyes.
Goyle and Crabbe had somehow gotten hold of a pile of apples and were munching away happily.
"Where's that girl?" Draco asked casually, snatching a green apple from Goyle's hand and taking a bite.
Goyle stared blankly at his stolen apple for a few seconds before registering the question. His thick lips parted to respond, "Who—ow!"
A sharp yelp cut through the air as Goyle clutched his backside, hopping in place, his neck rolls squishing into layers like a mille-feuille.
Draco's face twisted in undisguised disgust, and he quickly looked away.
Crabbe, expressionless, pulled back the foot he'd used to kick Goyle. His gruff voice was as hard as stone. "Draco's asking where that Weasley rat is."
Crabbe shot Goyle a look so full of contempt it practically spilled over, as if he were staring at a walking clump of gillyweed.
"Over there!" Goyle gasped, rubbing his sore backside. He craned his neck, scanning the room, then jabbed an elbow toward a corner. "There, crouched in that nook!"
Draco followed Goyle's gesture.
At that moment, moonlight streamed through an open high window, illuminating Ginny's face. Her red hair glowed like an unquenchable flame.
For some reason, Draco's mind flashed back to what Blaise had said earlier: If you got engaged to her, it'd be hilarious.
"Ha," Draco sneered, pulling his wand from his pocket. "She's like a bad Knut that keeps turning up."
He started walking, his boots clicking heavily on the floor, as if echoing the unrest in his heart.
Crabbe hurried after him. "Gonna teach her a lesson?" he asked, cracking his knuckles eagerly, clearly reminiscing about the time he'd bloodied Neville Longbottom's nose.
"You two stay out of it," Draco said, pausing mid-step. His gaze flicked to Ginny's faded, hand-me-down robes, and a cruel smirk curled his lips. "This time, it's just me. I have to…"
He didn't finish the sentence. He wasn't about to let anyone know Ginny had bested him with a Petrificus Totalus.
Goyle scratched his head, clearly not following the cryptic words, disappointed he couldn't jump in right away.
Crabbe narrowed his eyes, as if trying to parse the deeper meaning.
Draco ignored them, his attention locking back onto Ginny.
The little Weasley rat was standing with that useless Longbottom. Neville was pointing his wand at her, probably attempting a Disarming Charm, but all he managed was a pathetic puff of sparks.
"Useless," Draco muttered under his breath, though for some reason, a flicker of annoyance stirred in his chest.
Blaise's earlier words still swirled in his head—times are changing, Farley and Wood, Snape, betraying pure-blood ideals, the Malfoys rising higher—like puzzle pieces that refused to fit together.
Draco suddenly thought that maybe trading hexes with her would be simpler than untangling those messy secrets.
He adjusted the collar of his robes and strode toward the corner, his boots crushing dried flower petals on the floor—probably left by Lockhart's fan club.
Goyle and Crabbe followed like loyal hounds, their shadows stretching long in the moonlight, merging with the darkness in the corner.
Ginny seemed to sense something. She spun around, wand raised, her brown eyes sharp with caution.
To avoid seeing Harry and Hermione's cozy interactions and to spare Neville's feelings, Ginny had deliberately chosen a spot far from the Gryffindor crowd for their dueling practice. This, unfortunately, made things easier for Draco.
He stopped three steps away, flashing a classic Malfoy smirk—fake as a Death Eater in a white cloak. His words, though, were anything but polite. "Little Weasley rat, come over there. Let's have a proper wizard's duel."
"Malfoy, this isn't your playground," Neville blurted out before Ginny could respond, his voice trembling. "Get lost—Professor Flitwick's right nearby."
Draco gave Neville a withering look. "Crabbe, Goyle, show Longbottom some manners."
Crabbe and Goyle grinned wickedly, advancing with fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Come on, Longbottom—"
The nearby Ravenclaws tactfully backed away. To them, this was the Dueling Club—any fight was fair game, especially between Slytherins and Gryffindors.
Still, one dark-haired girl slipped quietly out of the crowd.
"You're not touching Neville!" Ginny stepped in front of him, her wand hand trembling slightly but her grip white-knuckled. Her brown eyes blazed fiercer than her hair.
A red curse shot from her wand, freezing Crabbe in his tracks. Goyle, startled, glanced back at Draco for guidance.
"Useless idiots," Draco snapped. "What are you waiting for? Get them!"
"Who dares!" Ginny shouted, her wand still trained on them, silently praying someone would notice the commotion.
The air in the corner grew heavy, as if someone had cast a wide-ranging Silencing Charm.
Crabbe and Goyle stood frozen, thrown off by the sudden curse.
"Pathetic!" Draco's voice rose sharply, a glint of malice in his silver-grey eyes. "Scared of a little Weasley rat? You've got less guts than a gnome!"
His insults snapped them out of it.
Crabbe let out a low growl, his meaty fists tightening until his knuckles popped.
Goyle bared his yellowed teeth in a snarling grimace.
They advanced again, their shadows looming, nearly swallowing Ginny and Neville whole.
Neville's knees shook, cold sweat soaking through his shirt.
