//------------------------------//
// Chapter 16 - Messing with Malfoy. 
// Story: Voidic and The Philosopher's Stone. 
// by lightningman 
//------------------------------//

As I got up on Thursday, I was still getting whispers from the other students. mostly looks of awe and surprise. Most didn't think that someone could be a student and a teacher at the same time. But I proved it could be done.
I pulled my robes and armour on, making sure that nobody still knew I had the Darkstone Armour. If people realized I had this, the results could be disastrous. I put my mask on, smiling as it still fitted my face perfectly. I ran a hand through my fried hair. When I had gotten struck by my brother's lightning, My hair lost the ability to grow. It was permanently Navy Blue as long as I didn't cut it, in which case I would be bald. I pulled my hood over my mask, grabbed my wand, and walked down to where the flying lessons were going to be taken places. I had been practicing my flying with the brooms every day during my nightly workout.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, now that I was in Hogwarts, I didn't have the nightly patrols anymore that kept my body in shape, So I had to work out to keep in shape. Amazingly, it worked out better for my body than patrolling ever did. I only noticed this yesterday. I was going to take a shower when I passed by the mirror.
"....Huh. Didn't expect muscles." That was pretty much what I thought as I went for my shower.
Anyway. I walked into the Great Hall, to see the twins and Harry talking with each other in whispered tones. Apparently whispering about what prank they should pull next on Snape. The last one went off without a hitch, and it made Snape the laughing stock of Britain. We put a Confundus charm on him to think that he's wearing clothes when he really isn't. He spent the entirety of that day naked. It was actually very funny to watch all the girls blushing as they looked at his... Ingredients... And all of the guys were laughing to loudly to inform Snape of what was happening. All of the teachers didn't care that one of their colleagues was strutting around naked around the school. Even Filch didn't say anything. It was only when we lifted the Confundus charm at the end of the day that Snape realized what happened and whitened to the point he looked like a ghost. He transfigured some clothes and hurriedly put them on. Ignoring everyone's renewed laughter at him.
I looked to see Neville getting a package from a large brown barn owl. Neville excitedly ripped it open and showed it to us.
"It's a Remembrall!" He said as he showed us the glass ball which was filled with white smoke. What confused me the most was how wizards had managed to get the smoke into the ball in the first place. If it was made using muggle techniques, there would be a small line around the ball showing where it had fused into place with each other. But no, this was perfect in every aspect. I shook my head as I look at Malfoy walking up and picking it gently out of Neville's hand.
"This is cool." He says mildly. I looked and saw McGonagall hurriedly walking towards us.
"What's going on?" She frowns.
"Malfoy has my Remembrall, Professor," Neville said as he stood up and extended his hand towards him. Malfoy frowned slightly and put it in his hand.
"Sorry, was just looking." He shrugged. He passed by us and whispered to Harry. "I have to keep up appearances with the Slytherin. Sorry." It then looked like he bumped Harry a bit violently. Harry didn't say anything but nodded towards him subtly. After classes, at Three-Thirty. Harry, Ron and I went down with the Gryffindors and the Slytherins to a large green field that looked like it was meant to play golf on. It was a clear day, with the sun just barely touching the roof of Hogwarts and beaming down on us all. It was gently blowing as well. "Perfect Quidditch conditions!" Oliver Wood would have said. We all went and stood by a broom. I looked at them all, the handles looked like they were rotting. and the actual broom part looked like it was falling out. These brooms wouldn't last another year. Let alone another decade. Madam Hooch went over to us. She was about our size, gray hair. She was the typical youthful old woman. But her eyes, they were different. They were yellow and had the sharpness of a hawk. If she was an Animagus, she would have obviously been a hawk.
"Right, you're all already by a broom." Her eyes focused on me for a miniscule longer than everyone else, and she did the same for Harry. "Then stick your right hand over your broom, And say 'Up.'" She said as she watched all of us.
