693Chapter 7: There's a Troll
The next two months were a dizzying rush. Every memory of interacting with Harry and Ron was suddenly reversed. He would stand with the two boys while Crabbe said and did everything he had done. If his Harry was here, he would have said the bullying was karma or something equally stupid, but Draco just thought it was a fascinating exercise. Watching his own faults played back to him, he couldn't believe he was so oblivious to his own faults. For one, he was far too aggressive. For another, he bragged about everything and couldn't back it up. The effect left him looking foolish and not nearly as intimidating. Or rather, that was how Crabbe looked. Draco was no longer a bullying Slytherin, but a Gryffindor knight, a fact that occasionally sickened him.
Unfortunately, Hermione continued to be on the outs with Harry and Ron, especially after the incident with the three headed dog. Draco could still hardly believe they had survived that night, not to mention the realization that the thing was guarding the Philosopher's Stone. All Hermione cared about was they could have gotten detention. The anti-rule breaking attitude was even starting to grate on his nerves. This was not the girl he remembered and he couldn't believe that it was somehow his doing. It wasn't possible.
Other than the tension between Hermione and the three boys, Draco was enjoying his start at Hogwarts as much as the first time. The only downside, really, was the lack of contact with his parents and knowing he wouldn't be on a quidditch team this time around. He was a Seeker and the Gryffindors had a Seeker. They wouldn't even have an opening on the team for years and he couldn't help but be disappointed. Flying was something Draco loved, but it felt like he had to give that up. That was why, when tension between the four First Years got too high, he would spend his time in the grounds on his broom alone.
At first, his friends were worried about him. After his "bad feeling", Harry and Granger were convinced he had a delicate constitution and were constantly asking after his health. Ron was convinced he was depressed and would take to cheering him up after being out alone. The boy took it to extremes, too, and quickly drove Draco insane. He wished they'd just understand he wanted to be alone sometimes, something he had never had to deal with before.
On Halloween, it all came to a head. Sitting at breakfast, he was fretting over the troll he remembered would show up that evening and shredding his roll instead of eating it. He must have looked pale as well because Harry asked if he was feeling well and Hermione said he should see Madam Pomfrey. Assuring them he was fine and it was merely another "bad feeling" took nearly ten minutes. Promptly after, Ron started goofing off and trying to cheer him up.
Draco lost it.
"Stop acting like an idiot," he snapped at the redhead who looked startled at the blonde's reaction. "I am not depressed and if I was, I would not require your buffoonery to feel better about myself. And you two," Draco whirled on Harry and Hermione, barely registering the shocked faces up and down the Gryffindor table, "I am not a fragile child to be coddled. Neither am I incapable of taking care of myself. I do not require your constant attentions, either."
Standing, he swept from the room, leaving silence in his wake. It was only once he was alone outside the Great Hall that he realized he had miscalculated. Picking up his pace, he took a sharp turn and headed for the courtyard. There were enough alcoves out there, it would be fairly easy to escape notice until classes started.
The quick footsteps behind him alerted Draco it was far too late for that. Quickly he assessed the ground he had to fight on and decided the courtyard was still the best place to be. There would be plenty of cover which would help even the odds against multiple attackers.
As he rushed through the open door to the courtyard, he ran straight into a tall, lean figure. Bony hands gripped his shoulders, keeping them both on their feet. "Slow down there, my boy," Dumbldore's voice reached his ears and he looked up into twinkling blue eyes. "Wouldn't want you to get hurt, would we?"
The wizard winked at him as the hurried footsteps behind him suddenly reversed direction and started heading in the opposite direction. Had the Head Master planned this?
"No, sir. Um, thank you," Draco said, taking a quick step back. Quickly he set his Occlumency shields in place, presenting nothing but a nervous eleven year old boy. At least, he hoped that's what he was doing. Against Voldemort, his shields had barely held and Dumbledore was arguably the better wizard.
"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it," the Head Master laid his hand companionably on his shoulder and steered Draco back inside. "We all require a little assistance now and then. For instance, I know the situation with your father could not have made the last few months very easy."
"I-" Draco was at a loss for words; Dumbledore had never taken this kind of interest in him before. "I'm sure it will be alright. He just isn't used to the idea."
"Very mature of you, Mr. Malfoy. I must admit, that is not the reason I sought you out this morning. It has been brought to my attention that you're not paying any attention to your lessons. The teachers also say your homework is sub par, but you never have any trouble with the practical lessons or tests."
There was no way for Draco to answer that, so he just stared up at the Head Master and waited for him to get to his point.
"Are your classes not challenging enough? Perhaps you would be more comfortable in Second Year classes."
