Authors Note: Well! Hasn't it been a long time? I am sooooooooooo sorry!
It has just taken ages for me to get the time and the inspiration to write
this chapter, but today when I sat down to do it it practically wrote
itself! So anyways, Fudge is home for the summer, but don't go thinking
that means an update every day like it did last year, coz Fudge has to work
– turns out going to uni is extremely expensive! So I have to save up, so
I'm not as broke this year as I was last year! LOL! I'm not sure where
this chapter came from actually, it didn't turn out at all like I expected
it to, but like I said it wrote itself, so I am not to blame! Don't flame
me! Also, I hope my style hasn't changed too much! So anyways, let me
know what you think (magic review button to your left)!
Love Fudge xxx
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The Detention
The Christmas holidays passed with little to report. Hermione had received many extravagant gifts from her 'admires', all of which she donated to St Mungos Hospital, feeling that they deserved them more than she.
The time had passed quickly and Hermione found herself relaxing and really enjoying herself, now that the question mark of the mystery man had been lifted. There was still the constant reminder of the love potion, but Hermione found a strength she didn't know she had, and managed to cope much better than she had expected to.
Hermione and Ron had decided to keep their relationship quiet mainly because it would be hard for Ron to fight off other guys' jealousy, and that people would only believe Ron loved Hermione due to the love potion. The secretiveness of their relationship gave Hermione a thrill. She was often preoccupied with coming up with new ways of meeting Ron in secret.
The trouble is, when things are going well, they can only get worse.
Potions had never been Hermione's favourite class, but since the disaster with the love potion, things had seemed a lot worse. If Snape wasn't hitting on Hermione (shiver), then he was pairing her with Draco Malfoy, whose come on's were nothing short of disturbing. Hermione reasoned that soon the potion would wear off, or Snape would find a cure, but as the weeks passed Hermione found desperation and doubt closing in.
Hermione was sitting at the back of Potions with Ron and Harry, taking endless notes that Snape was enchanting onto the blackboard. Hermione was feeling particularly smug, as she had enchanted her quill to copy exactly what was being written on the board. So although she still had to keep an eye out for Snape, for he was sure to disapprove of this method of note taking, her mind was left free to wander.
There really isn't much surprise as to the location of Hermione's thoughts. As she imaged more and more complex and farfetched places for her and Ron to meet, a lazy smile curved onto her lips.
"Miss Granger what are you smirking at?" snapped Snape.
Hermione had been brought back to Earth with a bump, "nothing, sorry Professor."
Snape was just about to move away when he spotted the enchanted quill, scratching its way across Hermione's parchment. Hermione cursed silently as she followed his gaze and realised that because she had panicked when he had snapped her from her thoughts, she had stopped concentrating on concealing the quill.
"Well well well Miss Granger, what is this?" sneered Snape, taking his usual pleasure in telling off a Gryffindor.
"It's nothing," said Hermione, quickly picking up the quill to stop its infernal scratching. But she already knew it was too late. Cringing she awaited Snape's punishment.
"Trying to take the easy route are we Miss Granger? Think you are too good to bother taking proper notes? I must say I expected better from you of all people. A detention is in order I think. Come back here at 8 o clock tonight, don't be late. No more taking short cuts Miss Granger," he said as he took her quill and snapped it in half.
To say Hermione was dreading the detention didn't really do what she was feeling justice. As she left the common room at 7.45 she felt like she was walking to her execution.
She entered the dungeons to be pleasantly surprised however. Instead of Snape sitting behind his desk she found Professor McGonagall.
"Ah Miss Granger, take a seat," said McGonagall, she did not continue talking; it looked like she was waiting for something.
Two minutes later that 'something' walked in.
"Mr Malfoy, you are late," said McGonagall, her tone strict.
"Sorry Professor," said Malfoy, his voice polite, but Hermione saw the sneer he gave McGonagall when her attention turned away from him.
