Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Forty-Two

Exams suck. There's no other way to put it.

It's the last one, and I can't be more happy about it. I feel as if my eyes are burning with the effort to stay open, as I stayed up until two in the morning to cram for history of magic. I'm almost done with the short essay at the end when I hear a small gasp beside me.

I turn and see Harry subtly reach up and hold his forehead, and I look back at my paper. Another vision.

"Ten minutes," Umbridge announces, and I scribble down the last few sentences, knowing I'm bad at conclusions and it won't get much better than my quick recap of the body paragraphs I wrote. I turn it upside down on my desk and look to my other side, seeing Hermione still frantically writing. She's on her third page, now, and I hope that my single page is sufficient; not that anyone else typically writes more than that.

I look at Harry again, and his vision seems to be over. I tap my desk gently to get his attention, and he glances up, his face pale. I frown and give a thumbs up, but he shakes his head.

Tell me after, I mouth. He nods.

Ten minutes later, we're released, Hermione finishing a second before Umbridge says "quills down." I immediately go to Harry's side, and he's still pale and unsteady as he pushes himself to his feet.

"They have Sirius," he murmurs, and my heart stops for a moment. "In the ministry. The same place Mr. Weasley was attacked."

"Harry, are you okay?" I ask, holding onto his arm as he starts toward the door. "You look like you're going to pass out."

"They're hurting him," he continues, gaining speed. Ron and Hermione join us, Neville and Luna following close behind after hearing the commotion.

"Who's hurting Sirius, Harry?" Ron asks.

"Death eaters. Voldemort. I don't know."

"Harry, you let him in again?" Hermione sighs. "This can't be good. He knows you're seeing this all. What if he's just trying to get you to the ministry?"

"I don't care."

"It might be a trap, though," Hermione reiterates.

"I don't care! Hermione, he's all I have left," Harry snaps. "I'm going to Grimmauld Place. I'll check there before going to the ministry."

"Ginny! Come here," Neville calls out, Ginny running from her group of friends to join us. "We'll help you, Harry."

"How are you going to get there?" I ask as we start up the stairs. "We can't apparate, the fireplaces are being monitored, and-"

"Not Umbridge's fireplace," he points out. I glance back at the others and shrug.

"What the hell? Let's do it," I say.

"Will you guys keep watch?"

"Of course. Which of us does she hate the most?" Luna asks sweetly, her tone in no way matching the words.

"Elizabeth has had more detention than any of us," Ron points out, and Hermione bites her lip.

"I don't think this is a good idea, guys," she says.

"You five, you guys will stand by the stairwell closest to her office. One of you cough when she comes, and I'll start running in her direction." I think about her decrees, nodding a little. "Yeah, that should do it. When she catches me I'll try getting out of the detention she'll inevitably give me."

"Bloody hell, Elizabeth." Ginny laughs a little. "Detention has changed you."

"I hate that woman. I don't care what she does to me at this point."