Our two enemy worlds - A Harry Potter Romance

Chapter eight : Confrontation

The following Sunday, Blaise and Adalinda exchanged several smiles across the Slytherin table at breakfast.

Adalinda, who was not usually so keen on Quidditch, insisted several times that Daphne accompany her to see the team play at their next practice.

Arriving in the common room on Monday morning, Daphne spotted Millicent and Adalinda in deep conversation. She joined them, eager to get down to breakfast.

-Hi girls," she said cheerfully. The faces of her two friends turned to her, and she knew immediately that something was off. Daphne looked at them and frowned.

-This is a disaster," said Adalinda. I already didn't like that woman very much, but now I hate her !

Daphne was taken aback, her best friend was not used to hating people. She always tried to see the good in them and sympathise. But here she seemed to be actually angry.

-What is it ?" she said impatiently.

-Well, Dolores Umbridge, our dear High Inquisitor, has just put an end to all associations, meetings, clubs, etc. involving Hogwarts students by one of her stupid decrees. From now on, one will have to ask for her holy blessing to re-form any group of more than three students.

Daphne pondered for a moment what this information implied.

-What is...Association?" she said, frowning again. You mean like the Flitwick Choir or the Wizarding Chess Club ?

-And our Quidditch team !" Adalinda added desperately.

-What ?! But she can't do that ! This woman is really a...a..

-A Manticore in pink muslin," Millicent said as heatedly as her two friends.

-Fortunately Draco, Blaise, Montague and Pansy went to find her so that we could get permission to reform our team," said Adalinda.

-Let's go eat, we can only wait for her answer anyway," concluded Millicent wearily.

The History of Magic class went on as usual. Professor Beans was floating around the classroom telling them the rest of the story of the Giant War. But still no sign of those who had gone to find Umbridge in favour of their Quidditch team. Daphne hoped with all her heart that they would be able to convince her. This year was finally the year they would take the cup back from the Gryffindors.

But after all, if they had tried to extend their date a little to miss this particularly boring class, it was rather understandable. At least it seemed to indicate that she hadn't given them a definite no.

It was as she descended the stone steps to the dungeons that Daphne saw Draco with a scroll in his hand, Blaise and Pansy already leaning against the wall that faced their Potion class. All were smiling triumphantly.

Daphne quickened her pace and walked towards them.

-So you got the authorisation ? she asked hopefully.

-Of course !" Draco said proudly, holding up the parchment.

The rest of the students had meanwhile arrived at the door. Draco continued his explanation, raising his voice to make sure that all the newcomers heard what he had to say.

-With my father's connections at the Ministry, it's only natural that the best Quidditch team should be allowed to train again. We'll have to give those Gryffindors a good thrashing. That is, if they're still around, of course," he sneered slyly.

A few feet away stood Harry and Ron whose faces had contracted in fury. They would have been ready to pounce on him if Hermione hadn't calmed them down.