Chapter 36: Bludgers and the Disarming Spell
"He looks like he's in a lot of pain. Sweat is all over his forehead," Harry said to Ron in the Gryffindor common room, having just returned from the hospital wing. "Even talking is causing him to gasp for air."
"Think about it, 34 bones!" Ron said with lingering fear. "That's no joke."
Hermione was reading "Powerful Potions" by the fireplace, pretending not to care about Draco's injury.
However, she couldn't help but be distracted when she heard what Harry said.
Is he okay? He must be in pain.
When she thought about how many bones he had broken, her heart ached.
That damned, crazy Bludger! Hermione frowned at the fire.
In the stands, she had been watching him through the new telescope Draco had given her.
He clearly noticed the danger behind him, he saw that crazy Bludger!
But he still went to catch the damn golden snitch without hesitation!
He was risking his life playing Quidditch, and everyone should know that. Those nagging Hufflepuffs should know that, those Slytherins should know that, and the whole school should seriously know that!
She shouldn't be the only one who knew. She already knew how talented he was at flying—he'd taught her how to fly in just a few "private lessons."
Draco, a Slytherin Seeker, could stand up to anyone's test.
Then, Hermione watched him fall from the sky. At that moment, all her worries about whether he was an evil Slytherin or the heir of the Chamber of Secrets disappeared from her mind.
She had only one thought in her mind: to save him.
But she didn't know how to save him.
Hermione Granger, you know so few spells! she thought despairingly.
Fortunately, someone in the audience quickly cast a spell to slow down his fall.
Otherwise, my God, he might die!
Even so, he lay on the ground, motionless and silent.
Amid the shocked screams of the girls around her, she pursed her lips and hurried down the stands, feeling annoyed at her own uselessness. Many Slytherin students were also running down.
Harry was faster than anyone else. He landed on the ground first and bent over to see Draco's injuries.
Then, that damn Bludger rushed over, and even now, it was still trying to attack them!
Hermione took out her wand and, amid everyone's exclamations, blew the Bludger to pieces without hesitation - regardless of whether Madam Hooch would angrily deduct 50 points from her afterwards.
It's all its fault!
Also, Hermione Granger wants to reiterate one thing: boys who like Quidditch are crazy!
"Why didn't you stop the game?" Hermione looked at his pale and angry face among the Slytherin students who kept gathering around him, and turned around angrily to question Harry, "Why did you have to catch the Golden Snitch?"
"We didn't think too much about it at the time," Harry said dejectedly. "We just wanted to catch the Snitch as quickly as possible. Draco had the same idea—"
"You two lunatics!" She looked at Pansy Parkinson who was coming towards her, suddenly said this, pushed and shoved the Slytherin students away, and walked away angrily.
"Be careful!" Pansy Parkinson said angrily in the crowd, "Blaise, are you pulling my hair?"
"Why would I pull your hair?" Blaise Zabini glanced at her and simply stretched out his arms to protect her. "Can't you be more careful? Why do you have to get stuck in a crowd?"
"I want to see Draco, see how he is!" Parkinson yelled in a fuss, "Crabbe, Goyle, get out of my way... get out of my way!"
"Get out of my way!" Marcus Flint rushed over, pushing aside the younger students - regardless of whether they would stumble at the action - and shouted angrily, "Perrikin, Adrian, get him to the hospital ward before Lockhart gets here and causes trouble! Hurry!"
Never mind, there's no point in staying here, Hermione thought dejectedly as she walked out.
He had plenty of Slytherin friends to care about, didn't he? They were all from wizarding families and were "more qualified to learn magic" than her.
Even without her, there were others willing to blow up the Bludger for him. Hermione sighed, clenched her fists, and walked faster.
That night, Harry said he was going to see Draco. She should have been indifferent to this, but she kept waiting by the fireplace, repeating to Ron: "No, I don't want to care about Draco. I just haven't finished reading this book "Powerful Potions"!"
"Come on! Didn't you brag to us the other day that you knew it by heart?" Ron grumbled, "Why are girls so stubborn? Ginny, too, refuses to come over and say a word as long as Harry is around..."
She made no answer, but stared at the fire.
The flickering flames waited patiently until all the students except the two of them had yawned and come up the stairs, until Harry's figure appeared before them through the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"He's asleep again now," she heard Harry say to Ron now. "Madam Pomfrey gave him another dose of the Dreamless Sleep Potion."
"Merlin, one potion is no longer effective?" Ron exclaimed. "Don't drink too much of that stuff."
"What can I do? Even when he's asleep, he's still groaning in pain." Harry said anxiously, "Hermione, can you come over here for a moment? I have something to ask you..."
