WITHDRAWAL. draco malfoy

xii. scared

« SCARED »

Mum, dad,

As you already know, Umbridge took over the school, but don't worry for me, I try not to break any rules and I haven't got any detention since the beginning of the year.
I hope everything is going alright for all of you, I will see you at Christmas,

Love, Lillian.

Lillian walked inside the Room of Requirement with Hermione, making sure no one was following them. Every member of the Dumbledore's Army were already gathered in two separated lines, Harry gesturing for the two girls to join him in the first line where Ron was already standing.

"Today, we are going to learn how to disarm an opponent by using the spell called 'Expelliarmus'," Harry started before doing a successful demonstration on Lillian.

"Really Harry? There's a statue behind you but no, you gotta do it on me, great."

Ron laughed, earning a death glare from the girl as she grabbed her wand on the floor.

"Anyway, let's start, come on Neville."

Lillian joined the line, standing right next to Luna who gave her a big smile, making Lillian smile back automatically.

"So, how is your spell going?" Luna asked, startling the other girl.

"H—How do you know?"

"I've seen you in the Forbidden Forest, last week."

"Oh, uh, it isn't going really well," Lillian admitted, "I can't seem to find the right incantation."

"There is no right incantation, Lillian, you just have to believe in it," Luna said, "I can help you, if you want."

Lillian looked at the girl next to her, thinking about her offer. After all, it was Luna who triggered the desire and the courage to work on a new spell, and as for now, it wasn't working as she expected.

"I would be glad to get some of your help."

Meanwhile, Neville was struggling with the very first exercise of the day, "Expelliarmus."

His wand flew back, almost hitting every student that stood behind him before crashing on the wall with a small explosion.

"I'm hopeless."

"You're just flourishing your wand too much, try it like this," Harry explained, pointing his own wand at the statue, "Expelliarmus."

Everyone else gave it a shot after, some doing better than others, and some of the youngest —like Nigel for example, being extremely promising wizards.

In the end, Lillian couldn't help but feel proud. Proud that so many people believed Harry, trusted Harry to learn how to really defend themselves against the Dark Arts and were ready to risk much more than a simple —yet painful, detention for him. For the truth. She was happy to be one of his closest friend, she was happy to see that her devotion was worth every punishment, every banishment, imaginable.

"Why are you smiling like this, Lilli?" Fred asked cheekily, bringing the girl's mind back to reality.

"Oh, not much. I'm just proud of us."

"You can be, this is brilliant," Fred answered, "But before you'll have to disarm me!" The ginger boy added, throwing a spell in her direction.

Lillian easily blocked the attack —feeling much more confident ever since she had sent a spell at Blaise almost a month ago, duelling Fred for a few minutes before finally yanking his wand out of his hand.