Disclaimer; same as previous
Chapter 52; what filler?
The first few weeks of school went by pretty quickly. the teachers were piling homework onto the fifth years. Amy's evenings were spent in the library getting through endless assignments and extra study. She researched defensive spells that an O.W.L student should be learning. Draco joined her for a lot of these study sessions, he was one of the top students in their year too, which was something that a lot of people didn't realise, because all they saw was a one dimensional bully. He may not take the role of prefect seriously, taking points off people for things like looking at him wrong or "being Hufflepuff" but he had worked hard to become a prefect academically. he was such a prick sometimes, but she knew first hand his capacity for kindness. She relished the time alone they had while patrolling. They were supposed to split up and patrol separate corridors, but Draco Malfoy was never one to follow the rules. He would get bored, or so he would say, and come find her.
Draco kissed her with such passion she felt as though he were making up for lost time, maybe he was?, his hands would caress the top of her arms, her waist. He traced lines from her temples to her collar bone with his finger tips and his mouth, he held her to him as tightly as she held him, but he never tried anything further. He never pushed for more. She knew that she wasn't ready for anything more. Nowhere near ready. Images of the Barty Crouch Jr crushing her with his weight, popping off her buttons with his wand…touching her…no she was most definitely happy with keeping it at kissing. He knew where the line was and didn't seem to be in any hurry to cross it.
When she was alone, patrolling at night, Amy sometimes got the feeling that she was being watched. She stayed alert, with her wand out and a variety of spells on the tip of her tongue. She knew from experience to trust her instincts, and to stay on her guard.
Sirius was becoming more and more worried about harry, he was having nightmares and his scar was hurting more and more frequently. Amy was getting a bit worried about Sirius. Lucius had spotted him at kings cross and now the search was heavy in London. It was reckless, him going to see harry off. What if It was not Mr. Malfoy who had spotted him, but some aurors?
There was still no sign of Hagrid. The fact that his replacement was quite a good teacher did nothing to alleviate Amy's fears for his safety. Where was he?
Amy sat in the library, quill in hand, making notes as she read up on Jupiter's moons for an astronomy essay when Draco rushed into the room and, ignoring the sour librarians glare, hurried over to Amy's table, a joyful smirk on his face. "the Gryffindors are having their first training session in 20 minutes" he said, positively gleeful, "our whole team has to be there!" he helped her pack up her things and carried her bag as far as the library door, where he handed it to Goyle, who took it the rest of the way to the common room.
"Ready?" Draco asked "yeah come on lets go" she replied, not needing to wonder at why her team were going to be there. It was a good idea, she thought, for one team to see what the other is going to bring to the table, but this was slytherin, there was only one reason they were headed to the Quidditch pitch and that reason was pure intimidation. Draco had even thought of a chant for the occasion. Unfortunately, it wasn't only the team that showed up to spectate Angelina Johnson's new line up. Pansy sat down at Draco's other side. she threw amy snide glances the whole time they were sat there, but didn't open her mouth except to yell insults at the Gryffindors
"Look at this" Draco handed her his newspaper the next morning. Curious, she took it and began to read. When she had finished she arranged her features into what she hoped was a smirk, "so she has the power to inspect the other teachers now" she said. "They won't like that." Draco nodded. "I reckon that oaf Hagrid will be the first to go, if he ever decides to show his face here again that is." He said. Amy nodded absently, so Umbridge was steadily gaining more and more power at Hogwarts, the ministry were concentrating on reforming the school to their standard while the dark lord sat back and laughed at them all. This was not going to be a good year at all.
Amy was not a fan of professor Trelawney, never had been. As far as she was concerned the woman was a fraud. But when Umbridge waltzed into the room and began to bully the divination professor, she couldn't help but feel for the woman. The fact that there could be a worse teacher than Trelawney really said something. Their next class was of course DADA. Harry got himself another week's worth of detentions by arguing with Umbridge because she had said that Quirrell was the only good teacher they had had for the subject. Harry had yelled that Quirrell was "a great teacher, there was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head"
At lunch that day the Gryffindor team captain walked up to harry where he was sitting and began to yell at him. this drew the attention of the whole hall, as well as professor McGonagall, who swooped in to sort it out and take points. The slytherins were positively gleeful. Amy was patrolling on her own that night, and met harry coming out of Umbridge's office after his detention. He had a scarf wrapped around his hand. They passed each other without a word. Amy continued on up the corridor, wondering what was wrong with his hand. A voice interrupted her thoughts. "Ah miss Evans" the vile lady spoke after emitting one of her sickly, girly coughs. "Anything to report dear?" Amy took a swift look into the mind of the toad lady, where she saw the horrible thoughts that lay just under the surface. She saw what the woman had made harry do for detention, the pleasure it brought her to see someone she saw as an enemy in pain. She saw just how much shed be willing to do to please Fudge, and that her loyalty lay not with him per se but with his position. The squat little woman before her was a power hungry, devious witch.
