WHO: Draco, Desdemona
WHEN: Just after winter holidays.



And for context:

**
Posted around the school on the first day back to term:

HIGH INQUISITOR POSITION ANNOUNCED

Dolores Jane Umbridge is pleased to accept the new and most esteemed position of Hogwarts High Inquisitor. The High Inquisitor shall henceforth be responsible for ensuring high standards in education, by overseeing the day-to-day operation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Staff and students are thanked for their most gracious cooperation.

To assist with this most important task, there shall be formed an Inquisitorial Squad. These elite students will be selected to aid the High Inquisitor in ensuring the school is operating to the utmost efficiency. Interested students should visit the former Wizarding Literature classroom (Empty Classroom, Fifth Floor) in order to sign up. Selected students will be notified shortly after the selection process.
**
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It's only been a short while since students started trickling back from holiday -- though now it's more a flood than a trickle as the start of the new term looms ahead. It's been just enough time for Draco to resituate himself in his prefect's quarters, unpack most of his things and, of course, put the fear of God in a few First Year Ravenclaws on his way back up from the dungeons. Looking quite pleased with himself, he had been on his way to the Great Hall when a certain posted announcement had caught his eye... and, quite obviously, his plans took a different turn immediately thereafter for here he is, approaching the empty classroom that had been mentioned on the flier. No doubt the inclusion of words like 'elite' had a hand in steering him up here. Without bothering to knock he pushes the door open, peering in shrewdly to make sure he's got the right room, that nothing has changed since the postings were hung about.

It's the right room, though the number of students rushing right up to help Umbridge is ... Well, so far, it consists of Draco. Which is why he happens upon Desdemona sitting at the front of an empty classroom, in utter silence except for the heavy tick-tock of a small clock that's been put on the desk to mark the time. This front desk has been cleaned of dust, but the rest of the room remains untouched, covered in dropcloths and dust. There's a single chair pulled up to face the main desk, a quill and a long roll of parchment on that side, filled with a delightfully detailed questionnaire. As for Desdemona, after two hours of sitting in prim readiness, she grew bored and summoned up a tiny charmed snake. She's in the process of making it do figure-8s when Draco peers inside, oblivious to his presence at this point.

Well, clearly Draco was expecting more of a turn-out. Though, really, he shouldn't be too surprised. All the same, he arches his eyebrows at the (almost) empty room, striding in a moment later with his head held high, as always, even if there's naught but Desdemona here to impress. Simultaneously he clears his throat to make his presence known -- as if his approach hasn't already done so. "This is where the sign-ups for that," there's a beat of pause as he recalls the wording on the poster, "Inquisitorial Squad are being held?" It's not too much of a question really since he's sure he's in the right place, even if it's a little... underpopulated at the moment. It's more to breach the reason he's here.

At the sound of a throat being cleared behind her, the miniature snake immediately unfurls and zips smoothly up into the end of Dezzy's wand, promptly disappearing as if it had never been. It takes only half a second before she's turning with a quiet smile to look upon the arrival. No, she's entirely too used to hiding things to be rattled at getting caught playing with a foolish little charm. "Oh, yes. Quite," she confirms with a nod, gesturing towards the very open and available seat across from her. "I take it that you would be interested in signing up then?" That icy blue gaze flickers over him. She knows damn well who he is, of course, but since her family is the very antithesis of the Malfoys, she's not going to announce it too quickly. He does, however, get a small but approving smile.

Draco watches the tiny snake disappear into the witch's wand, looking unimpressed but as if he can't really be arsed to care about the silly ways she's found to pass the time at the moment. Besides, he's hoping to secure a position on this 'elite' squad and snarking at the witch who's apparently in charge of taking names probably isn't going to serve him well in the pursuit of that goal. He glances over to the seat she's just motioned to, not hesitating to take it as he confirms in his usual, slightly bored, drawl, "Yes, I think I am." But since they seem to be united in the common goal of getting him squared away for this little group he returns her smile with a small, thin one of his own. "Draco Malfoy," he announces, not bothering to note that she hasn't asked his name yet. He's just that efficient, see.

Desdemona is not exactly too concerned what some child thinks of her methods of whiling away the long, lonely hours stuck in this horrible dusty classroom, but she simply smiles innocently and turns to face forward again as he sits. They're both so civilized and polite, it's enough to make a person ill. But Dezzy is used to that nauseated feeling. "Oh good. Professor Umbridge will be so pleased. You seem precisely the sort of student she's been looking for." The type that actually shows up to this stupid thing? She gives a little nod to the name. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Malfoy. I'm Desdemona Mercurius. I'll be Professor Umbridge's new assistant this term."

