Author's Note: Well, I really intended this drabble to be a one shot, and when I said I'd update I meant a different story, lol, but it's cool, I can do a chapter or two more of this one seeing as how it was my fault for not specifying. Now, on with the story:


Ever since Harry's downfall in the Hufflepuff-Gryffindor quidditch match, he noticed a bizarre difference in one of his best friends. Hermione would always be seen smiling to herself and humming along to an unknown song during classes, skipping through the halls in between passing periods, and not even bothering to raise her hand in classes to answer questions.

Harry wasn't the only one to notice her odd change in behaviour. The whole of Gryffindor house became aware of her newly changed attitude, some finding it amusing whilst others thought her to becoming slightly ill.

It was a week after Harry was released from the Hospital Wing and the Golden Trio was heading down to the dungeons for Double Potions with the Slytherins.

"I'm not sure I got all the ingredients for the Befuddlement Draught right," Ron stated, glancing over his foot-long Potion's essay due that day. "I've got Scurvy-grass, Lovage, and Sneezewort, but I think I'm missing something. What do you say, Hermione?" His gazed turn to the person in question and was slightly bemused to see his friend humming with a glazed look to her eyes, as though she were hypnotized.

"Hermione?" Ron waved his hand in front of her face and she seemed to snap out of her trance-like state.

"Hmmm?"

"What do you say?" asked Ron.

"Oh – um, I'd have to – um – say that – um…" Hermione trailed and the look of confusion upon her face couldn't hide the fact that she hadn't been listening to Ron in the slightest.

"Hermione, what's been up with you lately? For the past week you've been – I dunno – different somehow," Harry stated bluntly.

"I'm sorry. But no, I'm alright, peachy really," Hermione said, more to herself than to Ron and Harry, and gave a dreamy sort of smile.

There was an odd silence between the friends as they finished their walk to the dungeons, and once there, sat in their usual seats – as far from the front as possible.

Hermione propped her elbow atop the desk at which they sat and once again got a glazed sort of look in her chocolate orbs.

"Pull out your essays," Snape said, his voice sickly as ever, "and I shall see whom will be spending detention with me tonight," here he took a moment to glare in the direction of Harry and Ron, "Accio essays".

Pieces of parchment soared toward the front of the classroom and Snape grasped them firmly in his long, thin fingers. Flipping through the essays, an evil grin formed upon his unwashed face.

"Well, well, well, it seems that there is a student who felt unworthy of turning in their assigned homework," Snape exclaimed. Eyes turned here and there throughout the classroom, searching for the unfortunate student.

"No one would have guessed that Know-It-All Granger would be the one to not finish her work."

All faces turned to see Hermione still staring into space, a diminutive smile playing across her lips. She noticed nothing as she let out a heavy sigh and continued to gaze off.

Snape strode to the trio's desk and stood in front of Hermione, who hadn't seemed to notice the presence of her Potion's master. He cleared his throat. Hermione still hadn't realized what was going on. He cleared his throat once again, this time louder. Still Hermione made no seems of responding to him.

Ron nudged her in the side with his elbow.

"Ouch… Ron, kindly not hit me, will you?" Hermione hissed as she rubbed her side tenderly.

"Well, now that I have your attention, Miss Granger," Snape's words were like venom. "I believe you shall be getting a zero on your homework."

"Wh-what? No, sir, I have my essay here," Hermione gasped, beginning to rummage through her school bag.

"Likely excuse, Miss Granger. That'll be a zero for your essay. Detention with me tonight, my office at eight o'clock –"

"But, Professor, I have my hom –"

"And twenty points from Gryffindor," Snape finished with a sneer while the Slytherins laughed whole heartedly from behind.

Hermione's face was white as a sheet of paper. She couldn't believe this. How could she have been day dreaming, especially in Snape's class, and now gotten a zero on her assignment?

