Potter. He has always turned everything into a mess. Now he has even gone and got Dumbledore fired. Dumbledore, although incompetent and favouring certain students a bit too much, was much better than Dolores Umbridge with her pink cardigans and her awful mannerisms. Malfoy, of course, isn't as sorry as he is about these happenings.

He is sure that Malfoy was the one who even came up with the idea of the so-called Inquisitorial Squad. He knows he is safe – he is a Slytherin, a Pureblood, an acquaintance of Malfoy's. They will leave him alone. They tried to make him join the team, of course. Each and every Slytherin was asked this same question. Some, like Millicent Bulstrode, were ecstatic when they heard about it. She joined immediately. She must have been very hungry for some power – after all, Half-bloods in Slytherin are completely at the bottom of the food chain. A first year Pureblood is believed over a seventh year Half-blood at all times. Mudbloods simply don't get Sorted into Slytherin.

He watches his House mates strut around the school, taking points left and right. Just because they can. Everything to win the House Cup. He is sure that that is what this is all about. There is no way Gryffindor is allowed win it again. As he walks to dinner one night, he swiftly glances at the four hourglasses. Gryffindor's is almost empty. There is no way Gryffindor can win the House Cup again.

Slytherin is in the lead. Yet sometimes he wishes he wasn't a Slytherin. His father was proud when he was Sorted here, yes. It doesn't happen often that his father is proud. He knows that a Howler might await him for not joining the Squad. He can't care less. His father's pride means nothing to him. Slytherin has so many negative connotations nowadays. And Ravenclaw doesn't actually sound so bad.

But what does it matter? He prefers to be alone, isolated from his peers, whether in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. They're all fools anyway. They still eye him apprehensively in the hallways, but they don't flee anymore. They must have realised that he isn't much of a threat. He could be, though. Oh, he could be. But he is not, and he knows deep down that maybe, maybe he couldn't. He is not like his father, after all.

The Squad isn't for students whose families are faithful to the Ministry. There must be families of Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs – even Gryffindors who are faithful. Yet the Squad consists of just Slytherins. Slytherins, he knows, from families who are not faithful to the Ministry at all. They are from families who benefit from the Ministry's denial. Families who encourage the Minister to think the Dark Lord is dead, even though they know he isn't.

Not all the families are like this, no. Of course not. But they're there. And when his father will hear – from Malfoy's father, most likely – about the Squad, he will want to know why he hasn't joined. Keep up appearances. They will not suspect them. What idiocy. Of course they do. They just don't say it out loud. Being on the Squad will only make him an easier victim for curses and pranks. And he just wants to be left alone.

He sometimes wonders where Zabini stands in all this. He is the odd one out in their dorm. He is not the son of a Death Eater, but is surrounded by them still. Zabini is not a follower, just like him, and will never be a Death Eater. He is sure of that. As far as he is concerned, neither will he. But it all depends on what the Dark Lord wants. Perhaps recruiting Malfoy will be enough for him. Malfoy, who thinks he's a leader, not a follower. How foolish. He seems not to realise that it is in their upbringing to follow, to serve, to obey.

For now, Malfoy can lead. Personally, he doesn't care. This Squad will not remain here for long, he thinks. It's a feeling he has. There are too many people rebelling against it, and against Umbridge's rule as well. Every single student and every single Professor. What is Umbridge thinking? Allowing a few students to rule the school won't make her more popular or skilful.

This Inquisitorial Squad is her newest measure to keep the school under control. She thinks that being the Headmistress allows her to do everything she wants. Truth is, it's not. He knows this. She is only temporarily replacing Dumbledore. This, everyone knows. She only got this chance because of the raid on that idiotic organisation called Dumbledore's Army. He knows better than to accept that it is indeed an army Dumbledore set up. He knows who really did it. Dumbledore just took the blame for his favourite student.

It is all Potter's fault.


A/N: Well, that was the second chapter. What do you think? Let me know, please review!