"Miss Granger, you would normally be serving you detention with Professor Snape, but he has been called away, and as I had a detention to sit with Mr Malfoy anyway I volunteered to take over for him," said McGonagall, "Professor Snape has asked me to remind you that while enchanting your quill was a clever piece of magic, it is not suitable for taking notes. It is unwise to take sort cuts with you work," she looked at Hermione thoughtfully for a moment, and then added quietly, "I thought it was a good idea myself," and smiled. Then she turned to Malfoy. "Mr Malfoy, you know why you are here, you should never, under any circumstance use your prefect privileges to intimidate other members of this school, and if I hear of you doing it again I shall relieve you of your prefect duties. And now to you punishment: Professor Snape has requested that you catalogue the potions store, he says he has been meaning to do it himself for a while, but due to other commitments," she looked at Hermione, "he has been unable to. He wants lists of all the ingredients he has and of the various quantities listed alphabetically. I trust I can leave you two to get on with it," and with that she got up and began to leave the room.
"But Professor," began Hermione.
"I know it seems an unfair punishment Miss Granger, but it is not up to me to decide that. I will be back to check up on you later."
After she had left, Malfoy put his feet up on the desk in front of him. Hermione looked at him.
"Well shouldn't we get started?" she asked.
"Yes, you should," said Malfoy in his usual malevolent tone.
"Excuse me?" said Hermione unable to comprehend his nerve.
"You deaf as well as stupid Granger? I said you should get started," said Malfoy an evil smirk curling onto his lips.
"We are both here on detention, we are both supposed to do the work," said Hermione, desperately trying to fight the anger that was threatening to overtake her.
"Well I am not going to do work that servants are supposed to do," sneered Malfoy, "and as you are just a dirty mudblood and therefore no better than a servant, you should do the work."
Hermione was dumbstruck. She took a deep breath, there was no way she was going to get angry. She just stood there, defiant to Malfoy's instructions, trying to figure out what to do next.
"Well what are you just standing there for mudblood, get on with it," said Malfoy, his eyes glinting viciously.
"Do not talk to me like that Malfoy, do you want me to get mad?" said Hermione, trying to keep her voice level.
"Oh come off it Granger, you don't think everyone is still infatuated by you do you? Don't give yourself that much credit. You were just a passing fad. No one is interested in you any more, least of all me," he said spitefully.
Hermione didn't care that he was telling her that the potion had worn off; she was too busy controlling her anger from bubbling over.
Malfoy smirked again, seeing the effect he was having on her. Watching her struggle to keep her emotions in check.
"Well get on with it then!" he barked, as though talking to his house elf. He watched her snap.
"Shut up Malfoy!" she shouted, "I will not be spoken to like that, and I certainly will not do the work for you!"
"Why not? Soon enough mudbloods will all have to serve purebloods, so start practising! You'll want to be top at that too," Malfoy chuckled at his own joke.
Hermione had given up trying to fight her anger and it erupted from her like an explosion.
"You stupid bouncing ferret! You are a shortsighted worthless waste of space. Going on about mudblood and pureblood, you have so strange idea of priorities. What about being good and right and loyal and caring and..."
But Hermione was stopped short by a pair of lips crushing down on her own. She trembled with anger, pushed Malfoy away with all her strength and slapped him square across the cheek.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" she demanded, her eyes flashing dangerously, "you know you do that when I get angry, why couldn't you just keep your trap shut and get on with the work?"
Hermione nearly fell over with the force that Malfoy used to push himself onto her as he moved in for another kiss. He pushed her up against a wall, grabbing her wrists and holding them above her head. She was powerless against him. He had twice the strength of her. He kissed her again, but more tenderly this time, his eyes roaming all over her body.
"I am sorry Hermione," he said softly, "I thought the potion would have worn off by now."
"Well guess what, smart arse, it bloody well hasn't!" said Hermione bitterly.
