The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 73?: Detention with Draco Malfoy

*CW: Extreme Violence*

June 30th, 1997

Twenty four days.

I've spent the last twenty four days in detention with Draco Malfoy.

Everyday after my classes, I reported to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom where Snape would give Draco and I our task of the day; it was always some sort of cleaning. I was forced to eat dinner with him, and my cousin, in the classroom because Snape assumed that we would have escaped back to our common rooms if we ate in the Great Hall. I barely saw my friends anymore. I got to interact with them in my classes and at breakfast, but that was it because right after dinner, we'd go back to cleaning. Then, eventually, around ten o'clock, Snape would release us back to our common rooms, and we'd go to bed just to repeat all of it the next day.

"It's torture, you guys," I complained, "Absolute torture... I mean, thankfully, today I have a couple minutes to talk to you lot before I have to go. Snape's in a meeting, of some sort, at the moment."

"Well, I'm sure Draco helps you out, right?" Hermione asked. I shook my head in response.

"No, he just sits there and sulks," I scoffed, "For what? What does he have to sulk about? I mean, hell, Snape only takes his wand, he takes my wand and hexes me so I can't do wandless magic."

"Why would Snape do that?" Ron questioned hesitantly.

"So we have to clean everything muggle-style," I mocked, "But it doesn't matter because even with wandless magic, I'd still have to do everything."

"Have you tried asking him?" Ginny asked jokingly.

"Yes, because if I ask Draco to help me, he'll jump at the opportunity," I sassed, "Is that even a question, Ginny?"

"I mean, it's worth a shot?" Hermione stammered, "Ask him what's wrong, and maybe he'll be more interested in helping you if he thought you cared about him."

"Absolutely not." I scoffed.

"I second that statement," Ron pshawed, "Look, Dawn, how many days of detention do you have left?"

I placed my thumb on my chin as I thought to myself, "Like two or three. The professors expect us to be packed by the end of the week, so I'd assume then."

"Then my advice would be to just tough it out," Ron suggested, "Summer's next week... only a couple more days, then you won't have to see him for two months."

"Hopefully," I chuckled, "Let's cross our fingers that we don't have a repeat of last year!"

Ron walked over to a nearby dresser before knocking on it a couple of times, "Knock on wood, that's good luck, so it means that it won't happen."

"That doesn't actually do anything, Ron." Hermione scoffed, causing Ron to roll his eyes at her.

"It's an expression, 'Mione," Ron chuckled, "And I personally believe it's good luck, so I'd recommend that you'd all do it!"

Ginny laughed to herself as she knocked on the wooden dresser a few times, I followed after her to do the same. Hermione didn't join in on Ron's superstition, only rolled her eyes and walked away.

Suddenly, Harry ran downstairs looking stressed, causing all of us to go dead-silent. He was muttering endlessly to himself, and quickly ran over to our group on the other side of the common room. I didn't know what was going on with him, but the others understood. In fact, I didn't know what was going on with any of my friends.

All of our interactions in the past twenty four days have been quick, we haven't been given much time to catch up. I still had a couple minutes to spare before Snape would have been expecting me, so I decided that I'd stay and listen in on what was going on.