The Arcane Witch | Harry Potter - Under Revision -

Silvery Ferret

- - -

"Why so tense, Potter?" Draco exclaimed in a provoking tone, a smirk playing on his lips.

Harry glared back at him, his fists clenching at his sides. Draco's smirk widened into a snicker.

"My father and I have a bet, you see," Draco continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament."

He jumped down from the tree, landing gracefully and swaggering towards Harry. "He thinks you wouldn't last five," he laughed, the sound echoed by his cronies then smugly slid his hands into the pockets of his robes.

Harry stepped forward, his face flushing with anger.

"I don't care about your father Malfoy—" he began, but Alice quickly raised her arm in front of him, her eyes never leaving Draco.

"Draco," she said in a calm, monotone voice as she approached him, her expression unreadable. "Can I have a word with you?"

Draco sighed theatrically, glancing back at Harry and then at his friends. "Not now, Alice," he replied nonchalantly, stepping past her and moving closer to Harry.

Alice turned, her disbelief evident, watching him close the distance between himself and Harry. Harry clenched his jaw, staring daggers at Draco.

"So, you got Alice here to help you?" Draco said quietly gesturing with his head towards the girl.

"Smart move," he added, his gaze sweeping over Harry with disdain.

"You're helping Potter, Alice? You know he's a cheat!" she heard beside her.

"Oh, shut up, Goyle," Alice snapped, cutting him off as she stepped forward to stand next to Harry, her eyes fierce.

"Alright, if you don't want to talk, then we'll just leave," she said to Draco, grabbing Harry's forearm to pull him away.

"So what? You're just going with him then?" Draco's voice dripped with irritation, his eyes narrowing at Alice.

"Yes, and when you stop acting childish, you know where to find me," she retorted over her shoulder, continuing to pull Harry along.

Harry, his anger barely contained, shot one last glare at Draco before following Alice.

Alice felt Draco's intense gaze boring into her back, but she resolutely ignored it. Draco's recent silence had been infuriating, and now his sudden return to taunting only heightened her frustration. She had expected him to approach her first to talk things out, but his childish behavior was making it clear that he wasn't ready.

Just as they were about to leave the courtyard, a voice rang out behind them. "Oh no you don't, sonny!"

They both looked in surprise when they saw that Draco had been transformed into a white ferret, standing there in confusion. His tiny eyes darted around, bewildered.

Alice and Harry turned to see Professor Moody hurrying closer, his wand held high.

"I'll teach ya to curse someone when their back is turned!" Moody bellowed, his face twisted in fury as he closed the distance.

Alice watched in stupefaction as Moody began to levitate Draco up and down, the ferret bouncing helplessly in the air. "You stinky! Cowardly! Scummy..." Moody exclaimed after each rise, his voice growing harsher with each word.