Chapter twelve:
Unhinged Curriculum
It was the beginning of the new school year for the students but It wouldn't be the school they once knew. Hogwarts was now under the headmaster Severus Snape and some appointed death eaters known as the Carrows - Amycus and Alecto. Both Draco and Luna were returning to school whereas Harry, Hermione and Ron would not. Once getting on the Hogwarts Express, Draco went to sit at his normal spot in the back of the train where most of the Slytherins sat, placing his trunk and bookbag on the railing above as his hands rested on the table. Luna had gotten onto the train, her eyes searching for Draco and her friends, noticing that the trio weren't there before she approached closer towards the back compartments. Upon noticing the blond haired Slytherin boy by the window and Blaise Zabini sitting across from him. Luna put her trunk up on the rail with the wingaurdium leviosa charm.
Luna then walked up to where Draco sat, slid herself into the seat next to him before Draco turned his gaze onto his girlfriend. "Nice to see you again." Draco broke the silence. Luna blushed a little before slipping her hand into his, bringing their hands to his lap. "Nice to see you too. I hoped I'd see you." Luna replied, smiling at him. Draco then leaned in and kissed Luna softly before Blaise made a disgusted expression on his face. "I think-i think I'll just sit somewhere else." Blaise stated before getting up and walking to another compartment where Crabbe and Goyle were. Draco and Luna had pulled away for a second for Draco to snicker at his house mate's reaction before returning to kissing Luna without a distraction. Kissing her for a minute, softly and tenderly, they both expressed how much they missed each other before the lady with the trolley of sweets came down their end of the train.
"Anything off the trolley dears?" the lady asked. Luna looked at Draco. "Do you want anything, I'll buy it." Draco offered, he wanted to spoil her when he'd get the chance, after all, he was wealthy through his father. Luna hesitated for a moment before nodding. "If you get something too." she suggested. Draco sighed before looking at the trolley. "Uh...ill take my usual, the red licorice wand." Draco ordered. Luna smiled as the licorice was passed to him. "A sugar quill, please." Luna ordered. Once Luna took her sugar quill, Draco fished out four sickles from his pockets, both candies costing two sickles each. "Thank you, ma'am" Luna thanked before the lady walked off with the trolley. "Thank you, Draco." Luna thanked for the sweet. "No problem. For you, anything." Draco stated. Luna felt a little shy but giddy on the inside when Draco said that to her. Moments later, the train stopped in the middle of the tracks, not even being halfway to Hogwarts. A couple of men dressed in dark clothing walked down the aisle, they were in fact death eaters. They were searching for Harry as they passed by each student in the front of the train. Draco knew exactly who they were and hoped that they wouldn't make their way to the end of the train but luckily, Neville stepped in before they could get that far. "Hey losers, he's not here." Neville stated bravely. The death eaters then decided to leave and the train resumed, heading to Hogwarts.
"Did you know them?" Luna asked Draco curiously in a soft tone. Draco paused for a moment before responding. "Yes. But briefly." Draco replied hesitantly. Draco took a bite from his licorice wand and Luna decided to do the same, snacking on her sugar quill. "Hope you liked my letter, by the way." Draco mentioned, smiling a little. Luna remembered the letter that she received and she was quite flattered. "I did like it. I didn't expect the sugar quill though. It was a nice surprise." Luna replied. Draco and Luna kept one hand intertwined with each other nearly the entire train ride before the train arrived at Hogwarts. Once getting off the train, it was obvious the school gave off a darker vibe as everyone took carriages to the castle. Draco and Luna sat next to each other, sharing a carriage with Neville, Seamus and Dean which made Draco feel uncomfortable after what he did the previous year so there was mere silence on the way to the castle. Upon arrival, they were still searched by Filch and another death eater for things that would lead them to escaping or causing trouble. "What is this? Some kind of slingshot weapon?" Filch asked suspiciously in front of the two, holding up a necklace that had a cork attached to it from Luna's trunk. "No. That's my necklace that keeps the Nargles away. Its just a cork." Luna explained in a gentle demeanor. Filch looked confused. "Nargles? What are bloody nargles?" Filch spewed. Luna smiled. "Nargles are known to infest mistletoe and to be mischievous thieves." Luna explained in detail. Both the death eater and Filch laughed mockingly before Filch put the necklace back into her trunk and shut it. "You're dating her, Malfoy?" the death eater turned to Draco. "You're being rather rude, you know," Luna pointed out at the death eater. The death eater's face fell and turned annoyed, flashing her a hateful glare. "Yes, i do happen to be dating her actually. Though, its none of your business, Macnair." Draco snapped. Walden Macnair was the death eater with Filch and he grabbed Draco's bag and shoved it against Draco's chest roughly in irritation, causing Draco to stumble a couple steps back. "Move on." Macnair snarled.