Ginny Weasley stood firm in front of him, her fiery red hair swaying with her quick breaths, a few strands sticking to her freckled face.
"Anyone else want to get petrified? Come and try," she said, her voice steadier than she felt, each word sharp as ice.
She fired another red curse—a final warning.
Crabbe and Goyle froze again, looking to Draco in confusion.
Draco's eyes narrowed to slits, his gaze slithering over Ginny like a cold snake's tongue.
"Well, well, looks like you remember," he sneered, tapping his wand against his palm. "Then step up. Let's have a proper magical duel. I'll show you that last time was just a cheap shot…"
"No way!" Ginny shot back without hesitation.
Draco smirked. He'd grab Longbottom first and force her hand.
"Take care of that nuisance Longbottom," he ordered coldly, pointing his wand at Ginny. "Make it quick—don't let him slip away."
Crabbe and Goyle, smarter this time, split up to flank her, making it impossible for Ginny to handle both at once.
She fired a Petrificus Totalus, but Draco, ready for it, deflected it effortlessly.
Neville knew he was no match for these two brutes. He'd only stepped forward out of instinct, but seeing Ginny's back, he suddenly felt he couldn't back down.
"Run, Ginny!" Neville shouted, lunging from behind her. "I'll hold them—argh!"
Crabbe's heavy fist connected with Neville's face, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Goyle joined in, and Neville could only shield his head with his arms, trying to minimize the damage.
"Let him go!" Ginny yelled, stomping her foot as she watched Neville get pummeled.
Her curses were easily blocked by Draco, and she realized with a sinking feeling just how many spells Malfoy had mastered.
"Malfoy, isn't this going too far?" someone in the crowd muttered.
"Shut it!" Draco snapped, glancing at the speaker. "Smith, doesn't your dad work for one of my family's businesses?"
Smith quietly retreated into the crowd.
Then Ginny had an idea.
"Is this about getting back at me for petrifying you that day? Fine, I'll duel you! Let Neville go, and I'm in!" she shouted at Draco.
"Perfect. Let's get started," Draco said with a vicious grin, firing a Petrificus Totalus to give her a taste of her own medicine.
Ginny hadn't learned the Shield Charm yet, but her reflexes were quick. She dodged Malfoy's spell with a swift sidestep.
"Release Neville first!" she shot back, firing a counter-curse. "Or are you, a Malfoy, just a liar?"
"Beat me, and I'll let Longbottom go," Draco said smugly.
His arrogance infuriated her. Fueled by anger, she managed to fire a curse faster than before.
Draco, caught off guard, was hit—but it was just a Hair-Slicking Charm.
"Haha! Is that all you've got? Girly spells?" Draco laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Where's that Petrificus Totalus from last time?"
Ginny bit her lip. After a long evening of practicing Disarming Charms, her magical reserves were nearly drained.
Realizing she couldn't fight back, Draco stopped trying to finish her off and started toying with her, like a cat with a mouse.
Luckily, Ginny had grown up roughhousing with the Weasley twins, and her stamina rivaled a Quidditch player's. She kept dodging.
Draco watched her dart around, growing cockier by the second, unleashing every spell he'd learned to counter Potter.
Ginny was forced to roll across the floor to avoid them.
"You're fighting dirty! Is this the Malfoy way?" she shouted, dodging another curse. When the next one didn't come, she dared to stand.
"Not much of a fighter, but you've got a sharp tongue," Draco said, his cold gaze sweeping over her. "Fine, I'll make you admit defeat. Crabbe, stop."
Goyle halted immediately, but Crabbe, venting his frustration, landed one last punch on Neville's nose, leaving bite marks on his own hand from Neville's desperate defense.
"Neville! Are you okay?" Ginny called, panting heavily.
"I'b fine, Ginny," Neville mumbled through loose teeth. "Don' let dat Malfoy win."
Thankfully, Draco didn't catch Neville's garbled words, or Ginny worried his remaining teeth might not survive.
"Had enough rest?" Draco said impatiently.
"No way!" Ginny snapped, her mind racing. "If you're so great, let's settle this at the end of term—"
"Why should I agree to that?" Draco cut her off, smirking.
"Because I'm only a first-year! Give me time, and I won't lose!" she said defiantly.
Draco caught the stubborn glint in her eyes, and something flickered in his own.
She's not bad-looking for a Weasley rat, he thought briefly before squashing the idea. A poor, pure-blood traitor, pretty? Hardly.
Ginny, sharp as ever, caught the shift in his expression. Her emotional intelligence far outstripped Ron's.
"Ugh! You're actually having those disgusting thoughts?" She burst out laughing.
"Shut up!" Draco snapped, mortified. To cover his embarrassment, he ordered Crabbe to keep beating Neville.
Ginny's laughter died instantly.
At that moment, Cho Chang darted through the crowd.
Percy was busy teaching Ron a spell when his eyes widened at Cho's words: "Malfoy," "fight," "Ginny."
He gripped his wand tightly and ran toward the direction Cho pointed, Ron charging after him like an enraged bull.
