"Bedtime Story"
Chapter 5
By Pyrobunnie
Rated PG-13
Disclaimer:
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"Well?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked as he stared at Draco and Ginny in disappointment.
"He started it!"
"She started it!"
Draco and Ginny exclaimed at the same time. Dumbledore had to hide his smile as her regarded the scowling youths. They reminded him of another pair who had gone to school at Hogwarts, although to them he was a fellow classmate rather than Headmaster. But he decided to keep that to himself and let Draco and Ginny discover about that in their own time.
"Hmmm…since you both started it, I suppose both of you will have to be punished. Now…what sort of punishment?" Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, twiddling his fingers, a devious smile playing about his lips and a mischievous smile in his eyes. " I think that since poor Mr. Weasley got caught in the middle of this little war yall have got going on, and was forced to spend 3 days in the infirmary waiting for all the hair to leave his body and for his shape to return to normal, yall will spend one week in detention mucking out the Hogsmead Stables."
Draco and Ginny looked at each other in confusion.
"Uhhh…I'm sorry Headmaster, but what does Weasley being turned to a weasel have to do with cleaning up after horses?" Draco finally offered.
"Nothing really. Both are mammals, and besides, I promised the Stables that I'd send some wayward students over. You two are merely convenient." Dumbledore stood and gestured to the door. "You will report to the Hogwarts gates each night after dinner starting Monday. The stable manager will come get you and deliver you back each night. He will explain further what he wants you to do, now, get yourselves back to your dorms."
On the way out Ginny shoved Draco into the door. "This is all your fault Ferret!"
Draco returned the friendly push. "Nuh-uh! It's your fault Weasel!"
Dumbledore rolled his eyes, This is why I got out of teaching elementary school he thought to himself, amused.
The following Monday night Draco and Ginny met with the stable manager, an American wizard named Mr. Wayne, outside the gates of Hogwarts. The three regarded each other warily.
I can't believe I have to spend the next week with a Weasel and a cowboy wannabe.
Oh Gods, anything but cleaning up horse crap with the Ferret…on the other hand…crap…Ferret…crap…Ferret. This could be interesting
Just what kind of young'uns did that Dumbledore send me? The blond looks like he smells something funny, and the redhead looks to be plotting something…
"Well kids? Ready? The stables are this way" Mr. Wayne turned on his heel and strode down the path to Hogsmead. Draco and Ginny glanced at each other, shrugged, and followed.
~*~*~ 10 Minutes Later ~*~*~
Draco and Ginny were huffing and puffing by the time they got to the stables. Mr. Wayne stopped in the doorway and glanced behind him.
"Don't tell me yall are tired already? Work hasn't even started yet… Now, these are the horses. Thunder, Penny, Lane, Butter, Worf, Captain Kirk, and little Biscuit. Biscuit was just born two days ago. I'm going to take them out to their pasture while yall are at work, all the stalls need to be mucked out. There's the shovels. There's the wheelbarrow. When you get it filled up, take it out to the far corner of the field. I'll be back in four hours."
As he left, Draco and Ginny leaned on the wall, trying to catch their breath after the long walk up hill. Ginny straightened first, and walked over to the shovels. She began to work on the first stall, wrinkling her nose in distaste at the smell. After about five minutes she glanced over her shoulder and glared at her blond "friend", who was standing with his arms folded across his chest staring at her.
"Draco!"
Nice butt…
"Draco!" Ginny tried again. This time he seemed to snap out of it.
"What?!" He snarled back at her, annoyed that she disturbed him.
"What's the matter, afraid of getting dirty? Is it your nails again?" She asked sweetly, all outward appearances showing that his concern over his nails was the most important thing in the world to her. Suddenly her face twisted back to the contemptuous glare. "Now come help!"
This is going to be a long night, Draco thought as he headed over to help.
After about an hour Ginny broke the hostile silence.
"So, why are you such an asshole?" She asked conversationally.
Draco thought a moment and replied with the non-hostile, oh so mature, ever popular:
"Fuck you".
To everyone's astonishment (Draco, Ginny, and the nest of sparrows watching), Ginny began to laugh.
"I'll give you one thing Draco, you're never boring."
Draco shifted his eyes towards her still laughing form warily.
"And you Ms. Weasley, are weird."
"I know Draco, I know"
Then, without warning, she flung her shovel full of horse feces on the blonde headed boy. The look of astounded surprise on his face as a lump of dung fell from the top of his head to his polished shoe was well worth the revenge Ginny knew would follow after the initial shock wore off. In the mean time, she just continued to giggle.
"Oh you asked for it now Red!" Draco yelled with a rather uncharacteristic laugh, as the contents of his shovel flew towards her. Ginny shrieked and grabbed handfuls of hay and straw to throw. By the time they were both covered in mud, straw, and excrement they were laughing so hard neither could stand up. They collapsed in a heap on the wooden stable floor.
"We have 4 more days of this?" Ginny asked, gasping for air in between laughter.
"I still hate you, you know Brat" Draco growled, but the effect was lost when he snorted with laughter immediately afer.
"I know Draco, I know"
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Well, that's it for now! Review! Thanksh!
~*~*~Pyrobunnie~*~*~
