Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin 131 Photograph.

Draco wanted to ask her what happened but Ginny had already run off. Pansy and Daphne looked at Draco wanting some answers but Draco just shook his head, implying that he doesn't know. Not believing Draco in the least, they sat there glaring at him.

"Okay, stop it." Draco said, "I seriously don't know what happened. Maybe its the thing we discussed in the morning." Draco said looking back at the Gryffindor's table for Hermione but she too was long gone with only Harry and Ron eating together.

"So what do you think happened?" Pansy said, "Looking at her, it seems she will stay in Hogwarts."

"Really I think she might not." Daphne said, "Maybe the thank you was the last appreciation for Draco before she leaves Hogwarts forever."

"Well, whether she stays or leaves, it has nothing to do with us." Draco said.

"Oh, I thought you were concerned for her." Theodore said sarcastically, "Won't you be sad if she leaves?"

"I honestly don't care." Draco said rolling his eyes, "As I said in the morning, I did feel pity for her but that's it. Besides I don't even know her that well for me to chase her around and meddle in her affairs. I feel like, I've already done enough."

"Finally, that's the Draco I know," Pansy said with a smile.

"What've we got this afternoon?" said Theodore changing the subject.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Daphne looking at Draco.

"What is it?" Draco asked looking confused.

"Will you be okay?" She asked carefully. "You do remember that Lockhart is the one teaching us right?."

"How could I forget." Draco said rolling his eyes again, "It's not like, I haven't been reminded of it a thousand times now."

"Sigh! She is just concerned you know." Theodore said, "After what happened in the bookstore, everyone is."

"Don't worry, I won't lose my cool like the last time." Draco said, "Besides I didn't kill him today, so trust me on this one."

"Sigh! I wonder why would they hire a teacher like him." Pansy said, "Hogwarts has really fallen from its grace. With these books, I feel like we are in a literature class rather than defense against the dark."

"Well at least, you know." Draco said sighing looking at the girls around him, who were excitedly waiting for Lockhart's class. From Slytherin to Ravenclaw, everyone was the same.

They finished lunch and went outside into the overcast courtyard. Draco, Theodore, and Daphne were discussing some potions while Pansy, on the other hand, was talking about Quidditch with the seniors who were discussing their schedules for practice for several minutes before Draco became aware that he was being closely watched.

Looking up, he saw the very small, mousy-haired boy he'd seen trying on the Sorting Hat last night staring at him as though transfixed. He was clutching what looked like an ordinary Muggle camera, and the moment Draco looked at him, he went bright red.

"All right, Mr. Black? I'm — I'm Colin Creevey," he said breathlessly, taking a tentative step forward. "I'm in Gryffindor. D'you think — would it be all right if — can I have a picture?" he said, raising the camera hopefully.

"A picture?" Draco repeated blankly.

"So I can prove I've met you," said Colin Creevey eagerly, edging further forward.

"Looks like you got yourself a fanboy." Theodore said laughing.

While Draco was a bit weirded out, Colin, on the other hand, was nodding furiously "I know all about you. Everyone's told me. About how you created all those potion formulas and managed to defeat an army of dark wizards alongside aurors and everything and how you got your wand taken away." Colin said all of it in a single breath as he still continued "and a boy in my dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the pictures move." Colin drew a great shuddering breath of excitement and said, "It's amazing here, isn't it? I never knew all the odd stuff I could do was magic till I got the letter from Hogwarts. My dad's a milkman, he couldn't believe it either. So I'm taking loads of pictures to send home to him. And it'd be really good if I had one of you" — he looked imploringly at Draco — "maybe your friend could take it and I could stand next to you? And then, could you sign it?"

"A mudblood?" Flint who was chatting with Pansy suddenly came forward towards them, "You don't really know your place, don't you?" He nastily snorted.

Draco frowned looking at his behavior as he looked at other people who had the same annoying arrogant look like Flint. "I think I can handle it myself," Draco said looking at Flint, even though he didn't really like the guy, he didn't want to bother himself with him. Flint who was living up to his reputation of having troll blood and was failing classes often, he even got held back this year, so Draco knew that it was better to talk with his animals rather than Flint, who seemed to be the walking, living definition of the word 'idiot'.

Flint looked at Draco for a while before arrogantly snorting and walking away with rest of the Quidditch players following behind him.

Draco looked at Colin who seemed confused and scared.

"As for you." Draco said, gaining the attention of Colin quickly, "Were you the one who took the picture of us at the train?"

"Ye-Yes." Colin said getting a bit scared, "I was just excited to see you, that's all."

"Oh, So you were the one." Theodore said coming forward taking his wand out, "Tell me what you saw."

"I didn't see anything, I swear." Colin quickly said backing off a bit, "I saw you as you were passing by and took a picture, I wanted to take it silently but I forgot that I had the flash on. I am sorry."

"Sigh! Stop it." Draco said looking at Theodore who put his wand down, while he still had the smug look in his face as he then turned towards Colin again, "Leave, and don't let Flint catch you again, I am sure he won't take what happened here lightly."

Colin quickly nodded and ran off.

"Was that really necessary?" Daphne said coming forward, "And what were you really planning on doing with him."

"Nothing much really." Theodore said, "Just wanted to use an Obliviating spell, in case he saw things that weren't meant for him to see."

"Leave it." Draco said sighing,

"Watch out." Pansy whispered as Draco looked behind his back, Lockhart who was putting his hands on Colin's shoulders was dragging him towards them again.

"I apologize, but I couldn't help but hear your discussions." Lockhart said, "Mr. Flint there told me that you were signing photos here?"

Draco's lips twitched wondering why Flint had to go towards Lockhart. Lockhart left Colin and came towards Draco as he puts his arms around his shoulders.

"Come on then, Mr. Creevey," said Lockhart, beaming at Colin. "A double portrait, can't do better than that, and we'll both even sign it for you."

Colin still afraid didn't know what to do. Draco sighed and nodded at him, getting an okay from Draco, Colin quickly fumbled for his camera and took the picture as the bell rang behind them, signaling the start of afternoon classes.

"Off you go, move along there," Lockhart called to the crowd, and he set off back to the castle with Draco, who was wondering if he could kill Lockhart and get away with it, still clasped to his side. Theodore was holding back his laughter while Pansy and Daphne looked worried as they saw Lockhart drag Draco away again.

Chapter end