Draco's Charm

4 - Detention with Malfoy

4th September, Thursday, present 

The first few days at Hogwarts passed rather quickly.

My Wednesday was mainly spent with intense Quidditch practice alongside Blaise. Tryouts for the team were slated for Friday, and Blaise was absolutely thrilled when he found out I had experience as a seeker from Beauxbatons. 

He insisted that we practice relentlessly to ensure I secured a spot on the Slytherin team, believing that together, we'd become the most formidable sibling duo in the world of Quidditch.

His infectious enthusiasm and his playful, goofy demeanour eventually helped me let go of my initial resentment towards him for making me attend Hogwarts. After all, I was actually enjoying my time at the school. In hindsight, I realised I was being overly stubborn.

We talked about our days and classes and he told me he tried to scare off Harry when they sat together during Potions so he wouldn't try something on me. I laughed at him and smacked his head saying that I liked Harry but assuring him I will never be able to get involved with him.

'Or anyone else', had said the tiny annoying voice in my head.

***

Today went also great... well, at least the first half.

Right now, I was running late to Professor McGonagall's office for my detention. I hope she forgot to give Malfoy detention with me. Or maybe she was merciful enough to give him detention on another day.

I opened the door to her office and I saw Malfoy standing there looking annoyed. Well, there go my hopes for a peaceful evening.

''You are late, Miss Greengrass," Professor McGonagall admonished me sternly.

"Yes, I am very sorry, Professor. I got lost... the Castle is so huge," I apologized, hoping she'd be lenient.

McGonagall nodded in acknowledgment and then rose from her seat to address us. "You two will clean the old Quidditch trophies in Filch's abandoned cabinet," she informed us.

I sighed and glanced over at Malfoy, who, to my surprise, was opening his mouth. Was he about to make a rude comment right in front of McGonagall? He couldn't be that daft, could he?

''Professor, I don't mean to be disrespectful asking this but... Why? Filch has at least 10 of those cabinets filled with nothing but junk. It doesn't benefit anyone when we clean that. Wouldn't be more effective and useful to clean the trophies in the halls?'' Malfoy asked making a fairly good point for the first time in his life, I'm sure.

''Yes, Mr. Malfoy. You are very observant, however, frankly, I don't have anything better to give you for your detention time than this. Students tend to break the rules often these first few days and I already had them clean every trophy in the halls,'' she said then continued; ''Please, follow me to the cabinet.''

The 'cabinet' was an abandoned room in the dungeons filled with nothing but junk, exactly how Malfoy described it. This is going to be great.

''Please, your wands,'' McGonagall extended her hand and we both silently gave her our wands.

''The doors are locked with magic, they will open the second you finish cleaning and organising this side of the room.'' She pointed to the less messy part of the small cabinet. Thank Merlin. ''Please, come to my office to collect your wands after you are finished. Good luck,'' she said and left. 

With that, she left, the doors shutting behind her, leaving Malfoy and me alone in complete silence.

I risked a glance in his direction. He looked almost angelic with his disheveled blond hair and slightly loosened uniform. The dim light of the room accentuated his cheekbones, and--