C H A P T E R S E V E N
T H E
D E T E N T I O N
The next day, Sirius's reply came at breakfast. Harry read it eagerly; he wanted to see if he could see Sirius. He unfolded the note and read.
Harry,
I'm fine. Meet me at the usual spot. Bring Rachel and food. I'd warn her before hand so she doesn't freak out when she sees me and blows my cover. Buckbeak's well and happy here.
Sure, I'll come to the wedding. The Quidditch news is great! I'd never thought I'd see Hermione on a broom. I'll come watch your matches if I can.
Don't be too sure about the normal year thing. Voldemort can pop up anytime. I've heard some news. I'll tell you when you come on Saturday.
Sirius
"What's that?" Came Hermione's voice from behind Harry. It sounded different. It sounded more like Draco that it did Hermione.
"Letter from Sirius." Harry answered without looking back. Instead he glanced two seats down, where Jill was sitting. He caught her eye and smiled nervously. She raised her eyebrows and looked over to Hermione, telling Harry to confront her. He nodded slightly.
"Let me see." Hermione ordered, grabbing the parchment from Harry's hands. She held it up and read it silently. "Okay." She turned to go back to her seat, four seats away from Harry.
"Uh, wait, Hermione." Harry said, holding her sleeve. "I need to talk to you."
"Alright, but it better be quick."
"Give me five minutes, I'll be four minutes fast."
"Okay." She didn't get it.
"So I guess you're not mad at me."
"How did you know?"
"Um, lucky guess."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
All of a sudden, Hermione spilled the beans. "It was a test I give to my boyfriends. I gave it to Viktor Krum, but he didn't 'pass'. I don't even think he knew what making out is. But you did well, Harry. You passed. You were the quickest to figure it out."
"Yeah, but how many other boyfriends do you have?"
"Just you."
"And Krum?"
"We broke up before school started."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not much of a loss, though. Couldn't understand him."
Harry laughed. "Yeah."
Hermione sat down next to Harry and stared at him.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Nothing. Just checking you out."
"For what?"
"Nothing."
"Whatever." Harry went back to eating his breakfast.
Soon Ron came over. "Hi."
"Hi."
"Jill told me that you and Hermione are back together."
"Yeah."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Yeah! Of course it is!"
"I know." Ron laughed.
"Sure."
"So, you excited about Quidditch starting?"
"Yeah, but it will be a long two weeks."
"Yeah. But I guess we can start practices now, right? I mean with all the new players." He blushed ever so slightly.
"I never thought of that. I'll ask Dumbledore."
"Great." Ron went back to his seat.
Suddenly, Dumbledore rose in front of the school. "Everyone, may I have your attention please." The Hall got very quiet. "The marriage of Alicia Spinnet and George Weasley will take place next Tuesday. As you might know, that is in four days. You are to wear dress robes and be in here at six thirty, as the marriage will happen at seven o'clock. We ask you to be on your best behavior," He glanced menacingly at the Slytherins. "Or you will be punished severely." Behind him, Filch rubbed his hands together feverishly. That was the best part of the wedding for him. "That is all, may you all survive your classes, now go."
There was a scraping of chairs to get up, but Harry stayed behind to ask Dumbledore about Quidditch. He also noticed that George and Alicia stayed in their seats also.
Dumbledore strode over. "Yes, Harry? Hurry, or you'll be late for class."
` $ % ^
In the hallways, Ron, Hermione, Jill, Rachel, and Jake were walking to double Potions.
"I thought we always had double Potions in the afternoon." Ron said.
Immediately, Hermione whipped out her schedule. "Yes, we have double Potions with the Slytherins in the morning now. I guess now that we're advanced, they moved our schedule around." Everyone groaned.
"Where's Harry? He's going to be late." Rachel asked.
"He's asking Dumbledore about Quidditch." Ron answered.
Jake and Jill nodded sadly. They were disappointed that their friends were on the Quidditch team and they weren't.
"Okay. Come on!" Hermione was eager to get into class, even though she hated Potions. "Before Snape takes points away!" They all shuffled into the dungeon where Potions classes were held.
