Poisoned Youth | ✓

33- WWW

No matter where I went within the castle next day, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details might have gone awry in the retelling, it was surprising how accurate their information was. Everybody seemed aware, for instance, that I, Harry, and Marietta were the only students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office, and as Marietta was now in the hospital wing, Harry and I found ourselves besieged with requests to give a firsthand account wherever we went.

"Dumbledore will be back before long," said Ernie Macmillan confidently on the way back from Herbology after listening intently to our story. "They couldn't keep him away in our second year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me—" He dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I had to lean closer to him to hear, "— that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her." Ernie smirked. "Apparently she had a right little tantrum—"

"Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office," I said viciously, as we walked up the stone steps into the entrance hall. "Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old—"

"Now, do you really want to finish that sentence, Kemper?"

Draco Malfoy had slid out from behind the door, followed by Ward, Crabbe, and Goyle. His pale, pointed face was alight with malice.

"Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff," he drawled.

"It's only teachers that can dock points from Houses, Malfoy," said Ernie at once.

"Yeah, we're prefects too, remember?" snarled Ron.

"Prefects can't dock points from other Prefects, Weasley," Ward rolled her eyes. "But members of the Inquisitorial Squad —"

"The what?" said Hermione sharply.

"The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger," said Malfoy, pointing toward a tiny silver bar upon his robes just beneath his prefect's badge. "A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, members of the Inquisitorial Squad do have the power to dock points... So, Kemper, I'll have five from you for being rude about our new headmistress... Macmillan, five for contradicting me... Five because I don't like you, Potter..."

"Draco!"

"— Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that... Five points for Granger's unruly hair... Oh yeah, Kemper, I forgot, you're a Mud —"

Malfoy stopped talking as Ward whispered something into his ear.

"Watch yourself," Harry pulled his wand out, but I grabbed his wrist, whispering, "Don't!"

"Wise move, Kemper," breathed Ward. "New Head, new times.

"Be good now, Potty... Weasley King..." Malfoy cackled and shot Ward a look before walking away with Crabbe and Goyle.

"He was bluffing, right?" said Ernie nervously. "He can't really be..."

"He's not bluffing," Ward breathed.

Ernie turned and shot her a disgusted look and quickly went off leaving Harry, Hermione, Ron, and me alone with Ward. The four of us stared at her, waiting for her to do or say something.

"Well?" Ron said impatiently.

"Well what?"

"Harry told us what Malfoy said about you being a spy," he seethed.