The One with the Detention

"So then," Professor Umbridge took a quick sip of tea. "I understand Mr Malfoy caught you two together. Despite the rule being students have to remain eight inches apart."

Hermione glanced through her hair at Malfoy. His own eyes glanced her up and down with a smirk. Heat flooded her cheeks. Of all the people to have caught her and Fred together, it had to be him. She glanced at her boyfriend. His face was equally as red. But Hermione knew it would be from anger rather than embarrassment. Hermione bit her lip. She wasn't upset she had been caught being intimate with Fred. She had been upset that both of them had practically been paraded through the corridors by Malfoy and his cronies. Their loosened ties and half undone shirts announcing to everyone who passed what they had been caught doing. A thought that seemed to be on Fred's mind and he shot Malfoy a glare.

"I'd wipe that smirk off if I were you Malfoy," he spat. "If you think you are going to get away with treating Hermione like that then you are very much mistaken."

Draco shrugged. "It's not my fault you two were breaking the rules."

"You could have at least let her do her shirt back up!"

"Enough!" Umbridge snapped. Hermione lowered her gaze as the older woman's eyes fell on her.

"I'm very disappointed in you Miss Granger. I would have thought that being a Prefect meant you would have been the type to follow rules. You are on very thin ice with me." She raised an eyebrow.

"And given the type of family you come from I wouldn't advise pushing me any further."

Hermione glowered at her words. Fred hand brushed against hers, his fingers gently curling around her own. Professor Umbridge sat back in her chair. A bright smile on her face.

"Well, I think it's clear a night of detention should teach the two of you what rule breaking can lead to. You will arrive at my classroom at 7 o'clock sharp."

Hermione glanced down at Fred's hand. Him and George had experienced their fair share of detentions with Umbridge. Although you couldn't work out the words, the cuts left by her quills were starting to leave small scars. Fred shook his head.

"Professor…it was my fault. Not Hermione's. She shouldn't get detention for this. She didn't do anything wrong."

Umbridge nodded slowly. "I see. Are you trying to tell me that you forced your attentions on Miss Granger? Because that is a very serious thing Mr Weasley."

"Didn't look very forced when I caught them," Malfoy added. "She couldn't keep her hands off him!"

"Hey," Fred barked. "That's enough."

Hermione wanted to fall through the floor as she realised all eyes were on her. Umbridge cleared her throat.

"Miss Granger? Did Mr Weasley pressure you into anything?"

Hermione glanced at Fred. She knew what he was doing. He didn't want her to have to sit through one of Umbridge's detentions. And whilst that was sweet, there was no way she was going to lie and let himself get into even worse trouble. She shook her head. Aware of his face falling.

"No. Fred would never do anything like that to any girl. He's a good person."

"I see," Umbridge said. "In that case, detention tonight and I think…twenty points from Gryffindor. Off you go."

With Fred's hand gripping hers, Hermione followed him from the office. She was aware of Malfoy following close behind. When they got back out into one of the corridors, Hermione glanced up at Fred to see him glaring at the other boy.

"You have five seconds to leave Malfoy," he spat. "Before I punch you in the face."

"Temper, temper." At the smirk, Hermione couldn't help but want to punch him herself. It wouldn't have been the first time. Malfoy held his hands up.

"It's not my fault you two couldn't keep your hand off each other. There's no need to take it out on me." He began backing away.

"Anyway Weasley, maybe you shouldn't fool around with muggleborns."

Fred lurched forward and Hermione held out a hand to stop him.

"He's not worth it." She tried to ignore Malfoys fading laughs and instead focused on the rage in Fred's eyes.

"I disagree. Punching that stupid smirk off his face would certainly be worth it."

"Not if it gets you another detention." Reaching up, Hermione pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Look, I have a charms lesson in ten minutes but… I just wanted to say thank you for earlier. It was sweet of you to try and get me out of detention."

Fred laced their fingers together and held her hand up. His eyes fixed on the smooth skin.

"I've had too many of her detentions to really care anymore. But you…" he shook his head.

"I didn't want you going through that experience." He squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry. I should have made sure we couldn't be seen or…I don't know…. I shouldn't have been so irresponsible."

Hermione couldn't help herself, "I don't think I've ever heard you admit you were irresponsible. Are you feeling okay?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across Fred's face. "I'm fine. When it comes to me, I never care. But you…I'm really sorry. I would never want you to get in trouble or get hurt because of me."