They sat in their usual seats in the back of the room. Everyone, especially Hermione, was worried about Harry. If he were late, Snape would take at least ten points off of Gryffindor.
"Right. Now class, settle down." Snape said in his icy tone as he swept up and down the rows of students inspecting each one. "Today we will be – where's Potter?" He stopped in front of Harry's empty seat, which was between Hermione and Ron.
Suddenly, Harry burst in. "Sorry I'm late."
"Twenty points from Gryffindor! Tardiness!" Snape bellowed as he whipped around to face Harry.
"Can't." Harry replied, out of breath from running to class. "Note. From Dumbledore." He reached his hand out to give Snape a piece of parchment.
Snape picked it up quickly, a look of disappointment on his face. If this was true, he would be denied a rich twenty points subtracted from Gryffindor.
OFFICIAL HOGWARTS HALL PASS
This Pass Grants The Bearer, Harry Potter, The Ability To Enter Potions Class Tardy. No Points Are To Be Deducted From Gryffindor.
MR. Argus filch Prof. Albus Dumbledore
Caretaker Headmaster
Snape gave Harry a dirty look, threw the pass on his desk and ordered him to sit.
"How'd it go?" Ron asked eagerly.
"He said we can start practice." Harry answered, just as excited. "Just as long as we don't tell anyone else. Once Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin know, they'll want early practices too."
"Then why did he let us practice?" Hermione asked.
"Because we have the most new players. Four."
"Cool! When can we start?" Rachel chimed in.
"Tomorrow."
"Potter! Weasley! Granger! Witt! Stop talking!" Came Snape's voice from the front of the room. "Five points off Gryffindor!"
"Well, that's not so bad." Harry whispered.
"Each!"
"Oh man, there goes my Hall Pass."
The next two hours were spent grinding beetles, chopping up pieces of toad livers, and mixing together two liquids that smelt strongly of skunk fumes and baby food – resulting in a rather nasty combination. It wasn't until the end – after Neville had cleaned up his second melted cauldron of the year – that something different happened.
"Unfortunately, we have run out of time for this class. But next week, we will be learning how to make a Love Potion." Snape's voice rang out in the cold dungeon.
"But those are banned at Hogwarts!" Hermione exclaimed.
Snape looked menacing. "Well, I suppose you wouldn't care, Miss Granger. We all do remember your little love-capades, don't we?" He looked over to the Slytherins with a smile on his face.
He walked over to his desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a little magazine with the words WITCH WEEKLY written on the front. It was dated February of last year. Harry saw Hermione go red. He could feel himself blush too.
"Hmm, let's see…" Snape said slowly as he flipped through the pages. Draco. Parvati, and the rest of the Slytherins turned around to stare at Harry and Hermione. They had big grins on their faces. Each of them held a copy of Witch Weekly.
"Aha! Here we go!" Snape exclaimed. He began to read from the article very slowly, pausing after each sentence, and walking around the room. "'Harry Potter's Secret Heartache.' You do remember, right?" He glared at Hermione. "Harry Potter and Viktor Krum. 'Toying with both boys' affections.' Krum has 'never felt this way about any other girl.' 'Well up to making a Love Potion.'" Snape cast a wide smile to Pansy Parkinson. "And Love Potions are banned at Hogwarts, Granger, like you said."
Then, he reached his most favorite sentence in the whole article. "'Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate.' That candidate," He said, grimacing boldly in Harry's direction. "I believe, is none other than one Miss Rachel Elizabeth Witt, our new foreigner."
The Slytherins laughed, cheered, and jeered at Harry, Hermione, and Rachel. Rachel was blushing brighter than anyone. She hid her face behind her cauldron.
Suddenly, Seann stood up, knocking Rachel's cauldron over, as he was her partner. "How dare you make fun of her!" He was bright red and furious. "I've had enough of you! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!"
The Gryffindors were trying very hard not to laugh. Snape and the Slytherins, on the other hand, were enraged.
"Insulting a professor!" Snape bellowed, pointing toward the door. "Fifty points from Gryffindor! Dumbledore's office! Now!"
"Fine!" Seann hollered. "I don't care! To show you how much I hate you, I will spit in your general direction!" He spat on the stone floor at Snape's feet and thundered out the door.
