“Petrificus Totalus!” A jet of grey-white light left Ivan’s wand and struck the airborne Malfoy square in the chest.
In less than half a second the boy’s skin turned rigid grey.
Expression and posture froze exactly as they had been.
Unable to move so much as a finger, he plummeted straight down.
His mind remained fully conscious.
If he had been given a choice, Malfoy would have preferred to know nothing at all.
Watching the ground rush toward him while trapped inside an unresponsive body was a special kind of terror.
Only the Body-Bind itself kept him from screaming.
The instant the spell connected, Ivan turned to Hermione.
“Now!” She had understood his plan the moment he raised his wand.
There was no time left for lectures.
She shot him one furious glance and shouted, “Wingardium Leviosa!” Malfoy’s free fall jerked to a halt.
He hung suspended several metres above the grass, mind still racing through images of his body shattering on impact and the various creative ways Lucius Malfoy would avenge him.
The thought that the entire family might decline because of his death had just formed when the descent stopped.
Hermione exhaled in relief.
Ivan quietly lowered his wand.
Slytherins immediately surrounded the grounded Malfoy.
Most of the Gryffindors looked openly pleased; Malfoy’s earlier arrogance had earned him little sympathy.
Only Hermione remained angry.
“Ivan, how could you use the Body-Bind on him?
You nearly killed him!” “Your Levitation Charm was excellent,” Ivan said mildly.
“Professor Flitwick would have given you points on the spot.” “He might also expel you while he’s at it!” Ivan scratched the back of his head.
Points deduction, polishing trophies, or a night in the Forbidden Forest seemed more likely.
The last option held a certain appeal, but he had already decided against the Forest this year.
Quirrell—currently hosting a piece of Voldemort—liked to wander there.
Tempting fate was unnecessary.
With the system as a safety net he only needed to stay alive until fourth year.
After that the castle would become considerably less safe.
He started toward Malfoy to lift the curse.
Several Slytherins blocked his path.
The one in front looked vaguely familiar—Blaise, if he remembered correctly—wand already in hand.
“What do you want, Hals?” Faced with an outsider the Slytherins closed ranks.
Even Malfoy’s usual arrogance did not stop them from forming a loose circle.
Gryffindors moved in behind Ivan just as quickly, wands drawn.
First-year spells were still weaker than fists, but the gesture mattered.
Ivan raised a hand to stop Ron from rolling up his sleeves again.
“I’m here to remove the Body-Bind.
You all saw who started it.” Blaise hesitated, then motioned the others aside.
Ivan cancelled the spell exactly as promised.
Malfoy’s legs still shook from the near-death experience, but pride forced him upright.
“You dared use a curse on me!
You’re finished, Hals!” “Is that so?” Ivan stepped closer, voice suddenly quiet and serious.
“What do you think the professors will say when they hear you stole Neville’s Remembrall and flew without permission?” He took another step.
“I hear Filch likes to take difficult students to his office, chain their hands to the ceiling, and then use a whip and a stick for a while.” The rumour was common among older years.
Malfoy’s face went pale.
In that moment he forgot that Ivan would have faced the same punishment.
Ivan was ready to press the advantage when Madam Hooch’s voice cut across the lawn.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She had delivered Neville to the hospital wing and returned in time to see Malfoy falling and the two houses facing each other with wands drawn.
Harry chose that exact second to land, Remembrall still in hand and a confused expression on his face.
Her anger spiked.
Ivan covered his face with one hand.
Of all possible timings, this was the worst.
If he had not caught Neville earlier, she would still be in the hospital wing worrying about the boy.
He had, in effect, sabotaged himself.