"Fred," Hermione pulled him close. "It's fine. Look, it's not the ideal way I wanted us to spend an evening together. But it'll be okay. It's one detention."

She glanced at her watch and slid her hand from his. "I've got to go. I'll be late otherwise. But I'll see you later?"

"Yeah," he kissed her quickly. "See you later."

When Hermione reached the door to Umbridge's classroom, she wasn't surprised to see a group of nearly a dozen students waiting outside. All of them ranged from first years to seventh years and she noted that whilst three of the houses were represented; none of the students were Slytherins.

"Hey," Fred pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Even for a detention you turn up early."

Hermione shrugged. "Wouldn't put it past Umbridge to give us more detentions for turning up on time."

"Look," Fred tugged her towards him. "I can still talk to her. Tell her It was all me and I…. I pushed you or I pressured you into making out. I could still get you out of this."

"No!" Hermione hissed. She glanced over at the few students who were looking her way and she turned her back on them.

"Fred I am not having you lie to that woman and let her believe that you would do those sorts of things. It's because of her stupid rules we are in this mess anyway. So, you aren't telling her anything."

Fred opened his mouth when a familiar "hem-hem" could be heard behind them. Supressing the need to roll her eyes, Hermione turned to see Professor Umbridge standing by the now open door.

"Come along." She narrowed her eyes. "Unless you wish to have another detention tomorrow night?"

Hermione ignored her and, with her hand in Fred's, walked through the door and into the classroom. She noted all the girls were sitting on one side and the boys on the other. Umbridge pointed to two desks at the front.

"Sit down there please."

Fred gave her hand a squeeze before he sat down at his own desk. Hermione did the same, her eyes fixed on the small quill sitting there. Umbridge cleared her throat.

"Now then, it seems we're are just waiting on two more people. Ahh…. here they are!"

Hermione turned to see George standing at the back of the room. One arm was around the shoulders of a Ravenclaw girl. Hermione bit her lip. Even for a first year the girl was tiny. George shot her a reassuring smile.

"Professor…. I don't think Molly should get detention. I asked her to look after the products. She didn't know what they were. It's not fair she gets punished."

"Well you should have thought about that before involving her in your scheme."

"I'll even do her set of lines!" George pleaded. Hermione turned back to see Umbridge shake her head.

"Will both of you sit down now please."

Hermione wasn't the only one watching the pair. George led the girl to her seat and mumbled something that sounded like "it's going to be okay" before sitting behind Fred. Both twins were shooting glares at Umbridge. The Professor simply cleared her throat.

Now then, I am going to pass out the lines I want you to do. After half an hour you will be able to leave. Providing I am happy the message has sunk in."

Hermione watched as she moved past each desk and placed a piece of parchment in front of each student. When her parchment scrap landed in front of her, she hurriedly read over it. Her cheeks burned at the message.

"Professor you can't be serious!"

"I am perfectly serious Miss Granger." Umbridge snapped. "Now unless you want me to add a second message, you will start writing."

She turned round to cut Fred off before he could speak. "Mr Weasley, I suggest you focus on your own lines rather than hers. Now then everyone. Please begin."

Fred had learnt a while ago that the best way to get through a detention with Umbridge was to write as slowly as possible. Rushing it just made the pain worse. But by going as slowly as possible, it made it just about bearable. With every word he wrote, he had to clench and unclench his hand to try and ignore the burrowing pain in his skin. An occasional glance around told him everyone was doing the same thing. A few of the younger students kept blinking their eye to try and stop tears coming. Fred risked a glanced behind him to see George staring at Molly. She wiped her eyes quickly before carrying on writing. Small gasps slipped from her mouth and Fred could see the anger in George's eyes.

"Mr Weasley! Concentrate!"

The temptation to speak back was overwhelming. But, given he knew it would do nothing, Fred turned back to his own lines. Already the words I will not break the rules were carved neatly into his skin. He glanced to his side to see Hermione scribbling away. Her left hand was under the desk and she kept flexing it out with small hisses of pain. Fred bit his lip. Him and George had been toying with the idea of a revenge prank on Umbridge and they'd played with a few ideas. But seeing the tears spring to Hermione's eyes as she reached the end of the page, Fred wasn't waiting. He wasn't going to let this woman get away with treating them like this. Especially for putting Hermione through this. And judging from the look on George's face, he had a feeling his brother would be just as happy to take part.

As Umbridge walked along the desk, glancing at each students' hands, Hermione was trying to ignore the dark red lines on hers. One by one, each student was allowed to leave, and Hermione was well aware of how quickly all of them left the classroom. She watched as both Molly and George were allowed to leave and how George pulled the younger girl in for a hug. Umbridge gave Fred and approving nod before turning to face her.

