They tossed around some sort of bauble that Longbottom did his damnedest to get back despite their shoving.
"You want this stupid thing, do you, Longbottom?" said Malfoy, smiling nastily. "Too bad that it's mine now!"
Heri trembled with anger. She wanted to go over there and pound Malfoy's face in but she really didn't want to get in trouble for beating up another student. Snape for sure would come down on her like the hammer of God if he caught her bloodying up her wretched pets.
The boys laughed meanly and gave Longbottom another harsh shove, this time sending the boy falling to the ground. He landed on his side and cried out when he slammed his elbow. He tried to get up again when the Slytherin boys started to walk away but Malfoy sent a kick to the hand propping him up.
The blond boy tossed the bauble in the air and caught it again.
"Maybe if you had given this thing a squeeze you would have remembered how to land on your fat arse!"
As the Slytherin boys walked away, Heri stalked up to where Longbottom was shakily getting up again. She caught him up by his elbow (the same place she had pulled on him when getting him off his defective broom) and hoisted to the boy to his feet. He startled badly but pulled himself back together when he saw who it was.
"A-ah, P-P-Potter . . ." He could barely get the words out, he was shaking so badly.
"They took something of yours, didn't they?" said Heri, not really asking. She burned the boy with her gaze, daring him to try to deny it.
Longbottom looked wary at her expression.
"Y-y-yes. I s-suppose I'll g-g-get a p-profess-sor later—"
"Never mind a professor," said Heri briskly, pulling the boy along with her as she strode toward the Great Hall. "We're going to get it back right now, and I'll be having some words with Draco Malfoy."
Longbottom protested weakly but he really didn't have the will-power to go against Heri at the moment, not when she was practically spitting fire.
The Great Hall was empty of teachers at the moment, only the prefects and Head Boy and Girl were there to keep order. Heri strode to the Slytherin table like a woman on a mission, Longbottom's arm still firmly within her clutches. She stalked up to where the first-year Slytherins were eating and came up behind Malfoy as he was bragging about his theft.
"Malfoy," Heri hissed, burning holes into the pompous boy's head with the strength of her stare.
The blond idiot turned and sneered at them when he saw who was there.
"Haven't had enough?" he taunted Longbottom. He turned back to Heri. "You should find yourself better company, Potter. Why don't you stop messing about with losers? Bad enough that you got yourself sorted with the duffers, hanging around cowardly lions like Longbottom will only drag you down further."
Longbottom hunched into himself.
"I'll thank you to keep such opinions to yourself," Heri said tightly, trying to keep herself from scowling at the brat. She had been doing so well with being non-confrontational, she didn't want Malfoy to be the one that got her fighting again. "We're here to get back what you took, so hand it over, if you please."
The other first-year Slytherins were watching the exchanged. Sceptical expressions on their faces, they seemed to be surprised that Heri had the guts to go against Malfoy.
Malfoy wrinkled his nose at her.
"Championing the cause of pathetic now, are you? I understand that you're some big hero, Potter, but you're taking it a bit too far. Make friends in better places; I could help you there."
For a moment, Malfoy looked expectant and Longbottom looked resigned. Such a combination sparked the flames of fury Heri had been trying so hard to keep banked.
"It's no business of yours who I make friends with!" Heri snapped, allowing her face to fall into the violent glare she had been holding back. "Neville Longbottom is a good person and far better company than you could ever offer!"
Her fall from character made her want to want to curse. Damn the dratted boy! Damn him to the deepest pits of Tartarus!
"If I had to choose between you and a disease-ridden goat-fucker," she continued, getting into it, "I'd be turnin' down yer manky minger arse every single soddin' time!" Malfoy flushed in anger. Damn, but it felt good to get it all out! Heri pushed on. "Now, give us back what ya stole or I'll break yer goddamn face in!"
Malfoy scoffed and beckoned his goons forward. The two trolls cracked their knuckles in a way that was supposed to be intimidating.
Just try it, Potter! I don't know who you think you are but Crabbe and Goyle aren't bothered about putting a stupid little girl in her place!"
Heri growled. She'd show them a stupid little girl!
Longbottom tugged at her hand insistently.
"Please, Potter, I don't want us to fight about this. It's not that important anyway!"
"That's right, run along now, little coward," derided Malfoy.
Heri shook off Longbottom's hand and took a threatening step forward.
"I'm warnin' ya, arsehole. Hand it over or I'll send ya bitchin' and cryin' for mummy."
Malfoy's response was to sic his goons on her.
Once a meaty paw landed on her forearm, Heri sprang into action. She kicked Goyle's feet out from under him as she yanked him off balance. She hurled him into Crabbe, sending both to the floor. Their heads banged against the stone and they laid there, stunned.
Before Malfoy could do more than blink, Heri caught him by the shoulder and sucker-punched him in the jaw. He went tumbling on top of his goons before Heri shoved him off the pile with her foot. Crabbe was in the midst of staggering to his feet again but Heri whacked him across the back of his head with her forearm, propelling him forward to smack his head on the ground again.