Harry Potter: Miss Malfoy

Chapter 228: Making It Look Like an Affair 1

Preface: The data is actually not much different from that before May Day, but yesterday’s gifts were pretty good, and some book friends in the group also sent red envelopes in support, so I decided to add more chapters. Today it should reach more than 6000 words!

The opening ceremony in the auditorium and restaurant is about to begin. The decorations are still the same as usual, exuding a welcoming atmosphere.

Except for the weird atmosphere in the air.

Hagrid's disappearance caused the old students to whisper to each other, and the low voices pointing at Harry and Dumbledore never stopped.

"It feels like this is going to be a tough semester. Don't keep your worries to yourself. We will be there for you."

Noticing the hostility and sneers towards Harry from those around her, Daphne turned aside and whispered.

Seeing Draco's slightly frowned brows, she held Draco's hand tightly and spoke with some concern.

Pansy also patted Draco's shoulder gently, trying to comfort him with a joke. "Don't worry, he should be used to it a long time ago. Except for the first year, there has never been a year when that guy didn't become the public enemy of the school."

The three of them thought about it for a moment and couldn't help but giggle.

"Come to think of it, I'm more worried about that."

Pansy suppressed her laughter and nodded towards a short, plump woman dressed in pink sitting on a high table.

"Having to look at that Toad Face's clothing taste for the entire school year would probably be more painful than a torture spell."

“It really looks like a toad.”

"Pansy! Astoria!"

Pansy's sarcastic comments and Astoria's imitative sneer made Daphne unable to help but murmur a slight reproach.

Astoria quickly snuggled into her sister's chest and acted coquettishly. While Daphne was helpless, Pansy stuck out her tongue at Draco and smiled without any remorse.

As the students gradually took their seats, the candlelight dimmed slightly.

The Sorting Hat sings a new song, and the lyrics are slightly unsettling compared to previous ones.

Oh, face the danger, heed the warning signs, history is warning us.

Hogwarts is now in danger and faces the threat of terrible enemies from the future.

If we are not united as one, we will collapse and disintegrate due to internal strife.

After the Sorting Hat finished singing, the last few words still echoed in the restaurant.

After the sorting ceremony, which was shrouded in the shadow of the lyrics, began, Daphne paid a little attention and found that the Doyle family's daughter was also sorted into Slytherin.

Finally, when the sorting ceremony was over, Dumbledore stood up and began his speech welcoming the freshmen.

This was the first time that, when Dumbledore stood up, Draco clearly felt the headmaster's deep gaze sweep over him.

Soon, the headmaster introduced this year's new teachers: Professor Grubbly-Plank returned to the position of professor of the Husbandry of Magical Creatures.

Also, Umbridge, who is in charge of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Then his speech was interrupted by a few overly sweet and fake coughs.

Professor Umbridge stood up and walked to the high table, as if thinking it was her turn to speak.

In the hall, the first-year students were somewhat stunned, while many old students were just watching the show. After reading the Daily Prophet during the summer vacation, many people were full of contempt and distrust for Dumbledore.

Draco glanced at the Gryffindor table and saw that Harry looked confused.

Turning back to look at Pansy and Daphne, he saw that they both looked unhappy, just like him.

After all, she is a lady from a noble family and deeply hates this kind of extremely rude behavior.

The rudeness was followed by a long speech delivered by Umbridge in her teeth-gritting voice.

"The Ministry of Magic has always taken the education of young wizards and witches very seriously.

The successive headmasters of Hogwarts have also injected some new ideas into the school.

This is naturally the right thing to do. If we do not seek progress, we will eventually become a stagnant pool.

But I must emphasize here that we do not encourage the deliberate pursuit of progress just for the sake of progress.”

Hearing this, Pansy sighed unabashedly. Daphne stared at Umbridge warily.

Draco narrowed his eyes and bit his lip slightly.

Umbridge was finally getting to the point.

“Some changes may help us, but in the long run, we will find that most reforms are actually the result of misjudgment.

Together, we can enter a new era of enlightenment, reliability and efficiency.

We are committed to preserving those precious traditions that should be preserved, correcting errors as soon as they are discovered, pursuing perfection, and then completely banning those outdated customs that should have been abandoned long ago."

Umbridge finished speaking and looked at the audience proudly.

Except for Dumbledore, apparently not many people's first reaction was to applaud.

This left her standing alone on the stage for a few seconds, her eyebrows furrowed.

Fortunately, Dumbledore quickly stood up and resolved the embarrassment.

-

After the headmaster announced that the students should go to bed, Draco stood up, said goodbye to Daphne and Pansy, and came to the entrance of the dining hall.

Nott used his little invention again, getting the Slytherin freshmen into line faster than the other houses.

When we were ready to go to the dormitory, alumni from other colleges also walked out.

"Miss Malfoy." Nott called out suddenly, causing Draco to look back.

Harry was coming out of the restaurant.

Draco glanced at Nott with a hint of doubt, but Nott turned around without saying a word and directed the freshmen forward.

It seemed that he was determined to leave some time for himself.

"You're blocking the exit, Malfoy," said Harry.

His fingers glided vaguely over the delicate back of Draco's hand as he passed.

Draco felt as if an electric current had passed through him, and his shoulders and neck suddenly felt numb and itchy.

"You should show more respect to your prefects, Potter."

As he fought back, his index finger quietly brushed across Harry's warm palm.

Then, she gave him instructions in the way Narcissa would whisper, in a voice so soft that no one else could understand.

"No matter what happens in tomorrow's class, don't be provoked, okay?"

Seeing that Harry nodded in agreement despite his confusion, Draco turned around and joined Nott in leading the freshmen back to the cellar.

Before taking the next step, she whispered in the same soft voice.

"Goodnight, darling... um... huh... Harry."

The shyness that couldn't be expressed in the end was rumbling in my chest, pressing my heartbeat so hard that it almost broke my ribs.

Her pretty face flushed red, and what was even more annoying was seeing the smug look on Harry's face.