Snape turned back to the class, his veins throbbing. "You! Four! Dumbledore's office! Now!" He roared, pointing at Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Rachel. They got up and left quietly, for fear of losing more points for Gryffindor.
Once they were in the hallway, they spoke.
"Great!" Ron yelled. "Seventy points down the drain!"
"Why did Seann have to do that?" Harry asked furiously. "Twenty points is all right, it's Snape's usual. But seventy?"
"Even though he can be a bit… obnoxious… that was still uncalled for." Rachel said.
Hermione kept quiet. Silent tears were streaming down her face.
"Don't cry." Harry said softly, wiping her tears away. "You've gotten detention before. Remember Norbert?"
"Yeah." Hermione replied between sobs. "But still."
"Don't worry." Harry comforted, stroking her hair. "It'll be all right, but why are you getting so worked up over this?"
"Oh, you know how I get!" With that, Hermione flung her arms around Harry.
Ron gave a quizzical look to Harry, who shrugged and continued walking up to Dumbledore's office.
The four friends walked up to Dumbledore's office. Surprisingly, the entrance was left open.
"Must be expecting us." Ron joked dryly.
Hermione wiped the dry tears out of her eyes with the back of her robes and smiled. Detention wouldn't be so bad with her friends.
As they trudged up the staircase leading into Dumbledore's office, they could hear Seann on the other side of the door.
"He just got me so mad!" They heard Seann explain to Dumbledore.
"Yes, that is quite easy for him to do. But you shouldn't have been so harsh."
"But he was embarrassing Rachel!" There was a long pause. "And Harry and Hermione." He added without as much spirit.
"I know, but you didn't have to insult him. I am afraid I do have to give you detention. And it won't be easy."
"But…"
"But nothing, Mr. Wilderstaff! You did wrong and you must be punished for it!" Dumbledore ordered. Harry had never heard him this angry before. Judging by the appalled looks on everybody else's faces, they have never either.
The door in front of Harry opened and Seann stormed out, not even looking at Harry, Rachel, Ron, or Hermione. He slammed the door behind him.
"Come in." Came Dumbledore's voice from inside his office.
The four walked inside. Harry had been to Dumbledore's office two times before. In front of him was Dumbledore's large desk. His pet phoenix, Fawkes, was resting on his golden perch beside the door. Fawkes had saved Harry's life in his second year. Behind Dumbledore's desk, there were pictures of previous Headmasters and Headmistresses, all fast asleep. Every time Harry came into Dumbledore's office, they were asleep. The far wall was lined with many things. Most of these things were books, but there also was the Sorting Hat, a Pensieve – a bowl in which you store your thoughts – and Godric Gryffindor's sword, which Harry had pulled out of the Sorting Hat in his second year.
"Sit." Dumbledore ordered friendly, motioning toward four chairs. "So, I understand that Snape sent you up here for detention."
"Oh, Dumbledore, please don't be too hard on Jake! He didn't mean it! He was just protecting me!" Rachel pleaded.
"Now Rachel, Seann will get the punishment he deserves, but I promise you, it will not be too harsh, because he was acting in defense of another person."
"Thank you, Dumbledore. Thank you!"
"Now, why did you get detention?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know." Harry explained. "Snape just gave us detention for no reason."
"Actually," Hermione began. "I think I heard him say it was because we're friends with Seann."
"And he took twenty points off!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, I'm giving you twenty points right now." Dumbledore stated firmly.
"Thank you, Professor!" Rachel said.
"But are we getting detention?" a worried Hermione asked.
"Don't think of it as detention, think of it as you're doing a favor." Dumbledore coached.
Hermione's face lightened up considerably. "What's the favor?" She asked with a smile.
"You have to plant new shrubs around a garden near Hagrid's hut. It starts in a few minutes, so you'd better get down there. Seann's already there, waiting for you."
"But I thought he got detention." Harry wondered aloud.
"He did, but he has to help you first, it's part of the punishment."
"Oh, okay."
"So get going! Hagrid won't wait forever!"
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Rachel got up and left the office. They headed down to the grounds.
