This story violently assaulted me as I was walking home from the store and now I see myself in the obligation of writing it.

Summary: As the Hogwarts Express transports them to their 4th year of magical education, Draco is maliciously dared to kiss no other than (in)famous Harry Potter. Unbeknownst to him, Pansy puts a spell on him that forces you to act according to your true will. He kisses Potter regardless. /Also known as the movie scene in which Harry sees Cho but Cho matters not when there's a nasty determined blond corraling you in the corridor.

The “incident” during the Quidditch World Cup was all anyone could talk about, especially a certain group of Slytherins who suspected their parents had been involved but kept deluding themselves. 

To take their minds off the treacherous matter, they decided to play Truth or Dare –except for Crabbe and Goyle, whose mouths were too full to answer any truth or suggest any dare. Food always worked better to quell their fears–.

It was Blaise's turn when Pansy burst in. She had been dared to go into the compartment next to theirs and sit on the lap of a boy until she got pushed off. 

“You've been gone for 20 minutes, Parkinson. What, he changed his mind?”

“I'll have you know he was very happy with the arrangement. His girlfriend, though, when she found us, not so much. Anyway, Draco, truth or dare?”

“Hey, it's my turn now!”

“Shut up, Zabini, you've all had many more turns than me. So, Malfoy, truth or dare.”

La disposizione dei tavoli attira decisamente più la sua attenzione, ma anche le parole della professoressa. Autorizzazione ministeriale? Possono provare delle pozioni di norma illegali? Lo sguardo-rapace si illumina malizioso, mentre serpeggia anche tra i propri compagni. Chiaro che le domande non tardino ad arrivare. « Dunque, Professoressa, possiamo provarlo solo in aula? Non possiamo farlo anche su…» Su? « Cavie? Consensuali, s’intende. » Certo. « Per fini puramente accademici e di ricerca, insomma. »

Il fatto che DALLOWAY curi se stesso è un aspetto che appare gradito alla docente. La domanda del ragazzino viene risposta a monosillabi. Solo in aula «Si...» Cavie «No» andando a spiegare. «La ricerca la potrà fare dopo averla testata. Mi aspetto questa enfasi nel compito» molto soddisfatta, in ogni caso, della domanda. «Non avrete disponibili le pozioni, gli Hit Wizard le riporteranno al Ministero finita la lezione, o... dopo pranzo. Un furto verrà punito con 100 punti sottratto alla coppa delle Case e un viaggio diretto al Ministero» dolcissima lei nella risposta.

« Ma certamente, Professoressa. » L’enfasi nel compito, mh mh. Il viaggio al Ministero non è molto allettante e lo fa semplicemente sospirare. Non ci si può tirare indietro, a quanto sembra. Questo è quello che esprimerebbe il fare, nell’afferrare quella provetta con un liquido evidentemente nuovo. Lo rigira tra le dita, lo studia con diffidenza, e alla fine… se lo fa scendere in un colpo. La povera malcapitata di quel tripudio di finto ammore, che ha solo i sintomi dell’ossessione, è proprio DRAGONYA. La prima persona con cui incrocia lo sguardo, per la sua gioia. Pupille che si dilatano in una manciata di secondi, così come il battito accelera e lo sguardo non si schioda. E fidatevi, non è una bella sensazione, essere la sua peculiare… preda.

« Che… che ne dici di andare a collezionare topi morti in giardino? »

CW: Swearing, alluding to abuse and the war

The four friends sat in the busy courtyard, the warm early summer sun high in the sky. They had all loosened their ties and rolled up their sleeves trying to soak it up. They were enjoying their last full day of fourth year as the summer holidays were starting tomorrow. 

“So what are everyone's summer plans?” Pandora asked laying back on her arms, face in the sunlight. 

Barty and Regulus looked at each other, sharing a look. “Avoiding our parents,” they both said flatly. 

Pandora sat up quickly looking at them with a sad expression, “sorry I wasn’t thinking…” she started before being cut off by Regulus. 

“Ha, it’s alright Dora, we are just teasing,” He said kindly, desperate to not upset her even if it was the truth. 

She smiled. 

Barty snorted and looked like he didn't agree but he didn't say anything further. 

“I suppose we’ll go to the house in France for the most part” Regulus stated. “Not that it matters that much where we are, my parents will still attend all their usual meetings and social arrangments in London, Sirius isn’t allowed to go to Potter’s this year so I suppose we’ll play at happy families for a day or two until he decides he’s fed up and pisses our parents off.” Regulus rubbed his temples like he was trying to relieve the future stress he was about to endure. 

“I do love that house” Pandora exclaimed trying to move the subjects on from families. 

“I do too,” Regulus replied his eyes seeming to drift off to a memory. “You’re all coming to our summer ball right?” he asked the group. 

“I don’t think so mate” Barty sighed. 

Evan looked up from the book he’d been reading with alarm in his eyes. “What do you mean? I thought your father made a point to come to our balls? You said he thought it looked good to be mingling with our families.” He said quickly, a glimmer of desperation in his voice. 

Barty looked at him and smiled sadly. “Sorry Ev, with everything going on Dad wants the Ministry to distance themselves from anyone involved, on either side. He wrote to me the other month asking me to distance myself from you all, of course, I told him where to stick it and I haven't heard anything since, no idea what will be waiting for me at home tomorrow.” He looked like he was about to throw up. 

At once Evan lunged forward, looking like he was about to embrace Barty but hesitated and just patted him on the arm instead. “Why didn’t you say anything?” he asked. 

“Well, there was nothing to say, there's no way I’m going to stop hanging with you lots just to help his image, he doesn't deserve it. If anything it just wants me to be around you bunch of wrong’uns more” He smirked a glimmer of laughter in his voice. 

“Well in that case stay with us” Evan declared getting closer to Barty and looking at Pandora for encouragement. “Our parents love you…well they love the fact that your father is so high in the Minerstry…” He got quieter as he finished his sentence and Pandora swatted him on the arm. 

Regulus snorted at this and Barty grew a wicked smile, “Thanks for the offer Ev, but I'm not in the market to help the image of any ancient wizarding family, although it would truly rile my father up if I did, I’ll see if I can sneak out to the ball Reg, I mean it’s not like he’s ever at home to catch me anyway, it’ll be worth whatever happens when he finds out” He replied. 

Regulus smiled gently at him, and the three boys did then all embrace before Barty hit the other two on the backs of the head and they all burst out laughing. “Stop being soft, I thought you were the sons of the noblest houses in England” he teased. 

They were all still chuckling when they heard Pandora sob. They quickly turned to her to see a tear running down her face. She swiftly wiped it away but another replaced it immediately. 

Evan moved over to his sister and embraced her. “What’s up Dora? We can all still write.” He said trying to comfort her. 

But she just looked ahead at Regulus and Barty with a disturbed expression. “I just have this feeling that nothing will be the same after this summer, I feel like something awful is going to happen and nothing will be right again.” Her voice sounded sombre. 

"Oh my gods, did you see Granger?" Pansy asked with a hint of disgust in her voice.

"No what do you mean-" and then he saw her. Hermione Granger dancing with Viktor Crum. It looked like she had changed everything about herself tonight.

"What happened to her hair?" Draco asked Pansy. Not that he would admit it to anyone, even himself at the time but he loved Grangers big messy hair that looked like it hid her secrets.

"I don't know and I don't care. She finally looks like a girl tonight. She'll be back to normal tomorrow."