AN: I'm amazed by the positive response this fic has had. Thank you to everyone who reviewed.
Ginny was in a foul mood for the entire day – she was dreading the detention with Malfoy that evening. Harry made the mistake of asking her what the matter was.
"How would you feel, Harry, if you'd got to share a detention with the evil ferret brat, and it was entirely his fault?"
"But… wasn't your detention yesterday?" he mumbled.
"You know perfectly well it was – Malfoy ended up supervising it, threw me in the dirt, said it was where I belonged, I got annoyed and McGonagall gave us both detention!"
Almost before she'd finished speaking, Ron, Harry and Hermione were on their feet, wands out, ready to seek revenge on Malfoy.
"Oh, sit down, you three. It's nothing I can't deal with, and if you say anything, or hex him, he'll only be worse tonight."
Hermione nodded, realising that Ginny was right. Harry reluctantly agreed to leave Malfoy alone for now, on the grounds that they could hex him after the detention. Ron, however, took the insults personally and was determined to confront Malfoy.
"Sit down!" ordered Ginny, brandishing her wand.
Ron eyed the wand warily, knowing that Ginny was capable of a very nasty Bat Bogey Hex (as previously demonstrated on Malfoy). Slowly, he sat back down.
"Good, Ronald. I will deal with Malfoy, ok?" Ron nodded, silently.
"Ginny, what do you have to do in this detention?" asked Hermione.
"Who knows? McGonagall said to meet her outside the library, that's all."
……………….
7pm, and Ginny was waiting outside the library. Professor McGonagall was there, but Malfoy wasn't. He sauntered up, ten minutes late, dressed in Quidditch robes and carrying his broomstick.
"Sorry, professor. I couldn't miss Quidditch practice – don't want to let the team down, after all," came his slow, sarcastic drawl.
Professor McGonagall gave him a stern glare.
"Mr Malfoy. There are more important things in life than Quidditch, and being on time to detention is one of those things. Now, both of you, into the library."
Malfoy pushed past Ginny, who wobbled, but managed to stay on her feet. Shoving the door hard, he marched in. Ginny quickly followed, shooting the comment "Ever heard of ladies first, Malfoy?" after him.
"Weasley, Weasley, Weasley. Of course I have, but only when there is a lady present. You, my dear Weasley, definitely do not fit that category."
Ginny huffed, and walked away to ask the professor what they would be doing. Malfoy was impossible to argue with; he just kept criticising her because of her name and family.
"If the two of you have finished bickering?" questioned Professor McGonagall. Receiving no answer, she continued.
"You will be returning these books to their correct positions on the shelves. I will be back at midnight to collect you. Until that time, you will be locked in."
The two students looked in the direction indicated. The stack of books was enormous! Well, she hadn't said it had to be done by hand.
"Oh, and by the way, no magic."
It was as if Professor McGonagall could hear their thoughts.
The door creaked ominously, then slammed shut.
AN: Click the little blue button. Click it...