Thank you to all my reviewers: Rhr4everhr, hundredtimes, cybercol, ObsessedRHShipper, master999, oochey, BookWorm77071 and DarthEdocsil. You all rock.

We're not quite at the party yet, I wanted to have a few more chapters building up to it but hopefully you'll like it. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

The Curious Incident of the Trousers in the Daytime

No sooner had Slughorn announced his party than people were starting to act weirdly. Suddenly, there was a great deal of note passing in classrooms and people were walking around wearing more makeup than Japanese Geishas. Professor McGonagall, in a fit of irrationality not only confiscated all makeup but attempted to ban parchment until she realised that no work would get done.

After two days of listening to laughing from girls, appreciative chuckling at unfunny things by Slughorn and even Peeves' giggling (with the completely unrelated knowledge of all the cups he'd stuck to the ceiling in the trophy room), Ron became almost incredulous when Harry started laughing to himself on Wednesday morning. Ron's theory that Harry had gone insane was not really helped by the fact that Lavender and Parvati were laughing in an identical manner in the background.

'Alright, what's going on?' He demanded of Harry.

'What?'

'I can't stand two more days of this, it's like someone's spilt a cauldron of cheering charms all over the place. I mean, it's only a party!'

The party was only two days away and Harry, who was attending with Luna, had just received a note from her.

'It's only something Luna's written - here,' and he passed Ron the note.

Ron's frown gradually turned to a smile as he looked at a drawing of a Redcap and read aloud Luna's handwriting underneath:

'Harry, as we are near the dungeons for Professor Slughorn's party, I'm sure you are aware that we need to keep an eye out for Redcaps. They lurk in dark places where there's been bloodshed,'...

'Well that's pretty much everywhere you've ever been Harry...' He grinned.

'Luna's brilliant, but we're hardly at risk of being ambushed by a gang of Redcaps at a Christmas party.'

'I dunno,' said Ron, 'I wouldn't put it past Snape to set a few loose. Or even Hagrid – except he'd have invited them for drinks.'

Harry snorted onto his parchment as Hermione came through the portrait hole and announced her arrival by dropping her books heavily onto the table and glaring for added effect.

'What?' asked Ron, who had quickly retracted his hands from the table.

'We've got Double Potions now Ron, that's what!'

'Just when I was beginning to enjoy myself. Still, it's only a couple of hours and then we can enjoy some well earned relaxation...'

Three hours later...

'I trust you know why you are here?' Professor McGonagall's glasses flashed dangerously across the room at Ron and Hermione as they appeared for their detention.

'Yes Professor,' Ron and Hermione both answered, though Ron's was more of a mumble.

It had been the bog standard corridor scenario that resulted in Snape walking passed the moment that Gryffindor hexed Slytherin, though Slytherin had of course started it. In the Potions lesson that followed, Malfoy could be seen walking around in his boxers as someone had "accidently" spilt an invisibility potion onto his trousers.

'I take no pride whatsoever in seeing my students in detention. I'm extremely disappointed in you both. I do of course realise that Malfoy has never been the easiest of classmates to get along with, but I was hoping by now that you could at least share the same room without putting curses on one another's trousers.'

Professor McGonagall did not look remotely entertained, though Ron was struggling to keep a straight face.

'As I trust the pair of you, I am going to leave you to the work I set,' she nodded to Hermione in particular, 'though I trust when I return, that there will be no-one wandering the room without trousers on...' and she shut the door briskly, which was lucky as Ron chose that moment to laugh loudly.

Hermione began scribbling furiously on the piece of parchment in front of her. Ron cast her a furtive glance, then starting chewing on his pencil and shuffling his feet under the table. After about five minutes of this, Hermione sighed loudly and edged her chair towards him.

Ron sat up straight and stared ahead, slightly startled as her arm brushed his.

'Well?'

'Well what?' Ron asked, trying not to think about her arm against his.

'When are you going to start writing?'

'Er... well the thing is I...' He began, but abruptly stopped as he turned his head and came face to face with her, 'Er...'

After a few minutes it was quite clear that Ron's brain had ceased to function.

'Look Ron, Professor McGonagall put us in here for a reason!'

'It's not my fault Malfoy's trousers disapparated Hermione!'

'Trousers can't disapparate Ron!' Hermione scolded, though she knew he was only joking.

'For what it's worth I'm sorry we're stuck in here for two hours alright? I mean Harry's probably living it up in the common room at this very moment and we're doing lines but it could be worse...'

Hermione smiled despite herself. The very idea of Harry 'living it up' in the common room for one thing was amusing.

'You could be stuck in here with Malfoy...'

Hermione shuddered and Ron grinned.

'Horrible thought isn't it? Anyway, what have you got for question one?' and he leant over her parchment to look at her answer.

'Ron! It's bad enough I practically do your homework for you, now I have to help you cheat in detention as well?' She moved her chair away a little dramatically, sitting as far away as she could near the wall.

'Do I smell or something?' Ron raised an eyebrow at the distance she'd gone.

When he got no reply he sighed and started trying to answer the question. He knew McGonagall would never let him out of the classroom otherwise.

After fifteen minutes of silence Hermione walked over to the rear of the classroom but Ron didn't notice, busy as he was scribbling his answer.

Hermione had gotten thirsty so she went to a larger table behind all the others and conjured up a jug of water, pouring herself some into a glass. She then wandered up behind Ron, wondering how on Earth he'd remained quiet for so long.

Reading the parchment over his shoulder she could tell he'd really tried to answer the question properly. Unfortunately, her thoughts were soon interrupted by the aroma of his hair and aftershave. He smelt really nice... She was looking at his hair and had this sudden desire to run her hands through it; she'd always loved the colour. Maybe she'd get a chance to do it on Friday night at the party...

'Aagh! Get it off! Get if off!' He jumped up, brushing his hair.

He looked over at her seat, finding it empty.

'Hermione? There's a bloody great spider wandering around here somewhere!'

Then he turned around and ceased whirling his arms around when he saw her standing there.

'What are you doing back there?'

She blushed and lowered her hand down slowly as it had still been raised in the act of touching his hair.

When she didn't speak Ron watched her hand fall as if captivated.

'It wasn't a spider?' He realised slowly.

'No,' she said in a small voice, 'sorry, I was looking over your shoulder at your writing and I must have brushed your hair by mistake.'

Ron cleared his throat and laughed shakily, rubbing the back of his hair.

'That's alright. I'm just relieved there isn't a spider walking around here big enough to be wearing boots.'

They continued to stare at one another. Peeves glided in and cackling loudly, stuck a trophy to the ceiling with chewing gum but they took no notice.

'I suppose we'd better...' Began Hermione, gesturing to the parchment awkwardly.

'Yeah we need to...'

'Yeah.' And they sat down quickly, embarrassed.

One hour and several furtive glances at one another later McGonagall ended the detention and enquired as to how they'd missed the five trophies that were now hanging from the ceiling.