Merlin's Descendant 3 (HIATUS)

VI

WHEN (Y/N), HARRY, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next day, the first thing they saw was Draco Malfoy, who seemed to be entertaining a large group of Slytherins with a very funny story. As they passed, Malfoy did a ridiculous impression of a swooning fit and there was a roar of laughter.

"Ignore him," said Hermione, who was right behind (Y/N). "Just ignore him, it's not worth it..."

"Hey, Potter!" shrieked Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug. "Potter! The Dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooooo!"

(Y/N) dropped into a seat at the Slytherin table, next to Cassius Warrington.

"New third-year course schedules," said Cassius, passing them over. "What's up with you, (Y/N)?"

"Malfoy," said Tracey, sitting down on Cassius's other side and glaring over at the Slytherin table. She may be friends with him, but she never did like it when he made fun of her friends.

Cassius looked up in time to see Draco pretending to faint with terror again.

"That little git," he said calmly. "He wasn't so cocky last night when the Dementors were down at our end of the train. Went running into the Weasley's compartment, didn't he, Adrian?"

"Nearly wet himself," said Adrian Pucey, with a contemptuous glance at Draco.

"I wasn't too happy myself," said Cassius. "They're horrible things, those Dementors..."

"Sort of freezing your insides, don't they?" said Adrian.

"You didn't pass out, though, did you?" said (Y/N) in a low voice.

"Forget it, (Y/N)," said Cassius bracingly. "Dad was sent to Azkaban one time. And he said it was the worst place he'd ever been, he came back all weak and shaking... They suck the happiness out of a place, Dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there."

"Anyway, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the first game of the season, remember?" said Adrian.

The only time (Y/N) and Harry had faced each other was in a Quidditch match. Feeling slightly more cheerful, (Y/N) helped himself to sausages and fried tomatoes.

Just then, Hagrid entered the Great Hall. He was wearing his long moleskin overcoat and was absent-mindedly swinging a dead polecat from one enormous hand.

"All right?" he said eagerly, pausing on his way to the staff table. "Harry, Ron and Hermione are in my first ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five gettin' everything ready... hope it's okay... me, a teacher... honestly..."

He grinned broadly at (Y/N) and headed off to the staff table, still swinging the polecat.

"Wonder what he's been getting ready?" said Tracey, a note of anxiety in her voice.

The Hall was starting to empty as people headed off towards their first lesson. Tracey checked her course schedule and then her watch.

"We'd better go, look, it's History of Magic with the Ravenclaws next. It'll start in ten minutes..."

They finished breakfast hastily, said goodbye to Adrian and Cassius, and walked back through the hall.

History of Magic, was as always, boring. The students submitted their 'Witch Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless - discuss.' and they listened to Professor Binns reading it for the whole lesson, assigning the grades they got.

After a torturous hour and thirty minutes, the bell rang. Students quickly packed their bags, eager to get out of the boring class.

As the two Slytherins stepped outside, Tracey pulled out her course schedule.