Draco Malfoy and the Duel of Snakes
I'm teaching writing camp and I had everyone rewrite a scene from Harry Potter from another character's POV. Yes, I'm assigning fanfiction. Here's mine!
Draco Malfoy stands on the makeshift platform next to Professor Snape, eager to best Potter in front of the school. Potter looks as bedraggled as always, though his eyes shine fiercely enough to give Draco pause. He looks to Professor Snape, who leans down to whisper, "Serpensortia with a counter-clockwise twist." Draco smiles with menace, bolstered in his knowledge that Snape would never let him down where tormenting Potter is concerned.
Lockhart gives the signal and Draco whips his wand, watching with eagerness as a snake erupts out of his wand and flops angrily to the platform.
Potter's face twists into a satisfying frown, but he raises his wand without hesitation. Lockhart steps in—the great spoilsport—but instead of vanishing as Draco expects, the snake grows to a terrifying size.
Draco takes a large step backward, his heart beating rapidly, and briefly locks eyes with Potter. The expression on Potter's face echoes Draco's own feelings—though he hopes he hides his emotions better or his father will kill him—anger at Lockhart's incompetence, determination to win the duel, desire to prove himself.
Harry blinks away, and instead of creeping backward like Draco, he steps toward the snake and starts hissing.
Snape, on his way to intervene, freezes at Draco's side. As the hissing noise surrounds them, Draco is hit with the certain knowledge that Harry Potter, no matter what Draco proclaims loudly to anyone who will listen, deserves all the interest in him and then some. Damn him.
