Chapter 11 - Detention
Draco was sitting behind his desk in his office on the second floor, filling in some paper, when Weaslett knocked on his door, eight o' clock sharp.
"You may enter." Draco answered and Weaslett stepped in to his office.
"I'm here for detention." Weaslett muttered.
"Excellent, have a seat, Ms Weasley." Draco said gesturing to the empty chair in front of his desk. "Would you like some tea?" he asked her as he put down his quill and made himself a cup.
"What exactly will my detention involve, Malfoy?" Weaslett asked eyeing Draco with suspicion.
"It's Professor Malfoy here." Draco reminded her calmly. "Your detention will simply involve talking, and I find tea to be an excellent conversation starter." he continued as he poured Weaslett a cup.
"What will I be talking about, professor?" Weaslett said with gritted teeth.
"I'm simply asking you to tell me how it is that you are under the impression that I 'nicked your brother's girlfriend'." Draco quoted and took a sip of his tea.
Evidently Weaslett had not been expecting this and she looked a little confounded.
"Well, you and Hermione are awfully close for just being friends." Weaslett begun, expecting Draco to deny this, when he didn't she continued, "I think it's obvious to any one who sees you two together that there is more going on between you."
"So what if it was? I'm not saying that it is, but I would like you to explain how that means I'm a home-wrecker." Draco said.
"I know you two talk about everything! I mean, I've always known you two were close, ever since you were heads together your last year here. But I saw just how close you are at Christmas. The way you looked at each other when talking about future plans, the disagreement over the meatballs and the glances. I wanted to kick myself for not seeing it sooner. It's obvious you two are involved and I'll bet anything this has been going on longer than you care to admit. Since you and Hermione talk about everything I'll bet you also talked about her relationship with my brother. I know you can be a bit of a smooth talker and I know you never saw eye to eye with Ron. You can't make me believe you never put ideas in Hermione's head to break up with him." Weaslett spat out, the colour of her face had now taken on the same shade as her hair.
"Do I understand correctly that you believe that I manipulated Hermione into breaking up with your brother and in order to pursuit a relationship with her myself?" Draco asked and raised an eyebrow.
"Basically, yes." muttered Weaslett.
"Very well then, I'm going to tell you something, Ms Weasley. And what I'm telling you now I do not do as your professor, but as someone who you share a best friend with." Draco said and watched Weaslett carefully.
"Ginny, I promise you; Hermione and I are not romantically involved. However, you are right that Hermione and I are close. I would admit it would look rather strange observing our friendship from an outsider's perspective. She is my best friend. I trust her completely and I do tell her everything. You know all about my background, as do she; can you imagine what it feels like for me to be able to trust someone completely after living with frickin' Voldemort and his merry men of Death Eaters?" Draco asked calmly.
"As a matter of fact, I can." Weaslett said in a small voice. "I didn't have him living in my house, but he did live in my head for a good part of my first year here." She looked down at her cup.
"Then you also know how it feels to be accepted and trusted by someone even after you've royally cocked up, don't you?" Draco said, carefully watching Weaslett.
"I suppose I do." Weaslett mumbled and took a sip of her tea.
"Well, it seems Hermione trusts me and I can tell you, being friends with Hermione has made me a better person, it really has. I care a great deal about her, and her happiness is very important to me. I would never, not in a hundred lifetimes, manipulate her or talk her into something just so I would gain something out of it. We never once talked about her relationship with your brother until they broke up. And even then, we didn't talk about it; she just told me why she broke up with him. Sure, I'll be the first one to admit that when we were still in school I didn't always have the nicest things to say about your brother, nor about your fiancé either for that matter. But that was old news, really. My entire repertoire of insults regarding your brother all involved red hair, vacant expression, lots of siblings or hand-me-down-robes. I must admit I was not very creative there. And you know Hermione; come on – do you really think anything I might have said about your brother in school has affected her to break up with him?" Draco asked in disbelief.
"Of course not. She's smarter than that." Weaslett said, looking up at Draco. Draco gave her a short smile.
