Chapter 3
There is a little less than two months left before February 24th when it starts.
The Yule Ball has come and gone, and Harry is more than ecstatic to put behind that awkwardness; if he ever has to dance in public again, it’ll be too soon. But with so much time before the second task, and the Yule Ball once again splitting apart Harry’s friend group, Ron’s tongue loosens around the Slytherins now that he actually has time to insult them. Helping Harry prepare for the second task was no longer a barrier, with Neville having come to the rescue, armed with niche herbology knowledge Hermione didn’t think to search for.
“You’re a bloody ferret-face, Malfoy,” Ron spits. “Weak and ugly! Your father should be ashamed!”
Harry whips his head around. When did Malfoy walk into sight?
He looks tired, is Harry’s first thought when he sees him. His shoulders aren’t held back in a perfect posture with as much pride as they otherwise always are, and his eyes seem less sharp as he shoots insults back at Ron with the Malfoy trademark sneer.
At least three Slytherins flank Malfoy at all times, since his transfiguration into a ferret months ago, but today it looks like Crabbe and Goyle both have other things they’re doing. It’s odd to see Malfoy without one of his allies with the physical strength of a brick wall, and the glare coming from his thinner friends is doing nothing to deter Ron from verbally attacking him.
It’s Zabini who eventually steps up to end the parody, rolling his eyes and telling Malfoy, “Alright, you can play with your friend later, we have a study group to get to.” Both Ron and Malfoy turn to him with near-identical offended, puckered faces. Harry strains his neck so he doesn’t laugh.
Zabini doesn’t give them the same indulgence, and chuckles as he takes Malfoy by the shoulder to lead him away.
Ron turns to Harry and scowls, who blinks at the furious expression on his face. “What was that, Harry?” Harry realizes he’s smiling, and forces his lips to fall.
“What do you mean?” If anything, this just makes Ron angrier.
“You didn’t even try to defend me!” Harry’s eyebrows raise. He wasn’t aware Ron needed any assistance with the shite he spewed at Malfoy, his insults sounded particularly inspired, and Harry couldn’t have added anything to top them.
He tells Ron just that, and he visibly backs off from his accusations, though Harry is tense.
“What’s with all the ferret jokes?” Harry asks, trying to lighten his mood. Ron looks at him blankly.
“Weren’t you there? When Moody transfigured him?” Harry’s eyes flick down at the reminder. He nods his reply, and Ron lights up. “I never asked you to tell me what happened!”
Harry shrugs. “Malfoy tried to curse me, so Moody cursed him first, and McGonagall came to shout at Moody and transfigure him back to normal.”
“Everyone knows that much, Harry!” Ron complains. “I’m talking about the look on Malfoy’s face, and the rumors that Moody put him inside of Crabbe’s pants.” Harry stops walking.
“Draco Malfoy is a git, but he didn’t deserve to be transfigured into something he’s not against his will.”
“You’re mental, mate,” Ron responds to the words Harry had buried in his gut until now, to keep his sympathy for the Slytherins hidden. “I would’ve given anything to see Malfoy bouncing in the air as a ferret.”
Harry would give several things for it to have never happened, but who’s asking him?
“It wasn’t that funny,” Harry tries next. “I thought you might have been calling Malfoy a ferret because his face is so pointy.” Ron grins at him.
“Nah, thought he could use a reminder that he’s not as invincible as he thinks he is.” Harry feels a tick in his forehead.
“Have you not noticed he’s always surrounded by other Slytherins since then?” Ron shakes his head.
“He’s always been that way when he bullies someone,”
“Ron, his friends are walking him to the classes they don’t share now,” and Harry used to think he was the one of their trio with the weakest observation skills. “That’s new.”
Ron looks like he’s struck gold, and Harry gets a too-heavy feeling in his chest. “Really?” Harry nods. “That’s awesome. Draco Malfoy is too scared to walk through Hogwarts by himself.”
Harry shakes his head, but Ron isn’t paying him attention anymore.
Harry keeps hearing the word ‘ferret’ aimed at Malfoy, by all the boys in Gryffindor since Ron told them during a late-night goof off, but from Ron especially. Harry doesn’t like hearing it.
“He deserves it, Harry, I don’t see why you’re so bothered about it.” Ron’s voice does the equivalent of him throwing his arms up in the air in exasperation. “And it’s funny.”
“I don’t think it’s funny,” he protests for the third time.
“You’re the only one who thinks that.” Ron rolls his eyes, and Harry adds,
“Malfoy doesn’t think it’s funny.” Ron huffs, and turns his back on Harry.
“Who cares what he thinks?” It’s spoken more like a statement, that no one should care. Harry’s stomach drops, and he leaves without another word.
Hermione comments on how quiet he’s being a few days after the incident, and asks if he and Ron had another fight. Harry doesn’t think so, only that they aren’t used to thinking so oppositely when it comes to Malfoy; Ron thinks he is justified in bullying Malfoy, and Harry is uncomfortable with Ron calling Malfoy names based on something he has no control over.
Freak!