When Percy arrived, he saw Crabbe's fist slamming into Neville's back. Ginny, however, looked unharmed.
Quickly assessing that Ginny wasn't hurt, Percy felt a wave of relief at avoiding a direct confrontation with Malfoy.
"Don't do anything rash!" he hissed, grabbing Ron, who was ready to charge. "Let me handle this. Dad's got enough trouble at the Ministry."
Ginny spotted Percy and lit up. "Percy, help! They're going to kill Neville!"
Percy cleared his throat and bellowed in his most authoritative prefect voice, "Stop this at once! I order you, as prefect!"
But Crabbe ignored him, continuing to pummel Neville.
Ron couldn't hold back any longer. He rushed forward, tackling Crabbe, with Seamus and Dean, itching for a fight, joining in.
Crabbe yelped in pain but kept hitting Neville until Draco signaled otherwise.
Draco, now composed, watched coolly as Crabbe took the beating. Earlier, when he'd ordered them to stop, Goyle had obeyed instantly, but Crabbe had snuck in one last punch. This was his punishment.
Goyle wanted to help but didn't dare move without Draco's word, so he just stared helplessly.
After Crabbe took a few more hits, Draco drawled lazily, "Longbottom's 'daddies' showed up. Lucky him."
Goyle, finally given the go-ahead, pulled Crabbe out of the fray.
Ron wanted to chase, but Percy held him back. "Check on Neville first."
Neville was curled up on the floor, his wounds glowing red under the light.
Crabbe glanced at Draco, wanting to say something but holding back.
Draco didn't care. He turned to Ginny. "I'll agree. End of term, same place."
Ron, like a lit firecracker, his red hair practically standing on end, lunged at Draco, fists swinging. "You slimy Death Eater spawn! What do you want with Ginny?!"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Draco didn't even blink, flicking his wand. Ron froze mid-charge, limbs locked in a comical pose, his eyes still blazing with fury.
Percy hadn't expected Malfoy to attack a student in front of a prefect and was a split second too slow.
"Finite Incantatem," Percy said, pointing his wand at Ron's rigid form.
With the spell lifted, Ron collapsed with a groan, rubbing his backside. "Thanks, Percy."
"Didn't think you had it in you," Draco taunted.
Percy's face flushed red, pointing at Draco. "Malfoy! You've gone too far! I'm reporting this to Professor Dumbledore—"
"The least Gryffindor-like Weasley," Draco sneered. "If you want a job at the Ministry after graduation, I'd keep quiet." His silver-grey eyes slid past Percy, locking onto Ginny.
Ginny glared back, her red hair half-covering her face, her wand hand still trembling slightly.
"Did you hear me?" Draco said impatiently, his tone carrying an unmistakable threat. "Let's settle this once and for all."
"He's not going!" Ron roared, but this time he didn't charge.
Draco ignored him, still staring at Ginny.
After a tense moment, Ginny spoke. "Fine. But you better not bring your two goons!"
"Only I know the place," Draco said, turning to leave, ignoring Ron's angry shouts behind him.
But he quickly ran into Professor Flitwick, who was hurrying toward them.
"Mr. Malfoy, you're not going anywhere," Flitwick said, his eyes glinting seriously behind his glasses. "You need to explain why you attacked Mr. Longbottom."
At that moment, Snape appeared silently, dressed in his usual black.
His cold gaze swept the scene, silencing everyone instantly.
His eyes landed on Neville's face. "Oh? I don't see any injuries on Mr. Longbottom," he said, his voice like a snake's hiss. "Perhaps some people are making a fuss to skip dueling practice?"
"Severus, there's clearly a bruise on Neville's cheek," Flitwick said, pointing to the mark. "Per school rules, those who start trouble must be punished."
Snape's lip curled, as if he'd swallowed a bitter potion. "Fine. Slytherin loses three points." He paused. "And Gryffindor loses three points, since Crabbe's face is also injured."
Flitwick opened his mouth to argue, but the club's door burst open.
Fred and George stormed in like twin whirlwinds.
Before Snape could scold them for leaving the Great Hall, Fred's panicked voice cut through.
"Professor! Something's happened!" Fred's voice shook. "Angelina's been petrified! Right outside the Great Hall!"
Flitwick gasped, swaying slightly. "What? The attacker struck again?"
Snape said nothing, sprinting toward the door.
Flitwick suddenly remembered something and rushed toward the bathroom.
Minutes later, he returned alone, pale. "The bathroom's empty! Wood's gone too!"
"Professor Flitwick!" Katie Bell called out, hesitating before adding, "Wood might be with Slytherin's prefect, Farley. I saw him heading that way."
Flitwick hurried off in the direction Katie pointed, but he'd find nothing.
Gemma Farley had changed their meeting spot, so Wood wasn't there.
In the crowd, Blaise Zabini's eyes darkened with a hint of unease.
Only now did he realize he was missing a chunk of memory. One moment, he'd been trailing Angelina; the next, he was standing by Draco.
Blaise had a sinking feeling these attacks were his doing, unconsciously. He resolved to get rid of that cursed diary once and for all.