"Now that we have that problem solved," he pointed to the board where words began to form, "follow the instructions on the board. You have until the end of class. Begin."

There was a shuffle of feet as passed to the front of the classroom to collect ingredients and tools.

For the rest of the period, Hermione could not concentrate on the potion before her. Her thoughts ran from what she had been previously thinking of and then of how Snape could be such an insufferable git.

After what seemed like hours, the bell finally rang, indicating that is was time for the last class of the day. As Hermione gathered her belongings, Snape strode to her and said, "Don't forget your detention tonight, Miss Granger. Eight o'clock sharp. Do not waste my time any more by showing late."

"Well, if you don't want your time wasted, why don't you stop giving pointless detentions?" A voice echoed from the doorway. The voice was almost too familiar to Hermione. It had kept her mind preoccupied for days and her thoughts elsewhere than where they should be.

She turned her head and saw the handsome figure of Cedric Diggory standing there, awaiting for his last class, Potions.

"This has nothing to do with you, Mr. Diggory," Snape growled, eyes narrowing on the approaching Hufflepuff.

"Well, it has everything to do with me, doesn't it?" Cedric started kindly. "For I don't believe you should be giving out detentions for no serving purpose and then claim we're wasting your time when you're the one to have issued the detention to begin with and it is no one's fault but your own." There was a smug grin threatening to break on Cedric's face as Snape glared daggers at the seventh year.

"That'll be a detention for you as well, Mr. Diggory. My office, eight o'clock; and don't be late," Snape stated. "No take your seat. Miss Granger, get out of my classroom… NOW!" Hermione had been smiling at Cedric shyly, but could not seem to tear her eyes from him. Though Snape's shout seemed to have awoken her brain for she gathered her stuff and ran to her next class, History of Magic.

The whole class period Hermione's thoughts traveled back to Cedric and the way he had stood up for her, the way he smiled so adorably at her, the way sparks of light blue flickered in his cloudy grey eyes when he laughed. Before she knew it, the bell had rung for dinner and all classes began to file out of their rooms, heading for the Great Hall, eager to feed their grumbling stomachs.

Hermione walked from her classroom, lagging behind Harry and Ron, still day dreaming about Cedric.

"Oi, Hermione, come on," Ron whined.

"Library – loads of homework – see you," Hermione mumbled softly and dashed toward the library. She rounded corner after corner and soon found the solitude of the library, her favorite spot in all of Hogwarts.

Walking through the doors, she noted her favorite armchair unoccupied and grinned. She plopped herself upon the chair, pulled out The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 3), and immersed herself within the knowledge the book possessed.

After finishing three chapters of her book, Hermione looked at her watch and saw that it was five minutes to eight.

Hastily throwing her book back in her bag, she darted from the peace and comfort of the library rather noisily, earning her a piercing glare from Madam Pince.

She ran down flights of stairs, turned sharp corners (sometimes close to slipping), and finally stood panting in front of Snape's office door. She knocked with her right hand, her left clutching a stitch in her side.

"Enter," a dark voice boomed. Hermione pushed the door open and saw the all too familiar face of Severus Snape.

"You're late," he said simply.

"I – I know, I'm sor – sorry," Hermione gasped through breaths, still clutching her side in pain.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape said. "Now sit!" He pointed to one of two desks with his wand and paper appeared on the desk.

Hermione slumped her shoulder, allowing her school back to topple to the floor gently. As she sat down, there was another knock on the door.

"Enter," Snape repeated.

Hermione turned her neck and saw Cedric Diggory enter the room, his face red as well.

'This should be quite an interesting night' Hermione thought.


Author's Note: Yes, indeed it has been too long, lol. So here's the next chapter. One more should do it, I think. This one wasn't very good, but I hope it's more detailed than the last and ya'll like it! Thanks to my reviewers – Kalia Clyde, Eaglegrl, Kayla, Nynaeve80, and Criis... Mucho reviews is welcome, even flames:-D Gracias.