"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first — SMACK!

She had punched Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.

(Chapter 15 -PoA)

Punch & Cheers

"Not a word to anyone, understood," said Draco to his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle as they ran off.

"Okay," responded Goyle.

"I'm gonna get that jumped-up Mudblood, mark my words," Draco threatened.

Once back in the Slytherin Common Room, Vincent Crabbe was trying to think of a way to get back at that Mudblood for Malfoy.

Draco had resigned himself to bed for the night early. He had a splitting headache and a migraine from Granger's punch.

Then the idea came to Crabbe. He made his way over to Flint.

He knew Malfoy had said not to tell anyone. But he figured if the school knew about the attack on Malfoy then everyone would want to get rid of that Mudblood for attacking an important Pure-blood like Draco Malfoy.

He forgot there was a reason he and Goyle were not known for their brains.

"Hey, Flint," he said. "I've got some news. And I want it to be spread throughout the school."

Marcus Flint listened with rapt attention to Crabbe's story about Granger punching Malfoy.

"Don't worry, Crabbe," he smiled threateningly. "I'll take care of it. Now get out of my sight."

Once Crabbe got out of his sight he started thinking. On the one hand, that Gryffindor Mudblood had attacked a member of his house.

But on the other hand, it was Malfoy, he thought with a scowl.

Despite popular belief, Draco Malfoy was not popular in Slytherin. He was brash, had no subtlety, ran off at the mouth, and was always getting into trouble. Traits that any Slytherin would be ashamed of. Rather Gryffindorish traits.

He was even terrible at Quidditch. He wanted desperately to kick him off the team, but his father had warned him against it, saying it would get Lucius Malfoy's attention. No one liked dealing with Malfoy Senior.

So he decided on a different tactic. Humiliate Draco.

"Flora, Hestia," he called.

The Carrow sisters came over to him. They were the biggest gossipers in Hogwarts and could get a story out faster you could say Quidditch.

"I have a story for you."

IlIlIlIl

The next day Harry and Hermione were seated at the Gryffindor table having their dinner. Ron was still in the Hospital Wing recovering from his broken leg.

They had both managed to save Buckbeak and Sirius the previous night and were both feeling cheerful, although Harry was somewhat disappointed he couldn't live with Sirius.

Lavender Brown sat down across from Hermione to her surprise. She and Lavender had not been getting along for most of the year because of her scepticism for Divination.

"Is it true, Hermione," said Lavender, beaming. "What you did last night?"

Hermione choked on her pumpkin juice. Lavender knew she and Harry set Sirius free. Just as she was about to say no the Weasley twins flanked her.

"There she is," they said in unison. "Our hero."

Now she was confused.

"Did you really punch Malfoy?" Lavender asked.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Yes."

"She admitted it," the twins hollered. They both lifted Hermione off her feet and holstered her on their shoulders. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the bane of Malfoy's existence right now, HERMIONE GRANGER!"

To Hermione's utter shock, there was a cacophony of cheers and laughter.

"PUT ME DOWN, NOW," she practically shouted into the twins ears.

A looming presence suddenly appeared behind her.

"Am I to understand, Miss Granger, that you assaulted a student," the smooth, silky, dangerous voice of Professor Snape spoke.

Hermione hung her head in shame.

"Let's see. How about detention for the rest of the whole year until 1995?" he said dangerously.

"She will not do it," Fred and George spoke fiercely, both moving to stand in front of Hermione as if protecting her. "All she did was punch a bigoted spoiled brat who very much deserved it. If you want to get to her, you'll have to go through us."

"And me," said Harry, joining the twins, standing in front of Hermione .

"And us," said Lavender and Parvati.

In less than a minute Hermione was overcrowded with people from her own house, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. There were even Slytherins too.

Snape was looking furious, blood rising to his forehead at the monstrous display of impudence.

"DETENTION FOR ALL OF YOU," he roared.

"Go ahead," came the roar back.

"What's all this that's happening here?" said Dumbledore, making his way into the hall.

"Granger's cohorts refuse to let her serve detention," Snape said angrily.

"What happened that warranted a detention?" he queried. "And this apparent revolt against it?"

After the explanation Dumbledore was worried. As much as he wanted to put young Miss Granger in detention himself for striking Draco Malfoy, he knew that would only end one way. The students would revolt and likely all try to hit Malfoy out of anger. He was the most despised student in the school after all.

So he made a different decision.

"Seeing this inter-house loyalty is giving me great hope for the future," he smiled, letting a teardrop fall from his eye. "Ten points to each and every one of you for the loyalty you've shown to Miss Hermione Granger. No detention will be issued. Except for one."

His eyes drifted over to the Slytherin Table. Thirty-nine students from there were missing. He assumed correctly they were in the crowd in front of him.

"Draco Malfoy," he spoke loudly. "Detention until school ends next week. I believe Hagrid needs someone to clean out the Hippogriff dung."

"What are you doing, Albus?" Snape muttered quietly.

"Look in front of you, Severus," he responded back quietly. "They will all likely revolt if we push the issue and attack Malfoy themselves."

Snape looked at the now cheering crowd and gulped. "Okay."

IlIlIlIl

"How did they find out?" Malfoy roared in the Common Room that night.

"You were muttering in your sleep last night Draco," said Flora Carrow with a devious smile. "About how you loved Granger punching you because you were secretly in love with her."

Everyone who heard her burst into laughter.

"Draco needs some lessons in love then," chimed in Hestia. "Maybe he could start by clearing off the black eye."

More laughter.

"Maybe actually acting like a Slytherin instead of an idiotic Gryffindor will help," smiled Jugson.

The laughter was now deafening. Infuriated, Draco stood up and went to bed, but not before hearing another remark.

"Are you going to write to Daddy dearest?" chimed in Tracey. "He'll certainly want to hear about this."

His face now boiling red, Malfoy left the room. They soon heard him screaming from his room in frustration.

"Do you honestly think he's in love with Granger?" asked Pansy in disgust.

"Well, stranger things do happen," said Daphne Greengrass. "Although it's more likely I'll fall in love with Harry Potter than he will with Granger."

Everyone once again burst into laughter at that, but Tracey Davis eyed her best friend, knowing full well she was actually telling the truth.

But that's a story for another day.

AN: I just love giving Malfoy a hard time. And truthfully, I don't think he's liked in his own house either. I don't see someone like him having friends. He just gives the house a bad name. Hope you enjoyed this.