Chapter 8's here guys and I noticed that I have over 500 reads to my story, over 600 already! I hadn't thought so many people would read it and I hope everyone who has come across it has liked it:) Thanks so much for reading, here's the next chapter and chapter 9 will probably be out at the start of next week. Enjoy and bear in mind I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 8
Seamus had been right – the next day was all about homework and studying. Hermione had already done all her homework but decided to study a little more on methods of dueling in case Professor Jones decided to ask her for help with demonstration again. At lunch, a shy-looking fourth-year approached her and Harry at the Gryffindor table.
"Um-excuse me," she stuttered, "I was asked to give you these."
The girl handed them two small rolls of parchment, taking out a third one from her pocket.
"This is for Mr Weasley. Can you tell me where to find him?"
"Right here" Ron's voice came from their left. He sat down opposite them, stretching out his arm to take the note addressed to him. The girl handed it to him and turned to go. "Hey wait" he called.
"Yes?" she said, as if he were going to yell at her.
"What's your name?" he asked her kindly, smiling at her.
"My n-name?" she stuttered, confused.
"Yes" he said patiently.
"Oh, it's Cassandra – Cassie."
"Well, thanks for giving us these, Cassie" Ron said. Cassie blushed heavily, but smiled before almost running away. Hermione's eyes widened and she raised an eyebrow at Ron.
"Who are you and what have you done with Ronald Weasley?"
"Hey, was I that bad before?" the ginger asked.
"Let's say you wouldn't have said thanks" Harry said, then suddenly his eyes narrowed. "I just hope that's not an attempt to impress Hermione."
Hermione hadn't thought of that. She looked at him.
"It's not" Ron said honestly, looking her in the eyes. "I was a bit of a prat – okay, a lot – but I realized it."
"Nice, mate" Harry reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "Let's see what our detentions are."
They unrolled the small notes the girl had given them. Hermione immediately recognized Professor McGonagall's handwriting.
Miss Granger,
Your detention will take place in my office this Monday evening. I expect you there at eight o'clock sharp. I trust you know my favourite biscuits after our numerous tea times with Andromeda this summer.
Best wishes,
Professor M. McGonagall
Headmistress
"Well, looks like I'll be helping McGonagall with something" the girl announced. "How is it with you two?"
"Oh, of course she'll take you to help her" Ron said. "She loves you!"
"Yeah, I'm stuck with Slughorn tomorrow evening" Harry groaned. "She knows it was my idea. And she knows what I'd hate."
"I'll gladly swap" Ron muttered. "I'm with Filch – he's going to keep me up all night! I just hope I'm not scrubbing trophies again."
"When you think about it, though, you did vomit a slug all over Voldemort's award" Hermione said fondly. "Do it again if you can."
Ron grimaced at her and she laughed.
The next day, however, while making her way to the Great Hall for dinner, she wasn't that prone to laughing. She went to the Slytherin table because Harry and Ron were having Quidditch practice, and plopped down next to Draco.
"Hey, Mia" he greeted.
"Hello" she said miserably.
"What's with the sad face, Granger?" came Pansy's voice from behind. The raven-haired girl sat down on her other side. "Little Miss Perfect can't stand one detention?"
"Do you have any idea how much homework we have?" Hermione snapped. "Flitwick gave us another essay and I have to practice turning myself into a cat for Transfiguration tomorrow!"
"Oh, stop whining, you're McGonagall's favourite student" Pansy responded. "She'll let you practice in detention."
"No way" Hermione said glumly. "I wish I knew another Animagus, I'd like to become one. It's supposed to be a lot easier to Transfigure yourself if you're an Animagus."
"Remind me to ask my Aunt to help you when you visit again" Draco piped in.
"Andy?" Hermione gasped. "An Animagus?"
"Totally, but I won't tell you what she is – she'll want to surprise you."
"Oh, let me guess – a snake?" Hermione snickered.
"Nah, you're much more likely to be one" Draco smirked back at her.
"Who's what now?" Blaise joined them, sitting opposite Pansy.
"First for the gossip, aren't you, Zabini" Pansy shot at him.
"I bet your jaw's going to hit the ground when you hear my piece of gossip" the boy retorted.
"It's got something to do with Theo missing, right?" Draco looked at him curiously.
"Oh, he's not missing. Just sitting at the Hufflepuff table."
Blaise leaned back and enjoyed their reactions. Hermione immediately turned to the Hufflepuff table. Sure enough, Theo's chocolate brown curls were visible at the end, next to Susan's braids.
"Oh, I'm really happy for them" Hermione said. "At least he's acting on his feelings. I respect brave people who just... go for it."
"You do?" Pansy's head turned so suddenly it looked like Nearly Headless Nick's.
