Inferno | Draco Malfoy

002 | Immature Insults

Eardrums exploding from the deafening ruckus is the only way to describe how much noise the Slytherin table is making right now.

My brother being one of the loudest as I make my way to sit with Greengrass. Or should I say Daphne, I told her to call me by my nickname, my formalities are out of the window with friends.

She makes space for me to sit, right in front of Wig Boy.

He still looks startled and is avoiding eye contact with me, he tries to say something but is cut off when a group of students start to gather at the front of the Great Hall, some of them with large toads. It's the choir. Professor Flitwick, I think that's his name, starts to conduct the students. They sound incredible, and no one is out of tune. The Sorting Hat has a song to sing at the start of every year but, it must have had a malfunction otherwise the choir would be singing some other time.

The greatest wizard of the age has inches of silver hair and beard, spectacles that make his nose stand out more. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is said to be a noble and powerful wizard. This is my first time seeing him out of newspapers.

"Welcome! Welcome! To another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I have a few words to say, one being a serious announcement. Our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban who are here on Ministry of Magic business, as you would've seen at the front gates. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds until Sirius Black is captured. I must make it clear that nobody is to leave school without permission. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand excuses through tricks or disguises. The Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl will also be responsible for ensuring the safety of all students." Dumbledore pauses, no one dares to move or make a sound. "Now, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers. Firstly, Professor R. J. Lupin who has kindly accepted to the Defence Against the Dark Arts post."

There was an apathetic applause from most tables, loud claps coming from the red table. Professor Lupin looks shabbier than most of the other teachers earning him a few disapproved looks.

Headmaster continues, "Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired. This position will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this job whilst being our gamekeeper."

Once again, the Gryffindors applaud the loudest. The large man at the front smiles greatly through his unkempt beard. Dumbledore finishes his speech and commands for the feast to start. Food starts to pile up on everyone's plates.

"Potter? Fainting? Is it true? I mean you actually fainted?" I turn my head towards the Wig Boy taunting Potter. "Can't be, you would've gone to the hospital wing."

There's a boy next to Potter, the one who choked on his food when he first saw me. Having a closer look at him, he's one of the Weasleys. It's not too hard to tell, flaming red hair. He clenches his jaw, "Shove off, Malfoy."

Malfoy? He's a Malfoy? Another name on the Sacred Twenty-Eight, only this time, one of the most honourable. The Malfoys are heavily involved and are influential in the Ministry. I've seen Lucius Malfoy in the Daily Prophet once, I never bothered to read it. Seeing his awfully bright hair made me giggle. Mum scolded me for it, she said something about her being close to Mr Malfoy.

My God, should I start reading the Daily Prophet? I didn't even know who Sirius Black was until I read Dad's copy. On the other hand, I prefer to be happy. I'm sticking to Witch Weekly. It's addicting, one of the best gossip magazines.

"Did you get scared too, Weasley? Did the Dementor scare the living daylights out of you?" Toothpaste sneers, obviously trying to get a reaction out of both of them. "Tell your friend that he needs to learn how to be more appreciative, that's the only kiss he'll ever get seeing as mummy and daddy aren't with us anymore." He turns his head back to the table.