` $ % ^
Halfway on their way to Hagrid's hut, Jill came running up to them, along with Seamus, Lavender, and Dean.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked as Jill ran into his arms.
"Snape gave all Gryffindor fifth year detention."
"Why."
"Hey, it's Snape. That's a good enough reason."
The four of them walked along the lake's bank. Dean, Ron, Jill, Jake, and Rachel ran ahead, eager to get this over with.
"Get that crab right there!" Seamus suddenly shouted with a western accent, he was pointing to a crab scuttling out of the lake and into the grass. Harry abruptly burst out laughing. He tried to catch the crab, but he couldn't stop laughing. Hermione and Lavender exchanged confused looks.
"Must be a guy thing." Lavender whispered to Hermione.
"Hey, guys, get over here!" Jake yelled. The four ran over to him.
"What do we do first?" Harry asked.
"Plant shrubbery, of course!"
"Yeah, Harry. What do you think we had to do, cut down trees with herrings?" Seamus joked.
"Hey, it would be different." Harry pointed out.
"Anyway, down to business. I'm only here for a while, so I want to get you guys started off on the right track." Seann stated, trying to sound business-like.
They all started picking up shrubs and planting them in formation behind Hagrid's hut.
"Get me ANOTHER SHRUBBERY!" Jake screamed. Everyone exploded with laughter. Harry and Seamus had a hard time carrying the plant they were bringing to Jake.
"What do we do with it?" Seamus asked playfully.
"Plant it next to this one." Jake ordered, pointing at another bush. "A little bit higher, so we get the two-level effect, with a path down the middle."
"A PATH! A PATH!" Everyone screamed.
"Gotta love it!" Jake exclaimed.
` $ % ^
They had been working for quite some time, but they were having fun, so it didn't seem like work. With Jake's Monty Python renditions and Ron's jokes, time flew by.
They were almost done. All they had to do was plant one last humongous shrub that needed everyone to lift it.
"Ready?" Ron called out. "On three. One… two…"
"Wait!" Harry yelled. "Where's Seamus and Lavender?"
They all looked around. True to Harry's word, Seamus and Lavender were nowhere to be seen.
"I'll look for them." Harry volunteered. He began searching the area surrounding Hagrid's hut. They couldn't have gone far, Harry had seen them less than five minutes ago.
Suddenly, Harry heard a noise. It was coming from behind the shrub farthest away from everyone else. "Seamus…" Lavender's voice said.
"Yeah?" Came Seamus's reply.
"I love you."
"Copy that."
Harry stepped closer to the big shrub. He peered over it and saw Seamus and Lavender sitting there, kissing. Harry quickly withdrew his head, but not quick enough for Seamus's sharp eye.
"Come on, Lavender. Let's go help the others."
"Awww, already?"
"Yeah." They rose from the bush and began to stroll over to where everyone else was helping lift the big plant. Harry joined them.
"Uh… Sorry." He apologized to Seamus.
"Nah, that's all right."
"I didn't know that…"
"Lavender and I were in love? Don't blame you. We're not the type to go showing off to everyone else." He gave a sideways glance to Harry.
"Look, Hermione and I-"
Seamus quietly put up his hand to stop Harry. "Stop. Lavender and I just… Well, we knew everyone else was going out… You and Hermione… Ron and Jill… Rachel and Toby… Parvati and Malfoy… And we were kinda like, 'let's give it a try' and, yeah."
"It's okay. Look, if you need any pointers…"
"Okay. I'll keep that in mind." The two walked over to the big shrubbery. Together, everyone managed to haul it up and bury it in the ground.
It was now almost lunchtime, so the troop of nine young wizards and witches started toward the castle.
To get to the Gryffindor table, they had to pass the Slytherins.
"Have fun playing in the dirt?" Draco teased.
"Actually, yes. We did have fun." Harry commented.
"Lots." Seamus said with a smile on his face. He looked at Lavender lovingly.
"Yup." Lavender replied. They all continued on to their table, leaving the Slytherins dumbfounded.
"I wonder where Jake is." Rachel wondered.
"I bet he's still doing detention." Hermione answered. "Insulting a teacher is a high offense, no matter who it is."
Rachel gave her a nasty look. She had expected Hermione to reassure her.
