Scratches (Fred Weasley)

(108) Bad and Good

After spending their entire Sunday catching up on homework and lessons, Florence, Nicolai and Xander did not feel rested enough to take on the weekdays. With how much homework they were now receiving on the day to day basis, making it out of the school year in one piece looked pretty impossible.

As if Florence did not have enough things on her plate, with Quidditch practices, school work, and now future Defense meetings with Harry, another load of work was dumped into her arms that Monday morning, as she found herself staring at yet another Educational Decree mounted onto the wall.

No Student Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

"Seriously?" she scoffed, adjusting the straps of her book bag, "Even Quidditch house teams? That's a load of shit right there."

"Well don't worry about your team now, that'll be quite easy to take care of." Nicolai said.

"Yeah, it would be if I didn't have a thousand other things to do." Florence huffed

"I think Nic is talking about the thing with Harry," Xander whispered, "Isn't it a bit suspicious that she's put this up as soon as classes resumed? Do you suppose she knows about it?"

"It's very unlikely..." she said, "I mean, Umbridge wasn't at Hog's Head... Unless someone tattled on us."

"My money is on that blond Hufflepuff. The one who kept doubting Harry? What's his name...."

"Zacharias Smith?" Xander quipped in, Nicolai nodding, "Yeah. Him. He was kind of suspicious all throughout the meeting."

"Well, if he did tattle and his tattling is the reason for this bloody treacherous decree, he better watch out because I'm coming after his arse." Florence snapped, "This is a massive inconvenience. The time I'm going to use to study is going to have to be spent at her sodding office, or Ravenclaw won't get to play."

"Or practice for that matter..." Nicolai pointed out.

"Right. Even worse...thanks Nic."

"No problem."

"But speaking of problems," the frown vanished from her face, now looking at her with a cheeky look, "Why don't you fill Xander in about the news?"

Nicolai's eyes widened, looking at Florence as though she betrayed her, "Flo!"

"News? What news?" Xander frowned, looking back and forth between his friends, "Why is this being kept from me?"

"Yeah, Nic. You said he was fine with it."

"Oh," he said, catching on to what it was, "This is a Jillian thing, isn't? If it is, Flo's right, I am fine with it. So, just spill, Nic."

"I know you're fine with it," she retorted, "But it still feels weird talking to you about it since you're an ex..."

"Wow, okay," Xander said, "While we're at this topic, don't call me an ex. It's what makes it more awkward to talk about, yeah?"

"Agreed..."

"Well," Florence piped in "The upside is, there's atleast one of us in this friend group who hasn't dated her, so I can act as your middle man...woman..."