Draco and Luna then walked to the castle together with their things. "So you know him too?" Luna asked curiously. Draco sighed. "Unfortunately." he replied regretful of being involved with the death eaters. As they entered the castle, they were instructed to go straight into the Great Hall after putting their things into their dormitories and upon arrival, they were to stay at their house table at all times in the Great Hall. Before approaching the doors of the Great Hall, Draco and Luna stood by the stairs in the corner, holding each others hand having a moment alone as students passed by them, blocking view of them from any teachers. Taking the chance, Draco leaned in and kissed Luna softly but quick before they both had to go inside the Great Hall, splitting up across the room. Draco sat at the Slytherin table and Luna sat at the Ravenclaw table. Snape was at the podium with the professors behind him, some new staff most had no idea who they were. "We have much to discuss, so i advise that you all quiet...down..." Snape instructed. The students began quieting down and looked at the front. "As you may know, I'm the new headmaster. There also have been several changes to the school including new staff and mandatory attendance." Snape explained, looking at the room of students from right to left. "Our new Deputy Head are both Amycus and Alecto Carrow. Amycus will also be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, which is now known as Dark Arts and will be teaching the sixth and seventh years in one class...Alecto will be taking over Muggle studies for the late Charity Burbage." Snape introduced. Draco knew about Burbage's death as he was there to witness it but Luna didn't know that, he didn't intend to tell her either.
"Last thing i must announce...you may have noticed various students missing from the school. Those that are muggleborn are not allowed to attend Hogwarts, so are those that are unable to prove their blood heritage. Unfortunately, one other student has disobeyed the mandatory ruling, i'm positive that you all know who that is." Snape finished. Everyone that was friends with Harry knew who it was. Apparently Ron had made an excuse that he had spattergroit, a contagious illness and disguised the Weasley family ghoul to look like him so that he could help Harry search for Horcruxes, Ginny was the only one that knew it was a fake Ron at home. Once the speech finished, the students were left to eat dinner for the next half hour before having to turn in for bed. The school had been much more strict and dark this year but Luna along with Neville, Seamus and others that were part of Dumbledore's Army had formed again in the Room of Requirement, Neville led it with Luna as the co-lead but Luna had to promise not to tell Draco as most in the D.A. didn't trust him.
Once everyone was ordered to their dormitories, Draco knew with these new strict rules he wouldn't be able to freely walk Luna back to her house, but he assumed they could still use the Room of Requirement when needed as it can be a different room than anyone else had while using it. While stepping out of the Great Hall, Draco and Luna locked eyes for a moment, making sure one another was okay before departing to their houses. Draco hated not only the fact that there were death eaters in the school in high positions but also not being able to be in the same classes with her as he was a year older than her. Giving that fact, Draco felt useless on not being able to protect her if one of the Carrows decided to punish her for some pointless reason in class. Draco had tossed and turned in his bed that night, uncomfortable being in the school with such death eaters although he's been around the environment of death eaters since he was a child, thanks to his father and they would meet up there every night after dinner.
As the next morning came, so did the start of new classes of the year. Draco and Luna attended their classes, at least most of them had the same professors except two. Draco still hadn't enlisted Muggle studies as a course but Luna did, meaning Luna would be taught by both Carrows. Once a few classes passed, Luna was now in her Muggle studies class, taught by Alecto Carrow. "Today is a new start to this curriculum of Muggle studies." the female Carrow stated, saying the word 'muggle' in disgust. Luna frowned at the tone of her voice, she happened to like Muggles. Alecto Carrow then began her class by passing out books that titled 'Anti-Muggle' that listed lies and hate from an author that was known to be a pureblood supremacist. "Now, as you can see on page two, muggles are like animals, stupid and dirty!" the female Carrow stated. Everyone there that liked muggles were in shock of how the class turned opposite of what it used to be. "Muggles drove wizards into hiding by being vicious toward them..." Carrow explained on the board behind her desk. She had began handing out papers intended to issue an essay about how bad muggles were and how witches and wizards should rid them of their existence. "The natural order is being restored as we speak...no worries. I want three page essay about how you would rid the world of muggles by tomorrow." Carrow instructed before dismissing the class. Luna sighed at the homework, not wanting to do it before attending another class, Dark Arts.
