'Hermione, you're not doing it.'

'Harry, don't be weird!'

Detention

The next few days were a nightmare for Hermione. For one, she was still receiving daily letters from Krum (what kind of wedding cake would you like?), and was now forced to avoid Harry, as well as Ron (she was afraid she'd fall for him too the way she was going). Avoiding Malfoy was easier.

Whenever she did catch sight of Harry or Malfoy, all she could do was gaze at them longingly. Hermione couldn't explain it, but she was desperate for both of them to love her! During Transfiguration that morning, Hermione sat next Harry and Ron, but stayed determinedly hidden behind her Transfiguration book for much of the class.

'She's still not talking to us,' Harry whispered to Ron, so Hermione couldn't hear. She was seated to his left. 'Did you say something offensive to her?'

'Nothing more then I usually say,' said Ron. 'She's gone completely mental she has! I think all these years of manic studying have finally caught up with her.'

Professor McGonagall suddenly called Hermione to the front. Hermione stood up out of her seat and walked forward obediently.

'Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Miss Granger?' said Professor McGonagall, looking down at her haughtily.

Hermione's mind switched into panic mode. She knows! She knows I've been using love potion! I'll be expelled! I'll be sent to a Muggle school! I'll never see Harry and Ron again! Professor McGonagall filled her silence.

'I'll judge by the look on your face, you've suddenly realised you never gave me your first assignment, which was meant to be handed in at my office yesterday.'

'Huh?' said Hermione, puzzled. She hadn't expected this. 'Assignment?'

Professor McGonagall gaped at her. 'The essay on Transfiguration in seventeenth century Europe!'

Hermione couldn't believe herself; and clearly, neither could Professor McGonagall. She'd forgotten all about the assignment! But how could she write an essay now? All she'd be able to write is 'Harry, Malfoy, Harry' over and over again…

'I'm very sorry Professor,' said Hermione sincerely. 'I haven't been feeling myself lately. I promise I'll catch up.'

'I insist you do. I must say, I'm quite surprised at you Miss Granger. I trust you'll hand it in by the end of the week at the latest. And to keep your memory in check for the future, you'll be serving detention tonight.'

'Detention? But Profes - '

'I know it's harsh, but I've already said lateness on a fifth year assignment will not be tolerated. You may sit down now, Miss Granger.'

While this was happening, Malfoy (sitting on the table next Harry and Ron) decided it was time for another one of his quips.

'Tisk tisk Potter, Weasley. Your Mudblood girlfriend's in trouble. You better go turn McGonagall into a toad and save her or she might dump you both for me.'

'Stop calling her that, Malfoy!' said Ron coldly. Malfoy chuckled.

'What, "Mudblood" ?'

Ron's ears turned as red as his hair.

'I mean it, Malfoy! Shut up or I'll - '

'But it's so nice the way it just rolls off your tongue: "Granger, Queen of the Mudblood's" !'

Ron, who was about to reach over and wring Malfoy's neck, was not quick enough - Harry had beaten him to it! The entire class stopped what they were doing to watch Harry and Malfoy wrestle on the floor.

'That's it, Harry!' enthused Ron. 'Clobber him! Break his nose!'

Professor McGonagall quickly put a stop to the brawl. She separated Harry and Malfoy, holding them both by the ear.

'AH!' winced Harry.

'OW!' concurred Malfoy, recoiling. Professor McGonagall was furious.

'I would expect this kind of behavior from first years but REALLY! Potter, Malfoy, for that immature display, you can both be assured twenty points will be taken off Gryffindor and Slytherin.'

Harry and Malfoy let out simultaneous groans - partly for the loss of house points, and partly because their ears were in danger of being wrenched off. Professor McGonagall did not yield.

'And in addition to all this, you can both join Miss Granger in detention tonight!'

'Oh no,' said Hermione to herself, watching from the sidelines. Or was it more like, 'oh yes?'


