The Worst Detention

Ginny closed her book with a muffled slam. She'd been reading her DADA homework for nearly two hours, and her eyes were beginning to ache. It was almost 1 am, and she had to finish her essay about Uranus too, before she could go to sleep. She groaned and let her head fall down on the table with a heavy thump. She thought about the past week with detentions every afternoon. She and Malfoy only had one detention left. Malfoy...they had become sort of not enemies any longer. Ginny shook her head, it was pointless to think about it, and she never came to any conclusion anyway. The Gryffindor common room was deserted and it was disturbingly quiet. The fire was burning peacefully, the window was open and the mild summer winds blew in now and then. Ginny walked over to the window, and pulled the heavy, red curtain away. The air was thick and damp; there was probably going to be a thunderstorm. Ginny leaned forward out the window, hawked and spat down at the lawn. It was usually just for fun, and she had never thought about what would happen if someone actually got hit. Now, however, someone was there. A high-pitched shriek broke through the silence. Ginny covered her mouth with her hand and threw herself into the room again. She stared wide-eyed at the window, and listened to the curses that were cried out by the unlucky person out there.

***

Draco stepped out of the shower for the second time that day. He swore loudly to himself as he violently dried his hair. That someone who had spat on his head was definitely going to pay. He watched himself in the huge mirror in the prefect's bathroom. He was pale, blond and handsome. Nothing unusual about that. But Draco felt different. It was something inside him that had changed. What the heck am I thinking, he thought to himself as he reached for the expensive body lotion his mother had bought in France last summer. Draco hurried to get ready for bed. It was already past 2 am and he had to get up early. Those damn Gryffindors, always the same. So humiliating, Draco thought. Like it hadn't been enough with that bloody detention with the Weasley-girl. Draco had tried hard to act like he didn't care at all about it, but there was something...unusual about her. She was definitely not like the other girls, yet she was a Gryffindor. That said a lot. But she made him all unsure, and Draco did not like that feeling at all. She could answer all his nasty questions and even ask him back. And she was beautiful too, like a...no! I can't think this!! Draco bit his lip and tried to think of Quidditch or something. Anything but her.

***

It had been a very slow and long day and Ginny was exhausted when she walked to Professor McGonagall's office. Just the thought of three hours detention (and with Draco Malfoy!!!) made her feel sick. He always made her seem stupid and she felt ugly when he was around. But when they had detentions together, he was actually kind of nice to her. At first Ginny couldn't believe her eyes when he had smiled and waved to her the day before, when they met by the Quidditch pitch. That he was handsome was undeniable but Ginny wished he wasn't. It would be much easier to hate him if he were evil and ugly. And now when he was nice to her and all...Ginny got very confused.

Professor McGonagall's office door was open and Ginny could see the middle-aged woman sitting by the desk. She was busy working with some papers. Ginny stood on the threshold and shifted her weight uncomfortably.

"Why don't you come in and have a seat, Miss Weasley," McGonagall said. Ginny winced with surprise, but nodded. She walked into the small, but cosy room. One couldn't imagine that this was Minerva McGonagall's office. The walls were covered with paintings, bookshelves and flowerpots. However, there were no photographs. Ginny sat down in a big, comfortable-looking armchair. McGonagall's pen rasped against the papers that laid spread over her desk.

Ginny picked her nails and tried to think of something to say.

"Cheer, for I have arrived," said a silky voice from the door. Both Ginny and McGonagall looked up. Ginny with expectation and McGonagall with annoyance. Draco Malfoy stood, leaning against the wall by the door, with his arms across his chest. Ginny felt herself redden and she looked away. McGonagall got up from her chair.

"Well, now that you both are here, we can begin. Your detention for tonight will be to do the dishes. I will take you to the kitchen where a house elf will take care of you." Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Er...I don't think so. There's got to be a mistake. I'm a Malfoy. I don't do dishes." McGonagall gave him a sharp look.

"Mister Malfoy, I respect your family codes, but you are in detention now. This is a punishment for bad behaviour. You deserve it. Now follow me, both of you." Ginny got up and followed her teacher. Draco looked sulkily after them, but followed.

Ginny jogged after her professor, who almost ran through the long corridors. She didn't dare look back, but she could hear Draco's light steps against the stone floor behind her. After a while McGonagall stopped. They were outside the kitchen now. The professor mumbled a word or two and the huge portrait swung open. A cloud of steam billowed out. There were lots of strange sounds from in there and the familiar clinking noise from glass.

"Here we are," McGonagall said. "I will leave you here now and I will come back to pick you up in three hours. Do your work properly, and remember, no magic!" And at that she left them.

"Oh, dear," Ginny said. She took a step over the high threshold and went into the kitchen.

"Wait a minute!" Draco came after her and took her by the arm. Ginny spun around to face him.

"Let go, you're hurting me." Draco let go of her arm with an irritated jerk.

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Whiner, didn't mean to hurt you." He went past her into the white, steamy room.

