Detention

By Fidelius Charm

Summary: "Granger, I hope you're proud of yourself! You've just earned yourself a week of detention!" The words shocked the entire student population. Hermione Granger had Detention? And she had Fred Weasely to thank.

Note: Thank you again for all of the supportive reviews and birthday wishes! And to dolface543 the only reason I'm good at writing awkward moment is because I experience them all to often, especially with guys.

THURSDAY

Madam Pomfrey was astonished at the scene before her to say the very least. Fred Weasely, notorious prankster of Hogwarts was sitting next to a hospital bed holding the hand of the girl who occupied that bed, stroking the top of it gently. And to make matters even more ironic that girl was none other then Hermione Granger, brilliant student and Princess of Gryffindor. Poppy had to look for another minute, and then it struck her. But it couldn't be, Fred Weasely and Hermione Granger…a couple? That was the only explanation to the entire situation going on before her; the look in the young boy's eyes gave it away. This she had to tell Minerva, she'd die of shock.

"Mr. Weasely, I think it's time you returned to your dormitory." She said, taking a few step closer to the two students.

"I can't just leave her here, I—I have to tell her something important. I was going to tell her last night but things came up as you already know…" Fred turned towards her with tears threatening to fall.

"If you're going to tell her you love her Mr. Weasely then I suggest you tell her when she is fully conscious." Poppy said placing a hand on his shoulder, "She'll be fine Mr. Weasely, but you will not if you continue to stay up like this."

A yawn escaped the youth mouth, and he quickly covered it with his hand. He took a long glance at Hermione and then turned to Madam Pomfrey.

"Can I leave her a note at least, so that when she wakes up she knows I didn't just abandon her." He pleaded.

"I don't think she'd feel that way even if you didn't leave a note, but if you feel it would be best then go right ahead. But make sure you head straight to your dormitory when you are finished." She said, "And no horsing around, go straight to your room."

"Yes ma'am."

"Goodnight Mr. Weasely."

"Goodnight ma'am."

Madam Pomfrey walked back to her room and closed the door behind her and sighed. What she would give to be young and in love again.

Fred sat there for a moment, not moving and he had forgotten to breathe for a few seconds. What had just happened, why did he find Hermione in the hall bleeding and sick? Why did she collapse? What the hell was going on? He looked at Hermione's freshly bandaged hand that he had in his much larger ones, he didn't want to let her go. He wanted to be with her when she woke up. He placed Hermione's hand down and took the parchment and quill Madam Pomfrey had left for him. He was so confused…

Hermione woke up with the worst headache she had ever experienced, her temples throbbed her eyes were sore and she was convinced she would never be able to lift her head off of the pillow. But fortunately she was able to pull herself up, and she took in her surroundings. Why was she in the hospital wing?

"Miss. Granger you're awake!" Madam Pomfrey glided across the room next to Hermione, she placed a hand on her forehead to check her temperature.

"Why am I here?" Hermione asked.

"Mr. Weasely found you this morning unconscious down by Professor Umbridge's office." Madam Pomfrey began, "Your hand was bleeding dear."

Hermione gave the nurse a terrified look, her secret was finally out.

"Miss. Granger, the use of a Blood Ink quill (1) has been an illegal practice for over twenty years. You should've told someone." Madam Pomfrey placed her hands on Hermione's shoulders, "What Professor Umbridge has been doing is wrong, it's torture."

Hermione couldn't look Madam Pomfrey in the eyes because she knew every word she has spoken was true. She had been foolish not to tell after the first Detention. It had been a mistake, and now her had a permanent reminder of her mistake written in her own handwriting across the top of her right hand:

I'm an insufferable know it all.

Fred hadn't been able to see Hermione for the rest of the day. He had so many questions that only Hermione could answer, some were more prominent in his mind then others. He had spaced out in Transfiguration but McGonagall didn't seem to notice like she normally did. Instead she gave him a small smile and continued on lecturing on how to transfigure a desk into a hippogriff. Fred couldn't imagine how this could ever be of use to him but didn't make a comment about it.

Finally after he had gotten out of Ancient Runes, his least favorite class next to Potions, he headed towards the hospital wing. He opened the doors and saw Hermione sitting up on the hospital bed reading a Charms textbook. He sighed in relief, at least she seemed alright. He walked in and sat down next to her, she glanced up from the book and looked at him. The look unnerved Fred; he had ever seen such an intense look before, not even from his own mother.

"Thank you for helping me Fred." She said her look softening a bit, "I owe you my life."

"There is really nothing to it, I mean—" Fred felt his ears and cheeks burn red.

There was a silence for a moment that seemed to only thicken the tension between the two. Fred didn't know what to say, he was afraid that if he said something now he'd make a total idiot out of himself. His hands began to shake and to steady them he sat on them. It wasn't the suave thing to do but it sufficed for the situation.

"Hermione, I have to ask you…what happened to your hand? Why did you collapse in the hallway? Will you go out with me? Are you alright? I mean that was a nasty gash you had on your hand? I—are you sure you're alright?" Fred spoke so fast that Hermione couldn't understand a single word he was saying.

"Fred, calm down! Speak slowly please. Now what did you want to ask me?"

Fred took a deep breath, calming down his nerves. He hoped Hermione hadn't heard the 'Will you go out with me' question. It knew it was too sudden, he needed to take things slowly with Hermione.

"I need to know what happened to you last night." He looked straight into her hazel eyes, and she into his bright blue ones.

"I guess I can tell you since the cat's out of the bag…" She closed her Charms book and began telling her tale.

Hermione went on to tell him the events of the past three days, the lines, the pain, the torture she had gone through. Fred felt disgusted, how could a teacher do that to a student? To Hermione Granger? To the girls he cared so much about?

"Mr. Weasely, Miss. Granger needs her rest and here you are taking precious recovery time away from her! Shoo, shoo. She'll be fine by tomorrow you can flirt with her at breakfast." She grabbed Fred by the ear and dragged him out.

He waved goodbye to Hermione who giggled at the comical scene and waved back. When he was gone Hermione was left with her thoughts. And unfortunately her mind was too cluttered to think clearly. She placed her head into her hands only to cause her right hand to start burning again. Madam Pomfrey seemed to take notice of Hermione's distressed state.

"You're a very lucky girl Miss. Granger." Madam Pomfrey said, "I've seen a lot of young people come through these walls and fall in love. But it's only on that rare occasion when you see true untainted love. The kind of love that can triumph over anything."

Hermione was speechless, what in the world was she talking—then it struck her. Fred. She cared about Fred Weasely with everything she was. He had been there for her, he was caring, funny, and he was everything she needed in a man. Someone who could make her see the bright side of things, to make her laugh when she was sad, someone to be there, to hold her. The only problem was, she had no idea what Fred thought about them…did he think they were just friends? That they could never be anything more then just friends because she was his little brother's best friend? Now she understood how all the girl's in her dormitory felt when they were head over heels in love.

Hermione lied down and stared at the ceiling trying her best to analyze the situation. Completely forgetting about the note on the table next to her.

Short chapter I know, but it was a very difficult one for me to right. I just couldn't seem to get the words to come out correctly. I promise next chapter will be more interesting, it's in the works as you're reading this. Just hang in there.

--FC