Disclaimer: I own my plot and characters that's all.
A/N: Last chappie was kind of stupid, but oh well.. I am to mean to myself and my writing.hehehe. yeah...thanks for the reviews! Sorry I've taken so long, but I've not felt well at all. I'm having the worst toothache in the world and I can't type with it.
Chapter 14: Soap Suds
Blue jeans were my best friends. Oh how I missed my comfortable pants that didn't show my legs and make me feel dirty. Thank Merlin they came up from the wash this cold Tuesday morning. If I were to wear another skirt, I would shoot myself. It wasn't that I didn't like feeling a bit girly here and there, but I just don't like making a big deal about what I look like. Knowing no one would ever like me, why should I try and look attractive? Besides, I wouldn't be attractive no matter what I wore. Well, I criticize myself too much, so I wouldn't know if I looked pretty or not. At least I'm not cocky.
Breakfast was basically quiet this morning. The whole Great Hall was obviously tired and groggy on this wintery day. I ate my french toast and headed for Flying Lessons a few minutes before the bell echoed throughout the castle. Today would be easy; My lesson was a review on looping in mid-air. The rush of being upside-down and flying at the same time was just overwhelmingly amazing. Just the thought of flying was awesome. When I first got onto my new broom, I didn't think I was awake, which happens alot. If it were up to me, I'd say everyday was either my dreaming or nightmare. I never imagined I would be in such a magical world before. I never used to believe in magic...Now look where I am...
The day passed by slowly, my eyes avoiding contact with Draco. However, I couldn't avoid him when Potions class came around. We talked strictly about our project of creating our own potion. Snape walked around the class asking the students what our ideas were. When he came to Draco and I, we told him we would try to make a potion that would help people remember memories from early childhood and up. Snape told us there was a similar potion, one to help remember lost memories, but he accepted our idea anyways.
Before we could list the ingredients we needed, the bell rang for next class. Draco kept hold of the papers we wrote on, and we unnoticeably walked to Charms class side by side.
"Maranda," Hermione called my attention at suppertime, "What's with Draco?"
Erm, "What do you mean, 'Mione?" I wondered where she was going with this.
"You didn't notice then?"
"Notice what?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes, "You didn't notice how you two walked to Charms together? You were there, weren't you? He kept looking at you, but you stared at the floor the whole time."
"Oh," and I thought she saw what he did yesterday, "I noticed right before we actually got into class. It was after Potions, and I helped him put the papers in his bag, and when the bell rang we kind of left the room at the same time. But I was staring at the floor hoping he would go away."
Hermione laughed, "That's silly, but thank Merlin! I thought you two were getting along for a moment."
"No," I whispered, "Never..."
Taking my backpack with me, I headed down to my detention. Snape never told me exactly what time to be there, but I expected it was the same as usual, six p.m. The dungeons were extra chilly this evening, and it felt as though a morbid breeze lurked about. With a shaking hand I opened the door to the Potions classroom. Draco was sitting in the first row; I forgot he had detention too. I walked down the isle and Snape looked up from whatever he was writing.
"Miss Maguire, did I not tell you to be here at five-thirty? You are a half an hour late." He stood up, and stalked towards me.
I felt my stomach churn and feel intimidated, "Professor, you didn't tell me a time to be here..I figured you'd want me here at the time you usually tell me to come."
Draco chuckled and Snape went on scolding me, "I could have sworn I told you what time to be here. But, as you never pay attention to what I say, I guess you wouldn't know if I said it or not."
"Professor," I sighed, "I always pay attention. Otherwise how would I be doing so well in your class? On my tests I've recieved nothing but A's, and as for partner work with Draco, we've recieved nothing but A's...Except for the couple of mess-ups we've had, but still...If I never payed attention, then how would I have known I had detention at all tonight?"
"You make a good point, Miss Maguire, but you should have asked what time you had to be here."
I didn't understand Professor Snape; He tells me off for not listening to something he obviously didn't say, and then he tells me I should have asked about it...What the Hell? On top of being so intimidatingly cruel, he is confusing. What professor would favor a house, and let them get away with practically anything. If I guessed right, I'd think Snape was even more angered with me for getting Draco in trouble the day after the Ball. You know what I say to that? Tough crap Snake....hey...Hey, a new nickname for Slimey Snape... Slimey Snake. I think it fits quite well.
"Mr. Malfoy, please stand up. Both of you will be washing the cabinets over there with no magic whatsoever. A bucket is by the sink at the end of the counter below the cabinets, as you see, and soap is in the sink too. If either of you get into funny business, I will extend your time here, and give both of you another detention. Any questions?" Snape sneered...Oh wait, Snake sneered. Heh..I slay myself.
As neither I nor Draco had any comments, we both walked to the sink. I filled the bucket while he poured some liquid soap into it. Draco looked in a cabinet above the sink, and sure enough found two large sponges. He must've done this sort of punishment before. I carried the heavy bucket to the other end of the counter and Draco handed me a sponge. Dipping it into the soapy water, I started to scrub the cabinet above.
"I will be out of the room for awhile. I have some business to attend to. When I get back, this side of the room better be smelling lemony-fresh as the soap you are using. On top of that, these dirty cabinets better be glowing with cleanliness. Understand?" Snape watched as Draco and I nodded our heads.
Snape exited the classroom, and Draco stayed quiet. I coughed from inhaling too much lemon scent; The strong smell was starting to give me a headache.
"So, Maguire, I haven't talked to you for a long time." Draco continued washing the cabinet while I moved to the next one. There were eight cabinets.
I shook my head, "You talked to me in Potions class today. How is that a long time?"
"I was just making small talk," He admitted.
