Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch. 115

The next afternoon Céline found Harry, Ron and Hermione walking towards one of the busy classrooms during break. There was a heavy downpour so they were allowed to remain inside.

They sat together in a the noisy overcrowded classroom with Peeves just floating lazily above the chandelier. Occasionally shooting ink pellets down at students. Angelina made her way towards them beaming.

"I got permission!" She exclaimed. "To re-form the quidditch team."

"That's great!" Ron said happily. Céline was also relieved that they got permission, she was sure that Draco would not be taking it well and that gave her some sense of satisfaction after he acted like a jerk.

"I went to McGonagall and I think she appealed to Dumbledore. Umbridge had to give in-" she said triumphantly, "anyway, we'll be having practice tonight at seven o'clock, we've got to make up for lost time. We have our first match in three weeks."

She squeezed her way through the crowd still beaming brightly.

Ron looked outside, his smile fading slightly, "I hope this clears up."

"Is there something wrong, Hermione?" Céline asked softly.

Hermione was also staring at the window, in deep thought.

"Just thinking," she said slightly frowning.

"About Snuffles?" Céline asked. Harry told her what happened the night before, about how they were speaking with Sirius about them forming the Defense Against The Dark Arts group and the en it had cut off. Umbridge had interfered with the FlooNetwork. Hermione was sure that Umbridge was the one who intercepted his letter and hurt Hedwig.

"No, not exactly." She said quietly. "More wondering... I suppose we're doing the right thing, aren't we?"

They all looked at her confused.

"Well that clears it up," said Ron, "it would have been really annoying if you hadn't explained yourself properly."

Hermione finally looked at him. "I was wondering if we were doing the right thing, by starting the group." She said.

They all looked at her surprised.

"What?" Harry and Céline said together.

"Hermione, but it was you who came up with the idea in the first place." Said Ron

"I know," she said fiddling with her fingers. "But after talking to Snuffles..."

"But he thought it was a great idea." Harry said.

"Yes... that's what made me think if we were doing the right thing.." she said looking at the window again.

Peeves floated over them preparing to shoot an ink pellet, all four of them automatically brought their bags up to cover their heads until he passed.

"Let me get this straight." Harry said angrily, "Sirius agrees with us, so you don't think we should do it anymore?"

Céline put her hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down.

Hermione looked anxious, "Do you honestly trust his judgement?"

"Yes, I do!" Harry said, "he's always given us great advice!"

After a couple of minutes, Hermione spoke again choosing her words carefully, "Don't you think he's become... sort of... reckless since he's been cooped up in Grimmauld Place? You don't think he's kind of... living through us?"

"What do you mean 'living through us'?" Asked Harry.

"I mean . . . well, I think he'd love to be forming secret defense societies right under the nose of someone from the Ministry. . . . I think he's really frustrated at how little he can do where he is . . . so I think he's keen to kind of . . . egg us on." Hermione said.