"Yes" Hermione said, finishing her steak. "But anyway, I've got to go now. You'll tell me how dinner went, right?"
"Yep, no worries" Blaise winked. "Have fun."
She turned around, pretending not to hear him, but at the doors she stopped, pulled out her wand, took careful aim, and hit his robes with a Tangling jinx.
"Let me see you walking now, Zabini" she muttered to herself and walked away. Halfway to the Headmistress's office Harry and Ron ran past her, turning around briefly to smile encouragingly. "Good luck to you, too" she called after them as she took a turn.
"Ginger newts" she said to the gargoyles guarding the staircase to the office. They sprang aside and she climbed up to the door with the brass knocker. Hermione checked her watch and saw she was exactly on time.
"Come in, Miss Granger" came Professor McGonagall's voice from inside before she had had time to knock.
"How did you know when exactly I was going to come" Hermione walked in, watching the old witch in confusion.
"One of the things I like about you, Miss Granger, is your punctuality" the Headmistress elaborated. "One I don't particularly like are your spontaneous shows of hotheadedness."
Hermione smiled rather pleased with herself.
"We are not here to discuss that, however, but for detention because of a recent display of this kind. Please, take a seat."
She indicated the seat opposite hers, and Hermione walked over, sitting down nervously.
"I've got to say I'm sorry, Professor. What we did was really-"
"What you did was something any teenager should do at least once, Miss Granger" Professor McGonagall interrupted, giving her a small smile. "But I have to hand out detentions, you know. Even to the Saviors of the Magical world. Would you help me organize these papers? Fifth-year homework. Alphabetical order, no wand."
Hermione took the stack of parchment and began to reorganize it. Professor McGonagall was grading more homework and added a new piece of parchment every now and then. For a few minutes they worked in silence.
"I am quite glad, though, that you seem to have reconciled with Mr Weasley" the Headmistress spoke. "You two had some conflicts if I'm not mistaken?"
"No, you aren't, Professor" Hermione said. She had discovered that the woman sitting opposite her could give really good advice without judging. "He couldn't take the fact I'm not interested in him."
"Romantically?"
"Yes."
The Headmistress looked thoughtful while placing another graded piece of homework in front of the girl.
"Hmm, yes, many people thought you two would end up in a relationship" she said finally.
"Well, I did too, for some time" Hermione admitted. "But then I realized it would be a mistake."
"Not that I don't share the belief you two are not right for each other but what changed your mind? If that's not too personal, of course."
"I realized what kinds of ideas he grew up with" the young woman explained. "Watching his parents so happy – his father working, his mother being at home, cooking and cleaning. That's his perfect idea for a family. I need someone to challenge me. Make debates with me because of a random book, but also drag me out of my comfort zone every once in a while. I have never pictured myself as a housewife."
"That much is obvious" McGonagall said. "I have always wondered which profession you would choose, not whether you would choose to work."
Hermione hummed in agreement. They worked in companionable silence for some more time until the teacher handed her the last piece of parchment from the homework stack.
"Oh, look at the time," the Headmistress said, "I didn't mean to keep you here for so long."
Hermione waved her wand and saw it was almost ten o'clock.
"It's OK, Professor, I don't usually go to bed at ten."
"Never mind that, I'm sure you have more pressing responsibilities than detention. And I hope I won't have to put you in one again."
"Of course, Professor" Hermione looked down but grinned slightly.
"All right then, off you go, Miss Granger." Hermione was at the door when the old witch spoke again. "And I do hope you find someone who can bring out your wild side, even if that means I would lose the right to say you're a model student."
The brunette turned around, locking eyes with the woman she had always thought of as an idol, and smiled.
"We shall see, Professor. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Miss Granger."
In the Common room she didn't waste much time because she knew Harry and Ron would not be back before half past ten, at least. Ignoring Blaise's calls for her to go and talk about Arithmancy, she quickly climbed up the staircase to the girls' dormitories, and sat on her bed, drawing the curtains closed. She lay down, thinking. The conversation with Professor McGonagall had made her rethink a lot of things. For starters – herself. She had always thought that if Ron wasn't the one, then another boy would catch her attention. But this hadn't happened, and she was starting to believe it never would. She was much more fascinated by the beauty and grace of some girls and she wondered how she hadn't thought of that earlier. Hermione thought about Pansy and their conversation in the Owlery. It seemed that gay people were accepted in the Magical world. And as much as it hurt her to admit it to herself, she wouldn't have to face the judgement of Muggles, because the only Muggles she had had contact with were her parents who were now in Merlin knew which part of Australia. Still, it seemed strange and scary to Hermione to tell herself she was lesbian, never mind other people. She shook her head and sat up to change into her pyjamas. Then she lay back down in bed and tried to fall asleep, hoping she would wake up and have no memory of the inner fight she had had.