Chapter 11
"If you don't get up soon, Draco, we're going to miss the practice," Pansy says.
Draco sits up. "You suck. Blaise doesn't need us there. We can support him in our hearts," he says.
Pansy pulls his arm. "Get up," she says.
Draco groans.
She shoves his clothes into his chest.
"Fine, fine. Just so you know. I hate you," he says.
Reggie coos.
"Shut up," he says.
Pansy waves for him to change.
He spells the robes on. He walks with her to the common room. Millicent joins them and they head to the pitch.
Ron, Hermione, and Colin stand in the bleachers. The Gryffindor team hovers on their brooms on the field.
Draco shakes his head. He forgot about the fight they had this year.
They go to the stands and sit by Ron and the others.
"Why are you here?" Hermione asks.
"Slytherin also has practice today," he says.
Ron, Colin, and Hermione stare at him.
He shrugs. It's not like he can change it.
"What are you doing here? It's our practice time," Wood says.
Draco sighs. He has to go back down. He should have just waited.
"We need to train our new seeker."
Blaise steps beside Pansy, Millicent, and Draco.
"I am not involved," he mutters.
Draco pats his shoulder. Much better than him. He was definitely involved.
"Just get off the field. We also need to break in our new brooms. A generous donation from Mr. Malfoy," the captain says.
Draco rolls his eyes. Why did he donate them? Draco's not even on the team.
"Gryffindor was here first. Plus, even with your fancy little brooms, you can continue to lack and be fine, right?" Hermione glares at them.
"Listen, little mud blood-"
Gasps come from Gryffindors.
Ron pulls his wand out. Draco steps forward. Ron's eyes widen. Draco opens his mouth to ask what happened. Instead of the question a slug falls to the grass. He wrinkles his nose. He will never be able to get this feeling out of his throat. It's like huge globs of mucus and tentacles. Mucus tentacles creep up his throat.
"Oh, oh, I am so sorry, Draco," Ron says. His face is pale and he's gaping like a fish.
Draco waves. At least he didn't hit any of the other Slytherins.
"We're taking him to Hagrid's," Hermione says.
"Want us to come?" Pansy asks.
Draco shakes his head. Another slug drops from his mouth. He points at the mass of angry Quidditch players.
Pansy, Millicent, and Blaise nod.
Hermione and Harry wrap arms around him. He gags on the slugs. Ron walks behind them.
Lockhart leaves the hut as they come up. Draco spits a slug on the ground in front of him. Lockhart wrinkles his nose and steps around them.
Hagrid hands him a basin when they get to the door. Two slugs fall into the basin when he tries to thank him.
"Be'er out than in," Hagrid says.
Draco groans. A few more slugs dribble into the container.
"Wha' happen'd?" Hagrid asks.
"Slytherins came to the quidditch pitch and Oliver Wood confronted them. The Slytherins got agitated and called Hermione a 'mudblood'."
"What is a 'mudblood'?" Harry asks.
Draco sighs. "It's a derogatory term," he says. He spits a slug out. "For people who come from muggle families but have magic."
Ron nods. "It's messed up to call people that," he says.
Hermione sighs. "You should have kept your cool," she says, "Look what happened."
Ron winces. "Sorry," he says.
Draco waves. "Always wanted to know what it would be like to spit slugs up," he says, "At least the slime helps with the size."
Ron gags.
"Anyways, 'Arry I 'ear ya are giving out autographs. Do I get one?"
Harry glowers.
Hagrid laughs. "Don' worry 'Arry I won't tell anyone wher' I go' it," he says.
Harry shakes his head. "Everyone is being so mean," he says.
Hagrid laughs.
A slug gets caught in Draco's throat. He coughs and coughs until it hits the basin with a plop. He wheezes.
Ron rubs Draco's back. "It seems quite bad," he says.
Draco glares.
He grimaces. "Honestly, I didn't think anyone would get hit besides him," he says.
He spits another slug. "I'm going to return the favor," he says.
He winces. "Okay," he says, "I deserve it."
Two slugs go into the basin. "Where'd Hermione, Hagrid, and Harry go?" he asks. He didn't even notice the missing group.
"Something about magic pumpkins. I wanted to watch over you, so you don't choke and die on a slug," he says.
Draco spits another slug out. Strings of mucus and other substances stick to his lips attaching him to the basin of slugs.
Ron gags.
Draco glares. "Ronald," he says, "If you gag again, I will hex you."
He nods. "Sorry, it's just quite disgusting," he says.
"Imagine being the one the slugs come out of," he says. Ron will probably never experience it in this world. He kind of wishes he did though. He did do it to himself technically.
Ron rubs his back again. "I am really sorry, Draco," he says.
Draco sighs. A small slug falls out of his mouth. "It was an accident. It's okay. You didn't mean to make me choke out slugs for a while. I just didn't want you to get into trouble and you would have if something happened to any of the Slytherin," he says. He meant to calm them down but him getting hit with the spell is a much better outcome than anyone else.
Ron sighs. "You are a Slytherin," he says.
Draco shakes his head. "Not in the same way. Not anymore," he says. There is unlikely to be retribution for Draco getting hit with this spell.
"When I met you, I thought I was going to hate you. I don't. You're smart, funny, loyal, annoying, and a good friend."
Draco laughs. A slug drops into the basin. "Thank you, Ron. I didn't think I'd like you either. I had a lot of biases. I'm glad we got to know each other though," he says.
Ron nods. Ron continues to pat his back. Slugs drop from Draco's mouth. "I feel terrible about this. I know you've forgiven me, but I hate seeing my friends in pain."
Draco shrugs.
"Still coughing slugs?" Harry asks. He stands in the doorway.