"So then stop struggling and calm down, coz I wont stop wanting you till you do!" said Malfoy, a certain pleading in his voice, "you don't think I actually want to do this do you?"
But Hermione was far to wound up and as Malfoy looked at her he felt more and more in love with her. With his spare hand he traced her jaw line, moving slowly, seductively.
"Let me go!" said Hermione struggling with all her might against his grip. She felt uncomfortable, out of control. If only she could get her wand, she would curse Malfoy into next week. But she didn't have her wand or any means of summoning it, so she had to stand against the wall being held securely by Malfoy, hoping that McGonagall would turn up soon to check up on them. Her blood was boiling with rage. She knew she had to calm down if she wanted to get out of this, but it was so hard to actually do. She hated this boy, she really hated him, and here he was forcing himself upon her, making her hate him even more.
After a while Malfoy's grip loosened, "Hermione," he said in a soft voice, "I don't want to hurt you. You have to understand, I just want you so much. I would do anything to have you." His voice was different to the one that Hermione was used to; it was gentle, almost caring. But Hermione knew it was false, she knew he had been taken over by the love potion and was just trying to win her heart because that's what it made him do.
"Forcing a girl is not the way to 'get' her Malfoy," said Hermione, trying to keep the anger from her voice.
"I know," said Malfoy slowly letting go of her.
To his surprise and her own, Hermione did not take out her wand, nor did she storm out of the room. She didn't even move. Malfoy's body was still holding her against the wall, and she didn't seem to mind.
"You let go of me," said Hermione quietly.
"Yeah," said Malfoy looking a bit bashful.
"Bashful, Malfoy? That's not right," thought Hermione.
It seemed that all of a sudden Malfoy had transformed into a different person. And then, "Get out of here Granger," he drawled, his usual curt tone back in place.
"What?" said Hermione confused.
"I said get out of here," said Malfoy as though talking to a child.
"But we have to do the detention," argued Hermione.
"I can't have you near me," retorted Malfoy.
"That's not what you were saying a moment ago!" snapped Hermione, getting angry again.
"I don't want to be near you, I can't control myself," said Malfoy, his fury rising too.
"Well that's just tough really," said Hermione, "we have to do this detention, if either one of us leave McGonagall will know and we will be in all kinds of trouble!"
"Its better than having to kiss a dirty mudblood like you again!" Malfoy all but shouted.
Hermione screamed and lunged at him, forget her wand, forget magic; she wanted to physically hurt him by herself. But what was this skinny little girl going to do against a strong, not to mention Quidditch playing man? Not a lot. Before she knew it she was laying on the floor, stars popping in front of her eyes. Malfoy had moved out of the way just in time and she had lunged into thin air. Malfoy leaned over her and offered his hand, she refused, but as she struggled up on her own she lost her balance and toppled over again. She let Malfoy help her after that. Once she was on her feet, she caught Malfoy looking at her funnily.
"I'm sorry again Hermione. I can't help it, it's just my nature."
Hermione smiled, Draco Malfoy of all people apologising to her. Love potion or not that was something! It was only then that she realised he still held her hand from helping her up. He caught her looking and slowly raised it to his lips and kissed it. He raised his eyes to hers. Hermione began to feel more than a little nervous. Then for the third time that night Malfoy caught her lips with his own. The kiss was gentle, and soft, and Hermione was surprised at herself for not stopping it. The truth was it actually felt kind of good. She stopped resisting. Her body to tired to fight anymore. When Malfoy moved to deepen the kiss Hermione still didn't resist. His tongue danced around the inside of her mouth, exploring new places, experiencing new tastes. Hermione quivered. This was so wrong. She didn't even like Malfoy. She was in love with Ron. Ron. She could picture him so clearly, standing at the doorway, his face crumpling as his heart broke into a thousand pieces as the girl he loved kissed his mortal enemy.
