Chapter 10

Once they were out of the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall simply said, "To my office," and walked off, the students trailing behind. Sage kept a great distance from Pansy, wanting to close her hands around the girl's throat. Unfortunately, Draco was in the way. Sage was also furious at Draco for not standing up for Stacy. All those years of friendship, gone to waste. In Sage's opinion, Draco was a gutless git. Sage gave Stacy a reassuring squeeze as they reached McGonagall's office. They filed into the office as McGonagall turned on them.

"First of all, you all have detention. That includes Mr. Weasley, regardless of whether he was truly involved or not. And second, have you two girls lost it?" She directed her rage towards Sage and Pansy. "Pulling out your wands in the middle of the Great Hall? Students could have gotten hurt!" McGonagall was livid. Pansy cleared her throat.

"Professor," she simpered, "I'd like to point out that it was her who started it."

"And that'll be ten points from Slytherin, Miss Parkinson, for childishly blaming Miss Olliver. It doesn't matter whose fault it is. I am appalled that this has happened. And in the presence of two other schools! Thirty points from each of your houses for such horrid behavior! Now leave, and someone be sure to tell Mr. Weasley of his detention. It will be tomorrow at 11 in the morning." The four students in the room left, miserable and angry.

Pansy stormed off as soon as she left the office. Draco lingered, and Sage walked ahead, assuming he wanted to talk to Stacy.

"Stacy..." Draco said. He caught Stacy's wrist, but she pulled away from him and caught up with Sage.

"You're not going to talk to him?" Sage whispered. Stacy shook her head.

"Why not?"

"I've got nothing to say," Stacy said, sadness clear in her eyes. Without a word, Stacy left to go to Ravenclaw's dormitories. Sage sighed and headed to Gryffindor's. Draco stopped her before she got far.

"Please," he said in a strained voice, "I need to talk to Stacy." Sage frowned.

"Don't ask me. I won't help you," she said, angry. "But what is your problem? You send her mixed signals and then you don't talk to her at all? You don't acknowledge her existence in public. Do you have fun playing with her emotions? The hell is wrong with you, Malfoy?" Draco stood there for a moment, not moving and not blinking before he walked away.

"Coward," Sage spat out. Draco kept walking. Fuming, Sage headed for Gryffindor's dormitories. Fred and George were in the common room, along with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. George got up as she walked in. He started to speak, but Sage held up a hand.

"McGonagall says you've got detention with us tomorrow at 11," she said, and then moved to climb the stairs.

"I'm sorry for stopping you, Sage. I should have let you attack her," George called out, wanting to get back on her good side again. Sage didn't turn around.

"Save it," she said, and vanished up the stairs. George collapsed back onto the armchair he had been occupying.

"Was it wrong for me to stop her?" George asked no one in particular.

"Well if you hadn't, who knows what could have happened?" said Hermione, ever the practical one.

"Yes, but now she hates me," said George, rubbing his eyes. "I don't want her to hate me." Ginny sat up.

"Do you like her or something, George?" she asked, curious.

"'Course not. Don't even know the girl," he mumbled. Sighing, George got up and went to the boys' dormitory, leaving his friends and siblings to glance at each other in concern. They had never seen George so serious about anything before. George got into his bed, but couldn't fall asleep for a long, long time.