Gemini Malfoy (a Harry Potter OC)

Heuristic

I sat at the back of the room next to Millicent before our first class with Umbridge. The new Professor was a short unappealing women, who'd had the audacity to interrupt Dumbledore at the welcome feast. No one could say they were excited for the new teacher, but there was a certain amount of undeniable curiosity.

I watch, near amused, as Seamus Finnegan makes a grab for the paper crane someone had enchanted to fly around the room, the bird flying just out of his reach. It wasn't going to make a great first impression on the new professor, but it was a decent enough distraction from Millicent, who's constant heavy breathing never failed to irk me.

With a sudden hiss the paper crane ignites into chard bits that float down to land on a Gryffindor girls desk.

"Good morning children." Professor Umbridge announces her presence from the back of the room, her short wand outstretched towards the crane. "Ordinary, Wizarding, Levels." She clomps towards the front of the class on wide kitten heel shoes, speaking in an awful sugary sweet voice. "More commonly known as OWL's. Study hard and you will be rewarded; Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe." I exchange a pensive look with Draco over his shoulder, who shrugs uninterested.

Before I realize what's happening a book slams down on the table in front of me. Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners. I find the title too alarming to notice the dreadful woman's still droning on until she stops to call on Granger.

"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells." At her words I hurry to flip through the pages, not spotting a single incantation.

"Using spells?" She lets out a shrill noise I assume is meant to be a laugh. "Well I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."

"We're not gonna use magic?" Weasley asks near the front.

"We'll be learning about defensive spells in a well planned theoretical setting." With the frightening odds the future held for me I was desperate to learn as much defensive magic as a could. "Miss...?"

"Malfoy, professor." I lower my hand. "I only wonder if perhaps some practical learning would be more effective, just seeing as there are those among us whose careers may require a proficiency in such magic."  I ignore the confused tentative look Potter seems to throw me.

She seems taken aback, but only for a second. "If you study well and learn the required theory you should have no problem performing the spells at the time of your exam."

"The first time we use the spells will be on the exam?" Exclaims Granger, of course that's what she's worried about.

"Like I said," she says sweet but tersely, "you will be learning about defensive spells in a secure risk free way."

I draw my lips in a tight line. I was already dreadful in this class, now that it's contents matter and we have this sorry excuse for a teacher, I was at a total loss.

After an outburst from Potter, class drags on, and when the bell finally rings everyone seems to move like their chairs are on fire. On our way out the door Draco grabs my arm and drags me away from the others. "The hell was that?"

"What?" I say dully, only earning an irritated glare. "We're at a school of whichcraft and wizardry, I'd like to be actually learning magic."

"You didn't have to be so stupid about it, she works with father."

"I made a good point, at least I was polite. I'll look perfectly fine compared to Potter."

He huffs a breath of air out of his nose. "That's the problem Gem, you just associated yourself with the nutter."

"Speak of the devil." I say quietly, spotting Potter, Weasley and Granger who seem to be hovering at the other end of the corridor watching us.

"What are you looking at Scar-head?" Draco sneers.

He seems to debate shouting back, his jaw visibly tense in anger. "Quite the temper he's developed." I observe aloud, not truly intending for anyone to hear.

If it weren't for Weasley grabbing his arm to pull him away I'm not sure what he would've done, but he was certainly turning red.

Like every other year, the amount of homework we had by the end of the first month was surprising and ridiculous. The month after somehow increases and by the beginning of November I was hardly sleeping through the night. I'd been staying up late to practice occlumency and the few defensive spells I knew; On top of it, I'd bitterly refused to tell Draco. As far as I could tell he was in denial. Maybe he even thought that the Dark Lords return would end well. But I knew deep down, he was scared too.

The first Friday of November I was in the library working on a transfiguration essay, when Granger seemed to speed walk into the room.

She'd burst through one of the aisles and looked around, B-lining for a table of fourth year Gryffindors in the corner. She whispers excitedly and the others seem to nod along. As she leaves the way she came she smiles, barely faltering when she noticed my gaze.

"Draco tell us more about that match." Pansy drones. I don't even bothering suppressing my eye roll, the girl wasn't even feigning pride anymore.

The Three Broomsticks is distinctly quieter than usual, and it's only when Draco makes a rude quidditch related comment about Potter that I realize it's the lack of Gryffindors. A quick scan of the place reveals not a single ginger, nor any of Potters friends for the matter.

I furrow my brow. "I'll see you guys back at the castle." Leaving my half finished butterbeer on the table, I find myself following curiosity outside.

I first spot two Raveclaw girls walking with the fourth years Granger had spoken to in the library, all of them notably chipper. They seem to be heading back to the castle, so I follow the footsteps they'd left in the snow in the opposite direction.

Quickly nearing the far end of the main road, I begin to question the point in what I'm doing. I'm about to turn back when a door to my left swings open.

I barely manage to scurry around the side of the pub before the exact group I'd been looking for emerges from the dingy place. I count one Potter, one Granger, one Longbottom and four Weasleys.

"I think that went well!" Granger announces to the group, a charming bounce in her step.

Soon as they're out of ear shot, a grin finds my face and enter the pub.