Author's Note: I'm glad those who are reviewing and favoriting this are enjoying, or I hope they are. I don't know when I'll be able to update chapter two, seeing as how I have finals coming up. Though it won't be long, and I'll have the entire summer to continue. As you know, reviews are always loved, and I'd love to hear what you think.

Chapter One

Detentions and Discoveries

October 6th, 1997

Hermione's gaze slowly began to drift elsewhere as she felt her eyes begin to droop. She tried to keep her attention on something, anything, to keep her from falling asleep. Looking at the ceiling, she remembered, that it was the ceiling and that it hadn't moved or changed. Nor had it in the last ten minutes and million times she glanced at it. The idea of trying to capture her attention didn't seem to be working all that well. She yawned and her eyes began to close once more. Hearing her name called, she quickly placed her attention where it should have been in the first place. A deep blush fell upon her cheeks as the class diverted their attention to her.

"Sorry Professor, it won't happen again." she fumbled with her books frantically to try and find the page they were on. It's not like it was her fault anyway that she didn't get to sleep last night from Lavender and Parvati's constant chattering. Though, this was the third time this week that she had fallen asleep in class, so she knew she couldn't continue blaming her friends for it.

"No need for that," she motioned to Hermione."class is dismissed for today. Oh and Miss Granger, stay behind for a few moments, would you?" Professor Zuka asked before she reached the door. She stopped abruptly to face their newest Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Slowly she began to turn around and she saw that there was no one left in the classroom but her and Professor Zuka. Hermione's shoulders were held high as she faced her professor, but that was merely because she was holding her breath. Assuming the worst, she took small steps to reach her desk, stalling the moments before she got points taken off, or worse.

"Miss Granger, I don't pretend I haven't noticed that you have been slacking off in class these past few days. Is there any other problems going on that you would like to tell me about?" she asked Hermione before looking at something on her desk for a moment; Hermione shook her head. "No, no professor. I-I'm sorry, I just haven't been sleeping much lately." she reasoned with herself. It was the truth after all; just without reason. Though, almost everyone knew the reasons as well, so there was no need to even mention them.

She sighed and looked at Hermione again. "Hermione, I know this is a very stressful time with Voldemort and the war, and for you to deal with your Head duties as well. Though you know that this is affecting everyone else around you in this school, and it isn't having the same impact on them. Mind you, you do have your other duties as well, so I do understand that much. Do I need to speak to McGonagall about relieving you of your late night duties for a few weeks, to give you some extra time?" she asked Hermione and she shook her head repeatedly.

"No professor, thank you though. I'm sure I won't be like this from now on, I know I can't be falling asleep in class, especially in my NEWT's year. I promise, it won't happen again." she spoke with a shaky confidence in her voice. Professor Zuka nodded before allowing her to leave. Hermione caught her saying something to her before she left again.

"Yes, I hope so Miss Granger. You do know that just because you are Head Girl that I cannot give you any special treatment opposed to the other students. I will give you what I believe to be the proper punishment that I would give to any other student who falls asleep in my class. Tonight instead of your patrolling, you shall accompany me to a detention." she held up her hand to silence Hermione, answering her question before even spoken. "I will have the Head Boy schedule a prefect to work over your missed time." Hermione nodded in agreement while mentally apologizing to Ernie MacMillan for leaving him to patrol with a sixth year and plan it out at last minute.

"And one more thing before you go, don't be late Miss Granger. I hope for this to be the last time I have to give you detention. The war is approaching very fast as everyone knows. Everything you're learning this year is very crucial to your future and your survival. I can't have you wasting this precious time of preparing just because you got in late."

Hermione looked down at her shoes, ashamed to make eye contact. Before walking out the door, she nodded and her robes were seen going quickly around the corner of the door to head to the Great Hall. She noticed that there was only a few students in the corridor. Eight at the most. Everyone was able to hear the responsive noise her shoes made as they came into contact with the floor. Half of the students had been pulled out by their parents from the events of the year before. It was unsettling with all the silence, and kept Hermione's thoughts clouded with her discussion with Professor Zuka previously.

When opening the door, the nonstop noise interrupted her as she continued to replay what had just happened in class. It was her first detention she'd received on her own. Which meant, she had no one to blame but herself for her punishment. Silently, she made her way to her seat at the Gryffindor table when entering the Great Hall. She smiled slightly at Ginny who was now sitting to her right and then to Neville in front of her.