Hermione broke away. Looking over at her image of Ron. His eyes watching her, immersed in pain. It broke her heart to see him like that. Even if he wasn't real. It just looked so much like him; just how he would look if he had witnessed what had just happened. Ron turned on his heel and ran, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"Stupid Weasel came to check up on you, what a show he got!" scoffed Malfoy.
Hermione just stood there, the enormity of what she had just done hitting her like a ten tonne of bricks.
Love Fudge xxx
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The Detention
The Christmas holidays passed with little to report. Hermione had received many extravagant gifts from her 'admires', all of which she donated to St Mungos Hospital, feeling that they deserved them more than she.
The time had passed quickly and Hermione found herself relaxing and really enjoying herself, now that the question mark of the mystery man had been lifted. There was still the constant reminder of the love potion, but Hermione found a strength she didn't know she had, and managed to cope much better than she had expected to.
Hermione and Ron had decided to keep their relationship quiet mainly because it would be hard for Ron to fight off other guys' jealousy, and that people would only believe Ron loved Hermione due to the love potion. The secretiveness of their relationship gave Hermione a thrill. She was often preoccupied with coming up with new ways of meeting Ron in secret.
The trouble is, when things are going well, they can only get worse.
Potions had never been Hermione's favourite class, but since the disaster with the love potion, things had seemed a lot worse. If Snape wasn't hitting on Hermione (shiver), then he was pairing her with Draco Malfoy, whose come on's were nothing short of disturbing. Hermione reasoned that soon the potion would wear off, or Snape would find a cure, but as the weeks passed Hermione found desperation and doubt closing in.
Hermione was sitting at the back of Potions with Ron and Harry, taking endless notes that Snape was enchanting onto the blackboard. Hermione was feeling particularly smug, as she had enchanted her quill to copy exactly what was being written on the board. So although she still had to keep an eye out for Snape, for he was sure to disapprove of this method of note taking, her mind was left free to wander.
There really isn't much surprise as to the location of Hermione's thoughts. As she imaged more and more complex and farfetched places for her and Ron to meet, a lazy smile curved onto her lips.
"Miss Granger what are you smirking at?" snapped Snape.
Hermione had been brought back to Earth with a bump, "nothing, sorry Professor."
Snape was just about to move away when he spotted the enchanted quill, scratching its way across Hermione's parchment. Hermione cursed silently as she followed his gaze and realised that because she had panicked when he had snapped her from her thoughts, she had stopped concentrating on concealing the quill.
"Well well well Miss Granger, what is this?" sneered Snape, taking his usual pleasure in telling off a Gryffindor.
"It's nothing," said Hermione, quickly picking up the quill to stop its infernal scratching. But she already knew it was too late. Cringing she awaited Snape's punishment.
"Trying to take the easy route are we Miss Granger? Think you are too good to bother taking proper notes? I must say I expected better from you of all people. A detention is in order I think. Come back here at 8 o clock tonight, don't be late. No more taking short cuts Miss Granger," he said as he took her quill and snapped it in half.
To say Hermione was dreading the detention didn't really do what she was feeling justice. As she left the common room at 7.45 she felt like she was walking to her execution.
She entered the dungeons to be pleasantly surprised however. Instead of Snape sitting behind his desk she found Professor McGonagall.
"Ah Miss Granger, take a seat," said McGonagall, she did not continue talking; it looked like she was waiting for something.
Two minutes later that 'something' walked in.
"Mr Malfoy, you are late," said McGonagall, her tone strict.
"Sorry Professor," said Malfoy, his voice polite, but Hermione saw the sneer he gave McGonagall when her attention turned away from him.
