The two, despite their efforts to arrive on time to Potions, were unable to
do so. Professor Snape glared his beady eyes at them.
"Detention, after you last period class," ordered Snape, sneering at them.
"I expect to see you here."
"Not if I see you first," shot Hermione, having taken on Harry and Ron's
sarcastic wit over the past years at Hogwarts.
"Another detention, Miss Granger. Do you want another?"
"Only if you're willing to be here, as well."
"Fine. Another. Are you done?"
"No."
"That's another."
"Lovely." Hermione sat down, and Ginny shook her head.
Draco looked over and laughed. Harry rolled his eyes, and Ron sat there
with his mouth hanging wide open. Throughout the boring class, Hermione
found her eyelids becoming heavier. She was asleep.
"Miss Granger!" shouted Snape. "Miss Granger, wake up!"
Hermione felt herself being nudged and when she opened her eyes, the entire
Potions class was staring at her.
"Are we keeping you up, Miss Granger?" snarled Snape.
"No, because if you were, I wouldn't have fallen asleep in the first
place," retorted Hermione.
The class howled with laughter, until Snape gave them a warning glance. He
was clearly fuming with rage.
"That is another detention," he said.
"How many is that, sir?" Hermione asked innocently.
"That's...uh, five, Professor," muttered Crabbe stupidly. "Including the one
when she came in late."
"Now, it's six," snapped Snap.
"Sir – it's five."
"Shut up, Vincent!"
Hermione smiled to herself. No matter the number of detentions she had,
nothing could dampen her spirits.
"I'm so glad I got skipped ahead to see this," grinned Ginny.
The rest of the day went by fairly fast, sans incident. Hermione served her first detention, but her attention was focused on the trip. Christmas was coming up soon, and so was the two-week break. That was when Draco planned to take the four to Paris. "Well, the plane leaves Friday, at eleven," Draco said. "It'll be a night flight." "Ooh, my favourite," crooned Hermione. "I'm so glad we're taking this trip, Draco. Maybe Paris will bring us closer together." "Or tear us further apart." "What d'you mean?" "I'm just saying that don't get your hopes up on Paris strengthening our relationship and shit." "Is that what you think our relationship is – shit!?" "I didn't say that." "Oh, but I'm sure you meant it. You always have those snide little remarks to everything that I say. I just wasn't as keen to notice them before." "We promised ourselves we wouldn't get into a fight." Hermione sighed and hugged Draco. "I know. I'm sorry." "Yeah...me, too."
When Friday came round, Hermione and Ginny were squealing with delight. Harry and Ron came with them to the airport to see them off. "So, you're sure Mum is okay with this?" Ron questioned anxiously. "Okay with it!?" repeated Ginny. "She was ecstatic in the note. Happy to get rid of me, I reckon. One less child to feed." Ron looked shocked. "Nah, actually, the parchment was stained with tears. Reckons I'm never coming back, I guess. But she wants me to see the world...even if it's my first Christmas away from home." Ron hugged his sister. "Have fun. Take lots of pictures." Ginny nodded and ran to catch up with the others. Hermione waved to the others, arm-in-arm with Draco. "Flight 435, now departing," announced the airport's speaker. "All passengers report to Gate 13. Flight 435." "That's ours," shouted Hermione. "Let's go!" The four ran until they reached Gate 13. They handed their tickets to the man at the gate, and boarded the plane. Draco had the windowseat, and Hermione was beside him. Ginny and Neville were across the way, looking out the small, rectangular window. "Oh, Draco, can we switch?" Hermione said. "I've never been on a plane before and I'd really love to see the Paris lights. And the Eiffel Tower – it lights up at night, you know." "Well, I haven't seen it either," argued Draco, not looking at her. "I'll tell you what – when we fly over Paris, I'll let you lean over me to look out, all right?" Hermione managed to stifle a sigh. "All right."
The rest of the day went by fairly fast, sans incident. Hermione served her first detention, but her attention was focused on the trip. Christmas was coming up soon, and so was the two-week break. That was when Draco planned to take the four to Paris. "Well, the plane leaves Friday, at eleven," Draco said. "It'll be a night flight." "Ooh, my favourite," crooned Hermione. "I'm so glad we're taking this trip, Draco. Maybe Paris will bring us closer together." "Or tear us further apart." "What d'you mean?" "I'm just saying that don't get your hopes up on Paris strengthening our relationship and shit." "Is that what you think our relationship is – shit!?" "I didn't say that." "Oh, but I'm sure you meant it. You always have those snide little remarks to everything that I say. I just wasn't as keen to notice them before." "We promised ourselves we wouldn't get into a fight." Hermione sighed and hugged Draco. "I know. I'm sorry." "Yeah...me, too."
When Friday came round, Hermione and Ginny were squealing with delight. Harry and Ron came with them to the airport to see them off. "So, you're sure Mum is okay with this?" Ron questioned anxiously. "Okay with it!?" repeated Ginny. "She was ecstatic in the note. Happy to get rid of me, I reckon. One less child to feed." Ron looked shocked. "Nah, actually, the parchment was stained with tears. Reckons I'm never coming back, I guess. But she wants me to see the world...even if it's my first Christmas away from home." Ron hugged his sister. "Have fun. Take lots of pictures." Ginny nodded and ran to catch up with the others. Hermione waved to the others, arm-in-arm with Draco. "Flight 435, now departing," announced the airport's speaker. "All passengers report to Gate 13. Flight 435." "That's ours," shouted Hermione. "Let's go!" The four ran until they reached Gate 13. They handed their tickets to the man at the gate, and boarded the plane. Draco had the windowseat, and Hermione was beside him. Ginny and Neville were across the way, looking out the small, rectangular window. "Oh, Draco, can we switch?" Hermione said. "I've never been on a plane before and I'd really love to see the Paris lights. And the Eiffel Tower – it lights up at night, you know." "Well, I haven't seen it either," argued Draco, not looking at her. "I'll tell you what – when we fly over Paris, I'll let you lean over me to look out, all right?" Hermione managed to stifle a sigh. "All right."