Authors Note: This is my first continuous fan-fic, so I'm sorry if I don't update on a regular basis, this is what I will do in my free time when I'm not studying! Even so, please continue reading and PLEASE let me know by reviewing! I love constructive criticism, it really helps! Enjoy :)
Chapter 1 ~ Detention
It was 6pm on a Thursday evening and the Hogwarts students were trundling off to their dormitories with full bellies and pockets full of the latest Honeydukes sweets and Zonkos products. That is, everyone except 8 individuals.
Professor Mcgonagall, who was striding briskly down the 7th floor corridor, was wearing an extremely stern expression, eyes harder than usual under her pair of silver spectacles. Following her was Harry Potter; obediently padding behind like a dog with its tail between its legs. Then Ron Weasley, his cheeks still beetroot red, hair full of melting snow, and a large bruise was forming on his left cheek. Next to Ron walked Hermione Granger, clutching her book bag still, and looking extremely worried. Ginny, Fred and George Weasley followed suit, for once recognising that now was not the time to crack a joke or start singing 'Humperdinck the Mighty' in a loud voice. Trailing behind by a metre of two was Blaise Zambini and Draco Malfoy, the latter of who was scowling and running his hand through his mop of white-blonde hair.
Mcgonagall stopped suddenly, almost causing Harry and the others to stumble into one another like in a cartoon. Her eyes narrowed and she swung open a door that had previously looked exactly like the wall next to them.
"Inside. Now." She said, and the 8 students trailed into the room.
It was completely white, the floors, the ceiling, everything. 8 white chairs sat in a line and Ginny frowned when she was forced to sit next to Zambini who smirked and sat down gracefully. The door closed, and everyone had they feeling they were trapped in a meaningless white box. Professor McGonagall's emerald robes were a stark contrast, and made her (if it was even possible) even more formidable.
"Would someone." She said quietly. "Like to tell me what went on in Hogsmead this afternoon?"
Unfortunately at this moment, Fred Weasley found his voice.
"It was snowing professor."
McGonagall turned sharply towards the twins.
"Was it, or was it not your fireworks that blew up Madam Puddifoots?"
Blaise started sniggering. And George attempted to rescue the situation.
"To be fair professor, nobody really liked that tea-shop anyway."
"I liked it!" piped up Ginny.
"That's because you spend most of your spare time in it snogging Harry here." Said Fred.
"I do not!"
Harry turned pink.
"Silence."
The students turned meekly back towards McGonagall.
"I am appalled at your behaviour. I expected better from all of you, especially you, Miss Granger."
Hermione sniffed.
"Would you please explain fully what happened."
Hermione cleared her throat and looked around nervously.
"Well…Ron, Harry, Ginny and I were heading towards the three broomsticks, when we bumped into Fred and George…"
"Go on." She said sternly.
"We had just returned from Zonkos" said George.
"When we also bumped into these two idiots." Fred motioned to the Slytherins who glowered at them.
"Malfoy…umm…well" started Hermione, when Ron interrupted angrily.
"Insulted my family, professor!"
"And that's when the Weasel punched me." Said Malfoy plainly. A bruise was forming over his eye and McGonagall was staring sternly at Ron.
"Mr Weasley, we do not inflict violence on anyone no matter what they have said!"
"Not him, professor." Malfoy interrupted. "Her." And he motioned to the seat next to Blaise.
Ginny had a smug expression on her face and Zambini was nodding with a slight smile.
"She can throw a good punch, I'll give her that."
Hermione said the next bit rather quickly, staring at the floor.
"Well some insults got thrown around, I kind of hexed Zambini, Wands were drawn, and Ron fell in the snow…"
"I did not fall. I got pushed."
"I think a spell rebounded off the twin's bag which held their firework supply…"
"All of those lovely fireworks…gone…"
"And Madam Puddifoots…kind of got in the way…"
Ginny snorted.
"And I suppose that's when Hagrid found us I guess…"
A quiet silence settled. McGonagall had her eyes closed. A pained expression on her face.
"You are all very lucky that nobody was majorly injured."
George whispered to Fred, "Expect Felicity. I think her heart shattered as her fluffy pink pride and joy went up in smoke."
McGonagall continued, ignoring George.
"However, the Headmaster and the heads of houses have come to a decision that detentions are simply not enough. For you anyway."
"What's going to happen instead?" said Harry nervously.
"Corporeal Punishment?" Fred suggested and smacked Ginny round the head. His brother also suggested ideas.
"Capital Punishment?" He said and gave the Slytherins a creepy smile.
"No." the professor said bluntly. The students looked up expectantly, some with rather wary expressions. She sighed.
"This is how it is going to work. You will be split into pairs. Each pair will then each be sent separately into some sort of mini maze." She held her hand up at the sign of several students starting to interrupt.
"You will have to solve problems, riddles, use magic, you may cross each other's path, but the aim is for all 8 of you to get out of the maze at the same time. To do this I suggest you find each other quickly. You have one hour to get everyone out or the whole lot of you will take over Filch's duties for a month."
There was an outburst of cries and 'That's not fair' and 'Child labour!' before Hermione put her hand up.
"Yes Miss Granger?" and the cries stopped as they waited for her question.
"Why are we doing this instead of a regular detention professor?"
"The goal is to get you to work together instead of against each other."
"You mean we have to work with them?" Whined Ron, pointing at Malfoy and Zambini.
"Yes. And here are your pairs. Fred and George…"
The twins gave an exuberant high five before retreating under the gaze of the Transfiguration professor.
"… Ginny and Blaise…" Ginny shrugged her shoulders and Blaise absent-mindedly picked at his cuticles.
"…Harry and Ron, and Draco and Hermione."
Ron grinned and Harry gave a sympathetic smile to Hermione who was scowling fiercely, slouched in her chair. Malfoy smirked.
"One door every five minutes will open and the next pair shall enter. When the last pair have entered the hour will begin. If even one of you refuse to co-operate, then the whole lot of you will end up scrubbing floors for the entire Christmas break, do I make myself clear?"
There was a mumble of 'yes' and professor McGonagall left the white room.
As soon as she did another door opened up, revealing white mist. Everybody looked around expectantly.
"I think we better lead this don't you?" said Fred, holding out his arm to George.
"Why yes, let us show the children how it's done!" George linked arms with Fred and they strolled towards the door, pausing before they entered.
"Now, no misbehaving you lot." Said Fred.
"We have plans this Christmas you know!"
"And we don't need some naughty naughty children to mess this up!"
They tutted in unison, shaking their heads.
"It was your fireworks that got us here in the first place!" shouted Ron. The twins gave a sly smile before stepping into the mist. The door closed, and the white room was returned to normality.
"You better not mess this up Malfoy." Spat Ron.
"Likewise." He replied coolly.
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