T H E
D E T E N T I O N
The next day, Sirius's reply came at breakfast. Harry read it eagerly; he wanted to see if he could see Sirius. He unfolded the note and read.
Harry,
I'm fine. Meet me at the usual spot. Bring Rachel and food. I'd warn her before hand so she doesn't freak out when she sees me and blows my cover. Buckbeak's well and happy here.
Sure, I'll come to the wedding. The Quidditch news is great! I'd never thought I'd see Hermione on a broom. I'll come watch your matches if I can.
Don't be too sure about the normal year thing. Voldemort can pop up anytime. I've heard some news. I'll tell you when you come on Saturday.
Sirius
"What's that?" Came Hermione's voice from behind Harry. It sounded different. It sounded more like Draco that it did Hermione.
"Letter from Sirius." Harry answered without looking back. Instead he glanced two seats down, where Jill was sitting. He caught her eye and smiled nervously. She raised her eyebrows and looked over to Hermione, telling Harry to confront her. He nodded slightly.
"Let me see." Hermione ordered, grabbing the parchment from Harry's hands. She held it up and read it silently. "Okay." She turned to go back to her seat, four seats away from Harry.
"Uh, wait, Hermione." Harry said, holding her sleeve. "I need to talk to you."
"Alright, but it better be quick."
"Give me five minutes, I'll be four minutes fast."
"Okay." She didn't get it.
"So I guess you're not mad at me."
"How did you know?"
"Um, lucky guess."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
All of a sudden, Hermione spilled the beans. "It was a test I give to my boyfriends. I gave it to Viktor Krum, but he didn't 'pass'. I don't even think he knew what making out is. But you did well, Harry. You passed. You were the quickest to figure it out."
"Yeah, but how many other boyfriends do you have?"
"Just you."
"And Krum?"
"We broke up before school started."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not much of a loss, though. Couldn't understand him."
Harry laughed. "Yeah."
Hermione sat down next to Harry and stared at him.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Nothing. Just checking you out."
"For what?"
"Nothing."
"Whatever." Harry went back to eating his breakfast.
Soon Ron came over. "Hi."
"Hi."
"Jill told me that you and Hermione are back together."
"Yeah."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Yeah! Of course it is!"
"I know." Ron laughed.
"Sure."
"So, you excited about Quidditch starting?"
"Yeah, but it will be a long two weeks."
"Yeah. But I guess we can start practices now, right? I mean with all the new players." He blushed ever so slightly.
"I never thought of that. I'll ask Dumbledore."
"Great." Ron went back to his seat.
Suddenly, Dumbledore rose in front of the school. "Everyone, may I have your attention please." The Hall got very quiet. "The marriage of Alicia Spinnet and George Weasley will take place next Tuesday. As you might know, that is in four days. You are to wear dress robes and be in here at six thirty, as the marriage will happen at seven o'clock. We ask you to be on your best behavior," He glanced menacingly at the Slytherins. "Or you will be punished severely." Behind him, Filch rubbed his hands together feverishly. That was the best part of the wedding for him. "That is all, may you all survive your classes, now go."
There was a scraping of chairs to get up, but Harry stayed behind to ask Dumbledore about Quidditch. He also noticed that George and Alicia stayed in their seats also.
Dumbledore strode over. "Yes, Harry? Hurry, or you'll be late for class."
` $ % ^
In the hallways, Ron, Hermione, Jill, Rachel, and Jake were walking to double Potions.
"I thought we always had double Potions in the afternoon." Ron said.
Immediately, Hermione whipped out her schedule. "Yes, we have double Potions with the Slytherins in the morning now. I guess now that we're advanced, they moved our schedule around." Everyone groaned.
"Where's Harry? He's going to be late." Rachel asked.
"He's asking Dumbledore about Quidditch." Ron answered.
Jake and Jill nodded sadly. They were disappointed that their friends were on the Quidditch team and they weren't.
"Okay. Come on!" Hermione was eager to get into class, even though she hated Potions. "Before Snape takes points away!" They all shuffled into the dungeon where Potions classes were held.
They sat in their usual seats in the back of the room. Everyone, especially Hermione, was worried about Harry. If he were late, Snape would take at least ten points off of Gryffindor.
