Okay I am here!! Lot's a people are wondering how in the world Draco and Hermione are going to get together after all that nub...heh heh heh...you shall have to wait and you! Mwahaha!!
Chapter 8
"I say! What are you two doing here?"
Hermione groggily opened her eyes. There was sunlight pouring through the windows, and she could tell by the smell that breakfast was already being put out. She sat up, only to meet the astonished glare of Madame Pince. She was holding Draco by the ear.
"Explain yourselves." She growled.
Hermione quickly brushed the sleep from her eyes. "Madame Pince!" she cried, trying to justify herself. "The library door locked! Malfoy and I couldn't get out, so we slept here last night."
Madame Pince glanced at her suspiciously. "And what were you doing this late in the library?"
Hermione gaped at her, then turned to Malfoy for an explanation. It had, after all, been he who was in the library muttering for a "wasp".
Draco swallowed a lump in his throat. "I—er—was looking for a book in the—er—Restricted Section." He winced, waiting for the blow.
"Mr. Malfoy, I am shocked!" Madame Pince exclaimed. "You understand that students aren't allowed in the Restricted Section without a note?"
Draco nodded, cowering.
"I would've expected two prefects to do better than this!" Madame Pince breathed in deeply. "I shall be informing Professors Snape and McGonagall of this little incident. Twenty points each from Gryffindor and Slytherin."
Hermione bowed her head in shame. She'd never lost so much as a point before!
"I suggest you go down to breakfast." Madame Pince let go of Draco's ear, and huffily walked into the Monsters Section and disappeared.
Hermione quickly gathered up her belongings and stormed out of the library. Draco followed closely behind her.
"Thanks for helping, Granger." He muttered sarcastically.
Hermione turned around. "It wasn't my fault!" she snapped. "What were you doing in there so late at night, anyway?"
Draco shifted uncomfortably. "None of your business." He spat.
"Fine." Hermione sniffed, and kept on walking. "I'm going to tell Professor McGonagall what really happened, and it would help if you could explain why you were in there so late."
Draco was silent for a moment, and then spoke. "Alright." He sighed. "I was looking for a book about Wasps."
Hermione turned disbelievingly. "Wasps?" she remarked in a bored voice. "That's very convincing, Malfoy."
Draco grabbed her arm angrily. "If you must know." He hissed. "I got bitten by one last week, and at first I didn't know what it was. Professor Snape told me about the effects of the sting, and I decided to find out some information about their venom."
Hermione took her hand and peeled Draco's firm grasp from her arm. This was the third time that he'd grabbed her arm, and it was starting to hurt.
"Hermione!"
Harry and Ron were rushing up the corridor, anxious looks on their faces.
"Well, well." Draco drawled, stepping back from Hermione. "Potty and his faithful Weasel."
Ron glared at him, but moved to Hermione. "Where were you at breakfast?"
"I got locked in the library." Hermione replied calmly. "I was just let out by Madame Pince."
Ron looked disgustedly at Draco. "And what are you doing, slimy git?"
Draco coolly wiped some dust off of his robes. "Manners, Weasely." He said, eyes glinting maliciously. "I was locked in there as well with your precious Muggle."
Ron practically barked as he lunged for Draco, but a voice stopped him.
"Potter! Weasely! What are you doing?"
It was McGonagall. She quickly strode over and immediately, Ron backed down.
"Er—talking to Hermione, Professor." Harry said sheepishly.
"Well, move along." McGonagall said briskly, shooing Ron and Harry off. "Now...Mr. Malfoy...Ms. Granger: Madame Pince has just informed me of your little escapade in the library."
Hermione moved forward urgently. "Professor! It wasn't my fault!"
Draco snorted. "Blame it on me, why don't you, Granger."
McGonagall held up her hand. "No matter." She said, crumpling up her nose for a moment. "You will both serve a week of detention."
Draco moved forward. "Professor," he said, in a sweet voice. "Shouldn't my head of house decide for me?"
McGonagall smiled at him. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy." She said. "Professor Snape has already agreed to the detentions, so there is no lasting harm."
Draco moved back, clearly disgruntled.
"What are we doing, Professor?" Hermione asked nervously. This was her first detention ever, unless you count first year with Hagrid.
"Since you two are so keen to be in the library," Professor McGonagall said, the smallest of a smile playing on her lips. "You will be Madame Pince's...shall we say—apprentices?"
