As always, I do not own the rights to any of the characters. They all belong to the wonderful genius J.K. Rowling. I do, however, own my own twisted and nasty plot, so HA! Umm...anyways, enjoy!!!

The Messenger and the Dragon

Chapter Two: Detention

*Hermione's POV*

"DETENTION!" screamed Snape and McGonnagal in perfect unison.

"50 points from Gryffindor!"

"50 points from Slytherin!"

Snape was gripping Hermione's arm quite tightly. McGonnagal had a firm grip on Malfoy's shoulder.

"Severus, how about I deal with these two, since you are in the middle of explaining the potion. I may have to take them to the Headmaster. I think I can come up with an apt and *fair* punishment..."

"Fuuhhrukmpph." Mumbled Snape incoherently. Hermione squirmed out of his grip. He stormed angrily back into his classroom, pounding on desks and taking as many points from Gryffindor as possible.

"Hermione! You should be ashamed of yourself! Honestly! You, too, Mr. Malfoy! Both of you, head students. You two are the models by which others follow. To cause such an outburst, and act so immaturely! I'm ashamed to call you my students!" McGonnagal stormed ahead, pulling them along by their forearms. Draco was looking as stuck up as usual, holding his head high and pretending not to hear a word McGonnagal had said. Hermione felt like crawling into some hole in the floor and never coming out. What had gotten into her? It had felt good to slap the little creep, though.

"Er-Professor McGonnagal, where are you taking us?" Hermione asked in a voice that came out squeaky and scared.

"To the Headmaster, of course. He will help me decide your punishment. Unfortunately for you two, we have started a new program to help get rid of old rivalries and foolish stereotypes. You two will be lucky enough to test it out."

"McGonnagal, if you even *dare* try to shut me up with the Mudblood for detention, I'll owl my father. You don't want me to do that, now do you?"

"Mr. Malfoy, I presume you don't mean to try and threaten me. You seem to have looked over a trivial detail. The Ministry of Magic is backing this program, 100%. Your father won't be able to change a thing. Also, I'm sorry to inform you that your punishment will be worse than just being forced to share a detention. Ah, here we are. Pepperimps."

She prodded the two of them up the staircase with the tip of her wand.

"Ah. Minerva. What ever happened to the two of them? They look as if they have spent the last twenty minutes swimming in an ink pool. Why the grim face?" Dumbledore greeted them, a slight smile on his face and a definite twinkle in his eyes.

"Albus. I think we have our first guinea pigs. They have demonstrated all morning a desire to test out our new, er, program."

Hermione gulped, and looked at the floor. What was wrong with all the teachers? First the seating arrangements, then the partnering, and now something *worse* than detention?

Hermione looked incredulously at Dumbledore. He was actually laughing at them!

"Congratulations, congratulations. Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger...is it true that you, er, got into an ink and word fight? Is it true that you, Mr. Malfoy, called this young lady a Mudblood? Is it true, Ms. Granger, that you actually slapped him across the cheek?"

Hermione and Draco both stared at the floor with intense concentration and mumbled "yes".

"Hmmm...I see. Here is how we will deal with this. The amount of disruption you caused, and the damage to others' property, would, should, result in several detentions. They would usually be the nasty, Forbidden Forest type. However, Professors McGonnagal, Snape, Flitwik, and Trelawny came up with a new program this year. Basically, with the rise of Voldemort, we have decided that any disagreement between the houses must cease. In perilous times, we must know how to work together. So we have set up a little "punishment" program for students who don't get along. Also, all of your classes will have seating charts. And Gryffindor and Slytherin, as you may or may not have noticed, have all of their classes together. You two will be required to work on all projects together, sit next to each other in every class, and every time you two cause some sort of disruption to the class---you will have detention, together. Because of this incident this morning, you will have detention together tonight. You will begin to put the library books in alphabetical order, going by the authors' last names. You will have detention from 8 to 11. I will oversee. That's all."

"Thank you, Albus." McGonnagal pushed them out of the room and back down the staircase.

"Both of you, go clean up. I expect to see you this afternoon. Also, since you will have missed this morning, you will be required to stay after class this afternoon. Please try to stay out of trouble." She turned and headed back towards the dungeons.
"I can't believe you got us into this mess, you filthy mudblood!"