As she goes on, Draco settles back in his chair and folds his hands in his lap. He just nods a little as she says it's a pleasure, giving another small smile and not looking surprised at the sentiment. Of /course/ it's a pleasure to meet him. But then she introduces herself and there's a note of dawning recognition in the look he gives her. It may take a bit of sifting though all the various names and stories that he's heard from his father over the years to figure out just where he knows that surname but he'll figure it out in due time. It's only now that his eyes fall upon the questionnaire and quill set on his side of the desk she's perched behind and he scans down the first few lines in silence. "Am I meant to fill this out before we start the sign-up?" It's difficult to tell whether he's just trying to breach the next subject again or if he's expecting the formality to be waved; his expression remains expectant in any case.

"That was part Professor Umbridge's specific instructions," Desdemona says, looking down at the lengthy questionnaire and having to fight any number of urges to roll her eyes. Instead, she just gives a small smile, like she's considering being just the teensiest bit naughty. "But perhaps you could tell me a little about yourself instead and we'll see if we can't just make some shorter work of it," she suggests, with a sidelong glance at the door and then back to the student. "Now then, what interests you in the Inquisitorial Squad?" she asks, leaning forward slightly with polite interest.

For just a moment Draco looks a little disappointed as he resigns himself to the ludicrously detailed questionnaire but that expression is wiped clean again as she bends the rules a little and he gives her a satisfied little smile. No, he won't be squealing on her any time soon, she can rest assured. He considers the many various answers that he can give to her question before finally replying in an even tone, "Well, the posters claim that this... squad is going to help keep Hogwarts in good order. I can't pretend not to have noticed a decline in the standards here -- honestly, it's become more a celebration of mediocrity than anything else. Sad, really." He seems to consider going on in greater detail, perhaps putting a more personal spin on things but he doesn't seem to rule it prudent at the moment. There will be plenty of time for his prejudices and grudges later, many and varied as they are. "And I figure I should consider it an extension of my Prefect's duties to make certain that the school is operating at its best." He puffs out his chest just slightly to call attention to that shiny little Prefect badge if she hasn't noted it already.

Desdemona nods her head once as he seems to understand this whole private arrangement they have going, seeming just a bit anxious at bending the rules. Really, she couldn't give a flip about the stupid survey and figures at this rate, Umbridge will be lucky to get what students she can. None of this is shared with young Master Malfoy, of course. Instead, she just gives another few nods as she heads him out, her glance flicking down to the pin as he makes it a point to show it off to her. "Ah yes. Well, that does make sense. It sounds to me as if you must already have quite a bit of experience in keeping your students in line. And I'm certain Professor Umbridge will be happy to hear that there are still students who aspire to more than just mediocrity. That is, after all, the idea behind such an /elite/ group." She glances down at the parchment from this upside down angle. "And what particular skill do you think you'd bring to the Squad?"

Draco seems satisfied, even a bit smug as she seems to see the significance of that pin he bears so proudly. "Some of them need quite a bit of attention to keep them in line," he puts in as further explanation. "But I manage it easily enough." Of course, his definition of those 'out of line' and his methods of correction might be subject to question but he seems less than concerned. After all, these notions will correspond to well enough to those of the Inquisitorial Squad anyway. "Skill? Well, my reputation for keeping troublemakers in line and getting things done," he makes a point of repeating those various traits for emphasis, "makes me a model leader. I'm already captaining the Slytherin Quidditch team," he adds for evidence to that claim. "And some of the professors have gone so far as to give me extra responsibilities in their classes since I've already risen to the head of their classes." Though 'some of the professors' is probably more aptly translated as just Professor Snape, he lets that little boast rest. "And I'm quite good at potions, if ever it should come up." He tips his head and adds on a conversational, if tangential note, "I think Professor Umbridge knows my father rather well. From the Ministry. He's rather good at getting things done as well." In oh so many ways. So he's taking after his father in his efficiency, apparently.

"So you're certainly a natural leader then," Desdemona sums up with a graceful smile. "It sounds as if you already shoulder a great deal of responsibility. As long as you don't feel that the Inquisitorial Squad might cut into the time required to do your other duties..." But it's not even really a question, since she highly doubts he's suddenly going to reconsider at this point. Really, it's more an opening for him to boast some more, since he does seem to enjoy it. "And being a strong student, I'm sure that Professor Umbridge will want to note that. You can surely help encourage the rest of the student body to follow your example." She looks over at him, giving him a considering glance. "And of course, I will make mention of your father, as well. Though, frankly, I doubt she will need too much convincing at this point. Obviously, the ultimate decision will be hers, but it sounds to me as if you are the very sort of student she has been looking for." And not because he's the only one to answer the ad so far. "Should you know of anyone else who might also benefit the Squad, I will be here for the rest of the week." It's an awesome way to start a new job, alone in a dusty classroom.

