[183] A Knot of Flames

The last Friday before the match. Draco looked dejected after Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Why can't I summon a full Patronus?"

"The Patronus Charm is advanced. You've already learned quickly."

"But Potter — " Draco's fists clenched. "I can already vaguely see the shape of his Patronus! I can't be later than him!"

Hall gave him a look. Elementary school behaviour.

"It only proves Harry's gifted at this kind of magic."

"You promised guaranteed learning."

"You're still learning. I guaranteed you'd learn it — not how fast."

Draco was bursting with anger. Hall didn't even try to comfort him.

Harry stayed after class. "Professor Lupin — your expression was strange when you saw my Patronus."

Lupin sighed. "You didn't do anything wrong. I just — for a moment — I thought of your parents. Your father's Patronus was a stag. Your mother's was a doe."

Harry's eyes went wide.

Saturday morning. Match day.

Zabini sat between Hall and Draco at breakfast. "What did you do to Draco this time?"

"Why ask me? Maybe it's Draco's problem?"

Pansy checked her makeup in a mirror. "Draco can't make you angry. Between you two — it's that inexplicable feeling between boys."

Hall coughed. "Draco's just not feeling well. Right?"

"Hmph!"

In the Slytherin changing room, Flint gave his speech. "Victory! We must take victory from Gryffindor!" He looked at Hall.

Hall smiled and rubbed his fingers together.

Flint looked away. Vampire. Then he turned to Draco and Zabini. "Malfoy — find the Snitch before Potter."

"One day I'll be captain," Draco muttered.

Hall patted his shoulder. "I fully support your decision."

"Hall's being agreeable?"

"Remember to give me a bonus later."

Draco glared. Hall was still Hall. Greedy as ever.

"Welcome to the Quidditch pitch! Gryffindor versus Slytherin!"

Lee Jordan's voice boomed across the stadium. "The players are getting ready! Damn — when did the entire Slytherin team switch to Nimbus 2001s? Sponsored by Slytherin students? Damn rich people! Damn privilege!"

Professor McGonagall gave him a look. "Civilised."

"Fine, fine. But we have Harry Potter! In the end, we — "

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"Mr Jordan. Fair and impartial commentary."

"Yes, Professor."

Pansy snorted in the Slytherin stands. "Gryffindor bias."

Daphne nodded beside her. "Seven Nimbus 2001s is nothing. Harry Potter uses a Firebolt — that's professional-grade. Real cheating."

Pansy scanned the crowd. "I don't see Crabbe and Goyle."

Her eyes met Russell Rosier's. The charming Frenchman smiled. Pansy's face flushed. "He's so handsome."

"Handsomer than Draco?"

"Different kind of handsome."

On the pitch, Draco watched the Gryffindor team with a cold smile. The Slytherins circled on their seven Nimbus 2001s, drawing every eye.

"There's something wrong with you." Hall's voice was flat. "Normally you'd be trash-talking Gryffindor. But you haven't said a word."

Draco's heart skipped. How could Hall tell?

"Will you talk or not?"

Draco opened his mouth. He was about to confess the Dementor prank —

"A DEMENTOR!" Lee Jordan's scream cut through the stadium. "A Dementor in the sky!"

A huge, flowing black robe. A terrifying figure. Gasps erupted. Gryffindor players panicked. Ron nearly fell off his broom.

Hall frowned. How could a Dementor be inside Hogwarts? Fudge's plot had been foiled. Dementors outside were his last desperate move. Inside?

Hall turned to Draco. The glee on Draco's face told him everything.

"It's Crabbe and Goyle."

"How did you know?!"

Hall stared at him. Draco touched his nose. "I just wanted to scare Gryffindor. It's not a real Dementor — it won't cause any harm."

"Whether it's a joke isn't for you to judge. It's the consequences."

Hall paused. "The only thing I'm thankful for is that you didn't do it yourself."

Draco froze. He'd expected anger.

Hall wasn't criticising now. He'd complain to Mr Malfoy later — that was the truly useful thing to do.

Draco was thrilled by Hall's leniency. Hall was on his side. More important than Gryffindor.

"I'd never do such a thing myself. Gryffindor doesn't deserve it."

Hall gave him a distrustful look.

Draco turned his head away. If he didn't meet Hall's gaze, it was definitely true.

"Some things are fine to joke about. Some aren't." Hall sighed. "I'm not condemning you. But your safety matters to a lot of people. Your parents. Your friends. They don't want you hurt because of a moment of impulse."

Draco was quiet. Then — "Does that include you?"

Hall chuckled. "Yes. Including me."

Zabini gave them a knowing look.

Up in the air, Harry saw the Dementors and raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum."

But he couldn't concentrate. Happy memories wouldn't come. The Dementors closed in.

A bang. Harry froze.

Cheers erupted around him. Lee Jordan's voice: "A Patronus Charm! Harry Potter repelled the Dementors! Long live Harry!"

Wood clapped his shoulder. "Well done!"

"When did you learn that?!" Ron stared.

"My Patronus..." Harry began.

"A stag!" Fred and George hugged him. "A really handsome stag!"

Then Lee Jordan's angry voice cut through. "Slytherin! Despicable, vile Slytherin! They disguised themselves as Dementors!"

The fake Dementors' robes fell away — Crabbe and Goyle, huddled together.

Anger spread. All three other houses booed.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward, face stern. "Slytherin, fifty points deducted. Student safety is no joke."

Lee Jordan: "Fifty points? I think fifty per person — "

"Shut up."

Gryffindors cheered. Even Hermione couldn't help joining in.

"Idiots." Flint's face was dark. He glanced at Draco.

"Suggesting this with that little skill." Draco's face burned. "Disgraceful."

Hall watched calmly. This was good — Draco needed to learn.

"Shameful, isn't it?" Hall said. "Next time, think back to today before making a decision. Can you bear the consequences?"

Draco pursed his lips. "I know — "

A black figure reappeared in the sky.

"Not again!" Lee Jordan's voice dripped disdain. "Another Slytherin trick!"

"Shut up!" McGonagall's voice was sharp. "Everyone back off! Those are real Dementors!"

Screams erupted. Hall looked up. One, two, three — the number was growing.

"Help!"

"Expecto Patronum."

Hall drew his wand. A silver winged tiger leaped from the tip — no longer small enough to hold. It was enormous, majestic.

The two-metre-tall creature flapped its wings and soared straight at the Dementors.

"Merlin's glasses!" Wood stared, almost dropping his broom. "A griffin!"

"That's Hall's Patronus!" Ron shouted proudly. "The incredibly powerful griffin!"

"Shouldn't Hall's Patronus be a Niffler?" Fred and George grinned despite the panic.

"Fred, George — you're right! Hall is a natural Gryffindor!"

"When did we say that?"

"Wood, you're right!"

"Go to hell, Wood! Dream on!" Flint swung his fist. "Hall is a Slytherin! The Sorting Hat decided!"

"Who knows if the Sorting Hat's eyes are failing!"

"Hmph!" Draco scoffed. "Hall, you're a true Slytherin."

"Yeah, yeah."