"UP!!" Everyone shouted. Harry's went up on his first try. I looked and saw my hand grasped onto a broom as well. It had a comfortable sort of feel in my hand. Like it was my wand or my sword. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, It is a magical instrument after all. I looked and saw Hermione looking slightly angry that she wasn't one of the ones that got it first try. But it looked to be more angry at herself than anything else. Madam Hooch went around correcting our holds on the broom, she looked at my holding and merely adjusted it so that my hand could be held onto it tighter, allowing for the broom to realize exactly what I wanted it to do. This made sense since it seemed that brooms relied on touch to steer.
"Now!" She barked. "When I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle. Three...Two..."
But Neville, being nervous and jumpy, pushed off hard too early. Madam Hooch began yelling.
"Come back, Boy!" She said, and I heard a slight bit of worry in her voice. Neville fell off his broom.
"NO!" I yell as I instinctively blinked underneath Neville and used a windblast upwards to cushion him. The wind blasted into his back, slowing him down just enough so I could catch him without him getting hurt. I put him on the ground and Neville staggers slightly.
"Thank you." He mouths at me as Madam Hooch goes and checks him over. I point my wand at the broom that was flying away and think 'Accio.' It flies into my hand. I put it on the ground as Madam Hooch and Neville go to check in with Madam Pomfrey.
"If I see anyone on their brooms when I get back. You'll be out of this school before you can say 'Quidditch.'" Madam Hooch said fiercely as she walked Neville to Madam Pomfrey. I look and saw Draco whispering to Harry out of the corner of his mouth. Harry blinks and nods at him.
"Hey! Look! It's that thing that Longbottom's Gran sent him." Draco went and picked it up. I could see the scheming look in his eyes. I cross my fingers slightly. Knowing what was next. Harry frowned, but somehow I could tell he was acting.
"Give that here, Malfoy," Harry said. Everyone stopped and looked at the events that were unfolding. Malfoy smiled evilly, something that looked real, But I finally realized what happened. Draco told Harry his plan to stay in good terms with Slytherin. I breathe a sigh of relief at the implications.
"I think I'll leave it somewhere Longbottom can get it later. How about..." Draco looked around fakely. "up in a tree?" He smiled as he grabbed his broomstick and flew up. I saw Harry cross his fingers and I hope that Harry had his natural flying skills in this universe as he did in the original. My prayers were heard as Harry immediately flew up like a professional flyer and came level with Malfoy. Said person blinked slightly surprised, Harry blinked a little as well before returning to his acting again.
"Give it here Malfoy! Or I'll knock you off that broom." It looked like this had been improvised. Malfoy knew this as well, but he mastered the response perfectly.
"Oh yeah?" Malfoy said sneering but looking worried at the same time in his eyes. Harry flew and jousted at him, but Malfoy avoided him. If I didn't know this was all fake, this would have been tightening my stomach beyond all belief.
"Professor Voidic! Stop them!" Hermione said as she yanked on my robes. I blink at her.
"And stop the show? This is Brilliant!" I smile at her and she blinked, flabbergasted that a teacher would so casually throw off the obvious danger they were both in and the violation of the rules.
"Then catch it, Potter." I quickly looked up to see Draco crossing his fingers and throwing the glass ball into the air. Harry looked at the glass ball suddenly and it looked like he reacted instinctively. He dove down, racing the glass ball to the ground. I looked and saw Minerva gaping amazed. Harry grabbed the glass ball about 3 feet from the ground and toppled onto the grass gently, righting himself immediately, holding up the glass ball proudly.
"HARRY POTTER!" I looked and saw Minerva running towards them, a faked look of fury on her face. "Never! In all my time at Hogwarts..." She trailed off and looked with fury at me. "WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HIM?"
"Because I know the future." I deadpan at her. She blinked and groan rubbing her face. Everyone stared in shock at us both. I had just rendered the teacher out of all her fury with five words.
"That you do. So you must have known that Harry would be safe. That's why you didn't stop them both." I looked and saw Draco landing onto the ground nearby and joining the other Slytherins. Looking worried at Harry.
"It wasn't his fault, Professor!" Parvati began.
"Be quiet, Miss Patil." She said as she took Harry's hand and began to drag him to the castle.
"But Malfoy..." Ron began but was cut off again.
