Harry Potter Adventures: Chapter 7 – Draco’s Plan Begins

This story does not reflect the attitudes or characters in the Harry Potter series, or have any affiliation with the author.

Chapter 7
January had arrived with a torrent of snow as the 1st week of the new term at Hogwarts commenced. Draco had been thinking long and hard over the Christmas break of how he could corrupt one of Harry’s friends to the Dark Lord’s side. Finally, with the help of Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy, Draco had formulated a plan which though fraught with risk, he believed could work. Pansy since her severe beating and raping by Draco had become a shell of who she was and followed Draco’s orders without question which made her a perfect accomplice in Draco’s plan.

It was a particularly frosty Sunday morning and Hermione and Ginny were sat on a bench in the grounds overlooking the Lake. Though it was still relatively cold, the Sun shone brightly through the clear blue sky, the rays illuminating the pure white snow which surrounded the area. Hermione had conjured one of her flames into a jar to keep the girls warm, whilst they revised and chatted. Draco and Pansy had silently followed the girls and were now approaching them hand-in-hand.
‘Remember, stick to the plan,’ Draco whispered to Pansy as they walked closer to the two girls, ‘one wrong word and your dead,’ Draco finished hoarsely, giving Pansy’s hand a hard squeeze. Pansy grimaced, her eyes blank out of her fear as they finally reached Hermione and Ginny.

‘Good morning ladies,’ said Draco cheerily as he and Pansy stood in front of Hermione and Ginny.
‘Malfoy,’ Hermione said coldly, ‘what do you want?’
‘Hermione,’ Draco said with a smile, ‘why so aggressive? Actually, you may be shocked as to why I and Pansy are here. We’ve been thinking over the Christmas break, we think it’s time we put our differences aside. We’re sorry for any troubles we have ever caused aren’t we Pansy?’ Draco said, giving Pansy’s hand an encouraging squeeze.
‘That’s right,’ Pansy said robotically, ‘I’m sorry to both of you for how we’ve treated you.’ Hermione and Ginny stared back open-mouthed in shock.
‘Are you for real Draco,’ Ginny said suspiciously. Draco nodded and Ginny detected no lie in his grey eyes.
‘Wow,’ Ginny and Hermione said together, ‘Ok then Draco,’ Hermione continued, ‘we’re willing to put our difference aside.’
‘Shake on it,’ said Draco, as he and Pansy offered their hands in friendship. Hesitantly, Hermione and Ginny took their hands and began to shake. As they did, Draco looked over the top of the girls to Crabbe and Goyle, who were creeping up behind the two girls. Draco quickly winked at them; this was their cue. They took their wands and aimed at the two girls.

‘IMPEDIMENTA!’ cried Goyle.
‘STUPEFY!’ shouted Crabbe. Goyle’s spell hit Ginny squarely in the back, causing her to slump unconsciously to the floor, her hand still grasping Pansy’s. Crabbe’s spell however narrowly missed Hermione, flying just over her head. Hermione quickly turned around to face her attacker. Draco, angry at his friend’s incompetence, silently drew his wand and shoved it straight into the small of Hermione’s back, causing her to take a sharp intake of breath.
‘Petrificus Totalus,’ Draco whispered into her ear, as Hermione froze and fell back into Draco’s arms. Draco lowered her to the ground as Hermione’s eyes stared back at Draco in terror.
‘You stupid little mudblood,’ Draco sneered into her face, which was barely an inch away from Hermione’s. Draco suddenly grabbed her by the sides of the head and slammed it hard into the ground, causing her to fall unconscious immediately.
‘Good work everyone,’ Draco said as Crabbe and Goyle jogged quickly to be at Draco’s side, ‘though you have to work on your accuracy Crabbe,’ Draco added. Crabbe lowered his head and shuffled his feet as Draco scalded him.

‘Right,’ Draco continued, ‘you know the plan, Pansy, go back to the castle, you will be our alibi. Anybody asks where we are and we’re in our dormitory doing work.’ Pansy nodded as she scurried off back to the castle, ‘ok boys, pick them up,’ he said pointing towards the two girls who lay sprawled at the foot of the bench, ‘to the whomping willow.’ Crabbe and Goyle quickly picked up the two girls easily in firemen’s lifts as they ran swiftly to the whomping willow, Draco making sure to melt their footprints behind them with his wand. They finally reached the tree without being seen as it immediately began to sweep and hurl its branches at them. Draco picked up a loose branch from the ground and managed to poke the knot in the tree. The willow immediately stopped its aggressive behaviour, as it settled back into its usual peaceful stance.