Chapter 186 - Malfoy (1/2)

Soon, the rest of the class had arrived at the classroom and Harry and Ron planted themselves on either side of Arth.

"My dears, it is time for us to consider the stars," she said. "The movements of the planets and the mysterious portents they reveal only to those who understand the steps of the celestial dance. Human destiny may be deciphered by the planetary rays, which intermingle. . ."

Half an hour later, each of them had been given a complicated circular chart, and was attempting to fill in the position of the planets at their moment of birth. It was dull work, requiring much consultation of timetables and calculation of angles.

"I've got two Neptunes here," said Harry after a while, frowning down at his piece of parchment, "that can't be right, can it?"

Arth frowned.

"Unless the entire universe is slowly falling apart, you are doing something wrong."

"Aaaaah," said Ron, imitating Professor Trelawney's mystical whisper, "actually, when two Neptunes appear in the sky, it is a sure sign that a midget in glasses is being born, Harry. . . ."

Seamus and Dean, who were working nearby, sniggered loudly, though not loudly enough to mask the excited squeals from Lavender Brown - "Oh Professor, look! I think I've got an undiscovered planet! Oooh, which one's that, Professor?"

"It is Uranus, my dear," said Professor Trelawney, peering down at the chart.

"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" said Ron.

That was not smooth. Very not smooth.

Most unfortunately, Professor Trelawney heard him, and it was this, perhaps, that made her give them so much homework at the end of the class.

"A detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart," she snapped, sounding much more like Professor McGonagall than her usual airy-fairy self. "I want it ready to hand in next Monday, and no excuses!"

"Miserable old bat," said Ron bitterly as they joined the crowds descending the staircases back to the Great Hall and dinner. "That'll take all weekend, that will. . ."

"Why the hell did you have to hit on Lavender during class?" Asked Arth with disgust still written all over his face. "You were bloody disgusting."

"You can't stop my manly charm." Replied Ron while wiggling his eyebrows.

"Lots of homework?" said Hermione brightly, catching up with them. "Professor Vector didn't give us any at all! And Ron, you are anything but manly."

They reached the entrance hall, which was packed with people queuing for dinner. They had just joined the end of the line, when a loud voice rang out behind them.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!"

"What?" said Ron shortly.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that everyone in the packed entrance hall could hear. "Listen to this! FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC! It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

Malfoy looked up.

"Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" he crowed.

Arth gave a snort.

"If Mr. Weasley was a nonentity, then why bother even trying to bring his name up? To me, it seems like this "Rita Skeeter" is either deliberately trying to defame people, or is just an incompetent reporter that can't get anything right. Anyways, which ever one she is, I wouldn't believe her stories, cause they would be unreliable."

"Shut up Arthur, nobody wants to hear you talk. Oh! Look there's a picture, Weasley!" said Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. "A picture of your parents outside their house - if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

Ron was shaking with fury. Everyone was staring at them.

"Get stuffed, Malfoy," said Harry. "C'mon, Ron. . ."

"Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter?" sneered Malfoy. "So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?"

"You know your mother, Malfoy," said Arth with a mildly annoyed look, "must think you are some mama boy who can't survive a day without his homemade candy. Imagine just how worried she must be every time she forgets to send you some sweets, like some naive little girl."

Malfoy's pale face went slightly pink.

"Shut the hell up Kingscrown. Don't insult my mother."

"Then maybe you should stop insulting other people's parents as well, let's go and leave this baby alone," said Arth while turning away.