Pumpkin Juice

Detention was to be served with Professor Snape (Harry suddenly felt very ill). They arrived in his office later that night, where he immediately set them up at his desk to organise and test an array of new potion ingredients. Hermione found it very hard to avoid Harry and Malfoy now, but did her best anyway. Guilt was plaguing her: concealed in her school bag at that very moment was some of her Aphora Bewitching Potion, which she'd mixed with pumpkin juice so nobody would recognise it. Why she'd done this, she couldn't fathom. She was totally against using it, but then again…

'I have to leave you three alone for fifteen minutes,' said Snape in his usual dark voice. Harry tried not to look pleased.

'Continue sorting the eye of newt from the eye of salamander into the appropriate bottles.'

He was about to walk out, but then added…

'If any funny business happens while I'm gone, you can all expect to be in detention for the remainder of the year.'

And he left them on that cheery note. When it was safe to speak, Malfoy figured he should be first.

'Me? In detention for the remainder of the year? Good luck. My father would no sooner raise hell!'

Harry and Hermione ignored him and carried on with their work. Surely Lucius Malfoy had raised hell already, seeing he'd brought up Malfoy.

'And speaking of hell,' continued Malfoy, who obviously enjoyed the sound of his own voice, 'it's too damn hot in here!'

He was right, actually. They'd been brewing potions on heat to test ingredients for almost an hour now. Snape's office was gradually turning into a sauna. Harry, wiping sweat from his brow and rolling up his sleeves, attempted to talk to Hermione.

'So, Hermione, are you okay with finishing that assignment by the end of the week?'

Hermione avoided Harry's eyes as she deposited eye of salamander with tweezers into a tiny bottle, and replied in a distant voice, 'sure, I'm fine…'

'Harry…Malfoy…get Harry…get Malfoy!'

'It's not like you to miss an assignment. I would've reminded you, but I didn't think you'd forgotten.'

'Thanks, Harry, but I can take care of myself,' she said, now concentrating on the tabletop.

Harry became more and more aware of Hermione not looking at him. She'd been doing this for a while now, and he was determined to find out why. He stared at her, willing her to turn his way, but she wouldn't.

'Hermione…?'

'Yes, Harry?' she answered, head down.

'Malfoy…Harry…get Malfoy…get Harry!'

'Look at me.'

Hermione brought her head up a touch. 'What? Look at you?'

'Look at me.'

'Oh, please!' groaned Malfoy, rolling his eyes. 'If you two want to get romantic, can you take it outside?'

Harry ignored him.

'Hermione, you're not doing it.'

'Harry, don't be weird!'

'HarryMalfoyHarryMalfoyHarryMalfoy!'

'I'm not being weird, you are!' said Harry strongly. 'Why can't you just look at me?'

'Because - ' she stammered. 'Because I'm busy, Harry!'

'Maybe,' interrupted Malfoy, 'she's sick of your ugly face, Potter! Here, she'll probably prefer to look at my face instead.'

Malfoy leaned in front of her and glared, but Hermione only sunk her head lower.

'Bugger off, Malfoy!' she said warningly, but this spurred him on.

'Come on Granger, "look at me" !' he demanded, imitating Harry.

Malfoy tried looking at her from one angle, then another, but it was no use. Harry wanted to come to Hermione's defence, but was momentarily bemused at her behaviour. Why wasn't she looking at anyone?

'Malfoy, just bugger OFF!'

'MALFOYHARRYMALFOYHARRYMALFOYHARRY!'

'But Granger!' he pretended to plead, grabbing her face and forcing her to turn in his direction. 'Cooperate, you're hurting my feelings now.'

Hermione squished her eyes shut. She urged herself not to look, but was suddenly consumed by the feeling of Malfoy's hands on her face. His hands are so firm, and his skin so smooth and…oh god, HELP ME!

'That's IT!' she yelled, throwing Malfoy off. 'I can't take this anymore!'

'Hermione, what is going on?' said Harry anxiously.

