8) Keith's Anger and Malfoy

Just as he finished talking, he heard a voice behind him.

“Spells?” the voice said, dragging out the word slowly. The group turned around to see three guys standing by the entrance.

Keith nodded and pointed at the rat, “Yeah, we’re just messing around a little. Need something?”

“Oh no… we don’t need anything.” the boy in the middle said as he put some stress on the word; need. He took in the appearances of everyone in the compartment until his eyes landed on Harry’s forehead.

He then turned to glance at the boys beside him before he focused on Harry again, “Looks like it’s true, everyone kept saying that Harry Potter was in this compartment.” he said as he began to proudly introduce himself.

“My name’s Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. Oh and this is Crabbe and this is Goyle.”

Keith squinted his eyes and muttered, “Malfoy…”

“Yes.” Draco said as he looked at him, “I’m from the great Malfoy Family. And you,” he pointed at Ron, “You must be one of the Weasleys.”

The disgust in his voice was very clear to most of them. Keith silently watched him but didn’t respond.

Draco shifted his attention back to Harry while Ron’s face turned a slight shade of red, coming close to matching his hair.

“You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” he said but before Harry could say or do something, Keith snickered.

With a smirk, he looked at Harry as he pointed his thumb at Malfoy, “Yes Harry, you must take his words seriously. You really shouldn’t make friends with the wrong sort and instead, find people who are above your standards.”

“As a Potter…” he said slowly as he turned to look at Malfoy with a cheeky grin, “You really shouldn’t associate yourself with the Malfoys. After all, they’re an extremely old wizarding family but based on certain records, it seems that the relatively newer Potter family has amassed more than three times the wealth compared to what Malfoys currently have.”

Malfoy glared at Keith while his two cronies cracked their knuckles.

“And who might you be?” he spat, his face turning red with anger.

“My name’s Keith. Keith Black.” Keith said as he imitated Draco’s way of speaking and also his exaggerated “noble” looking body language.

Ron and Harry sniggered on the side but contrary to everyone’s expectations, Draco smirked.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Oh no wonder.” he said as he looked at Goyle who was on his right, “You’re the last disgraced Black who doesn’t even have the right to that name. I heard you’re living with that filthy blood traitor who married a mudblood.”

Gasps were heard in the room, the loudest one being from beside Keith where Neville sat.

Keith’s gaze was calm as he stood up from his seat, “Take that back Malfoy.”

“And what if I don’t?” he challenged Keith.

Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles threateningly as they glared at Keith too, daring him to make a move.

Keith kept his eye focused on the three of them as he raised his wand slowly, in a fluid motion. All of their eyes turned towards the wand but before they could grab their own, it happened.

Malfoy’s shirt ripped before flying towards Keith and continued it’s flight until the ripped piece of fabric was out of the train’s window.

Crabbe and Goyle pounced forward but Keith reacted quickly, flicking his wand towards both of them consecutively. An invisible force pushed them backwards, making them crash onto the door of the compartment on the opposite side.

“Petrificus Totatus!” Keith yelled as he pointed his wand at Crabbe who was the first to recover. The spell hit him straight in the chest, making him fall face first onto the floor.

He remained still, like a statue. Goyle was back on his feet by now and before he was able to take a step forward, a strong force pushed him back again.

“Ugh!” he groaned before hearing the same spell’s incantation again. With a solid thud, even he fell to the ground.

“I’ll make sure my father hears about this, Black!!” Malfoy spat, trying to look fearless but the way he crossed his arms over his bare torso didn’t look convincing.

Keith kept his wand pointed at Malfoy as he took a step forward, “Are you now? Going to cry to daddy about how you got absolutely manhandled even though you had two extra people on your side?” he asked softly.

“I-I…” Malfoy stuttered before glaring back at Keith, “At least I have a father! Unlike you!”

Keith flicked his wand downwards and Malfoy’s pants forcibly fell to the floor. Then, a short tugging motion and the pair of pants flew towards him, tripping Malfoy in the process before flying out the window behind Keith.

A wand that was inside one of the pockets of the pants, floated beside Keith for a second before gently landing on top of Neville’s lap.

Meanwhile, Draco lay sprawled on the floor miserably with just his underpants, looking utterly humiliated as he tried to cover himself. Keith heard the sounds of door sliding open near him, but he kept his wand pointed at his target.

“One more chance Malfoy, apologise. Do it and I’ll give you your wand back, if not… then get ready to say goodbye.”

“I.” Malfoy said, spitting out the words with venomous ferocity, “Apologise.”

“Grovel Malfoy, that’s not how you apologise now, do you?” Keith asked but Draco simply glared back.

Then all of a sudden, they heard hurried footsteps. And soon after, came a voice.

“What’s going on here?”

Keith turned to look at the tall, red haired boy who slightly resembled Ron.

“He provoked me. This is what he deserves.”

“No he doesn’t! You have no right to decide who deserves what.” the guy said before peeping into the compartment and then at Malfoy, “Go back to your compartment, now.”

Malfoy pointed at Neville, “My wand.”

“You, give it back.” he said and Neville obeyed.

Just like that, Keith watched Malfoy run away with just his underpants on while everyone nearby laughed and pointed at him.

Keith turned back to look at the others but the atmosphere didn’t feel nice anymore. Not with Hermione looking at him with a horrified expression.

“Looks like it’s time to go back. I’m a little tired so you’ll have to search for Trevor on your own Neville.” he said and walked out without waiting for a response.

As he walked, the urge to punch something grew inside him but he suppressed it quickly, ‘Malfoy… I hope I’m not in the same house as him at the very least. So frustrating…’