Draco gaped at her, mouth hanging open. He quickly shut it, and tried to reason with her. "Professor...surely Madame Pince would mind—"
McGonagall cut him off. "Mr. Malfoy, you and Ms. Granger will report to the library every evening this week from eight to ten, that is final. Good day to you." She walked off, and Draco stared after her, looking at her in disbelief.
Hermione was the first one to move. "Well, I guess I'll see you at eight." She mumbled, walking off.
Draco came back to reality. "Hold it, Granger." He snapped, running after her. "I've already got to spend three days every week getting tutored by you," he said in distaste. "And now we've got to spend every evening this week together. You'd better not give me any problems."
Hermione sighed, annoyed. "The feelings mutual, Malfoy."
The rest of the day, Hermione barely heard any of her teachers. Her mind kept wandering to the injustice of her detention. Detention and twenty points for getting locked in a library! When eight o'clock rolled around, she mumbled a disgruntled good bye to a sympathetic Ron and Harry, and walked to the library.
Draco was already there, waiting for her at the door. He smirked at her as she neared, and pointed to his watch.
"You're late, Granger."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, well, I'm sorry that I'm a minute overdue, Malfoy." She glanced around. "Where's Madame Pince?"
Malfoy pointed down the corridor. "She left to get our materials." He sneered. "I'll be expecting you to do all the work."
Hermione felt anger boiling inside her again, but kept her cool. Soon, Madame Pince returned, carrying boxes of books.
"Ah, Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy," she said, opening the door of the library. "We have just received some new books this afternoon. Please file them correctly, according to the subject. Call me when you're done."
She left, leaving Hermione and Draco boxes upon boxes of books. Draco groaned. "Bet you love this, don't you Granger?"
Hermione picked up a book from the box. It was titled "Hogwarts: A Recent Study." She felt excitement inside her. New books for her to peruse and read! "This is wonderful!" she exclaimed, picking up more and more books.
Draco looked at her expectantly, sitting down in a chair and leaning back into it. "If you expect me to help you," he drawled, flicking some dust off his shoulder. "I won't. Don't let me bother you."
Hermione yanked him out of the chair and shoved five books into his hands. "Don't play with me, Malfoy. I'm not in the mood."
Draco huffed away, carrying the books, and began to sort them. As he put two in the Muggle Studies section, he noticed a particular book he was carrying, titled "Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived." Draco snorted and sat down, cross-legged, and opened the book.
It was full of pictures of Potter and his friends. Draco sneered as he read about Harry's love life. Apparently, they still thought Granger and Potter was an item. Suddenly, an object tripped over him.
"Granger?!" he yelled, and stood up massaging his back side.
"What were you doing?" Hermione yelped, getting up as well. "Why were you sitting down there where no one could see you?"
Draco quickly shoved the book out of sight. Hermione saw, and reached for it.
"Harry Potter's Love Life?" she muttered, glancing up at him, bemusedly. "Harry Potter and Hermione Granger have always denied that they are a couple, but sources say otherwise. The two are rarely seen without each other, and friends comment on how close both are." She read.
"Well?" Draco said, tapping his foot. "Are you?"
Hermione closed the book and put it on the shelf. "No!" she said indignantly. "Harry and I are friends! That's all we've ever been, and all we'll ever be!"
Draco snorted. "Right." He muttered.
Hermione looked at him. "Well what about you and that complete cow, Pansy?" she asked. "What about you two?"
Draco smirked, and mimicked Hermione's voice. "No, Pansy and I are friends! That's all we've ever been, and all we'll ever be!"
Hermione sighed. "You are so hopeless!" she mumbled, looking at the clock. It was already five past ten.
Draco and Hermione walked toward the door, only to be met by Albus Dumbledore.
"Ah...Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy." He said benignly. "My office, please."
Wow that was long!! I wonder what our beloved Dumbledore wants?!!? Anyway, please review and tell me how you liked it. I know it was all talk and no do, but okay...they have to talk sometime, and not just glare at each other!! Thanks to the reviewers:
harry potter234
chika: yes...draco is an evil little sexy boy!!
The look of lve
sundaym0rning
fantasy-princess09
Eniyou: I don't think I'm going to make him call her 'hermione' ::gags:: that just sounds so weird...argh...lol
Aykea
orliNkeira
youngwriter56
Afterglow28: yeah it did help, actually! thanks
Kigomae: lol yay thanks for noticing
Thanks, guys!
-enjorli