"I know, I know," you groaned, running your hand exasperatedly through your hair. "But, you know, if Pansy hadn't ratted us out, we'd have been fine."
Hermione shook her head. "Well, it's done now. You'll just have to serve the detention and get it over with."
"I've never had a detention in my life," you sighed, burying your head in your hands. "Well, at least Draco and I get to serve it together. Maybe it won't be that bad."
"What do you have to do?"
You looked up. "We have to give the house-elves a break and do the supper dishes tonight."
Hermione's jaw dropped. "All of them? Are you aware how many students are in this school? And if they each used two plates, a goblet, and three pieces of silverware, that's--"
"Yeah. Don't remind me." You got up from the breakfast table and picked up your bag. "I'm off to Potions. Are you coming?"
"I'll be right along. I haven't seen Ronald this morning, and I might have to go wake up the lazy git."
You laughed. "All right. And spread the word--use as few dishes as possible tonight."
"Fine," Hermione giggled. "I'll eat off the table tonight."
You brightened. "Really?"
"No!"
* * *
As soon as you entered the massive kitchens of Hogwarts, you cringed. The dull scents of rotten vegetables and dish soap lingered in the hazy air. A fire blazed in a rustic fireplace on one side of the room, a copper kettle heating above it. But the most important thing about the room, the aspect you were most concerned about, was the dishes. And oh, how many there were. Piles and piles of plates filled one sink, and shiny silverware spilled out of another. A third sink overflowed with half-full goblets of pumpkin juice.
"Draco...please tell me you've done dishes before."
He shook his head, his eyes wider than the plates that were stacked almost to the ceiling. "You?"
You nodded. "Yeah. I can do them...just not very well."
Professor Snape poked his head in the door, his sharp nose crinkled in disapproval. "If I were you, Miss Rose, I wouldn't idle. There are quite a few dishes to be done."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, and Miss Rose--I'll be taking your wand."
'What?!?" you exploded, hugging your wand protectively. "You can't be serious!"
"Quite, Miss Rose. Your wand."
Begrudgingly, you handed it over. Snape smiled cruelly and slammed the door behind him. The two of you were alone--the house-elves had all been given the night off. The only company you had was the mass of dishes awaiting you.
"I love how he took my wand and not yours," you grumbled. "Just because he likes you."
"Don't complain. At least we still have one wand."
"Yeah," you sighed. "Um...I guess we'd better get started."
Rolling up your sleeves, you took a red-and-white striped apron from a hook.
"Thanks," Draco said sarcastically, as he took the only other apron that wasn't sized for house-elves--a lovely pink flowered one.
"You're quite welcome." You took a deep breath and stepped toward the pile of plates, grimacing. "Um...how about you wash, and I'll dry and put away."
"Hey, drying is easier," he argued.
"You've got the wand," you reminded him, grabbing a dishcloth. "Get a move on. If we want to be done before three a.m., we're going to have to hurry."
"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled. You scooped up a handful of suds from the sink and blew it toward him, laughing.
* * *
Draco waved his wand, and a porcelain disk cleaned itself and flew through the air toward you. You caught it with pruny fingers, dried it, and placed it on the shelf.
"We must be at least halfway done by now," you groaned, glancing toward the sink. There was still a substantial pile of dishes awaiting you. "Great. I wish these stupid dishes--"
A cacophony in one corner of the room startled you. Whirling around, you saw an expensive china bowl lying in pieces on the floor--across the room.
"What the--"
"Must have been Peeves," Draco muttered. "Come on, let's get these things done."
You slowly turned back to the counter, your brow furrowed in confusion. A dish tossed itself toward you, but before you could catch it--
"Ellen! Watch out!"
You turned again, only to see six sharp, shining kitchen knives hurtling through the air toward you. You froze, not knowing what to do. It was as though time had slowed, but the knives were still moving at light-speed. Your jaw dropped, but before you could scream, Draco raced toward you and knocked you to the cold stone floor. The breath was forced out of your lungs, and you struggled for air.
"Oh my God," you gasped. You glanced up, past Draco's head--the knives had lodged themselves in the wall, right where your head had been only a fraction of a second before.
"Are you all right?" Draco asked, reaching to your face and brushing a strand of your hair from it.
"I'm fine," you breathed. "Thanks to you. What was that?"
"That wasn't Peeves," Draco said, slowly standing and helping you up. "Peeves wouldn't do something like that."
You nodded. "Y-yeah...well, let's finish the dishes as fast as we can and get out of here. It's creepy down here."
"No. It's too dangerous to be in here at all if someone--something--"
Another crash sounded, this one from right behind you. In your surprise, you tripped backwards--and hit something hard. You reeled around, and watched, openmouthed, as an Invisibility Cloak slid off a human figure.
"Pansy?!?" Draco yelled, running toward you and stepping protectively in front of you. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Put the bloody knife down!"
"I'll kill her!" Pansy shrieked maniacally, her hands shaking. "I'll kill her!!!"
"Ellen, go," Draco hissed. You hesitated, clinging to him. "You heard me. Go! Go get Dumbledore!"
You scrambled away, tripping over your own feet in your haste. You glanced back at Pansy's face--it was hard and icy, not unlike the stone floor you were running across.
Wow, Pansy's gone HOMICIDAL!
Thanks so much for reading, and for being so patient! Again, I'm so sorry for the delay. School is kicking my butt!
I'd also like to remind you all again that my messages DO NOT WORK. I have not been able to read them since about September 1st. If you messaged me since then, and would like to contact me now, please e-mail me at ellen-rose@hotmail.com or use the cbox on my homepage.
Heh heh heh...so...does anyone have any tricks for remembering minor key signatures? I'm in a college-level choir, and we have to have them memorized by Wednesday. I also have to remember what number note a subtonic, dominant, etc. is. I am so screwed! Help?
Happy Autumn! Go buy candy corn. I've been going through tons of it. I can't get enough...but I should probably lay off it! :P
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