~Unknown Markings~

~Attemped messaging~

Draco POV, Half an hour before: 

I was out the door and down the hallway before I realized a different way that I could get a hold of Harry. The room of requirement was about seven floors up. I, unlike the teachers, didn't have the luxury of apparition. The likelihood that I could find him in time was incredibly low, so therefore I went to the closest place I knew had some ink. 

This happened to be the potions classroom. 

I into the empty classroom, not minding how the door banged open and shut behind me. If anything the noise was just added to my mixture of feelings. Somehow making me feel even worse. 

The sense of urgency enveloped me as I fumbled through the contents of Snape's old creaking desk. Again ignoring all the squeaking that came from my rough searching. I finally came across an old ink bottle and a brown feather quill. 

Relentlessly I dipped the quill into the small bottle with an overpowering force which caused some of the black ink to spill over the sides. Not minding the pain I put the quill to my arm and dug into the skin slightly as I wrote Harry a message. 

Umbridge knows everything. She is on her way right now. 

Get out of the ROR RIGHT NOW!

A mixture of ink and blood droplets trickled down my arm, there was even some ink splattered on my hand which I failed to get rid of. I knew that the ink would stain, probably for a good number of weeks. If I could at least warn Harry a bit it was worth it. 

I left the potions classroom, with the opened vial of ink and a dripping quill on the table. The drawers of the desk were opened to reveal all of its contents, creating a disorganized mess. There were dark puddles forming around the inked areas, but I had no time to bother cleaning up. I made sure to pull down my sleeves to cover the newfound writing. 

With an adrenaline rush building up inside me, I could feel the time slipping away. I knew Umbridge would be wondering where I was. I knew that the Inquisitorial squad would be surrounding the room of requirement. Lastly, I knew that I would not be fast enough to get to Harry with the speed I was going at. 

"Maturius," I muttered breathlessly and my feet speed up; I was running at three times the speed I was before. All the Malfoy rules escaped me; I must have broken almost every single one of them by now. 

People stared as I ran down the corridor and I was hyperaware of their gaze. I was still a Malfoy after all. Malfoys are certainly concerned for our public image. Despite that, however, I never slowed down. Nor did the thought cross my mind. 

It took about 20 minutes to run up all those flights of stairs even with the aid of a charm. I only slowed down when I noticed the gathering of the Inquisitorial squad outside the room of requirement. I was right. 

At a time I had no desire to be right. 

I was too late. 

I just prayed that Harry got my message and got out before. Or if not stayed in the room overnight. 

"Draco! You made it. How fabulous, we thought we lost you." Came the cry of Milicent Bulstrode. Attention turned to me within seconds, and I speedily cast a silent charm to fix my appearance. I noticed the unusual appearance of a Ravenclaw girl which I had seen in some of my classes. At first, I assumed her a Weasley due to her red hair, but I quickly found out she was from the Edgecombe family. 

"Yes, well I wouldn't miss this. It's... what we've been wanting for so long." I spoke confidently and Milicent gave a wicked smile. Professor Umbridge's looked pleased as well, her smile looked more like a twisted smirk but it was nonetheless. She motioned me forward to stand beside her, there was no questioning in her movements. I resumed a position by her side and felt sick to my stomach as I same people coming down the corridor. 

There came a flock of unsuspecting older Gryffindors chatting loudly among themselves. Any noise that once was stopped when they saw us all waiting. 

"Argus. Note down detention for the Weasleys, Johnson, Jordan, Bell, and Spinnet. As well as a 50 point deduction from Gryffindor." Umbridge instructed Filch and he started jotting down the names that had just been mentioned. The Gryffindors faces turned as red as their robes and the Weasley twins had a look of plastered shock. "I'm sure we will have a great chat in detention. Now best be off to your dormitories before any more points get taken off." 

I saw one of the Weasley's jaw click as he muttered something that sounded like "Come on guys, best listen to these ....", and that was all I heard. The group pushed past us with their heads held high in a stupid Gryffindor pride. 

While the older Gryffindors might have been angry, Professor Umbridge looked positively giddy from delight. I, on the other hand, my hopes sank the moment I saw those red robes round the corner. 

From behind us Cassius Warrington another member of the Inquisitorial squad came with more news. "Professor Umbridge! Groups of people from others houses came down where we were stationed. We have reason to believe that these are also Dumbledores Army members." He panted, his hair scattered all over. Very unlike a pureblood. 

"Did you get the names as I instructed?" Umbridge asked her tone bordering into accusation. Warrington straightened his back and puffed out his chest slightly. He handed over a slip of paper containing names and houses. My eyes skimmed over, and I saw the names of,  Luna Lovegood: Ravenclaw, Ernie Mcmillan: Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchly: Hufflepuff, Cho Chang: Ravenclaw. So on and so forth. 

The noticeable absence of my boyfriend's name gave me some hope that he actually got my message. That was until I saw him around the corner with Granger and Weasley. My heart dropped into my stomach and I felt like I would through up.