Draco shakes his head. "I just put them in my mouth and spit them out again," he says. A small one drops into the basin.
Harry rolls his eyes. "Whatever you want to do then," he says.
"Ron must be pretty strong," Hermione says, "I don't think it's supposed to last so long."
Draco hums. "Yeah," he says, "It's probably on the stronger side."
Ron winces.
Draco sighs. "Thanks for letting me borrow your basin," he says.
Hagrid nods. "Are you going back to the castle?" he asks.
Draco sighs.
"You can stay here until the slugs are gone," he says.
Draco nods. "This whole thing is making me tired," he says. Who knew coughing up slugs is tiring.
Regulus pecks at Hagrid's window. Hagrid opens it and he flies in.
"Hello, Reggie," Draco says. I tiny slug lands on his bottom lip. He spits it out.
Regulus chirps.
"Not me. Ron. He tried to hex someone and hit me," he says.
Reggie puffs up.
"Stop laughing, jerk," he says.
He rubs against his cheek.
Draco rolls his eyes.
"The slugs are getting slower to come," Hermione says.
Draco nods. He hiccups and a slug drops in with the others.
Harry sits beside him. "It is pretty disgusting," he says. He peers into the basin and wrinkles his nose.
Draco glares at him. "Really? I thought it was cute and fun," he says.
He smiles. "Don't worry. It'll be over soon," he says.
Hagrid makes some tea.
Draco coughs up another slug.
Hagrid hands him a cup of tea. "This might help some," he says.
Draco drinks some. "It's good, Hagrid," he says. It kind of helps with the mucus covering his mouth.
He smiles.
"Harry, Ron, you need to go," he says, "The slugs are almost gone. Detention starts soon so don't worry about me."
"I am so sorry, Draco, really," Ron says.
Draco waves. "It's all good, Ron," he says.
He walks out of the cottage.
Harry pats my head. "See you later," he says, "Try not to torture the slugs anymore."
Draco rolls his eyes. "I'll sleep at Gryffindor tonight. The Slytherins will ask questions," he says. Why did he step between them? Why does he keep defending the Gryffindors? Does he like the taste of slugs?
He nods and walks out the door.
Hermione stays in her seat. "Let's make sure they are all out before going back. If anyone sees we'll get in trouble," she says.
Draco nods.
Hagrid gives him another cup of tea.
"Hagrid, how many creatures have you taken care of over the years?" he asks.
His eyes widen. "Why?"
"Just curious. You always seem to know the best creatures," he says.
He nods. "I've taken care of many and some of them have caused issues," he says.
"I know all about troublesome creatures," he says. He glares at Reggie.
Reggie nips at him.
Hermione laughs.
"Come over some mornings. There are more creatures awake before the students disturb them," he says, "I can give you some mini lessons."
Draco nods.
Hagrid gives him a cloth and gestures to his lips. "Seems like you've stopped coughing slugs up so clean up," he says.
He wipes his face to get of the slime on his lips and chin. "Your tea really helped with my throat. Is it a special blend?" he asks. The slugs made it ache but now it's dull and it feels coated, not in mucus.
He shakes his head. "Just what I grow 'round back," he says.
He sips the last of it from his cup. "Thank you, Hagrid. I'll be back soon so make sure to brew more," he says.
He smiles and nods.
Hermione stands and walks to the door. Draco follows her. "Are you okay?" Hermione asks.
"Tired after all that coughing and retching but I am just fine," he says. He's trying not to think about the slugs he coughed up or the feeling of them wriggling in his throat. This year seems to be centered around wriggling, the spells, the slugs, he can't wait to see what else squirms in.
She nods. "You headed back to Gryffindor then?" she asks.
Draco shakes his head. "Millicent, Pansy, and Blaise probably want to meet first," he says.
She walks with Draco to the entrance hall and then she goes a different direction. Draco goes to the library. He finds them huddled in a corner.
"Draco, are you okay?" Millicent asks.
Draco nods. "Just tired," he says.
She nods.
"I wouldn't go back to Slytherin tonight," Pansy says, "They were talking about confronting you."
Draco hums. "Yeah. I was planning on staying in Gryffindor," he says. "I'm pretty sure I've defended Gryffindor too often for them to let it go again."
"That's true," Millicent says, "Some of them were planning to break your stuff but couldn't get through your charms. I also might have reinforced them."
"Thanks, Milli," he says.
Pansy frowns. "I wonder why the houses are so divided," she says.
"Distract from the stupidity like Gilderoy Lockhart with rivalry," Draco says.
Blaise nods. "That's what I've been thinking, because he sucks, and Dumbledore has to know that. Also, it's Defense Against the Dark Arts which seems helpful, but we haven't learned anything in the two years we've been here because the teachers have been useless," he says.
"Lockhart could still help us," Pansy says.
Blaise and she make eye contact, and they laugh.
Millicent smiles. "He could teach us how to avoid our problems," she says.
"Even better give it to kids," Draco says.
Millicent nods. "Exactly. You cause a problem?"
"Call some children in to take care of it," Blaise says.
Pansy grins. "Meet a vampire and it tries to bite your face off?"
Draco snaps. "Just set a child in front of you. Distraction," he says.
Pansy howls.
Millicent giggles.
Blaise snorts.
Draco yawns.
"Go get some sleep. You look like crap," Blaise says.
"Thanks, Blaise. I was really hoping someone would tell me I looked like crap today. Especially after the slugs," Draco says.
Blaise shrugs.
"Seriously, go, weirdo," Pansy says.
Draco waves. "See you tomorrow," he says. He turns toward the door and weaves between shelves and levitating books.