Disclaimer: All the characters belong to J.K. Rowling. :) Here's Chapter 7.. Enjoy!
Detention with McGonagall
Hermione stood outside Professor McGonagall's office for more than 10 minutes now. She can't face her let alone be with Malfoy for Merlin knows how many hours. She can't take the look of disappointment on Professor McGonagall's face. She's not yet ready to face her, so she just stood outside her office unsure of what to do.
She jumped in shock when Professor McGonagall speaks. "Ms. Granger, are you just going to stand there or should I call Mr. Potter to let him drag you again here in my office."
Stomping to her foot, she opened the door and walk inside her office.
"Professor, I'm so sorry for my misbehaving. It's my fault; I will never do such thing again. I promise."
"Did I hear it wrong? Or Granger just admitted her fault?" For the second time that night, she jumped in shock when she heard Malfoy's voice. He's already in McGonagall's office.
"Shut it ferret!"
"I'm afraid I'm going to stop your argument right there." Professor McGonagall interrupted the heating ambiance in her office. "Sit down Ms. Granger." When Hermione seated next to Draco leaving a fair space between them, she continue. "I'm sure you know why you're here. Yes?" Both of them nodded. "I cannot tolerate such behavior specially coming from you two. You're here for your detention. Don't ask me how long it will last, because I personally don't know also. As long as you didn't get the lesson, we're going to continually meet here for your detention. Do I make myself clear?"
Both of them nodded. "Very well. Follow me." Professor McGonagall instructed them and they follow her to a secluded room in her office. "Sit down." The two follow without questions asked.
"Give me your wand." McGonagall instructed the two. Neither of them moves. "What? Did I say it to a different language that you don't understand?"
Reluctantly Hermione and Draco hand her their wands. "Just for good measures. I don't want any more messed up rooms to be renovated."
Draco looked around. It's just an empty room with a sized of a typical classroom with two chairs. The one he's sitting in and the other one where Granger is seated. Surely, there are no trophies or student records to be segregated or cleaned. "Professor, what exactly are we doing for our detention?" He can't help himself but asked.
"Good question Mr. Malfoy. What you're going to do is simple. I will leave you two here and you're going to try to resolve your prejudices. Of course, the main objective is to not end up killing each other. Talk. Make conversation. I'll come back before midnight." And with that she walks out of the room before Hermione can even start complaining.
Before midnight? That's bloody 4 hours! Great! Just great!" Hermione thought.
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After a sore 10 minutes. Draco broke the silence. "This is boring." The moment Professor McGonagall walk out of the room, Hermione heave her chair as far away to Malfoy as possible. But because of the unruly silence, she still can feel him and hear his every move. "I'd rather scrapping dusty trophies on the trophy room than being stocked in here."
"Can't you just shut up?! I'm trying my best not to notice your presence, but you're too loud! And don't you worry, the feeling is mutual. I'd rather have a dead slug as a company than you!" She glared at him.
"Don't get your knickers on twist Granger. Just pretend I'm not here, like I'm pretending that you're not here either."
"Go fuck yourself Malfoy!"
"Mouthy Granger.."
She struggle not to retort back to him. She's fighting every ounce of her strength not to punch the smirking ferret straight on his face. Without her wand, she knew she's powerless. "But I'm pretty sure a solid straight punch in his face will be awesome." She thought, but she's still a girl and she can't over power a bouncing ferret with physical strength. So she slid down to the floor, with her back on the wall. Besides, she's too exhausted to argue. He's just a waste of time and energy. She closed her eyes and then sooner she fall asleep.
Draco watched Hermione as she slide to the floor, lean to wall and closed her eyes. She's sleeping. After a good 15 minutes, he approached her, careful not to make any sounds that might wake her up. Draco stops when he's a couple of feet away from her and then he sits on the floor facing her. He looks and studies her face. She looks so peaceful. Her high cheek bones, thin rosy lips and those long lashes. He had to admit, she's beautiful. He had the urge to kick himself for thinking like that, but what can he do? She's pretty even with those brown eyes closed.
"You know? I like the sleeping Granger better than the conscious one." He said to sleeping Hermione.
He smirks to her and chuckle silently. "Well, Professor McGonagall said we should make a conversation so here I am, talking to a sleeping Granger, I'm going insane. It's the only time I've got to speak with you though, because you're like a freaking scary troll when you're awake."
"Why do you hate me so much?" He asked her even though he knew she will not answer him. "Well, I used to hate you." He paused a few minutes before he continue. "I admitted I become a complete asshole before. We were kids and having a crazy father just complicates everything."
"I didn't kill anyone." He said after a long pause. "Let alone your parents. Professor Dumbledore could have been my first, but Snape did it instead. I can't do it you know. I can't even cast the unforgivables correctly. My father said I'm too weak and – "
He stops when he saw her whimper in her sleep. She must be having nightmare. Yes. He's very familiar with that. His father and that evil freak Voldemort forced him to watch them as they slaughtered muggles. Even let him sit on the gathering table where he watched Professor Burbage died. She's a good Professor yet there's nothing he can do to save her. Those moments give him sleepless nights hunted by the image of every person he saw being killed.
"Mom..Dad.. I'm sorry – ." He heard Hermione sobbed. And then a single tear fell from her close eyes. His eyes followed the tear making a thin line, ruining her pretty face and then he do the only right thing he knows. He reached for her face and wipes the tears with his thumb. There, you're prettier without those tears. He's so pre-occupied that he didn't notice Professor McGonagall return.
"Well, that's an improvement." McGonagall tell him. "Not bad for the first meeting."
He chuckles and faced her. "No Professor. I'm just lucky she's too exhausted and she fell asleep. If she's conscious, I'm pretty sure you're hosting my funeral tomorrow."
"That's good luck I guessed. Go wake her up or I'll just call Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley to come and get her – "
"No Professor." Draco cut her. "I – I can. I'll bring her." Without waiting for answer he stands and scoop Hermione's sleeping body and he carry her to their dorm.
Professor McGonagall can't help herself but smile on Draco's retreating form and with a happy sigh she whispers. "Young love. It's starting to bloom."
Author's Note: So how was it.. :) Good?Bad? Let me know what you think.. Review.! :) Maybe I'm not gonna upload chapters for the time being.. :| Work is exhausting me.. So sorry for that.. But I'll see you soon.. :*