"Right. Now class, settle down." Snape said in his icy tone as he swept up and down the rows of students inspecting each one. "Today we will be – where's Potter?" He stopped in front of Harry's empty seat, which was between Hermione and Ron.
Suddenly, Harry burst in. "Sorry I'm late."
"Twenty points from Gryffindor! Tardiness!" Snape bellowed as he whipped around to face Harry.
"Can't." Harry replied, out of breath from running to class. "Note. From Dumbledore." He reached his hand out to give Snape a piece of parchment.
Snape picked it up quickly, a look of disappointment on his face. If this was true, he would be denied a rich twenty points subtracted from Gryffindor.
OFFICIAL HOGWARTS HALL PASS
This Pass Grants The Bearer, Harry Potter, The Ability To Enter Potions Class Tardy. No Points Are To Be Deducted From Gryffindor.
MR. Argus filch Prof. Albus Dumbledore
Caretaker Headmaster
Snape gave Harry a dirty look, threw the pass on his desk and ordered him to sit.
"How'd it go?" Ron asked eagerly.
"He said we can start practice." Harry answered, just as excited. "Just as long as we don't tell anyone else. Once Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin know, they'll want early practices too."
"Then why did he let us practice?" Hermione asked.
"Because we have the most new players. Four."
"Cool! When can we start?" Rachel chimed in.
"Tomorrow."
"Potter! Weasley! Granger! Witt! Stop talking!" Came Snape's voice from the front of the room. "Five points off Gryffindor!"
"Well, that's not so bad." Harry whispered.
"Each!"
"Oh man, there goes my Hall Pass."
The next two hours were spent grinding beetles, chopping up pieces of toad livers, and mixing together two liquids that smelt strongly of skunk fumes and baby food – resulting in a rather nasty combination. It wasn't until the end – after Neville had cleaned up his second melted cauldron of the year – that something different happened.
"Unfortunately, we have run out of time for this class. But next week, we will be learning how to make a Love Potion." Snape's voice rang out in the cold dungeon.
"But those are banned at Hogwarts!" Hermione exclaimed.
Snape looked menacing. "Well, I suppose you wouldn't care, Miss Granger. We all do remember your little love-capades, don't we?" He looked over to the Slytherins with a smile on his face.
He walked over to his desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a little magazine with the words WITCH WEEKLY written on the front. It was dated February of last year. Harry saw Hermione go red. He could feel himself blush too.
"Hmm, let's see…" Snape said slowly as he flipped through the pages. Draco. Parvati, and the rest of the Slytherins turned around to stare at Harry and Hermione. They had big grins on their faces. Each of them held a copy of Witch Weekly.
"Aha! Here we go!" Snape exclaimed. He began to read from the article very slowly, pausing after each sentence, and walking around the room. "'Harry Potter's Secret Heartache.' You do remember, right?" He glared at Hermione. "Harry Potter and Viktor Krum. 'Toying with both boys' affections.' Krum has 'never felt this way about any other girl.' 'Well up to making a Love Potion.'" Snape cast a wide smile to Pansy Parkinson. "And Love Potions are banned at Hogwarts, Granger, like you said."
Then, he reached his most favorite sentence in the whole article. "'Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate.' That candidate," He said, grimacing boldly in Harry's direction. "I believe, is none other than one Miss Rachel Elizabeth Witt, our new foreigner."
The Slytherins laughed, cheered, and jeered at Harry, Hermione, and Rachel. Rachel was blushing brighter than anyone. She hid her face behind her cauldron.
Suddenly, Seann stood up, knocking Rachel's cauldron over, as he was her partner. "How dare you make fun of her!" He was bright red and furious. "I've had enough of you! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!"
The Gryffindors were trying very hard not to laugh. Snape and the Slytherins, on the other hand, were enraged.
"Insulting a professor!" Snape bellowed, pointing toward the door. "Fifty points from Gryffindor! Dumbledore's office! Now!"
"Fine!" Seann hollered. "I don't care! To show you how much I hate you, I will spit in your general direction!" He spat on the stone floor at Snape's feet and thundered out the door.