"And you, Mr. Weasley. Professor Voidic, you better wait here for Madam Hooch with the other students." Minerva walked off with Harry. I sat down and waited with everyone else, they were all talking about what had just happened. Somewhere even talking about me knowing the future apparently. Hermione was currently glaring at me. She seemed to be hating me for some reason. Probably because I just didn't care about Harry and the trouble that I, by knowing the future, just got him in. I look at the patch of field as I sat down. Madam Hooch soon came back and began teaching us more. I got on my broom, it was slightly uncomfortable, as I could feel the broken off sticks pricking me, but soon, we were done and headed back to dinner. Harry met us there and he immediately informed us of what happened.
"You're joking," Ron said. "Seeker? But first years never... You must be the youngest house player in about..."
"A century." Harry nodded, but as he looked in my eyes, I could see he wanted to talk to me in private later. I nodded subtly. "Wood told me." Ron looked at Harry like he was Merlin reincarnate. "I'll start training next week, only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret." Just then Fred and George popped up.
"Congratulation Mr. Furze. Wood just told us. We're in the team too. Beaters."
"We're job is to make sure you don't get bruised too badly."
"Thanks, Vashley, Jovian," Harry whispered to them. "Just make sure that you keep an eye out for the others as well ok?" Fred and George smiled before nodding and leaving. I looked and saw Pansy whispering to Draco. There was a conflicted look on Draco's face as he nodded and went up to us.
"Having a last meal, Potter?" Draco said as he walked to us. But in a low voice, he said. "Sorry, Pansy basically forced me to come over here."
"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," Harry said coldly. But he blinked at them to show there were no hard feelings.
"I'd take you on anytime on my own," Said Malfoy, trying to save face in front of the Slytherins. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only, no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a Wizard's duel before, I suppose?"
"If I'm correct, Then I should know about them." Harry looked at them. "Can we choose anyone as our second?"
"Yes." Malfoy nodded, before suddenly blanching at Harry's smile.
"In that case, I choose Voidic. Ron will be our referee. He's grown up in the wizarding world. He should know how too, while Voidic and I don't know how to referee the match. Who will be your second." Draco gulps slightly as he sizes Crabbe and Goyle up.
"Crabbe," Draco says eventually. "We'll meet up in Voidic's room, Since he's your second, he shouldn't be against that." He nodded towards me. I wonder what was going to happen tonight. Since they were with me, Harry and Ron shouldn't get into trouble. But Harry needs to see the trapdoor. Hmm... Maybe, we could take a detour and we accidently go through the third-floor corridor, since it's on the way to my room. Yes. There we go, that's a perfect plan to continue the story along. I then blink and groan internally. 'Oh god, I'm turning into Dumbledore.'
"Got it." Harry nods.
"Excuse me." Draco, Harry, and everyone else involved turned to see Hermione.
"Can't a person eat in peace," Ron grumbles.
"I couldn't help but overhearing what you two were saying..."
"Bet you could." Crabbe and Ron mutter. He and Ron blink at each other and smile a little at each other. Before looking away.
"And you musn't go wandering around the school at night. Even with a teacher! Think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be. It's very selfish of you." Hermione frowns. But I see a glimmer in her eyes. It looked like... concern? Huh. Hermione is concerned for Harry already? That works out for them getting together. I smile a little.
"It's really none of your business," Harry said frowning slightly.
"Good-bye," Ron said.
That night, Ron and Harry got up late, pulling on their robes and whispering about where I was. I appeared next to them and we all walked down the stairs after calming them down. I told Pinkie Pie to escort Draco, Crabbe and Goyle to my classroom as well. But a light flicked on to reveal Hermione, in a rather long thick pink Bathrobe. She was sporting a frown that would have made my parents proud. I suppress a shudder at the final memory I had of them.
"You!" Ron whispered furiously. "Go back to bed!'
"I almost told your brother." Hermione snapped right back. "He's a prefect, He'd put a stop to it!"
"Put a stop to something that a teacher said was fine? I doubt it." I said deadpan. Hermione frowns at me. I was slightly surprised at her disapproval of me, but not that I think about it, I had that effect on a lot of people.
"Come on," Harry said to us both as we walked to my class. I mislead them a bit, but Hermione was on with us, nagging at us. But before we could get down the stairs, we ran into Neville.