"Hand please."

Hermione held it up, trying to not to flinch as Umbridge took it and began scrutinising the message that was carved there.

"And do you think you have now learned your lesson? Hmm?"

Hermione could see Fred out of the corner of her eye. She knew he would want her to just smile and nod. Yet as painful as the past half an hour had been, she couldn't help herself. She refused to give this woman the satisfaction.

"I don't think there was any lesson that needed learning. I didn't do anything wrong. Unless you think people thinking for themselves is wrong."

Umbridge drew herself up to her full height.

"My Weasley," she said without glancing her over her shoulder. "If you wish to wait for Miss Granger you can do so outside. I need to have a chat with her."

"I'm going nowhere."

"It wasn't a request."

"Fred," Hermione smiled at him. "It's fine. I'll see you in a moment."

She could tell he didn't want to go. But he simply gave her a small nod.

"I'll be right outside."

Hermione watched with bated breath as he left the room, before turning to see Umbridge scribbling something on another scrap of parchment.

"It appears you have a great deal to learn Miss Granger. And it would appear my message hasn't yet sunk in."

She placed the parchment down on Hermione's desk. "I want you to write this for me. Just once."

Hermione glanced at the paper and a lump formed in her throat. The words were nothing new. Nearly every student had said it to her at some point. But that was a far cry from having it carved into her skin. She picked up the quill and Umbridge shook her head.

"With your left hand please."

Hermione swapped the quill over. Her left hand stung as she forced it to hold the quill. Whilst she'd often written with her left hand in exams to give her right one a break, doing it when her left hand was still throbbing from having words carved into it, was something else. Hermione forced herself to go slowly as she wrote out the words on the parchment. She could feel them scratching and burrowing their way into her skin. She flexed out her hand.

"Maybe seeing it every day will serve as a better reminder for you."

Hermione all but threw the quill back onto the desk.

"May I go now." She blinked hurriedly. She wasn't going to cry in front of this woman. Umbridge glanced at her other hand with a nod.

"I think the message has sunk in enough. You may go."

Keeping her hands stuffed into her robe pockets, Hermione got to her feet and all but ran from the room. She entered the corridor to see Fred pacing up and down with George still comforting the young Ravenclaw.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "How's your hand?"

She gave a small nod. "It really stings."

"Yeah," George sighed. "It will for a while. But it'll soon go. I promise."

Aware neither twin had noticed her, Hermione cleared her throat. George shot her a smile whilst Fred halted his pacing and fixed her with a nervous look.

"Show me your hand."

Hermione withdrew her left one from her pocket but kept in hidden amongst her robe. Fred strode towards her.

"Hermione," he whispered, "Let me see your hand."

"Only if you promise not to get mad."

"That depends what she made you write," Fred said sharply. "Show me."

Hermione held her hand out and allowed him to read the words. She glanced at them briefly.

I will not be promiscuous

"Hermione…"

"There's more," she gently drew out her other hand and held it out. Fred took it and she could see the moment the anger in his eyes switched to pure rage.

I will not be a know it all

"She will pay for that," Fred glanced at her. "She's not getting away with making you do that Hermione."

Hermione nodded. "It's fine. Well no, it's not fine. But it's over."

"But Hermione-"

"Fred!" She blinked back her tears. "Please just leave it. I just want to go to the common room okay?"

He paused for a second before nodding "Okay."

They watched each other for a few seconds and then Fred pulled her close.

"Hermione…. being clever isn't a bad thing. It's one of the many things I love about you. Please don't let that woman stop you from being you."

She shook her head. "Everyone's called me a know it all Fred. I'm used to it. I know I can be a pain because of but-"

"But nothing," Fred said firmly. "Hermione you are not a pain. Not to anyone. If people don't admire how bright you are then that is their problem."

Hermione glanced down at her hands and Fred gently covered them with his own.

What do you say we head back to the common room a share some of the Butter beer we brought back from Hogsmeade? And while we do that, I can continue my list of reasons why I love how bright you are."

Hermione tucked herself into her side with a smile. "Sounds like a great way to spend the evening Fred."

"Well naturally," he winked at her. "I can come up with good ideas as well."

AN: Whilst pretty much every other character's popularity get's hugely debated, I think we can all agree that Umbridge is a complete bitch. But at least we still get lots of Fremione fluff despite her. Let me know what you think xx