"Me? Who spilt ink all over my bag? Hmmm...it wasn't, per chance, a stupid Slytherin?"

"Ooh...good one Granger...stupid...I'm just as smart as you are, and you know it. Come up with something better next time. You disappoint me." He walked in his Malfoy-esque way down the corridor, looking as if he hadn't a care in the world. Hermione stood, rooted to the spot, clenching her fists. Tonight, she would get back at him, once and for all.


*Draco's POV*


Earlier that day, he had been thinking about how much fifth year sucked. If it had sucked then, what was it now? It was hell. He was basically gonna spend all his spare time with his least favorite person, that stupid, bloody Mudblood. He really despised Dumbledore at that moment. And McGonnagal. Snape hadn't done anything to get him out of the fix, either. He, too, was in on it.

Tonight, he had to alphabetize the library. With Granger. How he hated her. Everyone supposed that it was he and Potter that were worst enemies. But Potter didn't get to him the way she did. Sure, he always managed to beat him in Quidditch, sure he was loved by everyone, sure, he had the friends that Draco Malfoy didn't, but Hermione was a Mudblood. He had been raised on the belief that Mudbloods were worthless pieces of scum. That they were all stupid idiots. Then she came along, and set about proving him wrong. At least he could make her mad. Tonight, he would infuriate her. Tonight, he would make her hate the Library. He would make her wish that she was somewhere else. He would show her that Draco Malfoy was a pureblood, and that, therefore, he was definitely better than her.



*Hermione's POV*



"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DETENTION WITH MALFOY?!" Ron was literally spitting mashed potatoes.

"Just what I said. Three hours tonight, and probably forever after that. My life is-is heck!"

"Just say it, Hermione. Hell. H-E-L-L. See? It's not that hard." Fred was patting her on the shoulder and grinning.

"Don't worry, Hermione. It's in the Library. You'll be fine." This was George.

"Aaarggh! But it's with MALFOY!!!"

"Calm down, Ron. You're making an even bigger deal out of it than I am. And I'm the one serving the detention!"

"But-but 'Mione, he'll...I dunno what he'll do, but he won't have any qualms about punching you...he's not exactly a gentleman, if you know what I mean. So maybe...aha! I've got it! Since you've gotta absolutely cream him...how about my...ahem! Common room, Ron, 'Mione! C'mon!" Harry jumped up from the table, looking as if he had ants in his pants.

"What'sa matter, Potter? Found out you little girlfriends' gonna be spending the night with me?" Malfoy drawled, walking by with his arm draped lazily around a snickering Pansy Parkinson's shoulder.

Hermione flipped him off, which had no effect what so ever, considering that only muggles did that. Harry started snickering though.

"C'mon Hermione, just wait till tonight! I've got the best idea!"

"Harry, Dumbledore's watching us!"

"I think you can get this one past even him..."

"Harry, I wanna be Head Girl! If I bother Malfoy too much, I might lose my chances! I don't know that he's worth it!"

"Well, you have to do something. You can't let him think you're all scared of him. Trust me, he'll think that you're scared 'cause he's a pureblood and you're not..." Ron cut in before Harry could say something else.

"If he does anything to me, then it'll be war. But I WILL NOT start it..."

"'K, 'Mione. If he does something, then you need a plan. How about you take my invisibility cloak?" They were now safely in the common room.

"Are you sure, Harry? If Dumbledore catches me, he'll know it's yours. Plus, Malfoy knows it's yours, too. Remember in Hogsmeade, third year, you and Ron? He knows. Snape has his suspicions. I dunno if I want to chance it..."

"Oh, c'mon Hermione! Think how much fun it would be, to drop books on Malfoy's head, and him not be able to see you! Think about the look of shock and outrage on his face! Wow!"

Hermione sniggered. It certainly would be fun. She didn't have to use it. She would just bring it. "Oh, alright, I'll take it. Thanks, Harry. How 'bout I get it after dinner?"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" He grinned. This was gonna be awesome...



Ta Da!!! Chapter Two! Please Review (ah...I'm a poet...)

Hmmm...who will conquer whom in detention???

Unfortunately for you, I'm the only one who knows the answer to that! But I promise Chapter three will be out soon!