I give up for the day and walk to the Great Hall, I’m hungry and very annoyed. Just before stepping inside I empty another phial of my potion, giving me a boost for a couple of hours. The tables are already full of students and food. I join the pact, quickly making eye contact with Draco. His face is a mask. Being away from each other is hard and it starts to feel more and more like an actual breakup, and I am not ready for that. We just can’t give Umbitch any reason to mention us to the Dark Lord. He has been gaining a lot of power since Christmas. The ministry and newspapers are almost fully in his grasp, the Daily Prophet is slowly changing, reporting less on Death Eater activities while we know that it is only increasing.