Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 51

I haven't spoken to Draco in weeks, and I have no intention of doing so lightly. Once my anger subsided, I became sad, and then even more angry. I don't deny that I am still in love with him, and I wouldn't want it to not be so, but he has offended me beyond offence. And by now, Dumbledore is no longer headmaster, and Umbridge has replaced him as headmistress. However, bigger problems than Umbridge are looming ever closer. Our OWLs are to start extremely soon, and the detentions held every night in the Great Hall are no help to the mass amounts of revision that we have been obliged to do whilst preparing for such rigorous exams.

Today is the Theory of Charms exam, and me and Hermione have been studying hard for this exam, and I was up almost all night, looking through parchment pieces and textbooks, doing even more last-minute revision. I fell asleep like this, swamped in books, and Hermione woke me this morning for breakfast. The exam is not to be held until four, so we still have an hour. We sit in the common room with Harry and Ron, who are looking beyond stressed. 'Honestly, you two should have revised more if you're so worried.' I shake my head, looking up at Ron and Harry, my brows furrowed and my tone harsher than I want it to be. All other fifth years are either looking around or studying from books. I look down quickly, 'It's still him, isn't it?' Ron sounds sympathetic.
'What else would it be? Not even Umbitch and her detentions are this bad.' I mumble back, looking down at my textbook once again.

'Come on, we should go.' Hermione says eventually, and I snap my book shut, take a deep breath, and follow Hermione from the room sullenly. Many other fifth years are also swarming the corridors, either not talking or speaking solely of the exam. As we find ourselves in the Entrance Hall, the chatter seems to become silenced. 'What's the time?' I ask Hermione dully, and she hurriedly checks her watch. 'Two minutes to go.' Hermione mutters. The Hall is now full of fifth years, all pale and looking anxious, as the clock strikes four, and the doors to the Great Hall open. I note a bunch of Slytherins walk past me, Draco included. 'Mudblood.'
'Twatbucket.' I spit back, glaring.
'Maybe it's just his way of dealing.' Hermione shrugs, smiling weakly. I scoff,
'Yeah, right. Bloody arsehole.'

I take my seat in front of Hermione, Harry and Ron behind her. I look around the Great Hall at all the nervous faces, but feel surprisingly calm. The exam papers float out in a stack, one paper sliding onto each desk. When my Theory of Charms paper is set in front of me, I quickly run over everything I've revised in my head. 'You may begin.' Umbridge's voice calls out over the Hall, and the rustling of paper can be heard. I flick over the page and find the rows of questions on the parchment. I set my quill to the paper and start to write furiously, feeling suddenly within my element. I'm sure Hermione feels the same way; Ron and Harry, maybe not so much.

About half way through the exam, I hear a banging, and, finishing my sentence, look up, seeing almost every other face behaving in the same way, and to the doors of the Great Hall. The same banging sounds again, and again. Umbridge, looking angered, and clearly noting that no students are now writing, begins to walk towards the door, glaring around the room at all of us. I exchange looks with Hermione, ones of confusion. The doors to the Great Hall are opened by Umbridge, and nothing seems to be there. My eyebrows furrow, and then rise. I look around the Hall, see all the confused faces, and note Draco's eyes on me. I return his stare with a glare, and look back at the doors. Suddenly, a whooshing sound occurs, and a spark of gold flies in through the doors, spirals into the air, and erupts into a firework. I find myself smiling at my three best friends, knowing the exact cause. Fred and George.

And then, the two twins come flying in on broomsticks, and the papers fly up into the air. By now, almost all of the Hall is on their feet, watching the display above us in awe. 'They'll be in so much trouble.' Hermione laughs, watching the boys as they slow on their broomsticks, shouting to one another. 'Like they care.' I reply. And, all of a sudden, the firework they set off erupts into a giant dragon, which chases Umbridge out of the Hall, who runs as fast as possible out of the space. A smashing of glass and the sound of heavy objects crashing to the ground can be heard. I grin at Harry, who looks beside himself. The twins swoop out of the Hall, followed by every other student, and we stop in the courtyard, me cheering loudly and screaming as the twins soar away through the sky, leaving nothing but a big "W" firework above us in the sky.

Someone tugging on my arm causes my attention to snap from the scene. I see Hermione, who points down at the floor, and I look down, shocked at what I see. Harry is on the ground, breathing deeply, and looking out of it all. He's gone white. Me and Hermione rush down and kneel beside him, me gently placing my hand on his shoulder. Ron turns around and sees us all, and he looks confused. Harry looks between me and Hermione. 'Sirius.' Is all he says, and then, we help him up and rush off through the crowds, Harry telling us of what he just saw.

'Harry, what if Voldemort meant for you to see this?' Hermione says, looking up at Harry as the staircase starts to move. 'She has a point, Harry. Voldemort is an exceptionally skilled Legilimens.' I add.
'And what if he didn't? I'm supposed to just let him die? He's the only family I've got left.' I look from Ron to Hermione.
'What do we do?'
'We'll have to use the Floo Network.'
'But Umbridge has the chimneys under surveillance.'
'Not all of them.' Harry shouts back, dashing up the stairs, and the four of us run through the corridors and up to Gryffindor Tower, where Hermione sends out another message on the Galleons, asking people to keep Umbridge out of her office.

When we arrive at Umbridge's office, Harry throws some Floo powder into the fire and turns to Hermione and me. 'Alert the Order if you can.'
'When are you going to get it through your head? We're in this together.' Hermione replies seriously.
'That you are!' I hear someone shout behind us, and I whip around to see non other than Umbridge standing there. 'Get the others.' She orders, turning to some of the Inquisitorial Squad. Crap. Sirius might well be dying, and here we are, hampered within the walls of Umbridge's office.