WITHDRAWAL. draco malfoy

x. failing experience

« FAILING EXPERIENCE »

Ever since Umbridge became the High Inquisitor of the school, everyone could sense it was all changing faster than ever, and definitely not for the best. The students were constantly being watched and when they weren't, they felt like someone was still eyeing them. New foolish rules were added almost on a daily basis it was getting hard to remember each and every single one of them, in fact Lillian had given up on reading them because she knew she probably would break them anyway.

But the most shocking part was when Umbridge started interrogating the teachers about their work ethic and employment records —it was either disturbing or extremely funny, either way, it wasn't appropriate for it to be set during classes.

And that day, Lillian decided to wear the dress Hermione had given her during the summer, with tights and a cardigan, after all, she was tired of wearing jeans over and over again just because half of the girls in the school were scared to show off their legs. But, apparently, the dress code was also a part of the new rules —besides the robes during classes. Something she wasn't aware of.

Quickly joining Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall for lunch, she started eating, once again not noticing no other than Umbridge herself standing behind her.

"Miss Henderson, is it a specialty of yours to break the rules?"

Almost choking on her food in surprise, Lillian turned around, an eyebrow raised in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"You should know from the educational decree number fourty five that, and I quote, 'proper dress and decoratum is to be maintained at all times'," Umbridge pointed out, "You seem to have troubles applying the rules."

"What's inappropriate about what I'm wearing?" Lillian asked, still confused that she would be called on such a trivial thing.

"Your dress is too short," Umbridge explained, "Go change or I'll have to take points from your house."

Unwillingly, the blonde girl stood up, silently mocking the new High Inquisitor once she was walking back to the professor's table, before she finally left the Great Hall in order to go back in the Gryffindor's common room.

Though, Lillian didn't notice Draco's eyes trailing on the girl until she disappeared behind the large doors. He would catch himself do this more and more often and he really didn't like it —it was disturbing him more than anything, however he couldn't bring himself to stop watching Lillian whenever he could, it almost became an automatism.

Pansy's high-pitched voice draw the boy back from his thoughts quite harshly, "Draco?"

He turned his head in surprise, meeting the girl's hard glare, "What?"

"Were you even listening to me?"

"I don't care about you have to say, Pansy," Draco shot back, suddenly standing up and leaving the Great Hall, ignoring Pansy's calls.

+ + +

On wednesday, and after the heartbreaking moment when Umbridge fired Trelawney and almost kicked her out of the school grounds, Lillian, Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the Gryffindor's common room, the two girls literally fuming.

"That foul, evil, old gargoyle!" Hermione groaned, pacing in front of the couch Ron and Lillian were sitting on, "We're not learning how to defend ourselves, we're not learning how to pass our OWLs."

"She's taking over the entire school," Lillian added, dramatically dropping her head on the cushion, "So, who was right about Umbridge? You or me?"