Hermes' Secret

Chapter 9- Don't judge a book by its cover

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to @LUNAG88 for voting and commenting on my previous chapters! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story! :) 

~*~

The next few days for Hermione were like hell. Pansy, Theo and Blaise avoided her like the plague. When she approached them, they simply turned their backs on her and strode off.

Only Theo seemed to hesitate in his actions, but even he hadn't talked to her. The rest of the school were also against her. They sent her filthy looks and weren't even trying to hide the fact that they were talking about her.

~*~

'We'll be partnering with new partners today' Snape announced, receiving a chorus of moans from the class. Snape gave them all a sullen glare. 'If you care to read from the board, you'll find your pair' With that, he flicked his wand at the board before sitting at his desk and glaring at the students.

Hermione dragged her eyes down the list, looking for her name, until she found it, written next to-

'Weasley' she muttered angrily, collecting her stuff and trudging to sit next to her new partner.

'Ahhhh...Hermes Orion' Weasley smirked. 'How are your friends doing lately?' Hermione didn't say anything, sitting down next to him

'Oh...I'm so sorry' As if

''Your friends abandoned you, didn't they?' Hermione bristled but continued to focus her attention on the lesson

'Oh...wait. It was you that left them. Did they not meet your expectations? Were you too good for them?' Hermione took a deep breath and counted to ten, trying to get rid of the impulse to strangle her partner

'I would've loved to knock Malfoy off his broom. How did it feel to see him fall from his high horse?'

That one did it.

~*~

The next thing Hermione knew, she was being sent to the headmaster with an angry note clutched in her hand. The worst thing about it all was that neither Blaise nor Pansy even looked up at her outburst - they didn't even seem to care. Cursing Weasley under his breath, Hermione strode to the Headmaster's office.

~*~

'Ah, Dumbledore smiled at Hermione as she barged into his office. 'To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?'

Hermione held out the note, not trusting herself to speak without cursing herself or Weasley. Dumbledore read it through before looking up at the disguised girl. Hermione expected him to shout at her or at least sound angry, but-

'Why don't you sit down?' he asked calmly, gesturing lazily to the seat before him.

'What?' Hermione uttered, surprised.

'Sit down' He repeated.

Hermione obliged.

'It says here that you randomly shouted at Mr Weasley in the middle of class' Dumbledore noted, no emotion evident in his voice 'May I ask why you did so?'

'He provoked me?' Hermione almost growled, hands clenching under the table.

Dumbledore sighed pitifully.

'Miss Granger, I'm not unfamiliar with the latest gossip that found its way around Hogwarts and I hope you are pleased to hear that I know who were the real culprits here'

'Then why don't you do something about it, sir' Hermione asked. 'Take points off. Punish them'

'I could, but your friends wouldn't believe me' Dumbledore shook his head vigorously before staring directly at Hermione, his eyes twinkling with mirth 'What you need is proof?'

'I can't tell you that he said, glancing back at the note from Snape 'It says here that you have detention with Filch this Friday for your actions'

'What!' Hermione exclaimed in disgust. 'Filch!'

'Don't judge a book by its cover, Miss Granger' Dumbledore smiled at her from over his half-moon spectacles, eyes twinkling once more 'Remember that it is proof you are looking for. This detention might be just the thing you need'

~*~

'What in the world is that supposed to mean?' Ginny exclaimed after the brunette finished telling her what happened in Dumbledore's office.

'I have absolutely no idea' Hermione stressed.

'I know' Ginny declared sarcastically 'That old man has finally gone completely nuts!'

'Ginny' Hermione reprimanded softly 'Be serious here'

'I am being serious, Hermione! I think he really has lost his marbles. When has detention with Filch ever done anyone any good?'

'Well, maybe I'll set a record' Hermione replied dryly.

'You probably will' Ginny nodded.

'That isn't helping' Hermione singsonged 'I think we're simply going to have to wait and see what happens'

~*~

Hermione finished her dinner in the kitchens, which she did every day since the rumours to reduce the whispers and sneers she had to endure before heading down to Filch's office for the detention. Placing a sanitation charm on her hands, Hermione knocked on the door. After a few wheezy gasps, it swung open.

'You're early' Filch snarled, letting Hermione inside his office. Reluctantly, Hermione entered the dingy dark hole and glanced around the mostly dark and cobweb-covered walls, almost all in shadow. There was only one part of the room that emitted light and Hermione's eyes were instantly drawn towards it.

It was a screen, divided into sections in which different parts of the Hogwarts grounds were on video.

'What's that?' Hermione asked.

'It helps me look for all the trouble on the grounds' Filch wheezed, a frown evident on his face 'Doesn't work much at night, though. Too blurry.' Hermione continued to stare at the device on the wall.

'Does it record the events, as well?' Hermione asked, her voice quavering with excitement.

'Yep,' Filch replied triumphantly, a smirk wrinkling its way onto his face 'And that will be your detention for today.' He opened a drawer in which assorted cassettes were lying across the bottom 'You are going to be sorting this out' He gestured at the drawer 'You may leave when you are done

Hermione could hardly believe her luck. He hadn't even taken her wand from her.

Dumbledore was right -sometimes detention with Filch was all you needed.

~*~

A/N: Hehe, who'd take detention with Filch for their friends? I mean, my friends are lovely and all, but...*giggles nervously*...I'll say no more...

Anyway, how was the chapter? There's better Dramione footage in the next one, which I'll be updating soon (as in, next week and I promise I won't forget)

Please vote, comment and share!

Sam <3