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Not for the first time, Neville wished he'd picked something other than Care of Magical Creatures as his elective. It was just - everyone else had taken the subject and he hadn't wanted to be left out, despite his misgivings about going anywhere near magical beasts. He'd learnt it was far easier just to go along with his housemates because it wasn't like anyone cared about Neville's feelings anyway.
He'd hoped it wouldn't be so bad, but then the class was taught by Hagrid. It wasn't like Neville disliked Hagrid or anything, but he definitely didn't seem to understand that his students weren't as big and tough as him.
"I knew that oaf was going to get us all killed one day," Draco Malfoy declared in a dark, brooding tone as he stared out the window. "This shack isn't even fireproof, and those things fart fire. We might burn to death before the class is even over." Then, somewhat prayerfully, he added under his breath, "Please let those hideous things take out Potter before that happens. I need to see him get trampled by creatures with two arses. Make my life complete."
Neville glanced out the window nervously - the other Gryffindors had stayed behind to help Hagrid subdue the skrewts and were currently busy fending for their lives. Neville wondered if he should go outside to help out as well, but then took another look at the skrewts and prudently decided not to. It wasn't like he was the only Gryffindor inside; Parvati had run for Hagrid's hut too when the things had started rampaging.
"You know, they aren't even natural beasts," Draco went on as he moved away from the window and shamelessly began rummaging through Hagrid's cabinets. "I've never heard or read of them. I bet the oaf bred them himself illegally, then forced us to take care of them for him. What kind of a school is it that forces students to become accomplices in their teacher's criminal activities, I say? Father is right, this place has gone to the dogs ever since Dumbledore became the headmaster. The staff is full of incompetent, biased morons and petty criminals, and the students aren't any better. Just look at the Gryffindors."
There was a chorus of agreement and corroborative complaints from the Slytherins. Neville and Parvati exchanged uneasy glances, but they couldn't exactly refute Draco. "Shut up, Malfoy," Neville mumbled halfheartedly, and Draco gave him a cold, disdainful look. He sneered and slammed the cabinet shut, then went over to Hagrid's boarhound, Fang, who was half-huddled beneath the bed because of all the ruckus.
Neville eyed him abstractedly as Draco crouched down and started murmuring to the boarhound, half the words sounding like elaborate insults. Fang didn't seem to mind, banging his tail awkwardly on the floor and taking the treat Draco offered him. Neville was suddenly, forcibly, reminded of a memory from years ago.
They used to be friends, before Hogwarts. Before Draco became Malfoy. Before his gran had found out and told Neville that nothing good would come from befriending him. Before he'd found out who'd tortured his parents insane.
Things had sort of just fallen apart as they grew up, as they'd learnt their places in the world. And Draco could be so cruel when he was angry and hurt, even more so because nothing he said was ever a lie, and he always knew precisely where to cut.
Neville didn't think they'd ever really be friends again; there was too much hurt and bad blood, but they still sometimes talked and shared gossip on the Gryffindors when Neville needed a break from his housemates. It helped him pretend everything was fine - the next time they'd laugh at him, and he'd have to go along with it just so he wouldn't be ostracised again.
But he remembered this, suddenly, how much Draco had always liked animals because he could say whatever he wanted to them and they wouldn't mind. Neville realised that if Care of Magical Creatures was bad for him when he hadn't even really wanted to study it, then it had to be more so for Draco, who actually liked magical beasts.
His mouth pulling down into a frown, Neville looked out the window again. A skrewt was charging at Seamus, who rolled hurriedly to the side.
Neville figured the school wasn't really all that much fun for any of them.