"Miss Granger, you would normally be serving you detention with Professor Snape, but he has been called away, and as I had a detention to sit with Mr Malfoy anyway I volunteered to take over for him," said McGonagall, "Professor Snape has asked me to remind you that while enchanting your quill was a clever piece of magic, it is not suitable for taking notes. It is unwise to take sort cuts with you work," she looked at Hermione thoughtfully for a moment, and then added quietly, "I thought it was a good idea myself," and smiled. Then she turned to Malfoy. "Mr Malfoy, you know why you are here, you should never, under any circumstance use your prefect privileges to intimidate other members of this school, and if I hear of you doing it again I shall relieve you of your prefect duties. And now to you punishment: Professor Snape has requested that you catalogue the potions store, he says he has been meaning to do it himself for a while, but due to other commitments," she looked at Hermione, "he has been unable to. He wants lists of all the ingredients he has and of the various quantities listed alphabetically. I trust I can leave you two to get on with it," and with that she got up and began to leave the room.
"But Professor," began Hermione.
"I know it seems an unfair punishment Miss Granger, but it is not up to me to decide that. I will be back to check up on you later."
After she had left, Malfoy put his feet up on the desk in front of him. Hermione looked at him.
"Well shouldn't we get started?" she asked.
"Yes, you should," said Malfoy in his usual malevolent tone.
"Excuse me?" said Hermione unable to comprehend his nerve.
"You deaf as well as stupid Granger? I said you should get started," said Malfoy an evil smirk curling onto his lips.
"We are both here on detention, we are both supposed to do the work," said Hermione, desperately trying to fight the anger that was threatening to overtake her.
"Well I am not going to do work that servants are supposed to do," sneered Malfoy, "and as you are just a dirty mudblood and therefore no better than a servant, you should do the work."
Hermione was dumbstruck. She took a deep breath, there was no way she was going to get angry. She just stood there, defiant to Malfoy's instructions, trying to figure out what to do next.
"Well what are you just standing there for mudblood, get on with it," said Malfoy, his eyes glinting viciously.
"Do not talk to me like that Malfoy, do you want me to get mad?" said Hermione, trying to keep her voice level.
"Oh come off it Granger, you don't think everyone is still infatuated by you do you? Don't give yourself that much credit. You were just a passing fad. No one is interested in you any more, least of all me," he said spitefully.
Hermione didn't care that he was telling her that the potion had worn off; she was too busy controlling her anger from bubbling over.
Malfoy smirked again, seeing the effect he was having on her. Watching her struggle to keep her emotions in check.
"Well get on with it then!" he barked, as though talking to his house elf. He watched her snap.
"Shut up Malfoy!" she shouted, "I will not be spoken to like that, and I certainly will not do the work for you!"
"Why not? Soon enough mudbloods will all have to serve purebloods, so start practising! You'll want to be top at that too," Malfoy chuckled at his own joke.
Hermione had given up trying to fight her anger and it erupted from her like an explosion.
"You stupid bouncing ferret! You are a shortsighted worthless waste of space. Going on about mudblood and pureblood, you have so strange idea of priorities. What about being good and right and loyal and caring and..."
But Hermione was stopped short by a pair of lips crushing down on her own. She trembled with anger, pushed Malfoy away with all her strength and slapped him square across the cheek.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" she demanded, her eyes flashing dangerously, "you know you do that when I get angry, why couldn't you just keep your trap shut and get on with the work?"
Hermione nearly fell over with the force that Malfoy used to push himself onto her as he moved in for another kiss. He pushed her up against a wall, grabbing her wrists and holding them above her head. She was powerless against him. He had twice the strength of her. He kissed her again, but more tenderly this time, his eyes roaming all over her body.
"I am sorry Hermione," he said softly, "I thought the potion would have worn off by now."
"Well guess what, smart arse, it bloody well hasn't!" said Hermione bitterly.
"So then stop struggling and calm down, coz I wont stop wanting you till you do!" said Malfoy, a certain pleading in his voice, "you don't think I actually want to do this do you?"
But Hermione was far to wound up and as Malfoy looked at her he felt more and more in love with her. With his spare hand he traced her jaw line, moving slowly, seductively.
