Harry Potter: Dudley From LOTM - 353

Chapter 353: Malfoy’s Fracture

Once he understood Hermione’s situation, Dudley waved a hand and let the sound barrier collapse.

While the two of them had been talking, Hagrid had already finished explaining hippogriff habits and how to approach them properly. Even so, everyone remained wary of the huge creatures. No one dared step forward and volunteer until Harry and Ron went up to help Hagrid out.

With Hagrid’s steady encouragement, Harry managed to earn the trust of one of the hippogriffs and even rode it once around the clearing, skimming above the Forbidden Forest. The sight immediately sparked the others’ interest.

"Hagrid is actually doing a pretty good job," Hermione said, watching Harry dismount.

"I was never worried about his teaching," Dudley said, shrugging. "I was worried he would drag out something far too advanced for a first lesson."

Hermione laughed. Clearly, she had been thinking the same thing.

Seeing the Gryffindors now crowding closer, eager to try, even the Slytherins could not sit still.

Malfoy shoved Neville aside and stalked towards the hippogriff Harry had just ridden.

"It cannot be that hard," he sneered. "If Potter can manage it, it will be no trouble for me."

"You agree, do you, you ugly brute?" he added, staring straight into the creature’s eyes.

"Oh, no!" Hagrid’s face drained of colour.

He lunged forward to stop him, but it was already too late.

There was a flash of silver. The hippogriff’s talons, hard and sharp as forged steel, lashed towards Malfoy in a blurring strike.

Everyone froze.

"Protego!"

A deafening crack rang out as the spell collided with claws. Malfoy was hurled backwards and hit the ground hard, tumbling through mud and dead leaves until he came to a stop in a filthy heap.

"Easy, Buckbeak, easy!" Hagrid roared, throwing himself in front of the enraged hippogriff and forcing it back.

"Draco, are you all right?" Crabbe, Pansy, and Goyle rushed over, panic written across their faces.

Malfoy’s face had gone pale, but he pushed himself upright with a grunt.

"I am fine," he said.

He looked down at his wand clenched in his right hand.

At the last possible second, he had gotten a Shield Charm off. Without it, his ribs would likely be splintered.

"How can they use something this dangerous for a lesson? I am going to report you," Pansy Parkinson shouted at Hagrid.

"Draco, you have to tell your father. Get the Board of Governors to sack him," Crabbe said at once.

"It was too dangerous. If you had not been so quick with that spell, you might be dead," Goyle added loudly.

The Slytherins closed ranks around Malfoy, voicing their outrage on his behalf.

"It was your own fault, Malfoy," Harry called.

"Hagrid explained their temper clearly. You are the one who ignored the rules," Ron said.

The Gryffindors rallied immediately, lining up on Hagrid’s side.

Within moments, the clearing dissolved into a shouting match, voices from both Houses rising to a roar.

Hagrid stood there, at a complete loss. He had only wanted to start the year with his most exciting lesson. He had never imagined it would end like this.

"Hagrid, check on Malfoy first," Hermione said quickly.

"Right. You are right," Hagrid said, jolted into motion.

He hurried over to Malfoy.

"His casting was fast enough, at least," Dudley murmured, watching Draco from a short distance.

Something about him felt different this term.

In the past, in a situation like that, Malfoy would never have got his wand up in time. Buckbeak would have left him in the hospital wing for weeks. But just now, his Shield Charm had been both swift and strong, almost completely nullifying the hippogriff’s strike.

"That is enough. Stop arguing," Malfoy said suddenly, looking around at the crowd.

"I said I am fine."

To everyone’s surprise, he did not seize the chance to make a scene.

From what they knew of him, he ought to have stayed on the ground groaning, insisting he was dying, and threatening to have his father sack Hagrid. Yet today, he let it go.

"That summer really did change him," Dudley thought.

He had once sent Malfoy to steal the Emperor card. Not only had Draco failed, but he had been caught by Lucius and locked up. When Dudley later infiltrated Malfoy Manor to take the card himself, Draco was still in confinement.

After Lucius finally let him out, Draco had even prayed to the Night Emperor, reporting his failure. Even then, there had been something off about him.

Now, it seemed that experience had cut deep. Draco no longer leaned on Lucius the way he once had.

There was a crack between them.

"I will take you to the hospital wing," Hagrid said anxiously.

"I told you, I am fine," Draco said. "I am going back."

He turned and walked away, leaving everyone staring after him.

"Draco, wait!" Pansy ran after him.

Crabbe and Goyle hesitated, then followed as well.

The remaining Slytherins were left looking confused.

Was that really the Malfoy they knew?

"What is going on with him?" Harry said, frowning.

"Maybe something happened over the summer," Dudley said. "Did you not notice his spell? The speed and power were both very good."

Only then did Harry and Ron fully register that the Shield Charm had been Draco’s own work.

"What is that supposed to be? Deliberately provoking Buckbeak, then blocking it with a spell? Has he lost his mind?" Ron muttered.

"Or he was testing his magic," Hermione said, brows knitting. "He must have had his wand ready beforehand. Otherwise, he would not have been holding it already."

Dudley nodded thoughtfully.

"That makes sense."

He watched Draco’s retreating back, thoughts turning.

"As far as I remember, there was something wrong inside Malfoy Manor," he mused. "Lucius did not seem quite right either."

"It looks like it is time to speak with Draco properly. Find out what is really happening in that house."