Ch157- Don’t Lay a Finger on Me!

Ch157- Don’t Lay a Finger on Me!

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As Harry gazed out of the window, watching the picturesque landscape of the British countryside whisk by, Pansy Parkinson's voice sliced through his moment of tranquility. "So, Harry, planning to bury your head in books all summer, or do you have plans that actually involve seeing the sun?" she quipped, a playful smirk on her face.

Harry, accustomed to Pansy's needling, couldn't help but chuckle at her remark. While Pansy wasn't exactly part of his close circle, her constant jabs had become a familiar part of his school life. He found himself engaging with her in a battle of wits more often than not, using her as a sounding board for his growing arsenal of sarcastic comebacks. To his amusement, Pansy seemed to revel in their verbal sparring.

"Actually, Pansy, I was planning on developing a new hobby," Harry retorted with a smirk. "I thought I might take up dragon taming, but then I remembered I like my eyebrows where they are. Much more exciting than reading, but I do have dashing eyebrows, right?"

Pansy rolled her eyes, but her smirk widened. "Dragon taming? Please, Harry, leave the heroics to your Quidditch matches. I doubt you'd last a minute with a real dragon."

Harry smiled as he said, "I feel like you're challenging me on purpose, Pansy. Are you this ready to get rid of me?"

Pansy raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards. "Oh, Harry, as if anyone could get rid of you that easily. You're like a bad Knut, always turning up."

Neville, who had been quietly listening, couldn't help but chuckle. "Harry and dragons, now that would be something to see."

Hermione, shaking her head with a smile, interjected, "Let's not give him any ideas. Next thing you know, Harry will be off looking for some dragon to befriend."

Nigel chimed in Harry's mind, a layer of amusement in his tone, "Only if they knew you're fostering a dragon at this very moment." Harry chuckled silently, keeping his plans for taming Ash, the dragon, to himself. Pansy, noticing the smirk on Harry's face yet ignorant of its cause, felt a twinge of vexation.

"What's so funny, Potter? Planning on sharing with the class, or is it another secret of the famous Harry Potter?" Pansy prodded, her tone a mix of curiosity and challenge.

Harry, not missing a beat, responded, "Oh, you know, just contemplating the complexities of dragon taming. It's a rather heated topic."

The air of curiosity swiftly shifted within the Hogwarts Express compartment, as Tracey and Daphne’s revelations about their magical experimentations under Harry’s guidance sparked a blend of intrigue and slight resentment from their peers. Tracey’s smile widened, clearly proud of their achievements, while the others eyed Harry, wondering why they hadn't been offered the same opportunity.

Sighing lightly, Harry realized he needed to address the budding feelings of exclusion among his friends. He rummaged through his bag, pulling out papers and a quill, quickly jotting down notes. Once finished, he distributed the sheets among everyone, explaining, "These are a bit of extra work if you're interested. It wasn’t my intention to single anyone out. I thought Daphne and especially Tracey seemed easy to bully, hence the assignments." His gaze lingered on Tracey and Daphne for a moment, a playful glint in his eye as a small payback for their earlier boast, "But if you're up for learning more, be warned, I don’t go easy."

The compartment fell silent for a moment as they processed Harry’s words, then burst into a mix of laughter and mock groans at the thought of more homework over the summer. Tracey and Daphne exchanged a look, a mix of gratitude and mock annoyance at Harry's subtle jab.

Tracey stood abruptly, a playful yet mockingly hurt tone to her voice as she held Harry's cheek, "I am not easy to bully!" The words echoing around the crowded compartment with an air of jovial challenge. Harry, unable to resist the opportunity for a bit of show, waved his wand subtly, uttering, "Digitus Evanesco." In an instant, Tracey's fingers disappeared from existence, leaving her hand oddly stump-like, her fingertips vanished as if they were never there, freeing Harry's cheek from her deadly grip.

Looking horrified, Tracey glared at Harry, her voice filled with mock indignation, "You have done it now, Potter!" The compartment, filled with a mixture of shock and amusement, turned their attention towards the spectacle. Lavender and Parvati, unfamiliar with the nuances of Harry's magic, looked genuinely terrified, while Daphne couldn't contain her laughter, clearly in on the joke. Harry's spell was harmless, a simple trick, and Tracey's exaggerated horror was just for show, aimed at teasing those unaware of the jinx's benign nature.

Hermione, observing the scene, wore an expression of utmost dismay, as if witnessing a beloved book being torn apart. Neville, meanwhile, seemed to want to disappear, his discomfort palpable as he tried to make himself as small as possible in his seat. Even Pansy, who usually thrived on Hogwarts' drama, seemed taken aback, her usual bravado momentarily eclipsed by the unexpected turn of events.

Amidst the chaos, Nigel couldn't resist commenting, his voice tinged with feigned shock, "Master Harry, resorting to vanishing people's body parts now? What's next, turning Malfoy's hair into snakes? Although, that might be an improvement."

Harry, trying to maintain a straight face amidst the reactions around him, whispered back, "Now, there's an idea. But let's not give Malfoy too much credit; he might start thinking he's part serpent." His words, unheard by the others, were enough to bring a smirk to his face, imagining the possibilities.

Harry, waving his wand with a flick, restored Tracey's fingers, "Digitus Redintegro!" The digits reappeared as if they had never been gone. Tracey, sticking her tongue out at Harry, waggled her fingers in front of his face, "See, all back. Harry's just trying to keep us on our toes."

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