Not even a few weeks into her seventh year and she's already being optioned to be removed from Head duties for a few weeks, and received a detention! Some Head Girl she was as a role model. She was disappointed in herself, she shouldn't be letting things get to her. Minor glitches in life couldn't interfere with her education, she scolded herself. It's not as if it wasn't the same in everyone else's.

Unconsciously, she glanced to her left from the corner of her eye. Two empty seats were to her left; The only two seats that had stayed empty for weeks since school had began. If here, those seats would be currently occupied by her best friends. Left of Hermione's seat, the seat she sat down to eat her daily meals everyday, were always going to be Harry and Ron's.

Of course no one knew of the true reason that Ron and Harry left, except for Hermione and Ginny. Neither had any idea as to where where the two were, or if they were even safe. The only truth that they knew, the others didn't, is the actual reason; they were hunting down the remaining Hocruxes. It was as though they were unconsciously thought of to still be here; that they were still sitting here like old times, smiling and laughing together.

No one ever dared nor attempted to reoccupy the seats that the duo formerly had. Nor did anyone ever attempt to ask Hermione or Ginny about their disappearance. They themselves did not know the answer to that question. Most were shocked seeing that the two had left so suddenly, and without Hermione. It had been months since the infamous Death Eater break-in. Months since their beloved headmaster had been murdered. Over time things still hadn't calmed down about the harsh reality of what had happened.

Hermione winced thinking this. She herself was one of the many who were like this. Her friends and longtime headmaster were gone, one of which was certain to never return. Always she'd thought his talk about his love of lemon drops to be silly. With him being older and wiser, she respected him enough not to say a word about it, and allowed him to continue. Now she would give almost anything to hear him ask her for the small candy again.

She grabbed a roll and placed it on her plate. She felt Neville's eyes on her as she tore a small piece from it and placed it into her mouth. When she met his eyes, he looked away from her as if she hadn't noticed him staring.

"Hermione, how was your day? It looks like you haven't slept in ages." she was brought out of her thoughts by Ginny.

"It was alright, but I am still getting enough sleep. I have a detention later tonight though." Ginny and Neville focused on her, drawing their eyes away from their food now. "Who's the supervisor?" Neville asked. Now the Professors not only assigned the detention to them when they arrived, but they had to stay and watch over them so nothing happened. The war was affecting everyone now and they had to take careful precautions when allowing students outside. "What did you do?" Ginny asked at the same time Neville asked his question. Luckily, Hermione caught what both of them had said so she didn't need either repeated.

She shrugged before putting the remainder of her roll into her mouth. Swallowing, she replied. "Zuka. I...fell asleep in class." she mumbled hoping no one would hear her. Though she knew Ginny had excellent hearing and had already heard her.

"Are you serious? Hermione, falling asleep in class? Honestly, and you say you're getting enough sleep." she said before returning to her food. Neville still hadn't commented on her uncharacteristic incedent. Though she really didn't want him to. The less she was criticised for the action, the better. She knew better than to think Neville wouldn't speak up though.

It was quite obvious his Gryffindor traits were kicking in more this year. Since the Death Eater break in, he'd become more of his own person and spoke his mind. Sometimes it would take a person to ask for his opinion though for him to give it. He still hadn't stepped completely outside his shell to confront them out of no where. Of course, he did have his moments where he just stuck to himself and returned to the same shy boy they'd known for six years.

"At least you didn't have Filch, you're lucky she likes you. If you were assigned Filch, he'd probably make you Mrs. Norris' slave for the evening." he chuckled.

Hermione shook her head playfully. Taking a sip of her pumpkin juice, she argued. "Professor Zuka doesn't favor me." Ginny gave her a look as if she was joking.

"Hermione, you're the best in the class by far. It's hard for any teacher not to favor you."

"I still don't think she does, nor any others. They merely don't look down upon me enough to give me such a horrible punishment." she said taking a bite of mashed potatoes. Ginny flung her hand instinctively, sending her fork to almost hit Hermione's cheek. "Hence, favoritism." Ginny spoke with a mouthful. She sighed taking one more look at Ginny when she went back to her food. Ginny was becoming more like her brothers everyday, even food wise.

"I'll talk to you later. I'm going to do some homework in the library before I have to leave for detention, I don't know how late it's going to last." she said gathering her things.

