61 A Little Bit of Spying

Just as Casimir walked out of the library he suddenly spotted a familiar head of blond hair. With his previous mischievous mood still present, he decided to play around a little before going back to the dungeons.

Cause, you know! It's nice to prank friends from time to time. No harm done.

Unless you're the one being pranked, that is.

So, as his target was about to go around the corner, heading towards the library, a lithe, slender figure suddenly dropped straight down from the ceiling like a spider, startling the poor boy out of his wits so much that he shouted in surprise and fell to the floor.

But, wait... How in the world did Casimir end up on the ceiling though?

... It seems that no one knows.

At that moment, Casimir was doubled over, literally rolling on the floor, laughing. It was then that Draco finally realized what just happened and glared at Casimir angrily. "You! You..! What..!"

Draco was unable to form a coherent sentence and just served to make Casimir laugh harder. In the end, Draco just dumped everything he was carrying on top of Casimir's body and stomped away with a huff. "I'm never speaking to you again!"

"Haha! Wait! Draco, wait!" Casimir picked up what Draco left and rushed after the boy, still laughing while he did so. "Wait! I'm sorry! Haha!"

(Draco: If you're so sorry, then why are you laughing, huh?!")

"I find no sincerity in your words, Marie." Draco huffed moodily. "But! I'll accept it if you pledge to serve me as my servant for eternity."

"Yes, yes. You are my great master Draco!" Casimir said in a dignified way, although he didn't look sincere as all, snickering to himself.

Just as Draco was about to snap at him, Casimir suddenly froze and covered Draco's mouth, surprising the other boy yet again. He then pressed his body along a wall, pulling Draco along with him.

"Mmf?! Mm!" Draco shouted but his mouth was blocked, only letting out muffled sounds. "Shh." Casimir's eyes turned cautious, his brows knitted.

What is it...? Something actually managed to evade my senses?! If I didn't manage to sense it at the last second, we would have been spotted before I could react! Just what is it?!

Cautiously, Casimir peaked around the corner of the wall they hid in.

To his surprise, it wasn't a monster that suddenly appeared inside the castle like the troll he had defeated last time, nor was it the demonic phantoms from his previous world. It was actually a student!

A very familiar student.

Right there, at a secluded hallway near the library, Neville Longbottom was waving his wand in a swift and precise way, unlike the clumsy swishing that he usually showed during class and, the target to his swishing...

Was his own legs.

With a quiet incantation, he had cursed himself with the Leg-locker curse.

What in the world was he doing?

Just like that, he began hopping along, on his way to what could be presumed as the Gryffindor Tower.

After making sure that he had gone far enough, Casimir finally let go of Draco, coughing awkwardly when he realized that he had been accidentally pressing the boy too close to him. Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice and just focused on the weird things Neville was doing.

"What in the world was that idiot from Gryffindor doing? Actually cursing himself?! Does he have no brain at all?" Draco mocked. "Oh wait! I bet his brain was left along with his parents."

This time, Casimir didn't bother to correct Draco's bad attitude since he himself had no positive thoughts about Neville. And besides, Casimir himself wasn't exactly a good person.

"... Hey, Draco." Casimir suddenly turned towards Draco, on his face was a mischievous smirk. "Let's go for a little bit of spying on that Longbottom boy."

...

Just like that, they had somehow arrived right outside the portrait leading to the Gryffindor common room. During that time, they had followed along behind Neville, watching the boy struggle up the stairs, bunny hopping as if his life depended on it.

It took everything they had to not burst out laughing just then. Not to be mean... Well, I guess it was kind of mean. But, it really was extremely funny, watching him huff all the way up the stairs, encouraging himself by saying, "Just a few more! Just a few more!"

He did it to himself anyways. Now, he suffers the consequences.

At that moment Neville toppled into the common room, surprising everyone momentarily. Meanwhile, Casimir and Draco were snickering to themselves as they peaked through the portrait hole.

Everyone fell over laughing except Hermione, who leapt up and performed the countercurse. Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling. He really should get an award for his good acting skills.

"What happened?" Hermione asked him, leading him over to sit with Harry and Ron.

"Malfoy." Neville stuttered shakily. "He suddenly cursed me outside the library."

"I did not!" Draco hissed and was about to charge inside to confront the accuser but Casimir pulled him back just in time.

"Wait. Let's see what he's planning first." Casimir whispered. "They won't believe you anyways."

Draco turned quiet. That's right... Who would even believe him. No one in Gryffindor seemed to like him. Only in Slytherin could he reign free.

"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged Neville. "Report him!"

Neville shook his head.

"I don't want to cause trouble." He mumbled.

"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" said Ron. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."

"There's no need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor, Malfoy's already done that!" Neville choked out.

"This filthy liar..." Draco gritted his teeth in anger, wanting to charge into the room but was helpless. Nothing would change anyways. In fact, it might even make things worse.

Harry felt in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a Chocolate Frog, the very last one from the box Hermione had given him for Christmas. He gave it to Neville, who looked as though he might cry. Of all of them, he was the only one who wasn't completely taken with Neville's story.

"I think there's a reason the sorting hat chose you to be in Gryffindor." Harry said.

Neville's lips twitched in a weak smile as he unwrapped the frog.

"Thanks, Harry... I think I'll go to bed... You collect the cards, right? You can have it." Neville said and handed the card that came with the chocolate treat.

As Neville walked away, Harry looked at the Famous Wizard card.

"Dumbledore again..." He said in disappointment. "He was the first one I ever-"

He gasped. He stared at the back of the card. Then he looked up at Ron and Hermione.

"I've found him!" Harry exclaimed in surprise.

Casimir and Draco who were about to leave suddenly paused.

... Found who?