Inferno | Draco Malfoy

060 | The Sordid Liaison

Umbridge. Umbridge is the Headmistress of Hogwarts now. Why? Oh maybe because Dumbledore the wise old chap decided to disappear.

According to Daphne, Dumbledore's Army had landed Dumbledore himself into a lot of trouble, especially with the Ministry and wham-bam, now he's gone. I don't think it's necessary for me to say that this pink horse decided to gallop to everyone's rescue and snatch the opportunity to become headmistress.

Loads of stuff changed, all affecting the students in the worst ways possible. The decrees are just getting more and more absurd. One of the rules I hate is forty-seven — Students must consent to have their post checked for illegal contraband. A lot of us don't give consent yet, our imported and exported posts are still checked. That's just an invasion of privacy.

It aggravates me to see certain members of the Inquisitorial Squad be so unfeeling and austere to other students. In the end, all they are doing is putting the name of Slytherin to shame and serving Umbridge's deeds. Not to mention, my power as Prefect is starting to take a drastic plunge. I've had enough of it, I can not allow specific individuals to share the same authority as me. This reprehensible behaviour needs to end, the sooner the better.

"No, no! You must not do that!" Professor Trelawney fusses, pulling me out of my daydreams.

Ugh, seriously? I've had enough of dream interpretations, how much more is there to learn about this stuff? There can't be that much to waffle about dreams. Besides, it's the morning, no one has the energy for this.

Blaise and Daphne certainly have the energy to display public affection, they always do. Although, it's different this time. They aren't doing their regular snogging sessions or love talk, Blaise is plaiting his girlfriend's hair.

"That makes no sense," Malfoy says to his mate. "all you're doing is crisscrossing."

"And you said it was easy." Blaise laughs. "Would you like me to show you again?"

"Yeah..." Malfoy taps my head and I turn back to him as he's sitting one stand above me. "Harlow, can I—"

"No." I slap his hand. "Absolutely not. Your crab hands will tangle up my hair. Plus, seeing as how you styled your hair in the past few years explains enough about your inexperience with hair. So, no. You can not even pay me—"

A distinctive wrapper sound alarms my ears. Seeing the pink wrapper itself waters my mouth. The marvellous chocolate bar leaves the trouser pocket of an undeserving boy and into his hand. I look up at him, reaching my hand out and he simply nods his head.

"Yes." I nod my head too. He drops the bar of Barry's Berries into my hands before gathering up all my hair.

I sit there, relishing and enjoying every bite of the chocolate as I feel Malfoy's hands struggling to figure out what to do. I'm surprised he's not pulling my hair out, he's being really gentle.

I hear the instructions Blaise gives him and I snicker at the frustrated sighs Malfoy lets out from his failed attempts. His cluelessness is so funny to me. I feel my hair going in all sorts of directions, none of which feel like a plait.

"Mate, what is that supposed to be?" Blaise laughs.

"A damn plait."

"My condolences if you ever have a daughter." Blaise laughs hysterically harder. "Is this what you will do with her hair?"

"Shut up." Malfoy undoes the plait. "You're the worst instructor I've ever had in my life."

Daphne, with her fully intact and pretty plait, nudges my shoulder. "Should you have a daughter with Draco then I suggest you teach him how to plait."