Interstellar || Draco Malfoy

14 || An Unlikely Obstacle

As the snow melted and spring made its way to the castle, I found that I had nothing to do. Having completed all required coursework for the term, extra coursework for next term, and my advanced transfigurations with McGonagall, I truly had nothing to do other than show up to classes and participate. I'd taken to tutoring my classmates strictly out of boredom, while Snape gave our house points for each student that I tutored. It was an easy way for him to collect house points while I kept myself busy.

Sometime in late spring, Draco decided that he genuinely wanted to learn about Divination. I had my doubts about his sudden interest in the subject that once bored him, but I pushed my suspicions aside in order to keep myself from dying of boredom.

"Crystal-gazing requires that you clear your inner eye." Professor Trelawney spoke, addressing the class. I watched as she approached Harry's table, glancing down at his crystal ball. "Only then, will you... see. Oh, my, what do we have here?"

"Here we go again." Hermione huffed, rolling her eyes. "It's the Grim! It's the Grim!"

"My dear, from the moment you first arrived in my class, I sense that you did not possess the proper spirit for the noble art of Divination." Professor Trelawney spoke, looking directly into Hermione's obviously offended eyes. "You may be young in years, but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shriveled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books to which you so desperately cleave."

Hermione gasped in offense, childishly knocking the crystal ball from her table top. She grabbed her things and stormed out of the classroom, passing the crystal ball she'd just thrown. I couldn't believe that a muggle born witch like Hermione found it so difficult to grasp the subject of Divination. If anybody should have believed blindly in Divination, it should have been the muggle born students.

"Have I said something?" Professor Trelawney asked, holding a hand to her chest. "Nevermind that... You, Mr. Malfoy. What do you see for our dear Miss Littlesea?"

"Well," Draco muttered, leaning forward and gazing into the crystal ball. "I see a black dog... and then- Snape?"

"Let me have a look." Professor Trelawney nudged Draco out of the way and gazed into the crystal ball. Her eyes clouded over slightly, and her mouth opened in what seemed like shock. "Yes, a black dog. Snape. Nova..."

"Nova?" I questioned. "What's nova?"

Professor Trelawney shook her head, her eyes becoming clearer as she focused on me. She offered me a slight smile and walked away, leaving me with far too many questions and nearly no answers.

========

The following day, Crabbe, Goyle, and Draco dragged me from my comfortable spot on the common room couch out into the cold. When I'd put together where we were heading, I dug my heels into the castle floors and refused to take another step.

"Come on, Des, we're gonna miss it!" Crabbe pressed, trying to push me forward.

"I can't believe you three dragged me out of the common room to watch that poor creature get it's head cut off." I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest. "Do you take some sort of pleasure in the suffering of innocents?"

"Come on." Draco sighed, grabbing my arm and tugging me forward.

"Draco, I really don't want to see this." I protested.

"Please just come with me." Draco pleaded. "You don't have to watch."

"That's not going to make it any better." I huffed, picking my feet up and walking alongside the trio once again. When we stopped again, we were atop the hill overlooking Hagrid's hut. I felt an uneasiness settle in my chest, and opted to look away from Hagrid's hut, not able to look at the hippogriff that was sentenced to death.