"Leave it to Hermione to leave the middle of a perfectly good meal to go do homework." Ginny said before waving her friend goodbye. Before Hermione was out of sight, Neville had already begun a conversation with Ginny about their lesson in Herbology earlier.

Hermione's walk turned into a jog as she tried to hurry down the corridor. Already she was late for detention and had just reached the second floor. If only she hadn't caught such interest in the book she'd been reading, she wouldn't have lost track of time. Quickly, she took a small turn around the corner, which almost had her knock straight into Ernie.

"Ohh, Ernie. I'm sorry, excuse me. I'm just late for - "

"Detention?" he finished her sentence she nodded. He motioned for her to continue.

She nodded briefly, before taking off again, not stopping until she reached Zuka's office. Some say it didn't feel like much time difference from the library to the second floor, they lied. Hermoine felt like she was about to collapse. It was a daily exercise altogether, either that or she was just terribly out of shape.

Breathless, she knocked on the door and entered once hearing the professor's voice. Lucky enough for her, she seen a chair in front of her and Professor Zuka, seeing her, motioned for her to sit. Almost immediately, she fell into one of the chairs before her knees gave out. An 'ooh' escaped her lips as she sat, realizing how comfortable the chairs were.

Waiting to catch her breath, she didn't reply when she hear Professor Zuka's voice acknowledging her, "Why, thank you for joining me Miss Granger. I thought I told you not to be late." she criticized. Hermione held up one finger, and took another breath before replying.

"I'm sorry. I was - in the library, lost track of time. I'm sorry. " Hermione said. Yes, she was out of shape a bit, she would agree to that much by now.

She didn't take much notice to see Professor Zuka placing her coat on. What were they doing outside? Surely not the detention? Though her instincts were right, as it was obvious, they were going to serve the detention outside on the grounds. Glancing down at her attire, she blushed. All she was wearing was her uniform. Surely she would freeze with having only that on. It may not have been winter yet, but it was working up to be. She jumped, startled, as she seen a blob of gray come forth to land in her lap. Professor Zuka laughed and flashed her teeth at Hermione.

"Here. Use it. I didn't warn you we were going out. Use one of mine, it should fit. If not, I'll shrink it." Hermione slid the jacket onto her as it hung slightly over her petite frame. Zuka, unlike Umbridge, wasn't large in any way at all, and was very much near Hermione's small size.

Hermione gasped as the cold swung at her like a bat, blasting at her face. It wasn't normally this cold, just the past few nights had been seeing as how it was beginning Winter. She shivered, before picking up her utensils the Professor had given her. Apparently, Sprout needed more items for her inventory, and they were to retrieve them. Asphodel, just so happened to be growing somewhere near the distance of the Forbidden Forest.

She knew this was a dangerous place to be, with the time and place, as did Zuka. To be cautious, she told Hermione not to stray very far from her and to keep her want accessible at all times with her. This worried her to an extent, but she didn't let it show. Worrying would only cause her to be distraught, and cause her to have to stay longer to finish up her work.

Zuka had told her to pluck the plant from the very root, so it was tough to notice them in the night. Four of which Hermione had already yanked without warning, ruining them for use. She cursed as another was yet again ripped and the root remained in the soil. A smile formed though, as she seen a whole cluster of them in a joint of rocks to her side.

Silently pleased with herself, she made sure to carefully pluck each one. If she did them right, she would have enough to be done for the night. No more hunting down plants in the dark. She mumbled a promise to herself not to get a detention again. There was no telling what time it was. All she knew was she was extremely tired, and would most likely fall asleep as soon as she went to bed. This made her smile. At least she would have a good night's rest tonight.

Only two more left, she thought to herself. Startled, she jumped and clutched her wand at her side. The surprise had caused her to drop her basket, emptying the contents of her work. A groan from behind had surprised her. No one was supposed to be out this late, she knew that much. If it wasn't a student, what, or who, was it? Her hands curled tightly around her wand. As she turned, she felt her wand almost drop to the ground as she gasped.

"Professor! Professor! Help!!" she shouted, gaining back her voice.

Quickly, Zuka was at her side in less than a few seconds. She - like Hermione - gasped, clasping her hands together over her mouth. Hermione barely heard her mumble the spell as the light shot out of her wand.

In front of her, bruised and bloody, was a very unconcious Draco Malfoy.