Chapter 5

After a lovely afternoon drinking tea and 'eating' rock cakes with Hagrid, Hermione headed back to her dormitory to gather her things in order to go to the library and begin her extra potions work. She had only roughly read through the notes, but there was a lot of work to do. Hermione supposed it would take her all year, with all her other homework on top. Still, it would help in the long run.

On her way to the library, Professor McGonagall approached Hermione.

"Miss Granger, could I borrow you for a moment?" she asked.

"Yes of course Professor," answered Hermione. "I was on my way to the library to study, but that won't be a problem".

"Well I'm glad some people are starting the year off properly" she smirked. "What are you working on?"

"Extension work for potions. Professor Snape gave it to me."

"Indeed?" remarked Professor McGonagall, "Helping a Gryffindor." She chuckled, "I do believe he has forgotten his principles."

Hermione followed Professor McGonagall into her office.

"Miss Granger, I need you and Mr Malfoy to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow on some school business. I would do it myself, but Professor Dumbledore has me engaged in other duties. I'm afraid there is quite a list of errands, I trust you will be capable of completing them. I've reminded Mr Malfoy of his duties as Head Boy, and I'm sure you can both put rivalry aside for one afternoon."

'Yeah I can, dunno about him though', thought Hermione.

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"About time Granger." Sneered Draco Malfoy as Hermione walked down the staircase into the Great Hall. "I've been waiting for ages."

"I'm not any more happy about this than you Malfoy, let's go."

Hermione and Malfoy made their way to the gates of the school, and walked up the road towards Hogsmeade. Hermione attempted conversation to pass the time,

"How were your holidays Malfoy?" she asked.

"It doesn't concern you Mudblood. And I don't want to hear about yours – cracking onto Weasley isn't my idea of entertainment."

"Oh grow up, I have not cracked onto Ron." Hermione answered "I was just trying to be nice."

"Don't waste your breath. Let's just get this list done as soon as we can. I want some time to go the pub."

"We're on Hogwarts business!" Answered Hermione, "we can't just go and drink!"

"Correction Granger. You won't drink. We're of age and we have permission to be in Hogsmeade. You can go back without me if you want, I'm staying."

Hermione was fuming by the time they got to Hogsmeade. Soon they were getting down on the list of things to do. Hermione had sent Draco off to Dervish and Banges, while she went to the post office to owl a package to her parents. Draco came back with a large package in his arms.

"Right Malfoy, that's it – I just wanna go to Honeydukes, then we can go back to the castle."

"I'm still having my drink Granger." Replied Malfoy.

"Fine. You go to the Three Broomsticks and I'll meet you there. I can't carry all this back by myself."

When Hermione got to the Three Broomsticks, there was no sign of Malfoy. Hermione waited for him over a butterbeer, but still no sign of him.

'Oh god.' She thought. 'He wouldn't'.

Sure enough, she found Draco talking to a sneaky character in the Hog's Head. He'd obviously had a good few firewhiskey's by now, he was talking loudly and the Hogwarts packages lay forgotten in the corner.

"Drac…!"

"Piss off Granger" Malfoy spat as he turned around "either go to the castle and leave me be, or have a drink."

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Severus Snape turned around as he heard a raucous up at the bar. There stood Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, obviously drunk. Snape excused himself from the table he was at and approached the two students.

"Granger, Draco, I believe your conditions of release for today did not involve a visit to the Hog's Head" Snape sneered.

"Professor! I didn't… It was Malfoy! I couldn't carry everything myself!"

Snape looked over at the forgotten packages Draco had left in the corner. His eyes narrowed.

"Get back to the school now!" He whispered forcefully. "This was not the point of your day! And you've just left everything forgotten. What if it had been something important!"

"Professor… I…" slurred Draco. "I'm of age… just a drink… Not a problem"

"Just go Draco. Before I have to take points from my own house." And with that, Snape left the Hog's Head with his robes billowing behind him.

Hermione and Draco wandered back up to the school, bickering the whole way. Hermione couldn't believe Snape hadn't just punished them, but she couldn't help but think he'd have a grudge going for a while. On Hermione anyway, Draco had the safety of being a Slytherin, and a Malfoy at that.

Snape approached them again when they got to the Entrance Hall.

"Malfoy, back to the common room before you make a fool of yourself. And don't let McGonagall see you. I'll never hear the end of it." Draco threw Hermione his share of the packages and wandered of, sneering.

"And Granger." Snape added. "Detention. Tomorrow night in my office."

Hermione opened her mouth, but shut it again. Not eager to extend her punishment. She stormed off to Dumbledore's office, trying to carry everything.

"Ah, Miss Granger." Dumbledore greeted as he answered the door. He cleared his desk with a swish of his wand so Hermione could put everything on top. "I trust you took some time for yourself as well?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye,

"Draco more so, Professor." Answered Hermione bluntly as she left the office, still angry with Snape.

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Hermione spent the next hour with Ron and Harry in the common room, ranting about Draco, Draco, Snape, and Draco. She couldn't believe Snape had given her a detention. She'd actually begun to think he wasn't half bad, or at least not as bad as everybody else thought. Anyone who gave her permission to the restricted section was worth it as far as she was concerned. Unfortunately though, she hadn't had time to do any homework that day – so further indulgence into restricted books would have to wait.