"No!" Draco blurted and instantly regretted it as the Head Master turned a sharp on on him. "I-I mean, I've just been...slacking off a little. I wanted to join the quidditch team like Harry, but that won't happen and my dad's so mad and I haven't heard from my mother…"
Trailing off, he could see Dumbledore wasn't buying his excuses. "Perhaps you would prefer some special tutoring sessions? I would be happy to help you reach your full potential, Mr. Malfoy."
"I...I would appreciate that, sir."
"Good! Then I expect you at my office three times a week. Say during Gryffindor quidditch practice. Maybe we can keep your mind off of Mr. Potter's good fortune."
Frowning, Draco came to his friend's defense before he really thought about it. "It's not luck, sir. Harry's great at flying."
"From what I've observed, Mr. Malfoy, so are you. Remarkable, for someone your age, wouldn't you say?" The knowing look Dumbledore gave him left no doubt that the man knew something, but Draco wasn't certain what. There was no chance to ask, either. Patting him on his shoulder, the older wizard left without another word.
In Charms, Draco ignored his friends, more out of guilt from his outburst than any real lingering anger. Hermione was in a mood as well, more bossy and condescending than normal. He honestly wished Professor Flitwick would step in and put a stop to it. She was wrong, she just went about passing on her knowledge completely the wrong way. By the end of the lesson, Ron was seething. Walking behind him and Harry with Hermione, Draco was shocked to hear the way the redhead talked about the girl.
"It's no wonder no one can stand her," he said to Harry, "she's a nightmare, honestly."
Before Draco could say a word, Hermione shoved past both boys and ran off down the hall. The tears glistening on her cheeks were clear for anyone to see.
"I think she heard you," Harry said softly.
"So? She must've noticed she's got no friends."
"I don't know why she keeps trying with you," Draco snapped, glaring at Ron so hard the redhead actually took a step back once he met the blonde's gaze. "You're living proof that man doesn't need a brain to survive."
"Malfoy, what the hell has gotten into you today?" Harry demanded, but the boy's words only changed the focus of his surging rage.
"I don't know, Potter. Might have something to do with your friend there making a girl cry after she attempted to help him conquer his idiocy. I didn't see you manage to cast the spell. Honestly, well done the both of you."
Neither boy was prepared to deal with the biting words, having never experienced the nasty side of Draco Malfoy before. Shocked, they stared as the blonde stalked off for the second time that day.
"He definitely could have gotten along in Slytherin," Ron finally muttered and Harry could only nod in agreement.
Draco spent the rest of the day trying to talk Hermione out of the girl's bathroom once he figured out where she had hidden. Her sobs tore at him since Draco was convinced her attitude that morning had been his fault. Not only that, but his outburst had clearly hurt her feelings. For hours, she wasn't having any of it. Between his harsh words and Ron's, she was convinced that everyone hated missed their next class and by the time the Halloween feast was starting in the Great Hall he had only just talked her out of the stall.
"You really called Ron an idiot?" Hermione wiped at her eyes and sat down next to Draco under the sinks.
"Not in so many words, but yeah," Draco smiled at her. "I really am sorry about this morning."
"It's alright. I'll try not to badger you so much."
"Can I make a suggestion?" Hesitantly, Hermione nodded and Draco continued gently, "If you know something someone else doesn't, ask if they'd like help first. People don't like it when you tell them they're wrong."
"I guess, it's just...why don't they want help?"
"They want help, just not to feel like idiots when they're getting it. I know that's hard for Ron, but you have to be gentle with the boy's ego."
Her laugh made Draco smile again and he got to his feet. "Mind if we go now? I don't want to explain to another girl why there's a boy in the girl's loo. Plus, I'm starving. I never got breakfast."
"Oh, sorry," Hermione took his offered hand, but froze when she got to her feet. Nose wrinkling, she asked, "What's that smell?"
"Oh God," he whispered and grabbed her wrist. "We have to run."
"What? Why?"
Draco had no chance to answer. Dragging Granger to the door, he was just reaching for the knob when it was pushed open. Towering eight feet above his head, smelling like an open sewer and ugly as sin, the troll stared down at them both with black, beady eyes.
Reversing direction, Draco hauled Hermione back as quick as his Seeker reflexes could manage. With a roar, the troll lifted his huge club and swung at both students. With arms nearly six feet long and a club as tall as Malfoy himself, the attack swept nearly the entire bathroom and left them with nowhere to hide. Stall doors, sinks, and a light fixture went flying in pieces as Draco shoved Granger to the ground and attempted to dive out of the way as well. He wasn't near fast enough. The club clipped the blonde's shoulder, sending him flying across the bathroom to crash head first into the tiled wall.
Crumpling to the floor, he tried to fumble for his wand even as the entire bathroom started to fade to black. He had to save Hermione. He had to defeat the troll, but even as he pulled his wand out, the blackness overwhelmed his vision. Someone screamed, there was a crash, and Draco knew only the darkness.