Cynical // Draco Malfoy

Three

Watching as the sorting took place it was always delightful to see who would be joining which house. But as Dumbledore announced that Quidditch wouldn't be taking place this year- causing an uproar- the school would be getting a special surprise. Before he could get any farther though a strange happening took over the dining hall as a man with an odd appearance entered. Hushed whispers began about it being Mad-Eye Moody, the supposedly new defense against the dark arts teacher.

Dumbledore then continued, talking about the Triwizard Tournament. It would begin on Halloween, taking only three champions. The price of winning would be well worth the danger (to some). Of course there were to be restrictions- everyone having to be 6th year and over, or nineteen. Grayson found it amusing to see how distraught Fred and George were, especially since they wouldn't be getting their quidditch or this either. Seeing their determination to get past the age line also made her laugh.

She was excited to see what the tournament would consist of, especially since it had such a high rate of student deaths in the past. It seemed like it was too harsh to bring into a school environment, but she must've been the only one who really thought that.

"Hermione seriously? Just eat something!" Ron complained as the brunette sat there arms folded, no food on her plate.

"No! Not until house-elves get the rights they deserve!"

"You're being so over dramatic about this!"

Then Harry piped in too, "I'm pretty sure they enjoy their jobs Hermione." Grayson agreed with both sides on the topic, not knowing much about house-elves herself. The only way to find out how they felt would be to just ask one..

But with Hermione this hunger strike would probably only be the beginning.

***

Classes soon started and it didn't take long for them to fall into place and for Grayson to temporarily forget about the tournament and anything else she once worried about. Her and Ginny had almost every class together but two. With a schedule consisting of all the seven core classes and her electives, study of ancient runes and arithmancy- she was very happy with it.

Over the summer Grayson worked a lot on her struggling potions skills and even Snape seemed... impressed, probably because nothing was being blown up. Besides that all her classes felt like a breeze with the extra work she had done to prepare. Excitedly she found a new love for arithmancy. It just seemed to make sense, clicking perfectly.

The young asian girl and red head walked side by side down the hall from transfiguration, their final class of the day before the weekend. They decided to stop in one of the courtyards to study- only to overhear a group of Slytherin girls talking from their spot resting under a tree.

"You didn't hear about that? Well Draco even said it himself!"

"Why didn't he say who?"

"I don't know, but he said it's not a Slytherin. No way did I ever think his parents would choose someone of another house."

"Did he sound happy about the whole marriage?"

"He just said he'd deal with it since she's pretty, and a pure blood."

"So he knows who it is, but she doesn't!"

"Yep!" the girls all had an overly shocked look on their faces as if they were hearing that information for the first time. Which was quite unlikely.

The two Gryffindor's stopped listening in disgust. Malfoy really seemed to be milking this whole situation to his advantage in some sick way. If news was already going around now, it would be almost bigger than the tournament when everyone found out who the girl was.

"Gosh I hate having to listen to everyone in all the houses talk about this news. I could honestly care less." Ginny spoke as she read through one of her books.

"Same here. At first it was interesting, all the gossip, now I just think it's being overplayed."

"Oh very much so."

The two returned back to their studies hoping to get any work out of the way as quickly as possible. The more they got done now, the less they'd have later.

But soon they were interrupted as Professor McGonagall hurried towards the two. A concerned look was on her face, but guilt shown too. It reminded Grayson of the look on her parents face when she left them a few weeks earlier. It made her stomach drop.

"Miss Yang, you are requested in the Headmaster's office."

"F-for what?" Grayson stammered out looking confused. The last time she was there was after the Chamber incident. Whenever someone normally got called there, it was under the circumstance they did something wrong.

"You'll see dear. But hurry or else you'll be late for dinner."

"Y-yes.." gathering up all her stuff she gave Ginny a look of remorse before scurrying off.

Her feet sounded against the tile flooring as she was the lone person making her way towards the gargoyle statue. Grayson's stomach was filled with knots, each step making it worse. She immediately thought she had done something wrong, but knew that idea was preposterous. She was a quiet kid who refused to speak out against any type of authority. Yet that didn't stop the fear from sinking into her mind about crazy things she could possibly be getting called in for.

Speaking the password, she readjusted her grip on all her books wishing she left them with Ginny. Climbing up the spiral stairs she entered through the door into the circular room.

Grayson froze in her steps staring wide eyed at her parents. But behind them were three other figures- ones with light almost metallic blonde hair. Her stomach dropped as she realized who they were, the Malfoy's.