The Whooping Howler
The end of summer came far too early for Draco’s liking. Nonetheless, he was looking forward to finally getting back to school and meeting his friends. He was also a little jealous of Ron and the twins, who had spent the last month with Harry. He had tried to convince his parents to visit Harry and Ron, but after Flourish & Blotts, it became impossible to make his father agree to anything.
So he gave his full focus to his Slytherin friends, flying, and mending his connection with Snape. He also had his nightly talks with Harry through the two-way mirrors.
He tried to manipulate the System into letting him get Peter Pettigrew, but the System was adamant that it was the worst idea and didn’t budge. Snape was being stubborn as well. Draco had tried various ways (he had even shed a tear or two), but all went in vain. He was pleading with the System for a way to solve that mystery.
Draco's morning started with the annoying pinging from the System. He should have known it was just going to be another headache, but being ever the optimist, he opened his eyes to check the notification.
Get Harry into Detention
Requirements: Make Harry miss his train and fly the Car to get to Hogwarts.
"What in the fresh hell?" Draco almost shrieked. Almost. It came too close for his comfort.
"Don't get angry at the messenger. You agreed to all this when you changed the storyline." the System was way to excited for Draco's sanity.
"No, I didn't. You're like the worst gift that keeps on giving." Draco grumbled.
"You know, one of these days I'm going to leave you, and then you'll regret it."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. So what am I supposed to do exactly?"
"Don't know. Don't care. As you said, it's your headache."
"I hate you."
"So you keep telling me."
"Dobby!" Draco shouted, angry at himself. He was going to absolutely ignore the Stupid System.
"Master Draco called Dobby. Dobby is here, Master Draco." Dobby appeared with big, creepy eyes and eager to help, with a pop.
"I need you to do something, but you can’t tell this to anyone," Draco said with gravity.
"Yes, Master Draco. Dobby will not say anything." Do be said excited to serve.
Draco hated this already.
.....
"Do you think it will work?" Pansy asked uncertainly.
"I don't know how it won't. I mean, they can't force you, and it's not like Purebloods do prenups like the Muggles. So, it will be foolproof," Draco replied sincerely.
"Also, I can try the insurance thing too. It’s bonus money," Pansy pointed out.
"What are you guys talking about?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
They were gathered in their train compartment on their way to Hogwarts. After the initial panic and worry about the absence of Ron and Harry, it took Draco half an hour to console the others and ensure them that both of them were safe and on their way to Hogwarts. Draco even asked Dobby to confirm. (I could have told you that. / I don't trust you, Stupid System.) They were almost halfway to Hogwarts, and everyone was busy with their own discussions.
Blaise and Hermione were going on about their future class works, Neville was showing his new plants to Theo and Vince. Greg was finishing off his candies. Pansy and Draco were discussing their possible future endeavors.
"We are discussing what might not get us in trouble after we deal with our future husbands and take hold of their finances and assets," Pansy explained, Draco nodding to emphasize the importance of this discussion.
Hermione blinked, flabbergasted, clearly trying her best to understand what was going on and failing. (Pansy might have finally succeeded in crashing Hermione.exe)
"That's Pansy speak for Killing & Acquiring," Blaise supplied helpfully.
"But…But…" Hermione sputtered. "But that's illegal not to say immoral."
"How do you suggest we amass our fortune any other way?" Draco asked sincerely.
"Like normal people do! By working hard," Hermione shouted.
"She is right, but that’s so… normal," Pansy shuddered dramatically and fell into a fit of laughter at Hermione's expressions, the others joining her.
"Huh!" Hermione huffed and puffed the whole way after.
.....
Draco was starting to get worried now. Dinner was halfway done, and Ron and Harry were still missing. Draco was getting tired of reassuring the others. (You are sure they are all right? / Yes, they are. They will crash into the Whomping Willow in a minute. / They'll be safe, right? / Yes, Draco.)
Draco startled at the loud noise of a door shutting. The System pinged Task Completed. One of the Ravenclaw Prefects was rushing to Dumbledore. Whatever he said to the teachers made Dumbledore smile indulgently, Snape utterly disgusted, and McGonagall mildly annoyed. After a minute or two, Snape gave Draco a sharp look and left the Hall, robes billowing and all. After half an hour, Snape came back alone. Draco shared a look with Hermione, who gravely nodded at him and left the Hall.
Harry and Ron has arrived.
.....
The next morning, the Gryffindor table was abuzz with idiotic appreciation for Ron and Harry’s moronic adventures.
"Brilliant," said Fred, George, and Lee.
"Unbelievable," beamed Seamus.
