Draco was furious. "That's a LIE!" he screamed. "The Dark Lord was here to protect the pureblood way of life! Your lies won't change that!"
"Check the facts yourself, Malfoy," Hermione growled. "That is, unless you're too scared to learn the truth. In either case, I'm done with you." Hermione turned and started heading towards the Three Broomsticks. As she crossed in front of Ernie's field of vision, Malfoy struck.
Or, at least tried to.
The blonde Slytherin made a sudden motion and his wand appeared in his hand. He started to cast a curse directly at the witch's unguarded back when he suddenly found himself smashed to the ground.
"Don't try that again ya little ferret." Harry growled. The crowd unconsciously took a step back from the aura of menace that Harry was radiating. Harry glared down at the prone boy. "Do you want to try trading spells with me?"
Malfoy stared up at the Gryffindor in sheer terror. Somewhere in the bottom of that place where most have a heart, Draco Malfoy knew that Harry Potter would kill him given the opportunity. Father had told him stories when Draco was a child of the power and menace of the Dark Lord to those that opposed or failed Him. Nothing in his imagination matched the way Potter made him feel right now starring up into those green eyes that seemed to glow with repressed power.
"I'll take'm from here, Potter."
The crowd of students parted to allow their Defence professor passage. Moody stumped forward with his wand drawn. A silent spell shot out of his wand and connected with Malfoy tuning into him into a snowy white ferret. The creature let out a startled squeak and tried to run only to be levitated into the air by the former Auror.
"I think a ferret fits 'em, lad," Moody said to Harry with a disturbing grin.
"Professor," Hermione started, "Harry was just…"
"No need for that, lass," Moody interrupted her. "Saw the whole thing. Yon boyfriend of yours did a solid job of watching yer back till you blocked his line of sight from these idiots. Fortunately Potter was here to cover. Good team work. Would have made decent Aurors. Nice speech on the stupidity of those idiots' little war too.
"Well, I am going to take young Mr Malfoy here up so he can start serving his detentions. I'm sure Filch or Hagrid can find something appropriate for 'em to do." A few Slytherins started to protest but the Defence professor's glare silenced them as he stomped up towards the castle.
Harry walked over to where his friends were gathered around Hermione. Ron was standing there also but he just stood with a blissful zoned-out expression.
"Ron- you okay, mate?" Ernie asked. Ron nodded vacantly.
"Just trying to burn that into my memory. First Malfoy nearly wets himself because of Harry here and then Moody creates Malfoy, the Incredible Floating Ferret. Hey Harry, can you try to teach me the Patronus Charm again? I think I have a good memory for it now." The friends laughed and went into the Three Broomsticks to resume their day.
....
The students filtered into the Three Broomsticks and soon the inn was filled with laughter and talking like any normal Hogsmeade weekend. Harry had just managed to finish his first butterbeer when their table had a new arrival.
"Hello, Furry Potter." Harry turned from his friends to see a familiar blonde witch standing next to him.
"Hello, Luna. Do you want to join us?"
"Hmm, that would be nice. Almost like having friends. But first I have to tell you something, Furry Potter."
Harry felt a sense of dread. Luna always had a way of saying completely screwy things that later seemed to make perfect sense. The fact she'd sought him out to tell him something raised his hackles. "What is it, Luna?"
Luna's wide eyes stared directly into Harry's. "Soon your opponent will know your secret. You will need to decide if the ones on your side will still need to play with blinders on." Luna turned and looked at the rest of the group; her head cocked in a curious fashion. "Did you know Muggles can't understand how a bumblebee can fly? They can't see the little piece of magic that keeps them up."
Hermione looked like she was in pain trying to interrupt the blonde witch's words. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said."
Hermione looked as though she wanted to tear her (or Luna's) hair out. "That doesn't make any sense!"
Luna giggled. "Of course not, silly. The magical world is completely nonsensical. But it is in keeping with the best traditions of the Lovegood family motto."
Harry didn't want to ask but apparently Ernie just needed to know. "And what is your family motto?"
Luna still smiled but her gaze sharpened as she looked directly at Harry. "If you can't lead them with logic, baffle them with bullshit."
.....
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