~The Slytherin Princess~ Draco Malfoy

T W E N T Y O N E

""Do you think she'll ever get sick of making up new rules?" Adeline questioned her friends as the group stared up at Filch hammering away, placing another Educational Degree up onto the wall.

"Surprised she's still going." Pansy commented, "what is she on now? 50? 60?"

"I don't know." Adeline shook her head, "but I'm getting awfully sick of them."

"Have you heard the one about boys and girls not being allowed less three feet between them?" Daphne scoffed at Draco who had his arm wrapped proudly around Adeline, "seems like you two don't care about that one though."

"Please." Draco laughed, rolling his eyes, "she's so far up Slytherins arse she doesn't care about this."

The group of friends walked into the great hall, smiling at the Christmassy feel the new decorations brought along with it. People stared as the group walked past them, specifically at the brilliant diamonds glimmering at them from Adeline's neck. Self consciously, the girl's hand shot up to her neck, toying with the chain.

"Ignore them." Draco leaned into her, whispering in her ear, "They're just jealous."

Adeline nodded and sat down at the Slytherin table, reaching for a glass of juice while her other friends tucked into their morning meal.

"Adeline, why aren't you eating?" Draco asked her suspiciously, offering her a slice of toast.

"I'm not hungry." Adeline forced a smile. The truth is she had been gaining weight recently and she was desperately trying to shed it back off again before Christmas break, she had to look perfect, she was a Charm.

"Adeline-"

"Are you going to be joining the Inquisitorial Squad?" Adeline instead changed the subject from her unhealthy eating habits to a topic the group would find more interesting, "I'm not quite sure if Umbridge will even let me after what happened at the beginning of the year."

"Of course she'll want you." Blaise scoffed from across the table, "you're Adeline Charm, the best in our year."

Draco pulled Adeline closer to him after hearing the other boy speak, still not fully over what him and Adeline had done a month ago.

"I wouldn't be too sure." Adeline groaned, "she seems to be going in on me especially recently."

Adeline's self-pity was interrupted by the screech of owls, soaring down from the sky, dropping students mail off. A package landed before Draco and a letter before Adeline.

The smaller girl looked up at the boy excitedly as he tore open the package to reveal a small, velvet box.

"Is that a-" Daphne cut herself off with a gasp as Draco pulled back the lid, showing the group the emerald ring.

"My claim." Adeline beamed proudly as Draco slid the expensive ring onto his index finger, admiring the gem.

"You let her claim you?" Theo asked judgementally, disapproval clear in his tone, "Draco, only a man should-"

"Shut up Theo. You sound exactly like your father." Draco snapped, "If Adeline wants to claim me then she can."

"What's that letter?" Daphne changed the subject, seeing how the groups judgemental attitude was making Draco uncomfortable, "Who's it from?"

"I don't think I want to open it." Adeline told them in disgust, already knowing from the pink envelope who the letter was from.

"Open it." Pansy encouraged her, "how bad could it be? It's not a howler so you can't be in too much trouble."

Adeline looked up to the teachers desk to see the woman in question already staring straight back at her, a fake smile painted on her fake pink lips.

"Fine." Adeline grumbled, tearing open the envelope and reading the letter aloud.

"Dear Adeline,
I am guessing you have heard about my new group? The Inquisitorial Squad? I want to invite you and Draco for tea tonight, my office 7pm, to have a chat about it's perks. I sincerely apologise for our mishap at the beginning of the year, I hope you'll accept my offer, I have a feeling you'll want to.

All the best,
Professor Umbridge

"She wants you to go for tea?" Blaise asked in disbelief, almost laughing aloud, "is she joking? It's as if not even two months ago she was using medieval torture methods on you."

"She's up to something." Draco told them, "and I'm guessing she'll need all the help she can get."

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Later on that day, in their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, Adeline was sat beside her Draco, making notes.

Umbridge had been suspiciously nice to the two teens and it was really setting the shorter on edge.

"What do you think she wants?" Adeline hissed to Draco, looking at the smug woman who was sipping on a cup of tea while she forced a bunch of fifteen to sixteen year olds to copy out of a children's book.

"I don't know." Draco shook his head, "but I think it's best if we go, to find out, if she asks you accept the invitation."

Adeline nodded back wordlessly, uneasiness seeping into her skin as Umbridge sent her a wicked smile.

At the end of the lesson, Adeline and Draco packed up their belongings purposefully slower than usual, hoping to be the last ones in the classroom, and they were.

"Miss Charm, Mr Malfoy?" Umbridge called to them as Adeline had finished packing up her bag, Draco insisting he carried it for her, "I was wondering if you received my owl this morning?"

"Yes Professor." Adeline nodded respectfully to the women, although inside she felt anything but respect for her.

"And what did you make of it?" Umbridge raised a brow, almost daring Adeline to decline her request.

"We'd love to come to tea with you tonight." Adeline forced a smile, awkwardly twiddling with the ring on her index finger.

"Good." Umbridge smiled and laughed highly, "I'll look forward to seeing the pair of you later on, don't forget 7pm, my office."

Draco protectively pushed Adeline in front of him as they made their way out of the classroom, both of them dreading their arrangements for the night.