Draco left his Transfiguration class and headed to the Dark Arts class, knowing that at least he had one class with Luna this year, although found it particularly odd to have two years in one classroom. Draco met with Luna before they took their seats in the now gloomy classroom that used to be Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hand in hand, Draco and Luna walked with each other to the middle of the classroom, then parting ways to their house section before class begun. "We will now be teaching you the dark magic, not the pathetic little defense stuff you once had, no." Amycus Carrow stated. The male Carrow then stepped down to the side of the class, circling the students. "If anyone causes problems in my class, detention would perhaps be too easy as a punishment. I have far better options of punishment to use, so do NOT test me." the male Carrow stated in a screechy tone. The Carrow then walked back up to the front of the class before passing out books about Dark magic. Draco didn't like the sound of this so called punishment options, he knew very well what they would be if not detention. Draco had to partake in giving the cruciatus curse on Thorfinn Rowle when he and Dolohov failed to capture Harry Potter before school began again, it was something he disliked doing and wouldn't like to see it happen at school even though he nearly casted it on Harry last year in the bathroom.
After doing thirty minutes of reading in the Dark arts book and examples, Carrow went to pick students to practice them in the classroom. "You...and you." Carrow pointed at Seamus Finnigan and Luna Lovegood. Draco began getting tense when Carrow picked Luna, he knew this wasn't going to be good. "I want you, Mr. Finnigan to practice the cruciatus curse on Miss Lovegood." Carrow instructed. Draco was alerted when he heard the curse and stood up. "What if i don't want to?" Seamus asked seriously. Carrow drew out his own wand. "I'll use it on you if you prefer?" Carrow sneered. Seamus didn't want to be tortured but didn't want to harm a friend either. "Sit back down, Mr. Malfoy!" Carrow spewed. Draco refused, walking up to the front of the class, guarding Luna. "You will not torture her." Draco refuted angrily. Draco swore he would protect Luna and he was doing exactly that. Slytherin house and Carrow was in shock of Draco defying another death eater and actually defending someone. "Move it, Mr. Malfoy...unless you prefer to do the curse on her." Carrow hissed. Draco refused silently as Seamus backed out backwards to the back wall. "No." Draco stated. As Draco motioned towards his wand, Carrow was faster and quickly pointed his wand at Draco. "Crucio!" Carrow casted at Draco, causing Draco to fall to the ground in torment for over a minute, groaning in pain as the electric shocks went through his body.
Luna gasped before shouting. "Stop it!" Luna exclaimed, taking her wand out and pointing it to Carrow before Carrow turned his attention onto Luna. "Stupefy!" Carrow casted at Luna but before Carrow looked back at Draco, Draco had his wand pointed at Carrow from the floor. "Pertificus Totalus!" Draco casted, causing Carrow to fall stiffly onto the ground, frozen. Draco then got up from the floor and went over to check on Luna while Seamus walked over to look at the stiff Carrow. "He's scared stiff." Seamus stated humorously, laughing a little. Draco noticed Luna was unconscious from the spell and since Carrow was paralyzed, Draco attempted to lift up his girlfriend but as he was weak from the cruciatus curse. Neville had made his way over to help Draco lift her. "We have to get her to the hospital wing." Draco commanded. Neville nodded. "Let's hope none of the death eaters prevent it." Neville replied as they carried Luna out of the classroom towards the hospital wing. "Either way, I'll make it happen." Draco replied, confident. Draco knew that he wasn't an exception to the death eaters that Snape had put in place but he knew more on how to handle them than the other students and he meant what he said to Luna's father on protecting her.
Making their way into the hospital wing, they approached Madam Pomfrey as they laid Luna onto an empty bed. "What happened here to Miss Lovegood?" Pomfrey asked in concern. Neville pointed to Draco to explain. "Amycus Carrow stupefied her in class." Draco explained, looking at his unconscious girlfriend. "And Draco got the cruciatus curse...Carrow was going to do that to Luna but-" Neville explained, Draco cutting him off. "I'm fine." Draco implied. Madam Pomfrey went over to look at Luna while they talked. "Let me be the judge of that, Mr. Malfoy." Pomfrey stated firmly. Draco sighed before throwing a glare at Neville before walking over to the empty bed next to Luna's right. Neville had a smug on his face the entire time before leaving the hospital wing but secretly was impressed by Draco defending a member of Dumbledore's Army although Draco was dating her. Draco sat on the bed, watching Pomfrey treat Luna from being stupified while he thought about what punishment he was going to have for paralyzing Carrow. Pomfrey handed Draco some Calming Draught potion to calm him from the shock of the cruciatus curse. "Here, drink it." Pomfrey insisted before treating Luna with the Wideye Potion to wake her from the concussion.