"Cool," exclaimed Dean.
"Amazing," said Neville, to which Theo and Blaise shared a look, determined to keep their baby bird away from the evil that was Ron and Harry. (Draco should remind them about the Quirrell Quest.)
"Moronic," Blaise said.
"Idiots," from Theo.
"Irresponsible," from Hermione.
Draco had just given Harry a look which was enough to make him guilty and rethink his choices. (What? Draco had to save face, didn't he? He can't tell them he had orchestrated all this.)
(That reminds me, isn't Luna supposed to join this year? / Yes, You want to friend her? / Yup… she's the best. / They. / Huh? / Luna prefers they. / Oh, that makes so much sense.)
They had just finished breakfast when the owls arrived with mail. A very shabby, angry-looking... something fell into Hermione's jug, spraying water and feathers on all of them.
"Errol!" Ron gasped. "Oh, no." He shrank into himself, trying to hide behind Hermione to avoid the owl. The twins and Ginny started sniggering while Percy was giving them disgusted looks. (Oh, it was the Howler.)
"It's all right, he's still alive," Hermione said gently, prodding the owl to check.
"It's not that, it’s that," Ron pointed at the letter in the owl's beak.
"It's too early for all this," Theo shook his hands off, literally, and went to join the Slytherin table.
"Nope, it’s just in time," Pansy announced, drooling at the chance of drama.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked.
"Mum’s… Mum’s sent me a Howler," Ron said faintly.
"You’d better open it, Ron," Neville said timidly. "It’ll be worse if you don’t. It can get horrible." He gulped and shuddered, as if remembering a bad memory.
"What's a Howler?" Harry asked Draco in a whisper. Draco was keeping a close eye on Ron. Just as he opened the Howler, Draco cast a Muffliato around Ron.
"A Howler is the absolute worst way to convey your anger," Draco told Harry, not happy with the Weasley adults. The twins and Pansy were looking at Draco accusingly, their entertainment ruined. Neville looked grateful, and Hermione looked worried.
The letter was floating in the air and seemingly shouting at Ron, but no sound was heard by others except for Ron. Ron was getting crimson by the second and flinching every now and then. Approximately five minutes later, the Howler turned to Ginny, said something, and burst into flames.
Ron looked at the others, ashamed and close to crying. He must not have realized that no one else heard the Howler. Just as the twins tried to taunt him, Draco told Ron, "No one heard it except you."
"Oh, come on," Fred complained.
"You're ruining all the fun," Pansy and George complained.
Ron was looking at Draco as if he had saved his life. (You know you’re like the caring elder sister. / Shut up!)
Slytherins moved to their table to receive their schedules and left for classes. The first class was a double Herbology. So Draco & co. Left the castle to go to greenhouse.
On their way, Hermione and Blaise were more amenable towards Ron. The Howler seemed to be punishment enough. They were giving a lecture on safety and other concerns to Harry. Draco stayed away as a precaution, and Harry kept looking at him, hurt and pleading.
Just as they reached the greenhouses, they ran into Professor Sprout and Lockhart, who were coming back from patching up the Whomping Willow. Ron and Harry looked guilty again.
Lockhart wanted to talk to Harry, and as the others left, Draco was stopped by a very determined Harry, with a firm grip on Draco’s arm.
Draco sighed and listened as Lockhart went into some imaginary scenario where Harry was seeking fame by pulling stupid stunts like last night. Reason being Lockhart had gotten Harry addicted to fame. (How more idiotic could this man get?)
By the end of it, Harry looked stunned and unable to say anything. Draco took pity on him and pulled him towards Greenhouse 3.
By the time they joined the class, the groups were already made, and the class was well underway. Draco opened his book and realized what they were learning today.
(Oh. Hey! Can I buy Mandrake Draught as a precaution? / Yes, the maximum limit is three a day. / And I can use those on the victims? / Yes, you can. Anything else? / Touchy much. / Just a bit tired. / Really? Do Systems get tired? / Yes, Draco, we are sentient beings, we feel too. / Oh. / By the way, if you wanna talk to Snape, go to his rooms after dinner. / Ok.)
Harry, in his excitement, overdid himself. By the end of the class, he was sweaty, muddy, and probably more than a little achy. Draco did a Scourgify and led him to Transfiguration.
In Transfiguration, they were turning beetles into buttons when Draco realized Ron’s wand was broken. He should get it sorted before it could inadvertently hurt him.
As they went into the Hall for lunch, Draco was dismayed to learn that Pansy had joined the fangirling wagon with Hermione and become a Lockhart enthusiast. So far, the women in Draco’s life were looking a little too gullible.