PART 17

DRACO weaved through the partially crowded train corridors , a smirk on his lips after the entertainment provided to him as he had watched Harry Potter get riled up. In all honesty , Draco thought that dementors could not turn up out of the blue in a muggle society - and yet , Harry Potter did not have the guts to seemingly pull of such an extravagant lie either.

Motioning Crabbe and Goyle to leave , he pushed open the door of one of the compartments at the back. His grey stare fell upon Pansy , playing with her ring clad fingers , Blaise sprawled out beside her - his arm resting behind the girl. Theo sat with his nose buried in a book , the only thing somewhat visible of his features being his mahogany curls. Daphne sat beside him , head resting on Theo's shoulder as her verdant irises skimmed through a page of Witch Weekly.

Evanna sat by the window , cobalt eyes fixed at the dust-coated glass that overlooked the hills of sprawling green , fields of flowers dancing in their silken glory in the wafting breeze and miles and miles of the aquamarine sky. Her palm lay open upon her skirt , producing flakes of snow , or drops of water without the utter of a single word. Nobody seemed surprised at this.

"Hello Draco", Daphne chimed , looking up at him with a slight smile. Greetings were thrown his way , and  Evanna's head snapped towards his direction , offering him a weak smile and a nod. Draco returned a warm smile , taken aback at how pale she appeared to be.

"How was your summer ?", Blaise chimed , tilting his gaze to look at Draco.

"It was fine enough", Draco replied curtly , and no one questioned him any further. A hushed silence fell around the compartment , no one bothering to speak up as each was wrapped up in their individual thoughts. As much as those six pretended to be busy , truth be told , each was worried. Their worries varied in degrees - each quite important. From the recent rise of Voldemort , their days at home were filled with rushed , silent discussions between parents and a permanent , looming smell of death , and blood - if those did have a distinguishing scent.

And despite five of them being Slytherins - people who were fated to be tied together even when the tapestry came undone , people made to stick by each other through thick and thin as they could not rely on anyone else - neither of them knew where they would be in the matter of a few months.

Their mind-filling thoughts were interrupted by the drag of a shoe against the rugged floor , and Draco watched as Evanna rose from her seat - walking towards the door. She seemed as pale as a ghost , and if it went any further , her bones would be visible from under her transparent skin. His eyes flitted towards her right foot , and he noticed that she walked with a slight limp. 

"Where are you going ?", Pansy asked.

"To change into school robes", Evanna called out as she walked down the corridor.

Once she disappeared down the corridor , Draco turned to find the other four looking at him worriedly.

"Did something happen to her over the summer ?", Theo asked , shutting his book close - brows furrowing as he worriedly cast a glance around the compartment - others mirroring his concern.

Draco shook his head , and the others fell silent - until Pansy spoke up once again. She turned her body to face Draco - lips curling upwards into a smirk.

"So", She began ,"Heard someone met up with a certain blue-eyed girl this summer."

Blaise let out a whistle , and all eyes drifted towards Draco. He gulped , one finger fiddling with the collar of his shirt.

"N-no. We just exchanged a few letters."

Theo raised an eyebrow , letting out a huff. Daphne , too , let out an exasperated groan.

"Ah yes , and I was the one who took Evanna out to the National Gallery", Daphne said , pressing her fingers to her forehead. 

"How did you people know ?", Draco asked , looking around the compartment.

"Well , thanks for just confirming it. And for the matter , we shall not name our spy", Theo said.

Draco opened his mouth to retort , but was quickly silenced by the oncoming sound of footsteps. They looked up to the door to find a smiling Evanna , and this time Draco had a prominent view of how violet rings were embedded onto the skin under her eyes. Hoping no one would hear him flinch , Evanna limped towards her previous spot. 

After a few minutes , her eyelids began drooping ever so slightly.

"Evanna , lay your head on my lap. You look like you haven't slept in many days", Daphne offered softly. Evanna did not hesitate for a second , immediately resting her head on Daphne's lap. Daphne's fingers weaved into Evanna's hair - affectionately stroking her head.

Only a minute later , Evanna fell asleep.

                                                   __________________________

The tinkling noise of spoons and forks ringing against the golden goblets of silver platters ran around the Great Hall , as students clad in robes of scarlet , azure , emerald and gold occupied the long tables.

Delicacies of all kinds were scattered across the mahogany like countries on a map. Silver boats of cherry sauce , and rich gravy ; mountains of boiled potatoes ; tureens of buttered peas ; mercury bowls full of shepherd's pie and platters of steak , kidney pie and Yorkshire pudding adorned the tables laid with coloured velvets.

Golden beams flanked the hall , rising into the transparent ceiling that provided an escape to the dark heavens above. Stars lay across the canvas of sapphire like strings of pearls. Soft murmurs of students occasionally pierced the omnipresent silence.

The Slytherins were seated in silence , prim and proper as they made small talk along with taking a few bites of their meals. The Ravenclaw table was just in front of them , and Evanna was seated quite close to where Draco , Pansy , Daphne , Blaise and Theo sat.