'I - ' she uttered helplessly, shooting Harry a quick glance. He'd put a comforting hand on her shoulder, sending her into a spin… Harry's touching my shoulder...he's so close, close enough to...

'Hermione, please…'

'I - ' she said again, panic increasing. 'I have to go to the bathroom!'

Hermione fled out the door and down the hall. Malfoy scoffed loudly.

'Three letters, Potter: P - M - '

'Shut up, Malfoy!'said Harry, cutting in before he could finish. Malfoy scoffed again.

'Ah gee, what's the matter? Scared your girlfriend's going to break up with you? Perhaps you two should make out later tonight to ease the tension. That is, of course, if you can get her to look at you.'

'Malfoy,' said Harry, thoroughly annoyed now, 'can't you get any new material?'

Malfoy was thrown aback.

'What do you mean, new material?'

'Well, it's the same thing every week, isn't it? "Potter, where's your girlfriend? Potter, Hermione's upset, better ask her for a snog or pass her onto me". Its getting quite predictable, and I'm starting to think you have a problem.'

Malfoy's eyes turned to slits, glaring viciously at Harry.

'And what exactly do I have a problem with, Potter? Besides you existing, of course.'

'I thought I made that quite clear,' said Harry casually. 'You have a problem obsessing over a girl who's a Muggle-born.'

'Obsessing!' he spat, revolted. 'If you're suggesting I like Granger, you need to get your head checked! The day I like Granger is the day I convert to Gryffindor! All the heat in here must be making your brain melt.'

Harry wished Malfoy hadn't mentioned the heat. The air in Snape's office was thickening beyond comfort. Malfoy broke off from Harry and searched around the room for something…

'I need a drink or I'm going to pass out… Aha! What do we have here?'

Malfoy spotted a bottle of pumpkin juice protruding from the top of Hermione's school bag. He swiped it.

'What are you doing, that's Hermione's!' said Harry defiantly.

'I know, and it's cold too! She must have put a charm on it,' said Malfoy, grabbing an empty glass from one of Snape's cupboards and pouring himself a drink. 'Cheers, Potter!' he said, raising his glass. 'Here's to me stealing your girlfriend, who I supposedly obsess over,' he declared, before gulping it down.

Harry, wiping more sweat from his brow, watched enviously as Malfoy drank. Surely Hermione wouldn't mind if he had a sip? His throat was so dry…

'What? No toast?' said Malfoy, seeing the bottle in Harry's hand.

'Oh, right,' said Harry, clearing his throat. 'Here's to you taking an eternal vow of silence.'

Malfoy shot him a dirty look, just as Hermione returned. In her absence, she resolved to get rid of the love potion straight after detention. She'd fought the desire to use it on Harry and Malfoy, knowing it would mean the end of her time at Hogwarts if she did. That's right, she was really going to do it this time! She was going to…

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, horrorstruck, having just spied the empty bottle of pumpkin juice in Harry's hand. Without thinking, she looked directly at Harry and Malfoy for first time in days. Her stomach sank when she saw that both had orange pumpkin juice stains on their top lips.

'Well well!' said Malfoy snobbishly. 'Look who's looking at us now!'

'I'm sorry, Hermione,' said Harry, looking guilty. 'I guess I was thirstier then I thought. I didn't think you'd mind, it was just getting so hot in here…'

'You…you both drank it?' she exclaimed, looking more horrified by the second. She couldn't believe it. They'd drunk the love potion. Her love potion! And to make matters worse, Snape was back.

'Miss Granger, may I ask why you are you standing in my doorway?'

Hermione turned around and apologised very quickly, saying she'd been to the bathroom.

'No one was to leave the room while I was gone. Ten points off Gryffindor,' he proclaimed maliciously, before turning a dark eye to Harry and Malfoy. 'That will be all for this evening. This detention is over. All three of you get out of my sight.'

Thanks for your reviews guys, much love. Keep the good vibes rolling, and I'll keep putting up the Chappie's :)