There had to be at least thirty house elves in the room. They were all very busy working; no one noticed that two people had just entered. Ginny looked nervously at the little elves. One of them, a grey ugly thing with huge brown eyes, came over to them and bowed. Ginny nodded.

"Welcome, my Lady and Master. I am Griddy, and I will show you to the room you are to use." The elf didn't look them in the eyes, nor did he speak to their faces. Draco didn't seem to notice. Ginny knew this was normal behaviour, but she couldn't help pitying the poor little thing.

"Are we going to have a separate room?" Draco asked. Griddy's eyes widened.

"Yes, of course. I cannot let you work with thralls as myself." He bowed again.

"Oh, of course not..."

Griddy led them into a smaller room than the first. The walls were shiny white clinker and the sinks were white marble. Ginny wished her mother could have a kitchen like this. Draco glared displeased around the room.

"I will leave you here now," Griddy said and disappeared through the door, which he closed behind him.

"All right, let's get this over with," Ginny sighed and looked at the enormous pile of dishes in the sink. She reached for a blue dish brush.

***

Draco stood next to Ginny by the kitchen sink. They had been standing there for some time now; none of them were used to doing the dishes. Draco looked down at the plate he was holding. He'd been washing it for at least ten minutes now, it was very clean. He forced himself to stare down, not to look at the person next to him. He could hear her silent breathing and he could almost feel the warmth of her body.

"You know that you have washed the same plate for at least ten minutes now, don't you," Ginny said. Did she notice?

"I fail to see your point." Draco looked up at her. Her cheeks were flustered with heat and her hair was even curlier. She looked back at him.

"Never mind...."

Draco dropped the plate in the water and dried his hands on a towel. He had to sit down.

"What do you think you're doing? Get back to work, I'm not doing this by myself," Ginny said over her shoulder.

"Oh, I'm just taking a break. You can handle that...that's what women do, right? Cook, clean, taking care of their babies...." Ginny stared at him. Was he being serious? She dropped whatever she was holding and stamped over to him.

"Who the hell do you think you are to say something like that?" she roared. She used her indexfinger to jab him in the chest. He winced at her touch. Her brown eyes were fixed upon his face and he realized how close they were standing. Somehow it made him nervous.

"Sorry Weaslette, I didn't know you'd take it so personally..." He took a step back. Ginny stood two feet away, hands on her hips, looking flustered. He chuckled to himself at Ginny's anger.

"I said I'm sorry! Jeez, what a temper! Now, let's get on with the dishes, shall we?" He walked over to the sink and splashed some water at her. Ginny wailed and looked down at her white t-shirt.

"What did you do that for?" She ran to the closest sink and splashed some water back. A little bit more than he had splashed on her, of course. The water struck his face and he winced.

"This means war!" Draco announced. He grabbed a small bucket and filled it with cold water. At the same time, Ginny had found a tap with a long rubber tube on it. She aimed for Draco. At exactly the same time they splashed the water on each other. Two loud shrieks filled the room.

***

Ginny looked at Draco and Draco looked back at her. His grey eyes met her brown. Ginny breathed heavily, water trickling down her face. Draco looked at her shirt. The white t-shirt was now very transparent. Her pink lacy-bra was visible to the entire world. Ginny noticed, gasped and covered herself. Draco's white-blond hair was pasted to his forehead and his eyelashes were stuck together. Ginny could not help but think; Damn, Malfoy looked...damn. He looked so damn fine.

"I..." Draco said and tried to pat her arm. She backed away. If he touched her, she'd just have to kiss him. And that would be a disaster.

"I have to go," Ginny whispered and turned her back to him. She ran out the door, through the big kitchen-room and out through the portrait. Back in the corridor she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She didn't notice that someone was watching her.

"What are you doing here, Ginny," said Harry. Ginny jumped with surprise and turned to him. And it was Harry all right, standing a few meters away. He looked serious and worried. The familiar black hair was messier than usual.

"I'm having detention, didn't you know?" She took a step towards him. He stared at her shirt.

"I can see your bra," he said darkly. Ginny covered her chest with her arms, blushing slightly.

"What are you doing here anyway," she wondered. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the arms.

"I was worried, of course." He rapped his arms around the very confused Ginny. She couldn't take this.

"No, Harry..." She pulled away and ran off, not seeing the hurt on Harry's face.

***

It was nearly morning, but Draco did not sleep. He had been awake too many hours. I can't stop thinking about her... The detention the night before had ended in a mess. Shortly after Ginny had ran off, McGonagall had come back to pick them up. When she had seen the mess, she had been furious. They had both gotten another detention (although Ginny didn't find out until later, as she wasn't there when McGonagall had come back), and he had been sent to his room. But that was a trifle compared to what he was going through now. Draco turned around in his bed; the thin sheets were pasted on his sweaty body. It was 4 am...he would get to see her again in two hours. Better take a shower, he thought, to clear my mind. Draco got up, grabbed a towel and went off to the prefect's bathroom. The common room was black, cold and deserted. The stone floor chilled his feet and the cold air gave him goose bumps. After the warm shower, Draco went back to his room to get dressed. Bugger, It's only half an hour till I'll have to be there. I won't have time to brush my hair...