Snape turned back to the class, his veins throbbing. "You! Four! Dumbledore's office! Now!" He roared, pointing at Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Rachel. They got up and left quietly, for fear of losing more points for Gryffindor.
Once they were in the hallway, they spoke.
"Great!" Ron yelled. "Seventy points down the drain!"
"Why did Seann have to do that?" Harry asked furiously. "Twenty points is all right, it's Snape's usual. But seventy?"
"Even though he can be a bit… obnoxious… that was still uncalled for." Rachel said.
Hermione kept quiet. Silent tears were streaming down her face.
"Don't cry." Harry said softly, wiping her tears away. "You've gotten detention before. Remember Norbert?"
"Yeah." Hermione replied between sobs. "But still."
"Don't worry." Harry comforted, stroking her hair. "It'll be all right, but why are you getting so worked up over this?"
"Oh, you know how I get!" With that, Hermione flung her arms around Harry.
Ron gave a quizzical look to Harry, who shrugged and continued walking up to Dumbledore's office.
The four friends walked up to Dumbledore's office. Surprisingly, the entrance was left open.
"Must be expecting us." Ron joked dryly.
Hermione wiped the dry tears out of her eyes with the back of her robes and smiled. Detention wouldn't be so bad with her friends.
As they trudged up the staircase leading into Dumbledore's office, they could hear Seann on the other side of the door.
"He just got me so mad!" They heard Seann explain to Dumbledore.
"Yes, that is quite easy for him to do. But you shouldn't have been so harsh."
"But he was embarrassing Rachel!" There was a long pause. "And Harry and Hermione." He added without as much spirit.
"I know, but you didn't have to insult him. I am afraid I do have to give you detention. And it won't be easy."
"But…"
"But nothing, Mr. Wilderstaff! You did wrong and you must be punished for it!" Dumbledore ordered. Harry had never heard him this angry before. Judging by the appalled looks on everybody else's faces, they have never either.
The door in front of Harry opened and Seann stormed out, not even looking at Harry, Rachel, Ron, or Hermione. He slammed the door behind him.
"Come in." Came Dumbledore's voice from inside his office.
The four walked inside. Harry had been to Dumbledore's office two times before. In front of him was Dumbledore's large desk. His pet phoenix, Fawkes, was resting on his golden perch beside the door. Fawkes had saved Harry's life in his second year. Behind Dumbledore's desk, there were pictures of previous Headmasters and Headmistresses, all fast asleep. Every time Harry came into Dumbledore's office, they were asleep. The far wall was lined with many things. Most of these things were books, but there also was the Sorting Hat, a Pensieve – a bowl in which you store your thoughts – and Godric Gryffindor's sword, which Harry had pulled out of the Sorting Hat in his second year.
"Sit." Dumbledore ordered friendly, motioning toward four chairs. "So, I understand that Snape sent you up here for detention."
"Oh, Dumbledore, please don't be too hard on Jake! He didn't mean it! He was just protecting me!" Rachel pleaded.
"Now Rachel, Seann will get the punishment he deserves, but I promise you, it will not be too harsh, because he was acting in defense of another person."
"Thank you, Dumbledore. Thank you!"
"Now, why did you get detention?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know." Harry explained. "Snape just gave us detention for no reason."
"Actually," Hermione began. "I think I heard him say it was because we're friends with Seann."
"And he took twenty points off!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, I'm giving you twenty points right now." Dumbledore stated firmly.
"Thank you, Professor!" Rachel said.
"But are we getting detention?" a worried Hermione asked.
"Don't think of it as detention, think of it as you're doing a favor." Dumbledore coached.
Hermione's face lightened up considerably. "What's the favor?" She asked with a smile.
"You have to plant new shrubs around a garden near Hagrid's hut. It starts in a few minutes, so you'd better get down there. Seann's already there, waiting for you."
"But I thought he got detention." Harry wondered aloud.
"He did, but he has to help you first, it's part of the punishment."
"Oh, okay."
"So get going! Hagrid won't wait forever!"
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Rachel got up and left the office. They headed down to the grounds.
` $ % ^
Halfway on their way to Hagrid's hut, Jill came running up to them, along with Seamus, Lavender, and Dean.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked as Jill ran into his arms.