Hermione was terribly worried.
She was a little absent-minded when Harry introduced the "Basilisk". She was also a little off-key when she heard Harry mention the secret of "Parseltongue" - she had suspected it for a long time - but that didn't surprise her. As for the incident of "Colin Creevey's distress" tonight, although it had shocked her greatly, after the shock, she began to lose her mind again.
She was thinking about the boy who was still in agony in his sleep.
Lying on the four-poster bed in the dormitory, it took her a long time to close her eyes.
She had been wondering how those bones could heal overnight. Did that mean that the Muggle world had to endure three months of pain, inflicted upon him in one night?
She tossed and turned, the peace in her heart gradually being eroded by the imagination of the piling pain, and finally decided to give up the Cold War mentality.
"I'll go to the school hospital to see him tomorrow." She promised herself and fell asleep peacefully.
However, the next morning, as Hermione excitedly approached the entrance of the school hospital, she vaguely heard the conversation between Draco and Dobby.
It was actually the house-elf Dobby who commanded the Bludger! Confusion, anger, and irritation all surged in her heart.
From the anger Draco couldn't hide in his voice, she knew he didn't know. He was deeply hurt by it, wasn't he?
But she still wanted to vent her anger on him - it was his elf who caused the trouble!
In a panic, she left the school hospital, not knowing how to face such a bleak and strange situation.
After being discharged from the school hospital, Draco became a hero of Slytherin because of his wonderful catch.
When Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini were at the breakfast table for the third time, singing in unison about and praising Draco's ball skills, Hermione looked up from the next table and glared at Draco with a traitor's eyes, as if silently condemning him.
"Okay, sit down. It's nothing to brag about." He stopped Pansy and Blaise uneasily.
"Why are you being so humble? Just pretend! Being too humble is just pride, you hypocrite!" Pansy rolled her eyes at him.
"Yes, after the battle yesterday, many people in the academy praised you highly. I don't think you need to be so serious." Blaise agreed. "Look at their eyes!"
Draco glanced at the Slytherin table and saw many people nodding and smiling at him, including many senior students. Lucien Bohr, Perrikin's partner and the team's other batsman, even shouted to him, "Well done, Draco!"
Draco smiled at him and then lowered his head.
It's not that he doesn't enjoy the feeling of being recognized by his teammates who look down on him, but at the same time, he feels uncomfortable.
He never imagined in his life that the out-of-control Bludger was actually the work of Dobby.
If one were to be a little more conspiratorial, one would say that Draco deliberately instigated this just to achieve that "dirty victory."
In his previous life, Draco didn't care about the means of achieving victory.
The goal justifies the means; this is the prevailing cultural atmosphere within Slytherin. In his previous life, Draco had been led astray by his seniors, for example, by pretending to be a Dementor to scare Potter.
But he finally realized that victory achieved by any means could neither prove the rationality of the result nor win people's true respect.
What Draco wanted was recognition from others from the bottom of their hearts, not contempt.
Now, at the opposite table, Hermione's contemptuous look made the approving looks of the entire Slytherin table seem meaningless, and also made the sweat, effort and even the broken thirty-four bones he had put into Quidditch seem meaningless.
Sincerity.
He wondered how much Hermione had heard at the hospital wing, but it was certainly enough to make her unhappy with him.
Her attitude towards him was becoming increasingly cold, distant and indifferent.
However, Harry seemed to be unconcerned.
When he met Draco in the corridor, he greeted him cheerfully: "How are you, are your bones growing back?"
"Okay," Draco said cautiously. "It's okay."
"Very good." Harry said in a low voice, "I have a general idea of what the basilisk is. Hermione told me a little bit about it. We both think that this guess is very likely to be true."
"In that case, you should be careful and stop chasing that voice," Draco advised him. "It's too dangerous."
"That's what Hermione said," said Harry. "But if I can hear it, I've got to do something about it, right? It's hurting people everywhere."
"Then why don't you figure out how to deal with the basilisk first?" Draco said. "Going head-on without preparation is tantamount to committing suicide. Besides, I'm still wondering how the basilisk can roam around the school without being discovered."
"Yeah, do some research." Harry nodded, looking like he agreed with him.
How strange. Hermione didn't seem to have told Harry about Dobby. Draco observed Harry's frank expression and secretly became suspicious.
Otherwise, there would not be such a sincere smile in those emerald green eyes.
What was she thinking? Being so cold to him and keeping his secret?
Does she dislike him?
Hermione Granger was a tan mystery that could not be ignored. Her every move was unpredictable to him.
Draco stared at her straight back as she sat in the front row, feeling increasingly uneasy and confused.
