On our way to Snape's office we passed Granger, running through the halls accompanied by Weaselbee.
"But Hermione, O.W.L's aren't until the end of the year! It's not even Christmas break!" I heard him whine in passing. Ashamed to say it, I felt like Granger. I was the top girl of Slytherin 5th years, and not without reason. When I say the exams are approaching, I tend to mean they're at the end of the year, and I have one less day to study for them. It was something that drove Draco bloody mad. Just earlier that morning, exasperated he told me the same thing Weaselbee told Granger while passing us. Draco just raised his eyebrows at me as we passed them. These exams were affecting many things, especially Quidditch practice. Practice was seldom mainly due to the fact that I wasn't showing up, and often when I did show up, it was at Draco's private practices where I watched. In fact, Montague wasn't too happy with me at the moment for that. Just the night before he confronted me, telling me if I didn't stop worrying about these exams, months from now, I would be sacked from the team, no matter how good of a Chaser I was. I promised to start attending every practice, and even practice during Draco's private Seeker practices. It would be difficult, as starting tonight they would be held every night in preparation of our first game. It would happen the Saturday before we left on holiday break, not giving us much time, it would actually give us less than two weeks.
"Have you apparated before?" Snape hastily questioned. We both nodded our heads, and we were gone. Even though I had apparated before, it didn't stop me from wanting to throw up my breakfast. As my feet touched ground at Malfoy Manor, my school robes twisted violently in the wind as we made our way down the long road leading to the marble front steps. Oh how badly I wanted to be a member of this family, the ever respectable Malfoys. Snape resembled a bat as he walked up the front door steps and into the door. Bellatrix met us as we walked through the entrance hall. She and Snape were arguing under their breaths about something I couldn't register, they were talking to quick, and to low, her hissing her words menacingly.
Draco had an expression on stone set on his face, betraying no emotion, neither fear nor curiosity… I realized it was for the best I did this as well.
"Ah Severus, I see you have brought our youngest members with you." Spoke the Dark Lord in a soft voice, filled with danger as we walked into the dining room. It was a large room with a fireplace behind the head, at one end, where he sat. The long mahogany table took up the floor space, with a gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging overhead. Wormtail was simpering next to the Dark Lord, in fear of course. He wrung his hands together nervously, his one good hand, and his silver one.
"Yes my Lord", replied Snape, sitting on his right side. Draco and I found seats among the other Death Eaters next to Narcissa and Lucius. Throughout the entire meeting I felt as if my mind and soul was being ravaged by the Dark Lords voice, I absorbed very little, mostly trying to keep myself together. What little I did gather shocked me. In about a week's time, there would be a mission to retrieve a prophecy found only in the Department of Mysteries. According to the work schedule our spies had relayed to us, Weaselbee's father was to be on guard, working. Nagini would be sent in, as she can slip into the tightest of holes. The Dark Lord, I realized then, had a strange relationship with the snake, almost as if he was a part of her… But setting that aside I listened further. In the process of retrieval, she would attack the Weasley, thus taking out one member of the Order of the Phoenix. When it came from his mouth, it was a brilliant plan.
Later that night was Quidditch practice, and we were playing our hearts out. They were sending Bludgers at me left and right, as we went through dodging drills. As I dismounted my broom to take a short break, out of breath, he came towards me, clapping.
"Very well done Astoria, or should I say Tori." Marcus Flint smiled at me gruesomely. I wanted to curse him to high heavens.
"Hello Flint, couldn't keep away from Hogwarts I see? Or did you fail your last year and they just now realized it?" I shot at him.
"Just came to observe the team, and see if there's anything I can do." He grinned; another terrible smile. The previous year, Flint and I had had a brief fling around the time of the Yule Ball. Draco and I were having a fight, when he got the nerve to take Parkinson to the ball, simply to spite me. In rebellion, I turned to someone of much higher status at Hogwarts, the Quidditch Captain. Flint never had forgotten that, and the rest of my year was hell until he left. What happened after that Ball, and in the weeks following, until Draco had gotten over himself, I'm ashamed to say. But Draco forgave me, knowing he had caused me to do it with his attitude.
"Well as you can see, Montague has himself a nice team here." I said coldly.
"You are pretty nice aren't you." He said, grabbing at me, I whipped my wand out, holding it to his throat.
"One more move." I threatened, and the words were forming in my throat, NOBODY touched me. Draco looked down, barely dodging a Bludger, and swept down immediately, his pale eyes filled with fire.
"What do you want Flint." He spat through his teeth. Draco was at least six foot tall by this point, and had a well formed chest and arms. Flint also knew better than to test his magic skills.
"Just on a Ministry Mission, making sure your drills are Ministry approved. I'm on at the division of games, which means I judge you." He said malevolently.
"Well keep your hands off Astoria." Draco growled. They stared each other down for a minute, and finally Flint excused himself to go inspect the game equipment locked away in the Quidditch locker rooms.
Montague released us from practice shortly after that, and Draco and I went to sit by the lake and unwind before going back to the Great Hall for dinner. Neither of us spoke of Flint, it was unwise to do so, instead I inquired about Blaise and his brief encounter with the Weasley girl.
"What happened there?" I asked curiously, never before had I seen them together, talking, or even seen them glance at each other. And all of the sudden she was going to Hogsmeade with him, even if that was the end of their quick exploits together. The sun shone on the water as the Giant Squid swam very near the warm shallows.
"He paid her off." He said simply, I glanced at him waiting for more. "He had been planning on breaking up with Parkinson for weeks now, but she just wouldn't let go… so he decided if she thought he wanted no one even close to her, she wouldn't be as clingy and pushy afterwards."
"She is pathetic." I inserted. He grinned at me and kissed me, a burning ache ran through my body as he lingered at my lips, teasing me, smirking as he slowly pulled away to finish his story.
"And so he paid off the bloodtraitor to go to Hogsmeade with us, apparently she couldn't stand it and made a big scene, better for Blaise though, so he didn't have to pretend longer than a day."
Just then all thought was broken by Umbridges shrill voice, "All students should report to the Great Hall before night falls, it's dangerous!" I rolled my eyes as I turned around to see her yelling out the castle doors. Even we Slytherins couldn't stand that woman.