Get lost Malfoy!" he called over his shoulder.
"In a hurry Potter?" Malfoy called. "Expelliarmus!"
Harry's wand flew from his hand and landed once again on the stone floor.
"Didn't your mummy ever teach you it's rude to turn your back on someone when they're talking to you?" Malfoy asked, catching up to him and gesturing to Crabbe and Goyle, who grabbed hold of him.
"Let go of me!" he struggled, hearing his robes tear at the shoulder but unable to fight against the two bigger boys as they pinned him against the wall.
"Since when were you a parselmouth, Potter?" Malfoy asked.
Harry struggle again, but to no avail. "Why? Are you jealous?"
"Fancy yourself a Slytherin do you? Talking to snakes, cosying up to our Head of House?" the blonde spat. "Going around wanting everyone to think you're the heir!"
"I'm not going around doing anything!" Harry argued.
"We'll see about that!" Malfoy retorted, pointing his wand at Harry.
But before he could utter any incantation, another figure appeared in the corridor.
For a moment and forgetting himself, Harry hoped it was the potions master. He was disappointed however, and not reassured, to see that it was in fact Gilderoy Lockhart.
Stopping in front of them, the DADA professor looked around the corridor awkwardly.
"Boys?"
"Good evening, Professor," Malfoy smirked, lowering his wand and feigning courtesy.
"What's er… going on here?" Lockhart asked.
"Oh, nothing sir. Just a bit of friendly banter between houses," he said, tucking his wand away and giving Harry a slap on the arm. "Isn't that right Potter?"
Harry stumbled a couple of steps as Crabbe and Goyle released him, but said nothing.
"Right you are. Well, off to your houses now and no dawdling. Hanging around these corridors at the moment would be… ill advised," the teacher said, glancing around nervously again.
Nodding, Harry picked up his wand and made off in the direction of the Gryffindor tower, before Malfoy and his friends came looking for round two.
His time alone – or attempts at some – hadn't helped to answer any of his questions. In fact, it had only created more. One, in particular, stood out more than most, however: why had Lockhart turned a blind eye to Malfoy's treatment of him in the corridor?