It was nearly a half hour since the stupefy incident when Luna had woke up. Draco was already looked over by Pomfrey from the cruciatus curse after drinking the Calming Draught then was told to lay down and let his body heal. Once Luna awoke, she realized she was in the hospital wing and turned to her right to see Draco laid on the bed next to her, napping. Upon sitting up, Madam Pomfrey spotted Luna woken from the spell and walked over to her to check on her. "Feeling better, Miss Lovegood?" Pomfrey asked. Luna nodded. "Yes. Is Draco okay?" Luna asked in concern. Pomfrey glanced at the napping blond Slytherin before looking back to Luna. "He only suffered slight shock from the cruciatus curse but he's fine. I gave him some Calming Draught and it has the slight side effect of drowsiness. Though, he might've used the rest of his strength after the torture to carry you to the hospital wing...with the help of Mr. Longbottom." Pomfrey explained before walking off to another student in a bed to check. Luna watched as Draco slept, smiling softly to herself before Luna got off her bed and went to touch Draco's shoulder. Upon her touch, Draco jumped a little, instantly waking up before noticing Luna towering over him with a smile. Draco calmed for a second before smiling crookedly. "Scared me for a second." Draco confessed, hesitating a light chuckle. Luna giggled softly before sitting on the side of his bed as Draco sat up. "Didn't mean to." Luna said softly. Draco brought his hand over to hers, intertwining their fingers. "I'm glad that you're okay." Draco stated, looking from her to their hands.
Luna was still surprised that Draco took the curse for her, she wouldn't have asked him to and she considered that a brave thing to do. "I'm glad you're okay too. You didn't have to take it for me, you know." Luna replied. Draco looked back up at Luna. "I didn't want you to get hurt. Besides, i know how it is to be on the other end of the wand." Draco stated. Luna furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Luna asked. Draco sighed. " i had to use the same curse on a death eater before returning to school, a way of punishment from you-know-who wanted on them." Draco explained. Luna frowned a little. "It's awful, really. But you didn't have a choice." Luna replied, understanding. Before Draco can utter a response, Snape had entered the hospital wing in a rapid pace. "Mr. Malfoy..." Snape addressed in a stern tone before coming to a halt at the foot of his Draco's bed. Draco turned his attention towards the voice, his expression falling as he noticed It was Snape. "My office...now." Snape add, obvious he was furious. Draco knew this was bound to happen. Snape remained at the foot of the bed waiting for Draco with a piercing stare. "What did Draco do, Professor?" Luna asked, confused as to why her boyfriend was in trouble, she was stupefied before Draco paralyzed Carrow. "He paralyzed Professor Carrow with the Pertificus Totalus spell in class, Miss Lovegood. It is unacceptable." Snape informed before Draco got out of the bed, letting Luna's hand go and walking passed Snape before Snape followed behind Draco, exiting the hospital wing.
Luna was surprised to hear Draco had attacked the teacher because of her but she had hoped Draco wasn't severely punished, she would feel guilty. Luna then left the hospital wing to join the rest of her classmates in her other classes. Entering her History of Magic class, she passed Ginny who was talking to Seamus and Neville in between classes. "Im glad to see you're okay, Luna." Seamus said. Luna smiled faintly. "Thanks." Luna replied. Ginny looked at Neville before to Luna. "What happened to Draco? I heard he paralyzed Carrow." Ginny asked, amused by the act. "Professor Snape took him to his office, that's all i know." Luna explained before entering class. Ginny sighed along with Seamus and Neville - they knew it wasn't going to be good, even if Draco was a favorite of Snape. Ginny walked inside to catch up with Luna. "Luna..." Ginny called out before Luna turned around to look at her. "Don't worry about him, he's Malfoy. He's Snape's favorite, only obvious." Ginny encouraged nicely. Luna nodded before taking a seat.
Meanwhile in Snape's office, Draco was shoved down into the chair across from Snape's desk by Snape using the Flipendo jinx silently before approaching his desk. "What you did to Amycus Carrow was out of bounds, Mr. Malfoy. I detest giving you detention that puts you in the position of punishment by the same professor which may be considered revengeful on his part... However, i will decide your punishment before you leave this office." Snape explained in clarity. Draco didn't like the sound of punishment period but at least it beat having the Carrows get involved. "Professor..." Draco sneered before parting his lips once again. "I only paralyzed him out of defense. He was going to use the cruciatus curse on Luna but instead he knocked her out and used it on me." Draco explained, his expression remained bitter. Snape took his words into consideration as he thought of a punishment. "Ten points from Slytherin...and as for further punishment so this will not happen again you will be doing Mr. Filch a favor and cleaning each and every boys lavatory, one floor a day for the next week including the Prefects bathroom. This does not include the dorms, only outside of the houses. Without magic." Snape issued. Draco looked displeased and scrunched his nose at the idea. After being issued the punishment, Draco was released from Snape's office and went to his last class, Potions.