***

Exactly 6 o'clock in the morning Ginny stood ready outside the trophy room. It was cold and dark in the empty corridor. She had been ready for half an hour, but she hadn't dared to go, in fear of meeting Draco. She shifted her weight uncomfortably and tried to think happy thoughts. She was irritated, because since it was Saturday and all, she would miss Quidditch practice. Suddenly she heard steps coming closer. McGonagall was walking towards her at a quick pace.

"So you are already here, Miss Weasley? That is good. Come with me now," she said when she reached Ginny. The professor opened the door to the trophy room and waited for Ginny to walk past her into it. As Ginny did so, she wondered where the hell Draco was.

"You can start polishing now," McGonagall said and handed Ginny a very dirty and discoloured rag and a can of polish. Ginny stared at it.

"Am I not allowed to use any magic today either?" she asked, although she could guess the answer. Her professor gave her a stern look.

"No."

"Alright then, when will you come back for me?"

"Nine o'clock," she said and went out, closing the door behind her. Ginny sighed and sat down on a chair. Where the hell is that boy? I'm not polishing all this by myself, she thought.

A few minutes went by and when nothing happened, Ginny slowly started working. But the second she grabbed a cup, the door swung open and Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway.

"Are you here already, Weaslette?" he asked her with a mischievous smile. She nodded, speechless by his way too stunning appearance. His hair was still wet from a shower and it lay perfectly in place. It made her want to run her fingers through it. Can't...think...that...

"Mmm, yes. I've been here for a while now," she said absent-mindedly. "Where the hell have you been?" He merely gave her a wry smile and came to sit next to her. It made her nervous.

"So...we really should do this properly if we don't want another detention. I mean, I have a lot of homework and stuff," Ginny babbled.

"What if we do want another detention?" he answered calmly. Ginny swallowed and looked away. Is he hitting on me?

"I don't know what you're talking about, Draco," she whispered and bit her lip.

"So it's Draco now?" he teased. Ginny cursed her tongue. Draco smiled nasty at her. She mumbled something to her lap and tried to hide her burning cheeks.

***

Draco could not believe how this had happened, but he knew for sure, he would never be able to stop it. He was very attracted to Ginny Weasley, whether he liked it or not. And there she sat, a few inches away, blushing sweetly. Draco's head was spinning slightly. Did she have to bite her lower lip like that? It made him very distracted. The time passed by, and Ginny worked on with the cups and candelabras. Draco watched her, trying not to stare. When Draco looked at his (very expensive) watch, it was only half an hour left till they were going to end the detention. Half an hour left with her, Draco thought and looked at her profile. She was beautiful when she was concentrating. He felt a sudden urge to touch her. Just as he reached out a hand, she turned to him and he let it drop.

"Can we open a window? It's getting a little hot in here," she said and gestured at one of the big windows at the other side of the room.

"I agree," Draco said and went over to open the middle one. When he turned around again, Ginny stood right behind him. He found himself staring into her wide, innocent, brown eyes. The soft wind blew in and grasped Ginny's red curls. Draco was overwhelmed by her beauty and appeal. He knew he looked calm and all, but inside he was spinning.

"Draco," she said quietly, "will you do me a favour?"

"Ah," Draco replied. He couldn't think of anything else to say. She was very close now, their bodies almost touching.

"Can you..." She did not get the chance to finish the sentence, for Draco had bent over and pressed his lips against hers. She gasped, but before she could do anything, Draco pulled back. He looked her in the eyes, sad and confused.

"I...I shouldn't have done that," he said, trying to focus. Ginny just looked at him, surprised and blushed a little. Then she gave him a shy smile.

"Do it again," she said, and took a small step forward. Their bodies were tight together and Draco could feel her heart beat against his own. He leaned forward and kissed her again, gently and softly. Her lips tasted like honey and were as soft as baby skin. He could feel her hands holding the back of his head, fingers tangled in his hair. Then, it was over, before he could believe what had happened. She took a step back. Draco breathed swiftly, for once he did not know what to say. He didn't even know what he felt. But one thing he was sure of, he had never felt like this about another human being before.

***

Ginny looked at Malfoy. He had just kissed her. Twice! And she had liked it! What the hell's going on? Draco smiled at her, a nice, kind of sexy smile. She felt her knees go weak. Ginny mumbled something, looking at her feet. She couldn't bear looking at him without feeling improper feelings. I didn't think he was such a good kisser, she thought, and then she bit her tongue, Can't think that! There was an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly, the door swung open and professor McGonagall walked in.

"Time's up! You may go," she said shortly, eyeing them sceptically. The professor looked at all the unpolished cups and goblets by Draco's chair. She didn't say anything about it. Ginny hurried out the door, trying hard not to look at Draco. She heard his self-possessed steps behind her. It made her shiver, just thinking about him. Jeez, I have to get away from here, she thought and ran away towards Gryffindor Tower.