Through the Darkness | Draco Malfoy

Seventeen

"So, Aries, tell me why Professor Moody keeps looking at you every time he passes by? I mean, isn't it kind of weird?" Ron asked, a curious look on his face.

"Hey that's creepy, why did you tell me that?" Aries replied, shoving him lightly in response. "I thought he was looking at Harry, that's why I didn't think about it much."

"You know what? maybe he is looking at Harry. And speaking of Harry, where is he?" Ron said, glancing around.

"Dunno. You want some?" Aries offered him a chocolate frog box. "I know it's your favourite."

"Yeah of course." Ron took one out and opened it. "How did you know it's my favourite anyways?" he questioned as he ate it.

"Because I know you have a thing with rodents." Aries replied.

"Shut up." He mumbled through his mouthful of food as he playfully pushed Aries away while she's laughing, he admits even he finds it funny because of the smile he's hiding.

The two were about to reach the entrance hall when a loud voice rang out behind them. "Weasley! hey, Weasley!"

Aries and Ron turned. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something. Aries touched her wand just in case.

"What?" said Ron shortly.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Draco, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly so that everyone in the packed entrace hall could hear. "Listen to this—"

Aries stepped forward. "If you don't shut your mouth right now—" she began menacingly, but was cut off by Ron pulling her back.

"No no, let me continue." said Draco.

Aries looked like she wanted to argue, but held it in and stayed silent.

"—it says here," Draco continued. "Recently under fire for it's poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresu embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office." Draco looked up. "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?"

Everyone in the entrance hall was listening now.

Goyle leaned to Draco and tried warning him. "Draco... Draco, that stare, she's going to murder you." but Draco completely ignored him and continued.

"And there's a picture, Weasley!" said Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. "A picture of your parents outside their house, if you can call it a house! your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

Ron was shaking with fury.

Harry and Hermione just arrived, their eyes widened with what they're hearing. Harry almost went to go say something when someone grabbed his arm and yanked him aside. But that didn't stop Aries from finishing the job.

She sprinted towards him, totally sure she was going to murder him right here right now, but once she almost tackled him, someone wrapped their arms around her shoulders, effectively stopping her, pulling her backwards or more like throwing her away and BANG–

"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"

Professor Moody with his wand out as it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which was shivering on the floor, exactly where Draco had been standing.

"Holy shit." Aries breathed out quietly as everyone stared openmouthed.

"Aries!" Hermione rushed to help, sitting on her knees and helping her stand. "Are you alright?
Did he hurt you anywhere?" She said worriedly while examining her friend's face for any visible damage.