Honestly, if he hadn't been holding one in his hand, Leonard would have chased after that brainless lackey to show him what true rage meant.
But with Malfoy in his grasp and curious students already drawn by the screams, Leonard refrained from such easily misinterpreted actions.
He sighed as he watched the two fleeing figures, then, under the stares of the gathering crowd, casually tossed Malfoy aside.
"Ow!" The impact jolted Malfoy awake at last, though his body ached so badly he couldn't stand. He writhed on the ground like a maggot.
What happened? Why does it hurt so much? Where am I? Why am I lying here?
Still dazed from lack of oxygen, Malfoy blinked in confusion—until Leonard's expressionless face came into view. His body trembled involuntarily.
"Well? Young Master Malfoy awake?" Leonard's face was cold, but his voice was mocking. "So, how was it? Enjoy the Devil's Snare massage?"
Leonard's words dragged Draco Malfoy's memories back. The image of the Devil's Snare surging around him rose like a nightmare.
"Ahh!" Malfoy screamed, his voice breaking into sobs.
"Crying again? You really do cry easily. Is this the pride of the Malfoy family?" Leonard sneered, watching as several professors, led by Goyle and Crabbe, rushed over.
From his position, Malfoy didn't see them. All he heard was Leonard's mockery.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, the pampered boy forced himself up and struck Leonard on the knee.
Leonard glanced down at him expressionlessly, watching Malfoy pound his own knee in a pathetic display, then curled his lip.
"Over here! Leonard William killed Malfoy!" Goyle shouted.
"He tried to kill us too..." Crabbe added from behind.
The professors arrived with grim expressions. Though it was hard to believe one student would murder another, the Heads of House had all come in response to the report—along with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, whether by coincidence or curiosity.
But what they saw was only Malfoy scrambling to his feet and hitting Leonard's knee.
"This is what you call a 'dead Mr. Malfoy'?" Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze pinned Crabbe and Goyle. Professors might respond quickly to protect students, but they would not be made fools of by lies.
Such behavior could not be tolerated.
"Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle," McGonagall said coldly, "for deceiving your professors, Slytherin will lose fifty points."
Snape's eyes flickered with anger as he looked at the dust-covered, bedraggled Malfoy lying on the ground.
"Professor McGonagall, perhaps you should delay punishing Mr. Goyle and Mr. Crabbe. It's possible Mr. William did something that caused a misunderstanding, leading them to believe Mr. Malfoy was in danger."
Snape turned to Leonard with a mocking look. "It seems Mr. William may have used violence against Mr. Malfoy, which would explain this situation?"
Leonard gave Snape a dismissive glance but said nothing.
McGonagall frowned at Snape's words.
Everyone knew Snape's ways, but as colleagues—and with students watching—they could hardly call out his blatant bias.
To McGonagall, today's events looked very much like something Malfoy himself had started. With three Slytherins involved and Crabbe and Goyle unscathed, she even suspected the three had planned to frame Leonard.
No. That wouldn't do. She couldn't make baseless assumptions without evidence.
Steadying herself, McGonagall studied the dust-covered Malfoy. "Then who can tell us what happened?"
What happened?
Humiliated and furious, Malfoy looked up blankly, trying to remember.
He recalled tailing Leonard... but after that?
Snape seized the hesitation. "Mr. Malfoy, did Mr. William do something to you?"
This was no longer suggestion—it was outright leading.
Malfoy froze, then quickly understood Snape's intent. His scheming mind began crafting an excuse.
"That's right, it was Leonard. He hit me..."
Professor McGonagall cast Snape a sharp, disapproving look, making a mental note that she needed to speak with him later.
"Oh? Wait a moment." Before Malfoy could finish deciding how to pin the blame on Leonard, Professor Sprout spoke up.
She walked over to Malfoy, plucked a leaf from his robes, and examined his injuries.
"These are Devil's Snare wounds," Professor Sprout declared firmly.
"Devil's Snare? I don't believe any magic could leave marks like that," Professor Flitwick interjected. "It seems Mr. Malfoy must have been attacked by Devil's Snare somewhere. Clearly, he hasn't been paying attention in class. I recall Devil's Snare is quite easy to repel—it's taught in first year."
"Exactly, Professor Flitwick." Professor Sprout sighed, looking at Malfoy with disappointment. "It seems Mr. Malfoy hasn't been listening in class."
"But that doesn't prove anything. Perhaps Mr. William used some trick," Snape pressed.
"Professors, why not ask the person involved and the students around him?" Leonard said with a smile. "We're all still here, and we can all speak, can't we?"
"Quite right," Professor Sprout nodded. "Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle, you claimed Mr. William killed Mr. Malfoy. What exactly happened? What did you see?"
Goyle and Crabbe exchanged nervous glances, their faces uneasy.
"Is this something you can't speak about?" Professor McGonagall's tone sharpened. "I will not tolerate lies."
"It was... it was Malfoy," Goyle admitted. "He saw Leonard searching for something and said he wanted to follow him."
"Before he left, he told us that if anything happened to him, it would definitely be Leonard William's doing," Crabbe added.
So that was it...
Leonard silently thanked his own caution.
Good thing he'd thought it through and hadn't killed Malfoy outright—otherwise, he would have been caught for sure.