The Exchange – The Final Detention

Haley awoke the next morning feeling pretty good. It was the last day of detention duty. Despite the fact that on the last day she was assigned to work with Professor Snape, Haley was still happy nonetheless that this detention was the last one. Unless she got in trouble again, of course.

She also couldn't help but be happy that not only do Blaise and Ethan know about her true identity, they also accept her despite who she truly is. It was still a little weird knowing that Ethan liked her, boy or girl, but at least he didn't despise her.

'Now if only Draco could find out and be all right with it…' Haley shook her head. 'One can only dream…'

"Get up lazy bum! Breakfast starts in ten minutes!"

Haley smiled. "You know, Draco, you are allowed to leave the common room on your own."

"Am I? Bloody hell… I'll be seeing you later then…"

The smile on Haley's lips only grew. She opened her door and there was Draco leaning against its frame. "Good morning."

It was Draco's turn to smile. "Good morning to you. You seem awfully cheerful today."

The raven-haired girl turned back into her room and grabbed her uniform. "Last day of detention. And considering how much I was beginning to loathe them, I am considerably cheerful to be rid of them."

"Ah. But think of all the wonderful things you learned from attending them."

Haley entered her washroom and began changing. "Hmm. Let's see. Your family is old, masks are going to attack me, first-years are messy as are Blastworts and Grubsnatches. And oh yes, scrubbing builds character. Yes, I can see how detention serves a meaningful purpose."

"Then I suppose you really have been rehabilitated from your destructive ways."

Haley snorted. "I still think my punishment was unfair."

"Well you can't do anything about it now, can you?"

"I suppose not," the girl stepped out and looked at her friend. "Shall we?"

"We shall."

---

The day was uneventful as usual. The only thing that managed to irk the Slytherin girl was the fact that she always felt like there were eyes on her. And she knew for a fact that there were. Every time she managed to glance in Pansy's direction, she spotted the girl staring at her with cautious eyes. But whenever Pansy realized Haley was looking back at her, she immediately looked away as if she hadn't been looking at all. Something was definitely up.

---

"So if you see it, please return it. I don't want to know what happens if it falls into the wrong hands." Haley finished explaining the missing portfolio to Hermione and Ron.

"We'll definitely keep an eye out," Hermione assured, Ron nodding in agreement.

"Oh and get this," Haley continued. "Now Ethan knows."

"Ethan knows?" Hermione gasped. "How did that turn out?"

"Better than I imagined. I was afraid that he would be upset, but he was actually more concerned about someone else figuring it out than what it was he actually figured out."

"I'm confused on so many levels…" Ron shook his head. "Ethan, the crush guy, right?"

"Yes." Both Haley and Hermione nodded.

"But he doesn't care?"

"Nope."

"So then why keep this a secret at all? Everyone's figuring it out on their own, anyway. Such a hassle, this secret-keeping..." Ron whined.

"Because," the Slytherin started, "the people figuring it out are my friends. They're people who actually care for me. Now if anyone else who isn't my friend figures it out, then the news will spread and it will just give people another reason to give Harry Potter unwanted stares." Haley sighed. "At least those stares are gone while I'm in this form."

"You sure you don't want to stay a girl then?" the red head grinned.

"Please. I'm ready to go back to being me any day now."

"Are you really?" Hermione asked, looking thoughtful. "What about Malfoy?"

Haley paused. "What about Malfoy?"

"You two are friends now. If you go back now, you'll no longer be friends, right?"

"Who cares?" Ron threw his hands up. "This is Malfoy we're talking about! He's a smarmy-"

"Stop it, Ron," Haley frowned. Her eyes were shooting daggers at the boy.

"Harry, mate. Think about it," Ron reasoned. "If you do go back, you two can't possibly carry on with this friendship unless you're willing to change back into a girl just to spend time with him. The moment you go back to being Harry Potter is the moment he won't be 'Draco' anymore. He'll be the same old Malfoy that has tortured us for years."

