something you make// draco malfoy

eleven

Holiday break was nice. Apollo was there as always. About two days in, Fiona showed up because she got into an argument with her mum. My own mum almost lost it when I let slip that Apollo and Briar are dating. Now there is a long set of rules Briar and Apollo have to follow at home. Though the list is nowhere near as long as Umbridge's Educational Decrees.

Draco sent me a present for Christmas, a silver necklace with a small snake charm and a small letter D charm. We haven't told anyone about our relationship. Honestly I think it's much more fun to sneak around.

"Did you hear Hagrid is back?" Glinda asks.

I smile. I always enjoyed the man's class. He may be a giant but he is a gentle one for sure.

"I hope that means we will have Care of Magical Creatures class again," I state.

"That class is horrid," Draco counters.

"You're still butt hurt about that hippogriff hurting you in our third year," Apollo argues.

"It wouldn't have happened if you didn't provoke it," Fi adds.

"I did not provoke it," Draco insists.

"Yes you did," I tell him.

I sit at the table in the Great Hall eating breakfast. I look at the newspaper over Glinda's shoulder as she reads it aloud, "We have confirmed that ten high-security prisoners in the early hours of yesterday evening did escape. And of course the muggle prime minister has been alerted to the danger. We strongly suspect that the breakout was engineered by a man with personal experience in escaping from Azkaban notorious mass murderer Sirius Black cousin of escapee Bellatrix Lestrange."

"Bloody hell, this is terrifying," I comment.

"And still Umbridge will insist we don't need to practice spells in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Glinda states.

"The whole Dumbledore's Army thing is starting to make more sense," Apollo admits.

"Sorry I still don't think they're accepting Slytherin applications," I tell him.

I should have known that Dumbledore's Army would crumble sooner or later. Briar explained to me that the bloody Inquisitorial Squad had found where they were practicing. Dumbledore also took the fall. He claimed to have ordered the students to create the group. And then just like that he disappeared.

Educational Decree No 119

Dolores Jane Umbridge has replaced Albus Dumbledore as head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Everyone in Dumbledore's Army has been serving detention every night. My siblings have been complaining to me daily. I feel bad for them. I know they had pride in the group. They were learning so much that Umbridge was refusing to teach.

My mind has been all over the place lately. I've been distracted with my siblings, distracted with Draco, distracted with Umbridge. I've barely had time to think about my OWLs. The test is tomorrow and I'm not sure I'm ready.

I walk back to my dormitory after a long study session. At this point if I don't know the spells and charms I'm not going to know them by tomorrow morning.

As I walk out of the library I spot Draco.

I smile slightly. "Were you waiting for me?"

"Maybe," Draco tells me.

I roll my eyes. "Maybe?" Draco smiles slightly as he puts his hand on my hip. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. How would Umbridge feel about the prized member of her Inquisitorial Squad breaking one of her many Educational Decrees?"