"Small talk? How are you?-That's small talk.."
"I'm fine, actually. How about you, Maguire?"
He didn't realize I was making an example of small talk, not actually asking him how he was. Unless he was just trying to start trouble, I'd say that was the stupidest thing he'd ever done-answer my example, that is. I finished the second cabinet, but before I could move to the third, Draco did. he was having trouble scrubbing off a big chunk of dirt, so I went to help him out.
Scrubbing roughly, I tried to get the dirt off of the cabinet. I wondered how long it had been since Snape cleaned them. They were all very dusty, but this particular cabinet was very grungy, and the hinges were rusting.
"Why is it so dirty in here? I blurted, hopin Ferret Boy wouldn't come out with some terribly mean comment.
"Hmm," He glanced at the cabinet and started to laugh hysterically. I couldn't see what was so amusing; Here we were, being punished, and Draco the Ferret Boy Wonder cracks up because I ask why the room is unkempt.
My question, while Malfoy calmed down, was "Why were you laughing so hard?"
"Because," He smiled, "This room is very unclean. You'd think the only time it was cleaned was when Snape had students do it during detention."
"Considering all the detentions he holds, wouldn't the room be beyond spotless?" My comment caused us both to chuckle.
A few moments passed, and we went back to scrubbing the cabinet. We finally got the dirt off of it, and moved on to the next, fourth cabinet. Within twenty minutes we were both restlessly working on the seventh cabinet. However, this one had spiderwebs, cobwebs, rust, and an inch of dust. These factors were beyond disgusting, and even Draco agreed. Hence our desicion to clean the eighth cabinet, then go back to the seventh.
When we finished the seventh cabinet, Draco dunked his sponge in the bucket, splashing suds onto me.
"You little ferret!" I yelled, wiping the dampness off of my arm with my shirt sleeve.
"Sorry," He appologized innocently, "I truly did not mean that."
I grinned and dipped my sponge into the dirty water, "You asked for it." I waved the wet sponge in front of Malfoy, as he made a 'Don't-you-dare' face. Whipping the sponge, but still holding it in my grip, water sprayed onto Draco's navy blue button-down shirt.
Rushing to the sink, Draco wet his sponge. "Unlike you, I use clean water!"
Without any realization of it, a soaking wet sponge flew at my forehead. It hit my head and leaked refreshingly cool water all over my face. I pushed past Draco with the bucket of dirty water over to the sink. I emptied the bucket and refilled it with soap and clean water. There were now twice as many suds because I used more soap.
I took a handful of suds and turned around, pelting Draco in the face with the bubbley mess. He wiped the suds from his face which fell uncaringly to the floor.
Draco and I laughed as he tried to push past me to get to the bucket of water. He turned around and grabbed his already soaking sponge. "That's it, you're dead!" He shouted and I squealed...I squealed like I wanted him to come after me, chase me.. It was fun having a water fight.
Though a superglue held me to the floor, I couldn't move. Draco closed in on me and squeezed the water out of the sponge over my head. My hair, face, shirt, and the front of my pants were soaked. I didn't know his sponge had that much water in it; Not enough to soak all of me anyways. I walked around him to grab the bucket of water as I started to laugh really hard. The bucket was half full, or half empty depending on how you looked at it, and it was ready to be poured on a ferret.
I could not stop laughing, and once the water and suds spilled on Draco, he started to laugh too. He took some of the suds from his shoulder and put them on my nose.
"You look rediculous!" Draco managed to say while chuckling.
I agreed and stated, "So do you."
"Look at the floor!" Pointing at the large puddle of wateronly doubled Draco's laughter. As did mine.
"What is this nonsense?!" That cold, empty voice was back; So was Snape.
The laughter and giggles were sucked right out of our bodies as if Snape were a vacuum. We saw the mess of water we made and stayed silent...Dead silent.
"I demand an explanation, Miss Maguire," Snape said my name, but I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear him blaming me for something both Draco and I participated in.
"Professor," Draco spoke up, and hopefully not to turn on me, "We were cleaning, but the bucket spilled over onto us. We were going to clean it now, but you came in, which is why we were laughing. It was ironic that you came in just as we were having a hard time."
Snape raised one eyebrow as he looked at my soaking self, "Is this true?"
I swallowed a lump of nerves in my throat, "Yes, Professor."
Taking out his wand, Snape said a spell which dried the floor, Draco, and myself. I looked at Draco and he knew I appreciated the cover story. Draco knew Snape would believ him no matter what, so he covered for me...For both of us.
"That should do it," Snakey Snape put his wand away in his pocket, "I suppose I should let you to go now. You finished your job, although you had trouble finishing it. The cabinets really look good, so I will let this little mishap go. I would've cleaned the nasty cabinets myself, but they looked perfect for punishment."
Placing the bucket and sponges where they belonged, Draco and I decided to leave. We exited the classroom with no more than a smirk from Snape's face. The dungeons were cold, like Snape's angry voice, but even colder late at night. Draco walked by my side, silent as a corpse. No words, nothing to say. Maybe even no thoughts..
"That was quite entertaining," Draco finally spoke, but almost too quiet to hear.
"Yeah.." My mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about that day he kissed me.. I had thought I flt nothing, but tonight with the water fight, I couldn't help but feel a spark of some attraction towards the nice, playful side of Draco I rarely saw. Of course, I didn't let it get to me. Until we reached the Grand Staircase.
"Why did you do it?" I asked, not specifying what 'it' was.
Draco stopped walking, as did I, and he looked into my wondering eyes. "Why did I do what?"
"Why," I twiddled my thumbs out of nervousness, or perhaps out of something else, "Why did you kiss me?"