"No professor, all clear" she did her best to smile at the repugnant woman. "Well then" Umbridge said "how about some tea?" Amy had no choice but to follow the toad into its pink-bowed, cat ornamented, overly perfumed lair. Once the tea was poured into dainty little china cups, the sugar and milk added, Umbridge began; "now, I am informed that you and mister Malfoy are quite enraptured with each other" amy felt a blush hit her cheeks. On impulse she swept the woman's mind for any sabotage of the tea. It was clean, so she sipped. "I guess so miss." Umbridge smiled in what she must have thought was a motherly fashion, but it just looked uncomfortable. "Delightful. He's a good catch Miss Evans and no doubt. You are my top students, and he comes from good stock. And money of course."
"I have money" Amy replied, a little annoyed at where this was going. "Yes yes of course you do. Young love. A powerful thing." Amy got the sense that Umbridge was trying to get her to trust her, but why? "Well it was nice having this little girl talk" she stood up and Amy did the same, glad to be on the way out. "There may come a time this year, Miss Evans, when I will need my top students to…keep an eye on goings on, shall we say. For extra credit, of course." Umbridge held the door as Amy exited. "I do hope I can count on you dear." She giggled and smiled sweetly, Amy smiled back as best she could before walking away, her skin crawling.
Harry was beginning a secret defence against the dark arts club. Amy gathered the information from the mind of a passing veiled hag who wasn't quite what she/he seemed, in Hogsmede. She sincerely hoped harry wouldn't get caught. Where would he go If he got expelled? Wherever Sirius was she supposed. Amy missed her godfather, Remus. She hadn't seen him in so long. There wasn't much you could express in a letter that might get intercepted, apart from pleasantries and coded warnings. He was the best DADA teacher they had ever had, as well as the closest thing she had to a father, besides Severus Snape, who, though he would lay down his life for her, wasn't exactly warm and cuddly.
Educational decree number 24 came to light after that Hogsmede weekend. Amy's breath caught in her throat as she read the poster in the common room. This was surely to do with Harrys little club, but how did Umbridge find out? She and Draco were nominated to go and ask for permission to resume their Quidditch team. Draco had the best connections of anyone on the team after all, and beurocracy was Umbridge's bread and butter. Umbridge didn't even pretend to think about it. She handed them an official looking document that stated they were allowed to resume the team with a fake smile and a "say hello to your parents for me Draco dear."
As they waited outside potions class Draco lorded the note over the other students. Merlin he was such a dick, she thought. But as Snape opened the door for them to file in and he slipped his hand into hers and kissed her on the temple, she melted. So she didn't have to like him all the time, Merlin knew she loved him so much. She didn't miss the sudden stop of the hyena like laugh that Pansy had been emitting the whole time he had been antagonising the Gryffindors. Amy had to hold back a smirk.
Umbridge was inspecting their potions class that day. it was tense. She asked Snape about his applying for the DADA position again and again and always being turned down. The vein in his temple pulsed with annoyance. It must have been killing him to hold back the fire for a whole hour. Merlin help his next class! Neville was still visibly shaken over trying to take on Crabbe and Goyle. Amy felt a surge of pity for the boy as she saw him visiting his parents in the very place Draco had just been mocking. So many families had been destroyed by Voldemort and his followers. They had a lot to account for, and Amy only hoped that she could assist in making them pay.
My god that was so difficult. Hate this chapter. Hate it! Hope you don't agree
Ummm so I'll try to do better next time. I swears!
Please review anyway
Cannot wait to finish book 5
any who...it has been another 26 chapters so im gonna take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reviewed since last time :)
so in order of how many reviews ive recieved from you awesome people;
LittleMissDreamer7 (always so very kind)
HermioneandMarcus (so polite:))
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx (one of the most extensive profiles i have perused in a while:) and some of the nicest reviews ive ever gotten)
Sandradee27(much love to you too)
FleurSuoh (cant wait for your next review:))
Mythwriter (im so glad you love it)
Luna4816 (your very kind)
the-far-east-half-blood (thanks Minori, please keep reading, im glad you enjoy it so far:))
Sras (yay new readers! im so happy you like it)
Chained to what was (im so glad you like Amy:) its sometimes easier to create a new character than try to get into the mindset of one thats already developed)
Nicia(hope your happy with where the story is headed:))
MissCaityGrace (ha yeah awkward indeed, youll just have to keep reading:))
IzzyMarieWhitlock (thanks! love the pic)
id also just like to say DeviousDomi...i miss you*sniff*
thanks for all the reviews the feedback, constructive criticism and the praise. im gonna do my best to keep up with the daily updates but going back to college the day after tomorrow so no promises:)
Aoifex
