CHAPTER NINE: DETENTION

News spread over the fight Hermione and Draco had within hours, though no one was foolish to ask either one about it. They knew it wasn't below Draco to hex them, and that Hermione would most likely start screaming, tears in her eyes, or perhaps slap them the way she had Draco one day in third year.

The next day, Hermione went to Charms, Transfiguration and History of Magic, all classes she did not have with the Slytherins. She ignored the hisses of people staring at her in each class, and only muttered in response when Harry tried to ask her about her argument with Draco. Ron did not speak to her at all, but was in a cheery mood which only caused Hermione to want to slash his face with paper cuts.

With only ten minutes to eight o'clock, Hermione uttered a quick farewell to Ron and Harry in the common room and made her way to the Divination tower. Draco was already there, waiting by the little ladder to get up to Professor Trelawney's classroom. He noticed Hermione looked flushed from making her way to the tower, and he cursed himself for noting it.

Professor McGonagall appeared, walking quickly towards them. She always looked like she was in a hurry; in fact, Draco wondered if she ever took her time doing anything.

"Well? Any remorse for your actions yet?" Professor McGonagall asked, peering down her spectacles. When neither Draco nor Hermione answered she continued, "You'll be dusting Professor Trelawney's room this evening. No magic. I'll return in two hours and then you may go," she turned around to leave.

"What?" Draco exclaimed, "You're leaving us here?"

Professor McGonagall glared. "Well surely you do not require my supervision to dust a few tables and crystal balls, Mr Malfoy," she said, and then swept away. Hermione smirked.

"Ladies first," Draco said, gesturing to the little ladder, "What a pity there are no ladies currently in my presence," he finished, and before even looking at Hermione, began climbing up the ladder himself.

Hermione raised her eyebrows, "That's all right," she said, "I wouldn't want you looking up my skirt anyway."

Draco laughed cruelly, "Please, don't flatter yourself."

Hermione pulled Draco down from the ladder, rolled her eyes and flipped her hair, hoping it hit Draco in the face, and made her way up the ladder. Draco followed her with a stony expression. Once inside the classroom the two of them began cleaning with a pile of cloths and sprays Professor McGonagall had presumably magicked into the middle of the floor. Twenty minutes had passed in silence, and Hermione couldn't take it anymore.

"How were you able to use the Polyjuice potion if it wasn't going to be ready for another day?" she burst out finally, genuinely curious.

Draco shrugged, "I have my ways."

"But why did you do it?"

Draco looked at her in surprise, "I thought it was obvious," he said, "To find out why you didn't want to be with me."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "You're the one who would barely touch me-"

"Because you said you wanted to wait a month. You said you thought I'd changed but that it couldn't possibly be true," he felt his voice begin to rise.

"Of course I had to say that," Hermione said angrily, "We do it once, two of us, once, and us, of all people…what was I supposed to think? That you genuinely liked me?"

"Well, I guess not," Draco said coldly and looked away.

Hermione tried to steady herself. The misunderstanding was laughable, yet she knew Draco did not find it that way. Fighting with whether or not to insult him again, Hermione bit her tongue and continued to dust one of Professor Trelawney's teapots.

IIIII

Professor McGonagall returned over an hour later, barely glancing at the now spotless room before saying, "Fine," and turned her attention to Draco and Hermione, both looking sulky.

"Still haven't made up, have you?" Neither answered, and instead looked away. The three of them headed down the ladder when Draco accidentally trod on Hermione's hand below him.

"Ow!" she cried, and put her fingers in her mouth. "What is wrong with you?"

"I really hope you're not talking to me-"

"Who else would I be talking to? Someone else who just stepped on my hand?"

"I didn't touch you!"

Hermione opened her mouth to retort but closed it when she saw Professor McGonagall looking at the pair of them mildly, she already being off the ladder.

"I think another detention will do, oh yes, Mr Malfoy, until you and Miss Granger here learn to get along. Same time tomorrow, in the dungeons!" and with that she walked away, leaving Hermione and Draco livid, with their hands in their pockets, clutching their wands.