As she mentions the possibility of the Squad interfering with all his other many duties Draco's expression sours just slightly -- though that /is/ helped by the obvious opportunity to lay on another thick layer of bravado. A moment without boasting is a moment wasted, after all. "No, of course not," he drawls easily. "I've managed to handle all of my other responsibilities easily enough. I'm sure that I'd be able to serve the Inquisitorial Squad well... /along/ with everything else." Naturally, he looks quite pleased indeed that Malfoy Senior's influence is noted, though his small smile broadens subtly when she suggests that his talents alone should be enough to get him in without having to resort to family ties. "I may have a few hopefuls," he replies after a moment's consideration. "I'll make sure that they're aware of the Squad and I'm sure they'll be along sometime this week." No doubt he's going to get doing a lot of suggesting about the Slytherin common room. He's known to be quite... persuasive, after all.

"I didn't think so," Desdemona confides with that secretive little smile of hers again, as Draco assures he won't have problems being overloaded. "From the sounds of it, you do seem to have a firm grip on your various responsibilities." It's a gift from her parents, being able to always tell people what they want to hear. Not that this one is all that hard to read, now, is he. She seems pleased as he mentions knowing some others who might be interested in helping with the Squad. "Of course. I look forward to it then. I'm sure if they share your particular outlook on these important duties, Professor Umbridge will be pleased to include them in this as well. Now, as for that questionnaire..." She makes a point of glancing to the door before gesturing at it with a small flick of her wand. She's filled out papers enough times to not even need to speak the incantation anymore. The parchment quickly fills itself in with still-wet ink, some of the answers utterly made up, the rest taken from what they've discussed here today. Enough so that it's not exactly a misrepresentation, but it's definitely a slight bending of the rules. It's a little more showy than she'd usually dare, but sometimes freedom, even this limited sort of freedom, is intoxicating.

If Draco realizes how transparent he's being right now he doesn't seem to mind. As long as she keeps showering him with compliments he'll stay as happy as a clam. Once again, he grants her a little smile, as pleasant and respectful as the others he's given and just as self-satisfied as well. "The others should be quite enthusiastic once they hear about all the important things Professor Umbridge plans to do with the Squad," he continues to lay it on, his sucking up just short of sycophancy. No, he'll save that extreme for his underlings. "If it's something I feel strongly about I don't usually have much trouble persuading them." Which, actually, might be something of an understatement, possibly the first he's uttered in this meeting. His pale eyebrows quirk just slightly as she wordlessly fills out the questionnaire for him and he glances over the long list of answers she's supplied for him, once again more than content to just let this be their little secret. "Is there anything more that you need of me?" he asks with that same sickening politeness after another moment's silence, flicking his cold eyes up to her with a look of expectance.

"Splendid. It sounds as if the other students already look up to you," Desdemona notes with that little smile of hers, sitting back after she's finished filling out the parchment for him. "I believe that's everything then," she confirms, giving another little flick of her wand so that the parchment scrolls itself along to a fresh, blank questionnaire. For all those students who are knocking down the door, no doubt. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Malfoy. I've no doubt you will make an excellent addition to Professor Umbridge's squad. Someone will be in touch with you shortly."

Draco pushes himself to his feet and smoothes back his white-blond hair. "Thank you, Miss... Mercurius, was it?" He's still mulling over that name and she gets a thoughtful glance. "I look forward to doing my part on the Squad." No, he doesn't seem to have any doubts that he's as good as in. He inclines his head graciously, a clearly practiced gesture, and turns to leave. And already his lips are reassuming their usual cold smirk as he heads for the door. This, after all, is just one more accolade to add to the others. As if he doesn't have enough power and bragging rights as it is.

Desdemona nods in confirmation at her name, sitting back again as he rises and tucking her wand away. Her smile is nothing but innocence and friendliness, of course, even as he might be mulling over that old family name of hers. "The Squad will be lucky to have you," she replies simply, not exactly confirming that he's a shoo-in, but at least implying it, if the whole conversation hasn't been enough to do that already. The smile remains in place until he takes his leave, at which point it promptly slips away, replaced by a neutral but thoughtful expression. Draco Malfoy. That's worth noting.