"Thank Goodness, you found me! I've been out here for hours, I couldn't remember the new password to get into bed." Neville sighed sadly.
"The Password's 'Pigsnout.'" Harry said. "But It won't do you any good. The Fat Lady's gone off somewhere. I saw her going through a portrait a while ago. Neville sighed and said he would join us, he didn't want to be alone again. Soon, we were on our way again. I said that we were going through a shortcut when I opened up the third-floor corridor. I walk in and stop suddenly, the 4 students bump into my behind.
"Voidic? What's wrong?" Harry says.
"Uh..." I say acting. Hermione walks to beside me and gasps. It was indeed a giant Cerberus. One of his heads was a chihuahua, another head was a German Shepherd head, while the third was a Bulldog.
"That..." Neville whimpers slightly. I immediately pick up the students. The Cerberus had looked at me and immediately began growling and looking like he was going to begin biting. I was fine with fighting the thing, But I didn't want to endanger the 4 even though I brought them there in the first place. I ran as fast as I could to my classroom, I blink through the keyhole, that was something to experience I must say.
We collapse onto a mattress that had appeared there as soon as we reformed from blink. I look up and saw Pinkie looking at me slightly worried. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were there as well.
"Are you ok, xavy?" She said as she helped me up and handed me a mana potion. I drank it.
"Yeah, Thanks."
"What are those two doing here?" Goyle pointed to Neville and Hermione, who looked like they had traded one disaster for another.
"The Fat Lady left and they were forced to come with us," I say as I sit on one of the chairs. "You have no idea what they're keeping on the third floor." I groan.
"You saw the Cerberus?" Draco's eyes widen and looks at me. Everyone else looks at him except for Crabbe and Goyle who were gaping at the other students.
"You know about it?" Ron asks.
"Of course we do. I bet all the Slytherins do by now. 'Keep away from the third floor if you don't want to die a painful death?'" Malfoy scoffs. "That's practically begging people to check it out."
"Hold on. Weren't you two going to duel?" Hermione cuts in looking at Harry and Draco. They both look at each other and laugh.
"Me? Fight a student right in front of a teacher? Nobody's that dumb. I only challenged him to keep up appearances with the Slytherins."
"Yeah. We have a friendly rivalry going on that we agreed on during the train." Harry smiles. "Voidic was there, he knows what was happening." Hermione gapes before collapsing onto the mattress that Pinkie put down.
"So, you're telling me... that all of the fighting between you two. It was just an act?" Hermione says
"Not all of it, I was kinda testing Harry at the same time." Draco rubs the back of his neck. "Especially with that broom, I'm only lucky that's he's so good at seeking like he is.
"Well, you're a great actor." Harry pats Draco on the back. "Seriously, after school, look into being an actor." Harry smiles while Draco laughs. Neville and Hermione are gaping at them both. I turn to them.
"Don't tell anybody about this. If anybody asks, we went down to the trophy room and Filch almost caught Harry. Got it?" Hermione and Neville nodded faintly. "Good. Now, did anybody see you leave Draco? If they didn't, then they won't believe that you actually fought Harry."
"Yeah. Blaise saw me leave. I pretended that I didn't see him, but he definitely saw me."
"Good, That's good." there was silence that Hermione soon broke.
"Did you see what that Cerberus was standing on?" Hermione asked. Everyone looked at her.
"Not really. I was more focused on its heads." Draco said as Harry opened his mouth. Harry nodded while Hermione frowned.
"It was standing on a trapdoor. It's guarding something." She then glared at me. "I hope you're proud of yourself. You got us lost and we could have been killed! Or worse, Expelled! Now we need to sneak back to Gryffindor tower." Hermione huffed. Everyone looked at each other before I turned to Hermione.
"You need to get your priorities straight. You put your education over your life?" I shook my head sadly and click my tongue. Hermione looked mildly embarrassed before frowning at me and asking Pinkie to bring her back to the tower. She nodded happily and walked Hermione to the tower. Draco, Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle as well as Neville once he got some nerve up, began talking. It was at this point that Neville was decided as a part of our little group.