During Potions class on Thursday, Draco finally couldn't help himself and tried to find Hermione to explain the matter about Dobby, but she nimbly slipped past him, raised her head, didn't even glance at him, and went straight to the back of the classroom to sit down with Neville Longbottom, the annoying Potions idiot.
Is he even worse than Neville Longbottom? he thought angrily.
And so Draco retreated once more, like a snail retreating into its shell.
His face was pale, and his mind was focused on the pot of swelling potion that Professor Snape had prepared.
That class was a disaster.
At the front of the room, Goyle's cauldron inexplicably exploded, splashing half the class with the potion.
Fortunately, she ran to the back, otherwise, her proud little face would be hurt. When he went to Professor Snape to get the swelling-reducing ointment, he couldn't help thinking that little girls care most about their faces.
Oh, forget it! Worry about yourself, she doesn't need your concern at all. Draco interrupted his thoughts and thought viciously while applying ointment on his nose.
She's even willing to partner with Neville Longbottom over you!
So he ignored the suspiciously opened door at the back of the Potions classroom, ignored the small figure, and the bicorn horn and boomslang skin in her hands.
Merlin bless you! Hermione Granger, Gryffindor's most well-behaved student, actually stole the private collection of the Slytherin Headmaster. This is simply a jaw-dropping feat.
That's right, she forced Harry and Ron to create the turmoil in the Potions class, that's it!
It was all about the pot of Polyjuice Potion still brewing in Myrtle's bathroom.
"In my opinion, you'd better not make that potion, Hermione. He's really not--" Harry turned his head and said to her while playing wizard chess with Ron.
"How could you be so simple-minded as to be deceived by such sweet talk?" Hermione said, "Don't you think he's becoming more and more suspicious? How did he know so much about the Basilisk and Parseltongue? And he's so sure of himself? Only a murderer would be so sure!"
"He also said that these were all his guesses." Harry hesitantly moved his bishop and persuaded her, "Didn't you say before that he was secretive? You also said that the heir to the Chamber of Secrets would keep his mouth shut. I think he was quite frank with me, not as you described. He also advised me not to follow the voice, fearing that I would be in danger-"
"That's possible. He's afraid a Parseltongue like you might find out," Hermione said sarcastically. "The heir to the Chamber of Secrets probably doesn't want anyone to know his whereabouts, right? You're a Parseltongue, the only one in the school who can clearly know when and where the Basilisk is active. Any sane heir to the Chamber of Secrets wouldn't want you showing up and ruining his plans."
"Hermione, I originally thought you had a good impression of him. But now I realize you're quite prejudiced against him." Ron fiddled with his wizard chess and shook his head. "To be honest, I think you become particularly harsh when you encounter something related to him."
"Much harsher than on us." Harry shrugged, looking thankful.
"That's not being harsh, that's being cautious, that's making reasonable inferences! How can you be so gullible? Some students have already been petrified, you should be on high alert!" Hermione said sternly, "Anyway, don't tell him what I'm doing! Don't alert him!"
Draco, this toxic boy, actually let Harry and Ron have no guard against him! He is so deceptive, she thought angrily.
If she told them the secrets she had kept for him, would they still be so relieved?
This over the top Slytherin boy, he was always so mysterious and always spoke half his words.
But she had to keep secrets one after another for him.
What do you take me for, Draco?
Are you the Heir of Slytherin who opened the Chamber of Secrets? Is there another side to a calm, intelligent, and studious young man like you?
Are you a hidden lunatic, bent on wizarding blood cleansing? Like your prejudiced father? Like fellow Slytherin Voldemort?
These speculations and suspicions made Hermione breathless.
She found it hard to accept a bad answer, but she had to know the answer! Passing through the portrait of the Fat Lady with great momentum, Hermione headed towards the ladies' room again.
The dueling club opened in the third week of December.
At eight o'clock in the evening, all the students in the school crowded into the auditorium with their wands, and the long dining tables disappeared.
Draco sat impatiently in the corner of the hall, not wanting to join in the fun.
He had anticipated that this would be far more of a disaster than the Potions class where they brewed a swelling potion.
As always, Lockhart, a complete idiot, had no organizational skills. Under his irresponsible and chaotic command, it didn't take long for the duel hall to fall into chaos.
"The original purpose of today was for students to practice dueling spells, but Lockhart doesn't know any spells at all." Draco heard Blaise say to Pansy, "Do you still think Lockhart is omnipotent? He himself was knocked away by Professor Snape."
Then, Draco, with an innocent look on his face, was once again designated by Professor Snape to be Harry's dueling partner.
He frowned slightly.
Yesterday all over again – this was so embarrassing.