"Snape gave all Gryffindor fifth year detention."
"Why."
"Hey, it's Snape. That's a good enough reason."
The four of them walked along the lake's bank. Dean, Ron, Jill, Jake, and Rachel ran ahead, eager to get this over with.
"Get that crab right there!" Seamus suddenly shouted with a western accent, he was pointing to a crab scuttling out of the lake and into the grass. Harry abruptly burst out laughing. He tried to catch the crab, but he couldn't stop laughing. Hermione and Lavender exchanged confused looks.
"Must be a guy thing." Lavender whispered to Hermione.
"Hey, guys, get over here!" Jake yelled. The four ran over to him.
"What do we do first?" Harry asked.
"Plant shrubbery, of course!"
"Yeah, Harry. What do you think we had to do, cut down trees with herrings?" Seamus joked.
"Hey, it would be different." Harry pointed out.
"Anyway, down to business. I'm only here for a while, so I want to get you guys started off on the right track." Seann stated, trying to sound business-like.
They all started picking up shrubs and planting them in formation behind Hagrid's hut.
"Get me ANOTHER SHRUBBERY!" Jake screamed. Everyone exploded with laughter. Harry and Seamus had a hard time carrying the plant they were bringing to Jake.
"What do we do with it?" Seamus asked playfully.
"Plant it next to this one." Jake ordered, pointing at another bush. "A little bit higher, so we get the two-level effect, with a path down the middle."
"A PATH! A PATH!" Everyone screamed.
"Gotta love it!" Jake exclaimed.
` $ % ^
They had been working for quite some time, but they were having fun, so it didn't seem like work. With Jake's Monty Python renditions and Ron's jokes, time flew by.
They were almost done. All they had to do was plant one last humongous shrub that needed everyone to lift it.
"Ready?" Ron called out. "On three. One… two…"
"Wait!" Harry yelled. "Where's Seamus and Lavender?"
They all looked around. True to Harry's word, Seamus and Lavender were nowhere to be seen.
"I'll look for them." Harry volunteered. He began searching the area surrounding Hagrid's hut. They couldn't have gone far, Harry had seen them less than five minutes ago.
Suddenly, Harry heard a noise. It was coming from behind the shrub farthest away from everyone else. "Seamus…" Lavender's voice said.
"Yeah?" Came Seamus's reply.
"I love you."
"Copy that."
Harry stepped closer to the big shrub. He peered over it and saw Seamus and Lavender sitting there, kissing. Harry quickly withdrew his head, but not quick enough for Seamus's sharp eye.
"Come on, Lavender. Let's go help the others."
"Awww, already?"
"Yeah." They rose from the bush and began to stroll over to where everyone else was helping lift the big plant. Harry joined them.
"Uh… Sorry." He apologized to Seamus.
"Nah, that's all right."
"I didn't know that…"
"Lavender and I were in love? Don't blame you. We're not the type to go showing off to everyone else." He gave a sideways glance to Harry.
"Look, Hermione and I-"
Seamus quietly put up his hand to stop Harry. "Stop. Lavender and I just… Well, we knew everyone else was going out… You and Hermione… Ron and Jill… Rachel and Toby… Parvati and Malfoy… And we were kinda like, 'let's give it a try' and, yeah."
"It's okay. Look, if you need any pointers…"
"Okay. I'll keep that in mind." The two walked over to the big shrubbery. Together, everyone managed to haul it up and bury it in the ground.
It was now almost lunchtime, so the troop of nine young wizards and witches started toward the castle.
To get to the Gryffindor table, they had to pass the Slytherins.
"Have fun playing in the dirt?" Draco teased.
"Actually, yes. We did have fun." Harry commented.
"Lots." Seamus said with a smile on his face. He looked at Lavender lovingly.
"Yup." Lavender replied. They all continued on to their table, leaving the Slytherins dumbfounded.
"I wonder where Jake is." Rachel wondered.
"I bet he's still doing detention." Hermione answered. "Insulting a teacher is a high offense, no matter who it is."
Rachel gave her a nasty look. She had expected Hermione to reassure her.