PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟒𝟎. Breakout

Ever since Draco and Liam had joined the Inquisitorial Squad they had reaped the benefits most detrimental to the other students. They broke up couples standing within eight inches of each other. They ripped wands from the hands of anyone performing spells they deemed 'recreational'. And, as per one of the newest decree, they reported any student they found in possession of a book written by a Muggle or a Half-Blooded witch or wizard. It was such blatant discrimination and yet Umbridge got any with it all, the Minister's approval making it all possible.

And Valentine had to sit back and watch it. She might have been freed from her detentions but that didn't stop Umbridge from torturing a new student every day. It was maddening and just as Valentine had begun to wonder why the parents had done nothing, she'd overheard an older Hufflepuff telling her friend that her parents hadn't believed a word she'd said. That the Ministry would never approve of something so evidently abusive. It reminded Valentine how truly useless adults could be, and as she watched the Inquisitorial Squad from across the courtyard, it reminded her how easily children could be controlled and manipulated.

"What's this then?" Asked Pansy, snatching a book bag from Lavender Brown and dumping its contents out on to the ground.

"Hey!" Lavender objected. "Be careful with that!"

"Alright, calm down." Liam admonished her. "You'll get back anything that isn't contraband."

"But my trunks have already been searched! Twice! I don't have any contraband!"

"Let us be the judge of that." Said Draco, motioning for Crabbe to pass him one of the books from the ground. "What about this? 'Encyclopedia of Toadstools'?"

"What about it?" Lavender crossed her arms over her chest. "It was written by Selina Sapworthy. A Pureblood witch."

"Oh, really?" Draco leered like he didn't believe her.

Valentine could have laughed if it wasn't such an awful situation.

Liam cleared his throat lightly.

"Draco."

"Not now, Liam."

"Draco." Liam repeatedly more firmly.

"What?"

"Selina Sapworthy is a Pureblood...This book was on last years syllabus."

Draco turned utterly red in embarrassment, mouth falling open.

Valentine huffed under her breath and leaned back against the stone wall fencing off the walkway that framed the courtyard. Draco deserved every moment of embarrassment he got.

"Can I have my book back now?" Lavender held a hand out expectantly.

"What this book?" Draco bristled. "This one with the big rip in it?"

"What are you on about, Mal-"

Draco grabbed the book with both hands and pulled in either direction with all this strength. There a loud ripping sound as a seam bust and the cover was torn nearly completely from the book.

"Wha-what are you doing? You can't do that!" Lavender snatched the book back from him.

"Do what?" Draco blinked innocently. He glanced back at the others. "You see anything."

"Not me." Said Pansy.

"I didn't see a thing." Goyle grinned.

"You're an arse, Malfoy!" Lavender growled.

"Oh, what's this? Disrespecting a member of the Inquisitorial Squad?"

"Obviously! And I wouldn't have to if you weren't so stupid!"