"Good evening students", Dumbledore's voice echoed off the walls as the students all looked towards him. The aged wizard's powder blue robes shone in the dim light as he spoke ,"Now we have two changes in staff this year. I am please to welcome back Professor Grubby Plank who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures , while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."

Loud chatters went around the hall on hearing the recent change.

"We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher , Professor Umbridge."

Daphne let out a small gasp at the sight of the Professor , who sat at one corner of the teacher's table.

"I might as well never wear pink again now that I have seen her", She whispered with an air of dubiety.

"Professor Snape looks as if someone has seated him next to a dead rat", Theo said , stifling his laugh as he watched the disgusted look on the Potions Master.

"Forget about Umbridge , look at Trelawney", Evanna said , eyes glittering with mirth as the five directed directed their gaze towards the Divination teacher.

Her dirty blonde hair was in it's usual frizzy curls , held back by a brown headband - her signature odd , olive green robes still donned by the teacher. They watched as she started choking as soon as the horrendous pink toad approached the podium.

Blaise stifled his laugh by bringing up his goblet to his lips , as Professor Trelawney dug her spoon into a bowl of ice-cream , but before she could bring it up to her lips it would fall on the mahogany table. So dazed she was that even her shepherd's pie fell onto her lap. Her fingers were coated in ice-cream , and Trelawney dipped them into the glass of wine - turning the maroon liquid a light pink.

Pansy let out a groan of disgust , while the boys laughed. Evanna looked away to concentrate on Dumbledore's speech. Umbridge cleared her throat , interrupting his words. Dumbledore looked at her with mild annoyance , as she slowly rose from her seat , facing the students.

"Thank you , Headmaster", She began in a high-pitched , sing song voice ,"For those kind words of welcome. And how lovely , to see all your bright , happy faces , smiling up at me."

No one was smiling.

"I'm sure we are all going to be very good friends", She said , flashing a crooked smile. Evanna gagged , while Draco sassed ,"Ah yes , best friends."

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although , each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school", At these words , she looked at Dumbledore , who nodded politely in return - but Draco swore he saw the wizard roll his eyes.

"Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved , perfect what must be perfected , and prune practices that ought to be prohibited."

At the end of her enlightening speech , she flashed another smile - making the entire Great Hall grimace. Weak applause went around the hall , after which Dumbledore continued his speech.

                                                             _______________________

"This means that the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts", Draco said , as he leaned back into his armchair , his friends across from him by the dancing flames of the marble hearth in the Slytherin Common Room.

Blaise and Theo sat playing wizard's chess , black and white pieces arranged neatly upon a board placed atop a wooden table. Pansy sat with her legs crossed upon the carpet , head leaned back on the armrest of the couch , while Daphne lay on it - verdant irises gazing at the crystal chandelier.

Evanna sat on a chair , her back turned towards them as she looked at the shoals of fishes swim by in the salty waters of the Black Lake.

"Draco isn't the Dark Lord staying at your manor ?", Pansy softly asked. Draco nodded , his brows creased in worry as he let out a tired sigh.

"Do you think Potter is telling the truth about Dementors attacking a Muggle neighbourhood ?", Theo asked , as he ordered another piece to move.

"The Ministry is losing control. Azkaban is going haywire. It is possible , although we have to act that we don't believe him. The Dark Lord doesn't want the truth to get out until the end of the year. Till then , we must continue to defame Potter", Draco spoke.

"It's always our parents who do these things , and us who suffer the consequences", Daphne pointed out , sitting up on her elbows.

"We can't do anything about it Daph", Blaise mumbled.

"Actually there is something we can do about it", Evanna said , rising from her seat as she slowly walked towards Theo and Blaise. 

"Theo , order the rook to move to e8", She said. The others waited in anticipation as Theo moved the piece accordingly , his and Blaise's eyes widening as Blaise's king had almost nowhere to move - the rook having replaced Blaise's bishop.

"Checkmate , Zabini", Evanna grinned , before sitting on couch next to Daphne.

"A war is coming , and I expect you all to know it", Evanna said , as the others nodded.

"Having you calculated the consequences of what might happen if either You-Know-Who or Dumbledore wins ? If the Light Side wins , equality would prevail - but those who had previously been associated with the Dark Lord or had worked as Death Eaters would be shunned to the side. Discrimination against anyone who is sorted in Slytherin will continue. Besides if Dumbledore and his children win , the Ministry will fall into shambles. Only Remus Lupin is the one with any sanity in their side. Meanwhile , if the Dark Side wins - I don't even need to say what happens. The world will collapse."

"So what do you propose we do ?", Pansy asked , confused.

"Why , we make a third side of course", Evanna said , a malevolent smile on her scarlet lips. "While I formulate the plan , flatter Umbridge. As you know , flattery gets you to many places."

Only one can rule the world - and it will be me. Not my father , not the peace loving old fool. It will be me.