"I know! Don't you think I've already thought about that? Malfoy hates me. The real me. And it hurts whenever I realize that because I know now what it would've been like had we actually started off on the right foot. When I finally change back, I know a friendship with him is practically impossible. So… I guess… while I'm not me, it's okay. While I'm Haley, it's okay to be his friend. And I don't want that to change because I'll take whatever I can get."

"You should listen to yourself, Harry." Hermione was smiling to herself. "You sound completely enamored."

Haley crossed her arms over her chest. "Sod off."

"It's true, mate. I've never heard you talk about anyone the way you do Malfoy."

"Can we please just stop talking about him?"

"Yes, let's go back to Ethan," Hermione suggested. "How did he find out?"

"He compared his photographs with Colin's. I guess he just spotted too many similarities for it to be coincidental."

"And he's completely all right that his former crush is in fact a boy?" Hermione continued.

Haley gave a sharp laugh. "Actually, he apparently still likes me. He said he's known about who I really am for about a week now. And about the time he figured it out was when he clarified his intentions toward me."

"He knows you're a boy and he still fancies you?" Ron looked incredulous.

"I feel just as you do," the Slytherin nodded at her friend. "But it's not like I can control what he feels. It is what it is."

"I think it's rather sweet." Hermione chirped.

Both of her friends turned to look at her, stunned.

"What? Not only does he accept you for who you really are on a friendship level, but he also still really cares for you on a… non-friendship level." The Head Girl reasoned. "Ethan can look past Haley Jones and Harry Potter. All he sees is you."

"Just like a girl…" Ron shook his head. "Always finding the romantic side of things."

"It wouldn't kill you to be a bit more romantic, Ronald!" his girlfriend frowned.

"I'm romantic!" the redhead countered.

"When was the last time you did anything romantic?"

"Just yesterday. I offered you the last dinner roll on the table."

"You think that's romantic?"

"Trust me, Hermione," Haley leaned towards the other girl. "At a dinner table filled with Weasleys, that is romantic."

"Exactly! Put 'er there, mate!" Ron held his hand up, quickly earning a high-five from Haley.

Hermione shook her head in defeat. "Ugh…boys…"

---

"Wake up, Potter!"

Haley's eyes snapped open at the voice.

Professor Snape was glaring at her from behind his desk in his classroom. "You must keep the substance at a constant stir. If it settles too early, it will harden."

It was getting late and Haley was getting very tired. She couldn't help but start to doze after all the work Professor Snape had put her through. Still, she had to do as he said, so she continued to stir.

"Counter clockwise, Potter! It's a wonder I ever pass you in my classes," Professor Snape growled.

Haley rolled her eyes but did as she was told. She didn't want to do anything that might provoke her professor in giving her even more detention. Snape had used this time to make Haley help him find the antidote. She was forced to chop, dice, mince, wash, rinse, dry, scrub, scoop, and scrape all of the concoctions they had brewed. Three hours had already passed to no avail.

"These Grubsnatches need to be three times this size…" Professor Snape frowned.

"It's been hours Professor," Haley whined. "Curfew is already up. Can't I go yet?"

"Mister Potter, don't you think I'd much rather be in bed right now as well?" the professor glared, as he gave Mrs. Whiskas a bit of their new concoction. "Instead, I'm up at these late hours trying to find an antidote to your mistake."

"You sleep at this time? I actually thought you were more of a nocturnal creature, but clearly-"

The look she received from her professor told her to stop now or face the consequences. "Clearly the fatigue is taking hold of your meager brain. Because of this, I will overlook your little outburst. Next time, I may not be so kind."

Just then, both teacher and student froze, eyes glued to the cage in front of them.

It was Snape who was first to move. He opened the cage and took hold of his tiny friend. Lifting its tail, Snape took a deep breath. "Mr. Whiskas…"

"Mister? You mean… we did it?" Haley hurried over to the other side of the desk where the professor was standing with the tiny mouse. Tiredness forgotten, her heart was racing with excitement.

"Don't get too excited, Potter. There's still a number of factors to take into account."

"Like what? Mr. Whiskas is a Mister again! You did it Professor! You found the antidote!" By now, Haley was ready to let loose her growing excitement in the halls.

But then, both teacher and student froze again.

And again, it was Snape who was first to move. The Head of Slytherin sighed in defeat. He put his tiny friend back into its cage.

"What… what does that mean, Professor? What just happened?"

"It means, Potter, that this antidote is merely temporary." Snape closed his eyes and began to massage his temples. "I knew it was too early for the Grubsnatches…"

"So when will they be ready?"

"It's hard to know." Again, Snape sighed. "That's enough for tonight. You may go now."

"But Professor-"

"There's nothing we can do about it now Potter. If the Grubsnatches aren't ready, then they aren't ready."

"But can't we just get them from somewhere else?"

Snape sneered. "Obviously, you don't pay attention in Herbology either. I'll have you know, Grubsnatches aren't exactly the most common things in the wizarding world. Their seeds don't scatter easily, considering their sticky outer coating, so when they grow they inevitably kill each other. However, we are fortunate enough to have Madame Sprout on our side. We will get more Grubsnatches when she finds them ready. And even then, it's not a sure bet that our creation tonight is the antidote."

And as quickly as it came, Haley's excitement vanished into thin air. She felt more deflated and more tired now than she had earlier that evening. "So… what now?"

"Now, we rest. Tomorrow is a new day."

Haley sighed. "All right. Good night, Professor."

Snape merely nodded.

'We were so close! But at least we're making progress, right?' Haley tried to cheer herself up. She used her wand to light up her path to the Slytherin dorms. The halls were quiet, for everyone had retreated to their rooms for the night. But even after knowing this, Haley still felt that eerie sense of being watched.

Quickly, she spun around looking for someone, something, anything that might make her feel this way.

'It's probably just me being used to Pansy staring at me all day…' Haley reasoned. 'That must be it… Or maybe Mrs. Norris was watching me in passing… it's got to be one of the two… even both…'

Even with this thought to calm her, Haley couldn't help but quicken her pace. Soon enough, she was in the comfort of the common room, the light from her wand extinguished and replaced by the light of the various fireplaces.

Haley made her way over to her dorm. While crossing the common room, a glint of light caught her eye. There, on a couch near her door was a figure sound asleep. Haley smiled. She walked over to the sleeping Draco and gently shook his shoulder.

Grey eyes lazily opened. "Har…"

"Draco, wake up." Haley said gently, thinking nothing of her friend's mumble.

Draco stretched. "Jones? What time is it?"

"Half past midnight… what were you doing here?"

The boy yawned before sitting up. "Waiting for you, obviously."

"You know you are allowed to go to bed without saying good night to me."

"Am I? Bloody hell…"

Haley held out her hands, helping the boy up.

"So what did you learn tonight?" Draco asked through another yawn.

The girl paused and thought about it. Draco just looked at her quizzically. Then, much to the latter's surprise, Haley stepped forward and gave him a hug. Draco quickly returned the gesture, albeit a little confused.

"I suppose I learned…" Haley closed her eyes. "That the end is almost near."

"What?"

Haley broke the embrace and smiled up at her friend. "Nothing. Bed?"

"Mm. Definitely."

The two walked over to their doors and unlocked them.

"Draco?" Haley paused again before opening her door.

"Hm?"

"I take it back."

"What?"

"From now on, you have to say good night to me."

Draco smiled. "All right… Good night, Haley."

"…Good night, Draco."

And with that, the two went their separate ways, only to meet again in their dreams.

Author's Note/Disclaimer: I own naught Harry Potter and other related objects other than Ethan, Leir, and… well… this story. Muahahaha…

Another short chapter, but I found this to be an excellent place to stop. At last! Progress! But those darn Grubsnatches. They played more of an important role than I even knew. Haha. And I don't know about you, but offering up the last dinner roll is awfully romantic in my book. Haha. Not really. Well… maybe. Who knows?

Keep the comments coming! In fact, if you even read this bit, which I usually skip when I read simply because it cuts into the flow of the story, I'd like you to do me a favor. Anywhere in your comment, mention flying monkeys. I think that's profound enough, no? If not, I won't hate you but it'll definitely bring a smile to my face if you do. Haha. Okay! Now to work on the next chapter… Heigh ho…