Track Change
Track Beta
Harry settled in the chair to the right, Draco in the chair to the left. Across from them, eyes twinkling and smiling mischievously, Dumbledore held out a small glass dish.
"Sherbert lemon?"
"No thank you, sir," Harry smiled nervously.
Draco just shook his head, and Dumbledore shrugged, popping one of the candies in his mouth himself. "Well, gentlemen," he said with a smile, "I'm sure you know why you're here."
The two boys exchanged glances. "Actually, sir, we aren't."
"No?" Dumbledore looked mildly surprised, pausing to consider that for a moment. "I would have thought you would. I was referring to the altercation in the Three Broomsticks this afternoon."
Harry and Draco both winced a little.
They hadn't been fighting the last few weeks - it seemed odd to fight with someone that you spent a large amount of time with, researching, and generally slowing coming to a truce and possible comradery with. But this afternoon, Neville had tripped while walking through the Hogsmede tavern, and had spilled his butterbeer all over Draco. Furious, Draco had practically snapped the other's head off, and despite their 'truce', Harry had felt it was only right to defend the Gryffindor Golden Boy. It had been, after all, an accident.
What had started out as a defense had ended up as the two of them standing in the middle of the Three Broomsticks, fists in the front of each other's robes, wands at each other's throats, sparks in their eyes.
That wasn't the worst of it, though. The worst of it was that, after Madame Rosmerta kicked them out, Hermione Granger had snapped that they had both just get out of denial and admit that there was more to their sudden rivalry than just hatred, and being both seventeen year old boys, they took that totally the wrong way. In the end, Neville had ended up holding Draco back, Ron holding Harry, trying to keep the screaming boys from launching themselves at Granger, who had the nerve to merely quirk her eyebrow, and say primly, "What did I say? Denial."
"No one was hurt, sir," Harry tried, swallowing.
"No thanks to Mr. Malfoy or yourself," Dumbledore reminded him. "I am ashamed of you. Two seventh year students, acting like first years. I have come to expect better of you."
"It's not like we've been fighting lately," Harry pointed out, attempting to grasp at any reason why Dumbledore shouldn't be angry with them.
"Precisely," Dumbledore reminded them. "I have not heard reports from the teachers about you two misbehaving since the middle of September. I had thought that you had matured somewhat, choosing to set aside your petty differences and learning to work together. Evidently I was wrong."
Draco sighed like this was some great inconvenience, and spoke up himself. "We did not intend to fight today, sir. It was... an accident, brought on by another accident and Gryffindor pride."
"I have no doubt of the causes," Dumbledore said calmly. "I also no longer doubt that you did not in any way intend to harm the other - I have been made aware of the way you two worked together in attempting to prove Miss Granger wrong, which you realize will only serve to further reinforce her hypothesis." Ignoring their flabbergasted expressions, Dumbledore continued. "With that in mind, I am issuing you detention. Tomorrow night, you will both serve detention with Professor Snape. Together. I believe he wants you to arrive at his office at seven-thirty. For now boys," and his eyes began twinkling again, "I would attempt to keep out of trouble. Especially together, or Miss Granger will not be the only one with 'silly ideas'."
"You may go."