This was the moment Draco least wanted to fight Harry.
The strength was completely disproportionate, and any spell he cast was like beating a primary school student - with Lockhart's order, Draco waved his wand and disarmed the innocent Harry.
"Here, I give it back to you." Draco threw Harry's wand to him and suddenly caught a glimpse of Hermione out of the corner of his eye.
She was dueling with a Slytherin girl named Millicent Bulstrode.
It wasn't a duel at all, it was violence. No spells were used. Millicent clamped Hermione's head, causing the little girl to whimper in agony, their wands forgotten on the floor.
"Harry, help!" Draco yelled at him, and the two of them immediately forgot about the duel and rushed forward, pulling Millicent away.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry was asking Hermione over there.
"It's okay...thank you." Draco's heart tightened when he heard her weak voice.
"Why are you helping the people from the outer courtyard?" Millicent pushed Draco aside and asked unhappily, "I'm almost winning!"
"Are you using your own wand, Bulstrode?" Draco said coldly, forcing himself not to look in Hermione's direction, but instead scolding Millicent with a stern face, "Are you a wizard or a Muggle? You are not bringing honor to the house, but an embarrassment to Professor Snape!"
Millicent Bulstrode was a little unconvinced and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Professor Snape's voice.
"That's right, Draco." His voice came slowly from the stage. "Professor Lockhart, look at this chaos here. How many people are using spells? Why not let Malfoy and Potter demonstrate the correct way to duel?"
Under Hermione's surprised eyes, Draco and Harry, as opponents, walked onto the duel stage one after another and reluctantly.
Professor Snape taught Draco another lesson, but he was destined to be disappointed.
Draco didn't want to resort to the same old trick again. Professor Snape had taught him the snake trick, and it was a terrible one.
If this trick is used, the fact that "Harry is a Parseltongue" will be exposed to the public, which will lead to endless rumors.
"Expelliarmus." With a casual flick of his wand, he disarmed Harry's wand again.
Suddenly, Draco had an idea and looked back at Professor Snape, and found that there was a regretful expression on his face.
What does that mean? Did Professor Snape do it on purpose? Did he teach him to turn into a snake on purpose? Draco wondered.
Did Professor Snape know that Harry was a Parseltongue, or was he testing Harry?
Professor Snape doesn't have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets, does he?
That shouldn't be possible, Draco thought. In his previous life, Professor Snape wasn't affected at all by the events of the Chamber of Secrets.
He should not be involved in this matter. Draco's thoughts turned over and over in his mind, and finally came to a conclusion.
"It's really not your fault." After walking off the stage, Draco handed Harry's wand back to him and comforted him, "That idiot Lockhart probably didn't teach you anything before letting you go on stage, right?"
Harry nodded, looking a little embarrassed.
"Come, I'll teach you to practice this spell. The Disarming Charm is actually quite useful." Draco said meaningfully - Harry had used it a lot in his previous life.
"Having said that, this is a basic spell that every qualified Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must master. I don't understand why Lockhart doesn't know it." He winked at Lockhart lightly.
"I've also discovered that Lockhart knows absolutely nothing," Harry agreed.
By the time the party was over, Harry had mastered the Disarming Charm and had successfully disarmed Ron's wand three times.
"Very good, very talented." Draco raised his eyebrows, approving of Harry's level of spells.
He didn't spar with Harry directly again - he valued his wand and didn't want to take any chances of being disarmed.
In his previous life, he still couldn't forget the fear of losing his wand.
"Draco, listen, Hermione..." At this moment, Harry hesitated and wanted to tell Draco what Hermione was busy with recently.
Harry felt that Hermione was being overly enthusiastic about Polyjuice Potion.
He never thought that Draco was the "evil heir of the Chamber of Secrets." Hermione's suspicions might be misguided.
However, Hermione came over alertly, and just as Harry was about to say something, she glared at him, which made Harry surrender immediately.
So, he could only smile at Draco apologetically and said, "Nothing."
There must be something wrong, Draco rolled his eyes and thought to himself: Hermione must be planning something, and Harry must be an insider.
He glanced at Hermione. The little girl seemed to be okay, at least not hurt by Bulstrode's rudeness, and she still had the energy to fight him and hit him with the back of her head.
So he smiled bitterly, felt relieved, decided to ignore their "little secret", and left the duel hall in a bad mood.
Behind him, the little brown-haired witch turned around and vowed in her heart: Draco Malfoy, wait, let me reveal your little secret!
She was so absorbed in staring at the boy's back that she forgot to ask herself why she treated Draco so obsessively, contradictorily, and anxiously, caring so much about his every move and hoping so much that he was not the heir who opened Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets.