Inside

Chapter Eight: Detention

Hermione's POV

"Crookshanks!" I continued as my close-minded Himalayan jumped and ran round the tub, screaming for his freedom and splashing water in every which way. "I know you don't like this, but you're filthy! And you are going to get this bath whether or not you like it! Which, obviously, you don't! But I am your Mummy and you will do as I command! Now, hold still you great wet boy!"

The letter sat beside me, folded up and placed back into the envelope in which it had arrived with a dozen water splashes covering it. I had read it no less than six times, yet each time was as if I were reading it for the first time; never ceasing to make me cry, to shake and be filled with chills and trembles. I still couldn't believe it, yet, at the same time, how could I help but not believe it? The story Narcissa had written out for me seemed too vulgar, too crude and graphic to ever have been thought up. But James; Harry's Dad, my Dad… he can't have ever done that… he simply can't have…

"Alright," I declared as I allowed Crookshanks to spring forth from the tub and land effortlessly beside me. "You're all finished now. Would you like to run about as you are, all wet and cold and filled with mats. Or will you let me brush and dry you off for once?

"Yes, that's what I thought." I sighed as I watched him trot away without a second glance. "But you best be headed to Gryffindor Tower, lest you get a cat-cold and freeze to death. There'll be a fire going, lie beside it and let it warm and dry you." I knew I sounded crazy, talking to my cat with such calmness and confidence in the words I was saying. But he really did understand me, because as he was about to head left, he quickly changed his mind and took a sharp right, heading towards Gryffindor Tower.

I shook my head as I lifted the stopper from the tub and watched for a few moments as the water began to filter out. I then picked myself up, along with my letter from Narcissa, bag, and bottle of honey-oatmeal shampoo I had used on Crookshanks, and his unused brush and towel. As I was making my way in the same direction of him, I quickly turned on heel as I slammed my free hand against my forehead in stupidity for forgetting my robe, button-up and tie.

As I bent down to pick my forgotten clothes up off the ground I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and my, was I a sight.

My hair was a strewn in all directions and somehow even puffier than usual. My standard white undershirt was soaked to the point of becoming a new layer of skin, making my royal purple bra all but too noticeable, and my skirt, as wet as it was, had become so dark it was nearly ebony. And, if that weren't enough, it stuck to my thighs so stubbornly that it moved as they moved, inching up and up with each step. My feet were bare of course, having experienced one too many times the wrath of a wet floor caused by Crookshanks, and, in turn, having nearly cracked my head open more than a dozen times. Bare feet seemed the safer choice.

"Miss Granger," I screamed and tumbled backwards; papers and clothes flying everywhere as I lost my balance from fright and banged my head harshly onto the side of the tub. "Well I must say you had it coming!" Professor McGonagall continued sternly, "First walking out during Professor Dumbledore's speech, then not showing up to any of your classes on your first day! Not one! Now I know you've been through a lot, with Draco Malfoy harming you the way he did. But honestly Miss Granger is that truly a reason for this sudden change of character? You have been my best student for the past five years; best in my house even! Never missing a class, always turning in your assignments early and flawless in quality!

"Now, please, before I assign you your detention for all of this, tell me what brought on this madness!"

"I was giving Crookshanks a bath, Professor." I said lamely as I pulled myself back up to my feet. "I must have lost track of time."

"Lost track of time? Really, you don't say? Well, as a matter of fact when I spoke to Miss Brown, Miss Turpin and Miss Weasley they told me another story, saying that you looked quite down and were sitting before the fire in Gryffindor Common Room, sulking and ignoring everyone when they told you class was to begin. Now I know you did in fact make it to your Potions class, but as I have heard it from several of the student body and Professor Slughorn himself you left just moments before he made his introduction speech for the class. Never to be seen again. Until now.

"Now I know you went through a great deal this summer as well as here, but I am forced to do no less than take fifteen points from Gryffindor and give you three days detention."

"If you please Professor, I had my reasons for my behavior today."

"Oh? And what may those reasons be?"

"I'm sorry…" I told her hesitantly, "I can't."

"Miss Granger, I have always been more, slack, with Mister Potter and Weasley and yourself, always. And you three have always been honest with me, never lying or withholding information from me. And in turn, I have kept your secrets and hoped that you would continue with your obvious trust towards me. But now, it seems I have lost that.

"You are to begin your detention tonight with Professor Snape, in his class - with your fellow troublemakers - as soon as you have dried off and changed into dry clothes. I will tell him to expect you in no less than ten minutes. I'll see you in class tomorrow. Good evening."

"Ron?" I asked as I took my seat behind him, "Harry? What on earth are the two of you doing in here?"

"Well I'm glad to see you're here." Ron said quietly.

"Why ever would you say that, that wasn't very ni-"

"He means it with affection." Harry cut me off from the seat beside me. "We're in here because we spent the whole of the day looking for you. We missed all our classes and got five points each taken from Gryffindor, and two days of detention."

"You guys shouldn't have done that. But, if it makes you feel any better I've landed myself in three days, and got fifteen points from Gryffindor."

"Don't worry about it Hermione. We went looking for you because we were worried about you. You can't have honestly believed that we'd buy into your concern this morning about your timetable; we've known you far too long. We knew something else was up, we thought if we found you you might let us help." Ron said as he turned his head slightly and looked back at me. "We're here now Hermione, no one else is around… tell us what's bothering you. Please."

"I can't… and…" I paused suddenly confused as I looked around the room. "We are alone aren't we? Where is Snape?"

"In his office… writing out our punishments." Ron shook his head. "He'll be out soon I expect to give them to us."

"And indeed I am." Snape spoke up suddenly, standing in the front of the room looking down at us. "Mister Potter if you will come with me."

"This ought to be good." Harry whispered as he pushed himself up with his hands and marched off towards Professor Snape.

"What's he doing, why'd he have Harry go off with him like that?" I asked as I leaned forward and whispered into Ron's ear.

"Donno, probably wants to read us our punishments in private." Ron suggested as he turned his head to the side to face me, where he then took his eyes from mine and allowed them to drift down to my lips where he rested them for a moment or two before looking back to my eyes. "I was worried about you. Tell me what's wrong; let me help you, 'Mione." He whispered softly as he began slowly leaning his lips towards mine.

I pulled myself away from him and folded my hands in my lap before saying, "I told you Ron, I can't do that. It's something I must face on my own."

"Mister Weasley, if you please." Snape said as he repapered with Harry scornfully walking away from him, a thick book in one hand and roll of parchment in the other.

"What did he assign for you?"

"Ah ah, Mister Potter. I'll have you take a seat at the far end of the classroom, opposite end from the door, if you will."

"They're equal distances from the door Professor. Which one do you mean?" Harry asked stiffly as he stood stiffly beside me.

"Pick one." Snape said as he moved his eyes down to the parchment held tightly in Harry's hand. "This way, Mister Weasley." And he disappeared again with Ron followed closely at his heel.

"What did he give you?" I hissed softly across the room to Harry who sat with his arms crossed over his chest and eyes looking at the book before him.

"I don't know." He shrugged, "He just gave me a speech about how like my Father I am and how much of a slacker I am, then handed me the book and parchment and sent me on my way."

"What? That's weird." Harry simply raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes.

I wanted then more than ever to show him the letter from Narcissa Malfoy, to show him that Snape can't have been too far off at how horrible his, our, Father was. But I knew I couldn't… I just couldn't.

I bit my tongue and the tears that stung at the back of my eyes stilled.

"Miss Granger," Snape's voice sounded as Ron's footsteps approached me loudly. I looked up to see him carrying a book more than twice the size of Harry's and at least three times the amount of parchment.

"Yes, Professor," I said, keeping my head down as I forced myself away from my seat and towards him.

My arm brushed against the side of his stomach as I passed him saying, "Now Mister Weasley, surly we can pick a seat with a better window view than that?

"Yes, much better. I will return in a moment to tell you your punishments. Until then, no talking."

I heard the door close softly as I faced the back of his office with my arms folded tightly across my chest.

"Now Miss Granger," He began as he walked towards me; his footsteps filled in my ears. "I hear that you missed each of your classes today, though this is not unusual news, it is unusual to hear that it was you."

"Yes," I said, biting my lip and barley able to hold in the tears any longer. "That's true." I told him as I slowly turned myself to look up at him, "What is my punishment, Professor?"

"Nothing." He told me simply as he took another step towards me.

"What?"

"Nothing," He repeated. "You are to do nothing, but sit there, and wait patiently until detention is over. Detention is, indeed, a time to punish for wrong doing, and what would torture you more than making you sit in a classroom and do nothing?"

"Not being…" I began slowly, giving into my deepest desire as the pain inside of me became all too much. "Not being able to ever be in your arms again."

"Miss Granger?"

"I know what I said before, but I didn't mean any of it. I tried, I tired to not love you, I tired to turn my feelings for you off. I kissed Ron, I made him think that I loved him, and I am sorry that I did that, it didn't mean anything, nothing. All of my love and affection inside of me is for you, regardless of how much I don't want it to be, it is and I can't change it. I just, I got some really horrible news and it made me realize some things. It was so horrible, so horrible that I couldn't face anyone all day, and that's why I was gone all day. It made me realize how alone and unhappy I have been forcing myself to be; burying my face in my books and my studies. Shutting myself off from my friends… but most of all from love. And I guess it made me realize that all of these years I haven't allowed myself to love anyone because subconsciously I knew I couldn't really trust anyone like that with my heart.

"But it also made me realize how much I want to be able to trust someone. And not just anyone, but you. I want to be able to trust you. And I really just… I need you right now. I need you always. So please, please let me be yours."

"Yes," He said as he wrapped his arms quickly around me, "You can be mine. That is all I have wanted since the moment I kissed you. I love you, Hermione. And I promise to be yours and yours alone. Forever."

I raised my head up and looked into his eyes while my hands held fast to the flaps of his robe, and his arms tightened around me, pulling me closer towards him as he leaned his head down to me, and I up to him. "I love you," I whispered one last time before our lips met.

Static raced through my lips and coursed into my spine, electrifying and awakening every part of me.

Slowly, slowly we parted; our lips reluctant to separate from one another. "It's time to start detention." He said as he slid his thumbs across my cheeks, wiping at my now-almost-dry tears. "Are you going to tell me what news upset you so?"

I looked up at him with my lips still and eyes unblinking, and through my silence, I knew he understood; I would tell him when I felt it was right.

He stepped away from me and I led the way from his office and into the quite classroom.

TBC