Forbidden

-8-

Umbridge started passing around new decrees dictating and reenforcing stupid rules, it was making all the students annoyed. She noticed that there was a whole movement going on, a meeting was held somewhere in Hogsmeade that her friends Cho and Luna went to, Madison learnt later on that it was Harry who was responsible. She didn't take it up with him though, she couldn't be a part of it even if she wanted to.

She ran into Draco at the library, he was studying with the older brunette Slytherin that she had learned from Blaise was called Amanda Avery, the blond wizard did look up at her with kinder eyes, but still didn't wave or say hello. Amanda gave him a reprimanding pull on his robe from just the eye greeting, Madison didn't understand, however she knew Draco's relationships and flings were never simple, so she just walked past them to the last row of shelves.

Madison was fascinated by the ancient runes subject, but she knew the professor was hiding the deeper and darker parts of it, either due to the interference of the Ministry or because it had always been like that. That day she felt lucky, she searched and found a book on Egyptian and Viking runes, the books weren't even in the restricted section which meant she could take them with her to devour them. And for the next days that was all she did.

The chilly fall wind blew in from her window as she studied on a Friday after dinner, then she heard an owl settle on the windowsill, a small envelope on its' beak. Madison stood up, a shiver went down her spine when she recognized it was her house's owl Kraus, and it didn't immediately drop the letter, it waited until she tugged it from him with shaky hands.

"Thanks Kraus" she whimpered, the owl squealed a high pitch sound and took flight.

Madison didn't open the letter right away, she paced around staring at the black wax seal that was too big for the envelope. It couldn't be good. She broke the seal and read the few words on a prefect handwriting.

'You have been summoned personally,

Come home in a week'

Madison's heart dropped to her stomach. She stared unblinkingly into the fireplace until her eyes pooled with tears that rolled down her cheek. The young witch put the letter back in the envelope, grabbed a warm tailored wool coat from her wardrobe, making her way out of the room.

She controlled her breathing better than usual, and no more tears came out, she couldn't be soft, not at that time. Madison walked a good deal, diverting her usual ways trying to hide from the inquisitors that ratted everything out to Umbridge until she noticed they were all together with Filch, wondering about a blank stone wall.

She noticed Draco was sadly one of them and so was Amanda. The young witch felt angry that he had become Umbridge's pet but this was a talk for later for she had more pressing matters at hand. Amanda saw her coming before Draco and quickly turned him around to face her, making a sour face at Madison.

"Draco" she said in a tone he knew well, "I need you, please..."

Draco whipped his head around, an already worried stare at Madison. He stepped away from Amanda only to he held back by her tugging his robe, the Slytherin witch squinted her eyes.

"We had a deal..." she said through her clenched jaw, "you're not going anywhere with that git"

Madison's eyes flew to Draco who turned around slowly, to tower over Amanda, her face going soft at his flared nostrils.

"You better not talk to her like that ever again, understand? Fucking apologize, n-o-w..."

Amanda stared down her feet, whispering under her breath an angry "I'm sorry".

"Deal is off...this was the last I'll have of you, get your bloody hands off me" he said, pulling his robe away from her hand. She hate stared Madison, then stepped back.