Malfoy - A Draco Malfoy Story

Chapter 5

"Great." I mumbled, stepping down from the platform where McGonagall's desk is, and onto the hard wood floor beneath. The room was suddenly warm and stuffy, as if all the air had been sucked right out. Quiet hoots littered into the ambiance of the room.

I bit my bottom lip, wondering how on Earth I was going to be able to round up all these owls. I certainly didn't know any spells to do so like McGonagall would.  

I had 50 eyes all on me now, staring at me as if every bird was expecting me to attack, as if they were all planning their next moves, as if they all knew I needed to catch them.

It was becoming more and more obvious that this was just a test to see if I could think creatively. I was beginning to regret even asking for some extra credit.

Maybe I could go down to the library to find a book on animals; there might be a spell I could use. Or perhaps I could go and try to find Hermione; she'd know what to do.

How do you herd barn owls?

Exhaling, I clapped my right palm to my forehead, beginning to get stressed out.

Even if I went down to the library, I wasn't guaranteed to find a book on what I needed.

Leaning against one of the tables, I was lost in thought for a moment, my brain rushing around possible solutions. In the midst of all the ideas floating round my head, for a split second,     popped into my mind. I shook the strand of thought away, refusing to have it linger in my mind for what ever reason it had entered.

In the end I stayed put for fear of McGonagall coming back while I was still away and thinking I'd ditched. The last thing I wanted was for her to try to help me out for it to go ignored and futile. 

Dread spilled into my mind as I realized I might just have to do each owl manually; to catch each one by hand. I'd end up with hands completely scratched up by their talons, and that's if I was able to catch any at all.

This was going to be a long night.

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I had missed dinner by the time I had finally rounded up all the owls. They're scrappy and difficult when they want to be. They seemed to know exactly where all of the hiding spots were in the classroom. The vast majority tucked themselves away in the eves of the roof, stuffed into the corners of the ceiling. 

I couldn't imagine McGonagall having to run haphazardly round and round her room, blindly thrashing in the air in hopes she could grab onto the dozens of owls that stayed just out of reach.

 She most definitely had a spell to do it, or maybe the owls were so terrified of her they all listened to every word she uttered without hesitation. 

Either way, it was mean of her to have not shared her secret. That extra credit better be worth it. 

It was dark when I left the classroom, and Professor McGonagall still hadn't returned. I could have easily gone and found help and had time to spare. 

I glanced to my right down the hall, looking out the large stained window at the end. For a moment, I just watched the speckled night sky through the glass, the deepened waves of the universe dunked in darkness. 

The sky seemed to pulse with every twinkle of every star. My insides warmed at how clearly I could see each one, blazing in bright colours, setting the air alight. The moon's light leaked in through the window, lighting up the corners of the corridor which was entirely empty.

Figuring it was best to try to avoid being caught by Filch or Mrs Norris, I scurried quietly along the freezing hallway, arms crossed over my chest.