Defend

Chapter Twenty-One A GOOD Slytherin?

 "Ginny!" I yell past the fat lady.

 "I'm really beginning to dislike you," the fat lady says, rubbing her ear.

 Ginny exits from the painting. "Yes?"

 I pull her into a broom cupboard. "I have something really important to tell you. Well, actually the whole DA needs to hear it."

 "There's a meeting tonight, didn't you see the galleon?"

 "Oh, no, I didn't, thank you."

 I run back into the common room. Draco is picking up his homework. "What are you doing here? Potions started five minutes ago!" He smiles. "You came back for me."

 I'm beyond confused. "What? No! I mean, that came out wrong. I–"

 "You're confusing me."

 "I'm confusing myself."

 "Let's get to class," Draco says, putting his arm around me. "One step at a time."

 "Yeah."

 "You still haven't gotten rid of that bloody tie?"

 "Nope. That woman is pure evil."

 "She's not that bad."

 I pull away from him and walk to potions by myself. We walk into the classroom where Snape is giving a lecture.

 "Ms. Diggory, Mr. Malfoy, you're late. Take a seat. Ten points from Slytherin."

 I roll my eyes and sit down next to Draco.

~~~~

 In DA that night I run up to Harry. "I have really important news."

 "We all know you're dating Malfoy, we don't support it, and we'll kill him if he wrongs you, but whatever makes you happy, Eliza."

 "What? Why does everyone keep saying that?! And that's not news. We've been dating since the Yule Ball."

 "What?!"

 "AnYways, I have a really important announcement, can I announce it when people get here?"

 "Of course."

 "And I have not said a single word about DA to Draco or anyone but Ginny."

 "Good." Harry nods, his gaze unfocused.

~~~~

 Once everyone is there, I begin speaking. "PEOPLE, BE QUIET, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT."

 "You should quit your position as chaser and be commentary." Neville says, rubbing his ear. Lee laughs, and I do as well.

 "Very funny. But, no. The gossip from some of the Slytherin common room is that Umbridge is going to make herself High Inquisitor. Now," Ginny hits Seamus standing next to her.

 "I told you having a Slytherin was a good thing. And that she is a GOOD Slytherin," she whispers.

 "I'm not sure exactly what this means, but it has to be bad. Umbridge's goal is to put Hogwarts under Ministry control. Now you might say, Dumbledore would never let that happen, but Umbridge's long-term goal? To kick out Dumbledore. We have to stay strong."

 People applaud, and I step down and stand with Ginny.

~~~~

 "NO!"

 Draco comes down from his dorm. "What?"

 "I just realised I have a transfiguration essay due tomorrow!"