The Mudblood

Chapter 66 : Year 4

That night I had a few vague nightmares that included Cedric dying, my father dying, and Voldemort taking over the world, all of which had me screaming in terror and, consequently, Ashley and Astoria shrieking in confusion. Though I didn't believe these dreams held any psychic reality, I feared that because the first two had come true, the latter was sure to follow...

When I woke up, my mouth was sealed shut, presumably by Melody. She refused to use the counter-jinx on me until we'd entered the buzzing common room, where a few people tried to spit insults at me and I found it impossible to defend myself. Obviously Melody thought this highly hilarious, though she agreed to let me speak again when all of the Slytherins began to huddle around the announcements board on the wall.

"What!" Travis Anderson exclaimed from within the middle of the horde. All of the other Slytherins were now murmuring as they read over a ginormous piece of parchment that covered the rest.

"'All...St—Stu...dent... All Student—" Ashley tried to read, but Melody sharply cut her off.

"'All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups and Clubs are henceforth disbanded'," Melody read listlessly. "Need me to read the rest to you, Pucey? If you try to do it yourself, I'm sure we'll be here all day."

Ashley paid no mind to her rude comment as he face contorted with agony. "No teams! What is that supposed to mean? We can't play Quidditch?"

"Looks like it," I muttered, reading over the rules. Apparently, we were no longer allowed to forms groups of three or more people without Umbridge's permission, which obviously vanquished our defense group from existence, as well as Quidditch teams.

"I was planning on forming an Anti-Mudblood club!" Travis whined as he slumped out of the crowd. "There would obviously be more than three people in that!"

"I'll still join," Melody said, giving little Travis a dull look before opening her book. "Sounds like good fun."

"What's going on out here?" Ryan Harper asked as he joined us in the bustling crowd. "Oh, good morning my beautiful purple prin—"

"Bye," was all Melody said before stalking over to her reading armchair.

"Groups are being disbanded?" Vince Anderson questioned, skimming over the High Inquisitor's new order. "Well, guess that sucks for anyone who's part of a club, but considering I'm not—"

"Yes you are!" Harper insisted heatedly. "You are an important member of the Slytherin Six! And so is Melody and Lainey and Ashley and Astoria—"

"Not since Vince refused to snog me!" Astoria snapped, crossing her arms from where she stood on the other side of Ashley.

"I've already told you I'm snogging Sadie now," Anderson growled through his teeth.

"No one cares about that right now," Harper griped impatiently. "This crazy Umbridge lady is trying to tear apart the Slytherin Six!"

"I really don't think she'll care about the Slytherin Six," I assured Harper, my mind brooding over the fact that that toad most likely knew about our defense group... But how?

"Our group has already been torn apart, Ryan," Astoria said, holding her head up stiffly as she avoided looking in our direction. "Vince ruined it when he refused to snog me—"

"You refused to snog me first!"

"I think we have more important things to worry about right now, you two stupid people!" Ashley shrilled, her eyes brimming with tears. "Quidditch is over! Just when I finally get onto the team, it's disbandededed!"