Inferno | Draco Malfoy

035 | Memories Feel Like Weapons

"Over here," I grab Daphne's arm. "I'll tell you."

We are meant to be in the Great Hall right now. Instead, we are hiding in the entrance hall. On our way to Hogwarts, she kept trying to guess what my secret was. So, I'm finding the time to tell her now because truth be told, I don't think I can keep my mouth shut any longer.

"Don't freak out." I say, she nods. "It was this morning. Narcissa told me to go and fetch Malfoy since he was still in his room. I did, I knocked but he wasn't answering so I decided to walk in." I pause, feeling nervous with each word. "Turns out, he didn't answer because he was taking a shower and when I walked in on him... He was only in his trousers."

Daphne drops her mouth open and I blush. "Adriana Harlow, are you telling me you saw him without a shirt? Shut up. Shut up."

"That's not the end of it, I was staring. Hard. He realised and now he keeps reminding me of it. Something very, very bad happened whilst I was staring as well. I don't know what came over me but my eyes trailed down and I looked at his unbuckled belt and, and this very bad thought popped in my head. Oh my God and then Narcissa walked in on us, that's when I legged it. She told Mum and now Mum knows and Oh my God I'm freaking out."

"You're freaking out? I'm freaking out. You saw Draco Malfoy shirtless, your mother and his mother knows! ADRIA, THIS IS A BIG DEAL!"

"Girls!"

In an instant, we turn our heads to see Professor McGonagall and the titchy first-years behind her.

"You should be in the hall."

"Yes, we do apologise." I smile at her and the smaller ones who look at me in awe.

Daphne giggles as I pull her into the Great Hall. "That was unexpected."

"Very."

Headmaster Dumbledore is wearing his dark, star patterned robe. He patiently waits at the centre of the teachers table. He's not the one I'm paying much attention to though, it's the woman in pink who's interesting.

In my opinion, she looks like she came out of a unicorn's arse.

She's certainly not taller than any of the third years. Her hair is brown, styled short and curly. She wears a bright pink, flowery hat which matches her pink fluffy buttoned-up attire.

Daphne and I quickly take our seats, knowing that we are late and that there is a guest or perhaps a new teacher.

McGonagall takes the toddling first-years in, some of them look scared and some have their chins held up. They all look up in eagerness at the floating candles and enchanted ceiling. I remember this moment vividly, walking down an aisle to the old Sorting Hat. Professor unrolls her floor-length parchment and starts to call out names.

"Crowther, Alden."

The lad confidently walks up and sits on the stool. His prideful smile is evident the moment the hat is placed on his head.

"Slytherin!"

Lovely, our first Slytherin of the year. I applaud with the rest of my table as Alden Crowther takes a seat at the end of the table shaking hands with the older years.

Theo (sadly without his fake moustache) takes an interest in me and Daphne's tardiness. I stay silent and the girl does so too. She does, however, whisper to me that seeing Malfoy shirtless should be the hottest and most fulfilling event that has ever happened to me.

Hot my arse, he's not the least bit attractive with his attitude.

After a while, Professor McGonagall rolls the parchment back up and Dumbledore stands up. He welcomes all of us and starts his speech. The Forbidden Forest is obviously forbidden and magic can't be used in corridors for safety reasons. Hagrid isn't here, we don't know where he went and that question is obviously not up for discussion, so Professor Grubbly-Plank is covering Care of Magical Creatures. The pink lady is called Professor Umbridge, she is our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I think this is who Camden was talking about when he said someone from the Ministry will be at Hogwarts.