Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch. 33

After the bell had rung, indicating lunch was over, Daphne, Tracey, and Draco dragged themselves all the way to the sixth floor for their Ancient Runes class. Right before class started, Céline quickly stepped in looking around until she saw her friends. Hurriedly walking over and taking a seat next to Tracey.

"All good now?" Tracey asked. And Céline smiled holding her now fully healed hand up to show her. Which she nodded in approval.

Class went by slowly, they all started to think why they had chosen the class as their elective as it was quite boring.

After class was over, they went down to the entrance hall to hurry and queue up for dinner. When they saw their other friends Crabbe gave Draco a paper for the Daily Prophet he read it over and a smirk appeared on his face.

Right at the same time, Harry, Ron and Hermione walk into the entrance hall. Draco turned around with a smug look on his face "Hey! Weasley!" He called out.

Their heads snapped to look at Draco.

"What?" Ron said irritatedly.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley." He said.

"Malfoy." Céline warned behind him, tugging at his robes, but he ignored her.

"Listen to this," he spoke loudly as he held out the newspaper.

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

"It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

Draco looked up at them with a grin. "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as if he's a nonentity, isn't it?"

Everyone was now listening to them, as Draco straightened out the newspaper dramatically and continued reading:

"Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene."

"And there's even a picture, Weasley!" He flipped the newspaper to show them. "a picture of your parents standing outside their home. Well if you can even call it a home. Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

Céline gasped at his remark. Ron was shaking with fury.

"Get stuffed, Malfoy." Said Harry as he pulled on Ron's arm, "come on Ron..."

"Oh yeah, you were staying with them over the summer." Draco sneered, "So tell me Potter, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?"

Céline was now grabbing the back of his robes and pulling it back, "that's enough Draco." She grumbled furiously.

As he could turn to look at her, Harry spoke, "you know your mother, Malfoy?" He asked as he and Hermione held Ron back. "that expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?"

"Harry!" Céline called out, still pulling on Draco's robes. Draco's face turned slightly pink.

"Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter." He spat.

"Then keep your fat mouth shut!" Harry yelled, turning away.

Céline saw Draco pull out his wand and aimed at Harry and quickly pulled in his arm, "what are you doing!"

BANG!

Several people screamed, Harry felt something white-hot graze the side of his face. He went for his wand that was in his robes, but before he could do anything there was another BANG.

"OH, NO YOU DON'T LADDIE!" The voice roared so loudly that it echoed through the entrance hall.

Céline looked over to see Professor Moody limping down the marble staircase.

Céline didn't feel her hands touching anything anymore and when she looked to see where Draco had been standing there was nothing until she looked down and saw a pure white ferret. Her eyes widened in horror. She bent to pick him up but stopped when Professor Moody yelled at her.

"LEAVE IT!" He started to approach them, the ferret gave a terrified squeak and started climbing up Céline's arm, onto her shoulder and underneath her long hair.

"I don't think so!" He roared again pointing his wand in Céline's direction. Suddenly the ferret was pulled out from her hair and up ten feet into the air before it fell to the floor with a smack and then bounced upward again. Céline gasped.

"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's backs are turned." Moody growled as he bounced the squealing ferret higher and higher. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do..."

"Professor Moody! Please stop!" Céline asked, watching in horror.

"Never— Do— that— again—" he said and with each word he smacked the ferret against the stone floor.

"Professor Moody!" Said a shocked Professor McGonagall.

"Hello Professor McGonagall." He greeted her calmly.

"What—what are you doing?" She asked, eyeing the bouncing ferret.

"Teaching." He simply said.

"Teach—- Moody, is that a student?" She shrieked.

"Yep."

"No!" cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek blond hair all over his now reddened face. He slowly got to his feet, wincing. Céline grabbed his arm to help him up.

"Moody, we never use transfiguration as punishment." Professor McGonagall scolded him, "Surely Professor Dumbledore explained that?"

Moody scratched his chin, unbothered, "he might have mentioned it, yeah. But I thought a good-"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or we speak to the head of house!"

"I'll do that then.." he said, staring at Draco with great dislike.

Draco muttered something about his father under his breath and Céline nudged him telling him to be quiet. 

"Oh yeah?" Moody started, "I know your father, boy... you tell your father Moody is keeping a close eye on his son! You tell him that... now your head of house would be Snape, would it?"

"Yes..." he said resentfully.

"Another old friend of mine.  I've been meaning to go see him for a chat. Come along then."

"Professor Moody.." Céline said hesitantly, as she was frightened of him. "May I take Malfoy to the Hospital Wing first... to make sure there are no injuries. Before you take him to Professor Snape."

"Yes, Miss Everhart, if you would please do so." Professor McGonagall butted in. "You take him after he's been checked, Moody."

He grumbled a complaint and waved them away begrudgingly.

Céline helped him up the stairs away. Not noticed the Trio unhappy with her actions at all.