Defend

Chapter Eighteen Course Aims Can Take A Course Down The Phlegethon

 "I hope this year no one we love dies." I tell Ginny as we walk to the Great Hall for the welcome feast.

 "Me too." She sighs as we go to our separate tables.

 "Talk to you tomorrow." I say, as I walk to the Slytherin table.

 "Talk to you tomorrow!"

 I see Draco and he smiles when he sees me.

 I run towards him and bury my head in his chest.

 "I missed you." he says, holding me in his embrace.

 "I saw you at the funeral." I whisper, inhaling the smell of his cologne. It comforts me. "Thank you so much."

 He kisses the top of my head. "Of course."

 We pull apart and face Dumbledore.

 "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore begins.

 This is usually where I zone out.

 His tone soothes me until I'm close to dozing off when a small, sugary, cough interrupts him.

 "Thank you, for those lovely words of introduction." a small, pink clad woman begins.

 She starts off on some random speech and what I get out of it is this:

 The Ministry wants to take over Hogwarts.

 I roll my eyes. Dumbledore wouldn't let that happen.

 Finally, FINALLY the food appears.

 "Foooooood!!" I say.

 "You sound like Ron." Ginny says from behind me.

 "I do." I giggle and snatch my fork.

 After dinner I head to the common room and I'm about to go up to my dorm when someone pulls my hood.

 I fall into Draco's arms and stare at him. "When will I be granted the privilege of climbing up these stairs without being almost throttled?"

 "Never." He kisses my forehead. "You didn't tell me goodnight."

 "Fine. Good night you toshpott." I smile and head up to the dorms.

 "Good night beautiful annoying girl." He calls behind me.

~~~~

 I stare at my schedule.

 "We just finished charms class so now it's Defence Against the Dark Arts. Not looking forward to that with that new prissy professor." I tell Ginny.

 "She can't be that bad."

 "I hope so."

 We walk into the classroom, and she takes a seat next to a Gryffindor. I sit next to Draco.

 "Good afternoon class," she says.

 Most people ignore her.

 "I said, good afternoon, class," she says, smiling dangerously sweetly.

 "Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge." the class grumbles.

 "Put your wands away." She instructs, a fake smile still pasted across her unnervingly toad-like face.

 People grumble, but do so.

 "Good," Professor Umbridge says. "I would like you to turn to page five and read 'Chapter One, Basics for Beginners'. There will be no need to talk."