Chapter 21: A Little Deeper

It was my last period class when I remembered that tonight was my first day of detention. I forgot to mention it to Harry and Ron, which is bad because I promised them extra tutoring for the remainder of the year. What a mess I made.

As History of Magic seemed to drone on, I wrote a note to both boys about how I would not be able to tutor them anything after school for the next two months. Ron almost cursed out loud and I think Harry shot me the finger, but I just ignored it and told them I would just give them my answers. I don't normally like to just give them the answers, but I don't want them blaming me if they aren't able to graduate.

I was a little nervous seeing Malfoy again, especially after finding out that he had some sex addicting problems that I don't really want to go further. I did tell myself on and off throughout classes as I listened to lessons I had studied during summer (miraculously) that that was all in the past and that Malfoy and I are deeply in love.

It worked for an hour at most, but then I remembered hearing Pansy and Milicent's attempts to seduce Malfoy and felt a little offended that Malfoy wouldn't come to me for that type of thing.

Does he think that I'm so easily jealous and angry that he couldn't tell me when girls were checking him out?

If he does, I would just like to point out Nicki, who was practically dry humping him in her living room! I seemed to have done quite well after seeing that train wreck.

Dinner came along and the Great Hall swirled with grand aromas of cooking meats, dinner rolls, vegetables, and soups. My mouth watered because I hadn't eaten all day because of the shock. The minute I sat down, I stacked my plate with almost everything and Harry looked at me surprised, but he didn't say anything.

"Why do you have to go to detention for two months?" asked Ron. He sat right across from me while Ginny and Harry were on both my sides.

"Well, I accidentally mentioned magic to my cousins and Fudge made a big stink about it and had me punished for it."

"That sounds a little harsh," commented Harry.

"Well, supposedly, more muggles are finding out about magic, so they're being extra strict about it."

"Still such a lame excuse for a law," said Ginny. "It still doesn't matter since these authors are getting it in their brains that they know wizarding worlds just because they do some research than writing about it."

"Amen!" said Harry.

The next thing that happened made me a little surprised. As I felt the cold waft of winter air enter the Great Hall, I immediately turned my head to see Malfoy with his usual entourage. I noticed that Milicent and Pansy were at the far back looking a little pissed not noticing that when Malfoy and my eyes met, a secret smile lifted from the corners of the cheeks.

It made me remember that that was why I even got to all that crazy shit, just to have that secret smile. Was it worth it though?

Maybe.

"Hermione, what are you looking at?" asked Ginny.

"N-nothing."

"You promise to let us copy off your work for the next two months?" asked Harry.

"Geez, Harry, only thinking ab out your grades," scoffed Ron.

"Unlike you, who has a sure future in a joke shop, I have to pay for auror training and get good grades to do it."

"At least someone is thinking about their grades," I said and gave Ron a look.

After dinner, it was about time for me to go to detention. I didn't know how long it would take, Harry and Ron said it could take up to two hours so I decided to bring the majority of my homework. As I walked to professor McGonagall's classroom, she was there with a tired look in her eyes and her hair was already loose under her hat. I noticed Malfoy wasn't here yet, and I was a little relieved because I didn't feel like seeing hit too handsome face.

McGonagall looked up slowly, " Ah, Ms. Granger, you're hear early,"

"Good evening Professor McGonagall. How long does detention normally last?"

"I would say an hour."

"Really? I feel foolish bringing this much homework," I directed my eyes to my book bag that looked like it was in stitches.

"Well, you will be even more foolish to find out that your not doing homework."

"Oh."

"Instead, you and Mr. Malfoy will help me grade quizzes. Oh, Mr. Malfoy. Nice of you to join us."

I looked behind me and there was Malfoy with nothing more that a quill and a bottle of in. Professor McGonagall had us sit on the other side of the room from each other. The stacks of paper she gave us resembled a mountain. Seriously, they pile made a shadow over my head! Still I took a deep breath, got my red ink, outstretched my hand to the very top, and began reviewing the quiz with the answer key McGonagall gave us. When I was done with twenty quizzes, I was for sure that it was time for us to go, but it was only fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes and my hand already felt like it would break by a stroke from my hand. I stretched it out and felt one of my bones pop loudly. I looked up and saw that Professor McGonagall was too engrossed in some novel, I looked at Malfoy and he had this big smirk on his face.

Soon enough, I gave one back. Normally I would scold him for making me misbehave, but merely communicating while the professor is distracted didn't seem so bad. He held up one finger, telling me to hold on. I looked at McGonagall and thought that I might as well do what I was supposed to. As I was about to mark a big X, I found an airplane, I looked at Malfoy and he mouthed for me to read it.

I unfolded the plane and read: How are you?

I tried to hold back a smile, but I couldn't help it. I got my pen and scribbled: Doing just fine.

The messages started coming along like this.

Well, I'm happy to hear that…your not mad about what I said before, right?

….

….

No.

Be HONEST.

Okay, it does make me feel a little awkward.

Knew it.

Well, it does bug me that you didn't tell me your exes were putting the moves on you.

I didn't think it was a big deal.

Well, that's what you think.

Okay, I'm sorry I was such a wonker, and didn't tell you anything about my past love life.

That's all I wanted to hear.

Bloody hell. These quizzes suck! The first years just get stupider and stupider every year.

That bad?

Yeah, actually one douchebag put in answers for a herbology lesson.

They can't be that bad. They are the leaders of the future.

Than the future is seriously FUCKED!

You're horrible.

Isn't that one of the reasons you like me?

Please, after finding out you were a man whore, I think I will cut you back for a few weeks.

No problem with that…wifey . I never was even in it for the sex.

Oh please.

No, seriously. You are the one that made me realize that women aren't just for pleasure.

Um…you're welcome?

"Well students, your time is up," said McGonagall. I forgot she was even there, and I wondered if she knew we were passing letters. "You two didn't really get far," commented McGonagall. "What were you two doing? Staring at the clock?"

"Course," snorted Malfoy. "I got better things to do rather than hang out in a classroom."

He rushed out of the classroom, leaving his quill and shot me a quick smile.

"Sometimes I wonder if he really is that way," muttered McGonagall.

"What do you mean Professor?"

She looked at me and I saw this twinkle in her eyes. Did she really know? "I have been teaching for many years Ms. Granger, and throughout those years, students were marked with a label. Sometimes, you do come across a young student that is willing to step out of the box."

"I'm sorry, I still don't understand."

"You will."

A.N.: I know I have to work more on Hermione and Malfoy communicating, but I hope this is an improvement even if it is through letter. Thank you for reading and please review.