enchanted • draco malfoy

Year 5: Makeout

Felicity's POV

I sat next to Ginny, further down the table than usual, the next morning at breakfast, rather than next to Mione, who demanded she examine my hand before we left the dorm. I'd rolled my eyes, but allowed her to, if only for her peace of mind.

I chewed on my melon absentmindedly, trying to pretend like I hadn't chosen a spot next to Ginny for the view of the Slytherin table and it's occupants. One, in particular. I didn't notice that Neville sat four people down from me, until his hushed voice addressing Hermione made me freeze.

"Hey, Hermione," he started, his quiet voice setting me on edge. I looked around to make sure no one else was listening and discreetly eavesdropped. "Seamus told me yesterday that he saw Fel at Diagon Alley, in the beginning of summer, and that she was acting rather... suspicious. He said she told him she was with you, and I just wanted to, you know... make sure." His voice was awkward, and I knew without looking that he'd be fidgeting. Although I was beyond touched that he cared, my eyes widened.

Bloody hell, Seamus. My head snapped up just as Mione glanced quickly over to me. I nodded viciously, my lips forming the word 'Please' and my hands clasped together in front of me. She noted all of this in less than a second and said to my twin, "Yeah, we went together. Early school shopping, you know." I could see Nev nodding out of the corner of my eye and sighed in relief. Mione gave me a look that promised we'd speak later.

Before I could object, she went on to scolding Ron. "Do you ever stop eating?" she hissed. He froze, a sausage halfway to his full mouth, and gave her a look in the middle of skeptic and exasperated. "I'm hungry," he stated, eyes narrowed.

Mione rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to retort when Harry's voice interrupted us. "Can I join you?" he asked hesitantly. I scoffed. "You know you don't have to ask, Harry," I replied, "Sit your arse down."

Before he could, though, two shrill voices interrupted us. "Pardon me, professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?" I recognized Umbridge's voice immediately, and McGonagall's shortly after.

"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices," she replied sharply. I stiffened. Had Hermione or Ron told her? Had Harry told her? Umbridge had the audacity to look offended. "So silly of me, but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom..." She took a step up on the staircase they were standing on. "...Minerva."

"Not at all, Dolores," McGonagall said, stepping up as well, "merely your medieval methods!" Umbridge seemed taken aback. "I am sorry, dear," she said, not sounding sorry in the slightest, "But to question my practices is to question the Ministry, and by extension, the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."

My jaw actually dropped. Minerva McGonagall, disloyal? "Disloyalty," McGonagall repeated, stepping back down. Umbridge lifted her chin and surveyed the crowd of students and professors alike that gathered. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared," she announced. "Cornelius will want to take immediate action."

~*~

Later that night during dinner, Mione dragged me up to our dorm and put a Silencing Charm around the room before whirling around. "Can you please explain to me why I lied to your brother for you this morning?" she demanded. I gulped, having almost forgotten about the incident at breakfast.

"Yeah, um, well..." I said, scrambling to think of something, anything, except the truth. I came up with nothing. "I- well, you see, I-" "Just spit it out, Fel," Hermione interrupted, though her voice was gentle.