"Wait until my father hears of this..." Had been of course Malfoy's too predictable answer, which had only convinced McGonagall to remove twenty more points and assign him a week of detentions for disrespect of a professor.
Draco Malfoy reputation at Hogwarts outside Slytherin House had not survived the incident in the week which followed. Moreover, no one outside the House of Snakes knew what had happened in their common room on Sunday evening, but by Monday House Slytherin had proceeded to cease all support for the heir of the Malfoy family and those who followed him. Not that the number of the latter was huge. In his fratricidal war with Theodore Nott in January, the blonde pureblood had been forced to recall and use too many favours for petty reasons. Now anyone older than a third-year turned his back and proceeded to ignore him. On April 19, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini openly broke their remaining ties with Malfoy, choosing to side at the other extremity of the table rather than sit with Draco. This massive affront to Draco 's leadership (for Slytherins anyway) had apparently no consequences whatsoever and the day after it was the turn of Byron Vaisey, the Carrow twins and Theodore Nott to leave his side. After that, Draco Malfoy had for the first time of his time at school (and probably his life) made a low profile. The first-year boy circle had been drastically reduced in size, now only including Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode.
"What did my housemates did promise the Slytherins in return for the ambush against me?" Alexandra asked one evening before her duel session with Flitwick. "It must have been good for Malfoy and his bodyguards to take such a risk."
"As they refused to acknowledge their culpability," replied her Head of House, "I can only make guesses. I would say they promised Mr Malfoy help in his feud against Mr Longbottom should they succeed, but it could be something else."
"If it was the favour, it was stupid for Malfoy to accept." Affirmed Alexandra. "The Ravenclaws are not going to charge into a fight against the Boy-Who-Lived. Not many of them are good fighters, and most of the Ravens don't want to get involved in the Gryffindor-Slytherin issues. Too much potential problems on the horizon."
"Perhaps," acknowledged Flitwick. "But remember you don't have many clues of what was involved in the deal."
Her Head of House had had a very good point as always. Her knowledge of the attack she had been the target on April 11 was missing everything besides the students who participated in it. Alas, Alexandra hadn't been able to know more. Headmaster Dumbledore had declared once again it was " a prank which went a bit overboard" once he returned from an ICW convention and promptly pressed the rest of the staff to forget such insignificant matters, as the precious Longbottom had been involved, if only in the periphery of the affair. Flitwick and Snape had had no choice but to obey. The Slytherins and the Ravenclaws had not even got detentions, being seen by Dumbledore as the victims of an odious prank.
"Is the man senile or taking drugs?" Alexandra had asked Nigel in one of her most exasperated moments after recounting him the details of the aggression.
"He's powerful. Very powerful." Had answered her Gryffindor friend. "My father says he has stayed in power so long he's convinced his views have to be the best ones for Britain and the Light."
That was not a very comforting thought in Alexandra's opinion. But as days passed and no further major incident happened to break the rhythm of Hogwarts classes, the ambush faded from the students' memory. With Malfoy staying quiet and isolated, even the battles between Lions and Snakes grew even less frequent.
In the end, this attack had allowed Alexandra, Nigel and Hermione to reveal their secrets and settle their differences.
"I forgive you, Alexandra." Had affirmed the brown-haired witch, the morning after the Ravenclaw-Slytherin debacle. "But don't you dare breaking the rules like entering the Forbidden Corridor without informing us first!"
"We forgive you..." Had mumbled Nigel, a deep change in his behaviour, where months ago the timid Gryffindor would not have had the courage to speak for or against her.
Today was bright and sunny. The sky was entirely blue and every person in the castle could feel summer was coming to Hogwarts. Very early this morning, Alexandra had been able to do an hour or so of jogging near the Black Lake in her sport clothes without having the need to take a cloak or some warm equipment to feel warm. If she had had the time, she would gladly have stayed on the shore of the Lake to take the sun and profit from this excellent spring weather.
Unfortunately, the green-eyed Ravenclaw had not the time to stay outside and do nothing. The Easter holidays were over, and now the exams of the end of the year were approaching. Homework and classes assignments were increasing at an impressive speed, and Alexandra had difficulties to stay ahead of the storm of work the teachers ordered them to work on while at the same time helping Nigel practising magic and explaining him the theory. Hermione helped when she could, but the bushy-haired girl passed a lot of time in the library, more than Alexandra and Nigel combined to be exact. Transfiguration, for example had moved on to copper and bronze magical manipulations, guaranteeing long hours of study and unsuccessful practise. Right now, Alexandra had to go to Professor Sinistra's office to give back her assignment on the different types of eclipses, a three-foot essay Hermione had already given to Sinistra three days ago.
"How does she manage that?" The Potter Heiress muttered under her breath, walking in the direction of the Astronomy tower. The affirmations of the Gryffindors that Hermione was a Ravenclaw in disguise were gaining more and more credibility as the end of the year approached.
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