"So, now after we've talked I'm going to ask you again; how come you are under the impression that I 'nicked your brother's girlfriend'?" he asked.
Weaslett took a moment to think before she answered.
"I suppose I may have jumped to some conclusions based on not-so-hard-facts, just like Harry said. I suppose what I'm trying to say is; I don't actually think you're a home-wrecker and I'm sorry, Malfoy." she said slightly embarrassed. Draco was quite surprised to learn Weaslett had been talking to Potter, and that Potter evidently was with Draco on this.
"That's quite alright, Ginny. Your apology is accepted. I would however much appreciate it if you in the future, should you have similar concerns involving my personal life, addressed these issues with me directly and not in front of the whole class." Draco said and gave Weaslett a strict look.
"Of course, I'm really sorry I made a scene today." Weaslett said giving Draco an apologetic look.
"Don't worry about it. Water under the bridge now." Draco said.
"As long as you're not speaking to me as my professor, do you mind if I ask you a question? I've got a feeling I might be pushing my luck here, but I've got to ask." Weaslett said, suddenly looking a bit mischievous.
"You may ask, I can't guarantee I'll answer." Draco replied.
"You are in love with Hermione, aren't you though?" Weaslett asked. Draco heard it was an honest question and this time there was no accusation in her voice. Draco felt his cheeks burning a bit and he was suddenly grateful his office was quite dimly light so that Weaslett couldn't see the redness spreading up his neck onto his face.
"You are quite right that would be pushing your luck, Ms Weasley. Consider your detention fully served. You may now return to your common room." Draco said and started fiddling with his parchments. Weaslett rose up from her chair and made her way to the door.
"Don't worry, professor, I won't tell the rest of the students. I won't tell my best friend, Hermione, either. But I really do think you should." Weaslett said and opened the door.
"Thank you, professor Malfoy, for the tea. You were right; it really is a great conversation starter." she smiled as she closed the door behind her leaving a stunned Draco alone in his office. Had he just gotten Weaslett's blessing to ask out Hermione?
When Draco climbed through the portrait hole later that evening that evening he found Hermione in the common room, on the sofa, sleeping with a heavy book on her chest. Draco couldn't help but smile to himself. He walked over and picked up the book and placed it on the coffee table next to the sofa. For a moment he considered letting Hermione sleep on the sofa, but decided against it, as he knew she would have a sore neck in the morning. He knew from experience how a night on than sofa treated ones neck as he'd numerous times during his last year fallen asleep on that very same sofa after studying. He carefully picked Hermione up in his arms and carried her towards her room. As he walked up the stairs he felt Hermione's arms grabbing a hold around his neck.
"How did detention go?" she asked sleepy, her eyes still closed.
"Fine, it's all sorted out now. Go back to sleep." Draco said softly and put Hermione down on her bed.
"I'm so proud of you, you know that right?" Hermione said not opening her eyes as she made herself comfortable in the bed.
"Yeah, what gives?" Draco asked as he reached over her to cover her with a blanket.
"I know Ginny insulted your pride today, and you decide to talk to her and sort everything out. Two years ago you wouldn't have handled the situation the same way. You're a good man, Draco." Hermione said and hugged her pillow.
"It's all you, you know. You've always pushed me to be better. In school you gave me a run for my money being top of the class. I studied harder so I could beat you in classes. I know now that I handled it poorly when you outperformed me and for that I'm sorry." Draco said and stroked a stray lock of hair out of Hermione's face. She smiled at his touch.
"And now I find myself wanting to be a better person, every day. For you." he continued.
"Why?" she asked quiet sill not opening her eyes.
Draco took a deep breath.
"Because I love you, Hermione." Draco answered simply.
"I love you too, Draco." Hermione smiled.
Draco smiled to himself. He knew she didn't realise he might have meant it in a slightly differed way than she did. He leaned forward and kissed Hermione on her forehead.
"Good night, Hermione." Draco whispered and Hermione gave a content sigh as answer.
No matter, Draco thought to himself as he closed the door to Hermione's room behind him as he left, eventually I'll make sure she know.
