Forever Home | Draco Malfoy

Chapter 5-6: Detention

"Desiree," a voice whispered. "Desiree wake up." It was Pansy.

"Pansy? What time is it?" asked Desiree, stretching to help wake herself up.

"A quarter till one. You fell asleep during lunch," said Pansy.

"It's nice to know our new room is always dark no matter what time it is then," Desiree chuckled, sitting up from her bed.

"It really is isn't it?" Pansy began looking around at their room. It was more spacious than the one they had last year -- Desiree suspected the room grew larger for each year -- they had two windows that made it clear their room sat at the bottom of the Black Lake.

"I think it makes it cozy," said Desiree, brushing out her bead head.

"Are you ready?" asked Pansy.

"Yes I'm ready. Let's see what this year of Defense Against the Dark Arts will bring," said Desiree, opening the door to their room. Desiree already dreaded going to class. If her parents didn't like Umbridge then there must have been a good reason for it. This was a reason Desiree didn't want to find out.

The walk to class with Pansy was short. They made their way into the classroom without any trouble with Peeves or anyone stopping to stare at Desiree. Pansy quickly walked over to the table where Blaise sat; he had been saving a seat for her. Desiree walked over to the table where Draco sat. She didn't know if he had been saving the seat for her, all she knew was that it was open for her to sit at.

"Where were you? I didn't see you at all during lunch," asked Draco, turning his head to face Desiree.

"I fell asleep in my dorm while I was working on the things Snape assigned us," said Desiree.

"You were doing homework already? Ally it's the first day," said Draco.

"Yes it is but this is also the year we take O.W.Ls. Besides, I like to get my school done before it all starts to pile up on me," said Desiree, shrugging her shoulders. A small paper bird then caught her attention as it flew through the air. It was quite majestic though it was made of paper. That was until it was set ablaze by somehow behind Desiree.

"Good morning children," said Umbridge.

"Morning? It's one o'clock," Desiree whispered to herself.

"Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations, O.W.Ls. More commonly known as Owls. Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so and the consequences may be severe," Umbridge smiled as the textbooks began to move towards each students. "Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven but you'll be pleased to know from now on you will be following a carefully structured, ministry approved, course of defensive magic."

"Wait a minute," said Desiree, flipping through the textbook in front of her. Obviously Hermione realized the same thing Hermione did because she immediately raised her hand.

"Yes?" asked Umbridge.

"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells," said Hermione.

"Using spells?" Umbridge laughed. "Well I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."

"We're not going to use magic?" asked Ron.

"You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free, way," said Umbridge.

"What use is that? If we're going to be attacked it won't be risk free," said Harry.

"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class," Umbridge's tone turned cold. "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations. Which after all, is what school is all about."