"Let me go!" said Hermione struggling with all her might against his grip. She felt uncomfortable, out of control. If only she could get her wand, she would curse Malfoy into next week. But she didn't have her wand or any means of summoning it, so she had to stand against the wall being held securely by Malfoy, hoping that McGonagall would turn up soon to check up on them. Her blood was boiling with rage. She knew she had to calm down if she wanted to get out of this, but it was so hard to actually do. She hated this boy, she really hated him, and here he was forcing himself upon her, making her hate him even more.
After a while Malfoy's grip loosened, "Hermione," he said in a soft voice, "I don't want to hurt you. You have to understand, I just want you so much. I would do anything to have you." His voice was different to the one that Hermione was used to; it was gentle, almost caring. But Hermione knew it was false, she knew he had been taken over by the love potion and was just trying to win her heart because that's what it made him do.
"Forcing a girl is not the way to 'get' her Malfoy," said Hermione, trying to keep the anger from her voice.
"I know," said Malfoy slowly letting go of her.
To his surprise and her own, Hermione did not take out her wand, nor did she storm out of the room. She didn't even move. Malfoy's body was still holding her against the wall, and she didn't seem to mind.
"You let go of me," said Hermione quietly.
"Yeah," said Malfoy looking a bit bashful.
"Bashful, Malfoy? That's not right," thought Hermione.
It seemed that all of a sudden Malfoy had transformed into a different person. And then, "Get out of here Granger," he drawled, his usual curt tone back in place.
"What?" said Hermione confused.
"I said get out of here," said Malfoy as though talking to a child.
"But we have to do the detention," argued Hermione.
"I can't have you near me," retorted Malfoy.
"That's not what you were saying a moment ago!" snapped Hermione, getting angry again.
"I don't want to be near you, I can't control myself," said Malfoy, his fury rising too.
"Well that's just tough really," said Hermione, "we have to do this detention, if either one of us leave McGonagall will know and we will be in all kinds of trouble!"
"Its better than having to kiss a dirty mudblood like you again!" Malfoy all but shouted.
Hermione screamed and lunged at him, forget her wand, forget magic; she wanted to physically hurt him by herself. But what was this skinny little girl going to do against a strong, not to mention Quidditch playing man? Not a lot. Before she knew it she was laying on the floor, stars popping in front of her eyes. Malfoy had moved out of the way just in time and she had lunged into thin air. Malfoy leaned over her and offered his hand, she refused, but as she struggled up on her own she lost her balance and toppled over again. She let Malfoy help her after that. Once she was on her feet, she caught Malfoy looking at her funnily.
"I'm sorry again Hermione. I can't help it, it's just my nature."
Hermione smiled, Draco Malfoy of all people apologising to her. Love potion or not that was something! It was only then that she realised he still held her hand from helping her up. He caught her looking and slowly raised it to his lips and kissed it. He raised his eyes to hers. Hermione began to feel more than a little nervous. Then for the third time that night Malfoy caught her lips with his own. The kiss was gentle, and soft, and Hermione was surprised at herself for not stopping it. The truth was it actually felt kind of good. She stopped resisting. Her body to tired to fight anymore. When Malfoy moved to deepen the kiss Hermione still didn't resist. His tongue danced around the inside of her mouth, exploring new places, experiencing new tastes. Hermione quivered. This was so wrong. She didn't even like Malfoy. She was in love with Ron. Ron. She could picture him so clearly, standing at the doorway, his face crumpling as his heart broke into a thousand pieces as the girl he loved kissed his mortal enemy.
Hermione broke away. Looking over at her image of Ron. His eyes watching her, immersed in pain. It broke her heart to see him like that. Even if he wasn't real. It just looked so much like him; just how he would look if he had witnessed what had just happened. Ron turned on his heel and ran, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"Stupid Weasel came to check up on you, what a show he got!" scoffed Malfoy.
Hermione just stood there, the enormity of what she had just done hitting her like a ten tonne of bricks.