Chapter 11

It was Sunday the day that the five of them had detention. At breakfast, Stacy and Sage sat together with Rachel at the Hufflepuff table. Sage didn't want to sit at the same table as George, and the Ravenclaw table was next to Slytherin, so the best friends sat at the Hufflepuff table, silently eating. As soon as they both finished, it was 8:30 and they had some time left before detention.

The two girls walked outside. It was a pleasant morning as Sage and Stacy sat down under the shade of a tree. Stacy turned to Sage.

"You didn't have to stick up for me, you know. Could've handled it myself," Stacy said.

"Are you kidding? If you know me at all, then you shouldn't have to say that, Stace," Sage said, laughing a little. Stacy gave a small smile. Sage sighed.

"So, I'm guessing it's really bugging you that Draco didn't stand up for you yesterday?" Stacy shrugged.

"Kind of expected him not to," she said, taking out her wand and making a leaf levitate off the ground.

"Oh, uh, Stace, he came up to me yesterday after you left. Like, he talked to me," Sage said. Stacy sat up a little straighter.

"What did he say?"

"He said he needs to talk to you. And then I told him I wouldn't help him with that. I, uh, also told him off. But then he walked away," Sage said. "Oh! Then I called him a coward."

"You don't have to be so mean to him," Stacy said, although she was smiling. Giving Sage a one-armed hug, she said, "I couldn't ever have asked for a better friend then you. Who else would almost start a fight with Pansy for me?"

Sage smiled. The best friends stayed outside until 10:50, and then they hurried to Professor McGonagall's office for detention. Pansy and Draco were standing off to one side, while George was standing near the door. Professor McGonagall looked up as the girls entered.

"Good, you're all here then," she said, standing. "For today, you will all be split up to work in different parts of the castle. Mr. Weasley, you and Miss Parkinson will work together in the library to re-shelve books and tidy up." George groaned and Pansy scowled. McGonagall continued.

"Mr. Malfoy, you will be with Miss Olliver, cleaning trophies." Sage frowned, upset that she didn't get paired up with Stacy.

"And finally, Miss Moore, you will be helping our gamekeeper Hagrid with whatever he needs doing. Off you go. You will find what you need when you get to your detention areas. You will be let out of detention when I say so." And with that, the five students were shooed out of the office.

Pansy and George stalked off to the library, both of them sulking and silent. Stacy and Sage pulled away into a corner and whispered to each other a little.

"Stace, do you want me to punch him or anything? Shove a trophy onto his head and then bang it with my wand? You know I would!" Sage said, glancing at Draco. Stacy smiled and shook her head.

"Don't cause anymore trouble by doing that! I appreciate the thought, though." Sage shook her head, saying, "You're no fun!" Sage and Stacy said goodbye to each other and went in their separate directions. Sage walked off with Draco who had been waiting impatiently.

Walking outside, Stacy took a deep breath of fresh air. She was glad she had been sent to work with Hagrid. She had enjoyed his time as her teacher last year and looked forward to seeing him again. She reached his hut in no time and knocked. From inside, a dog barked. Then the door opened to reveal Hagrid's large form.

"Stacy!" he exclaimed, smiling. "How are yeh doin'? Not too badly, I 'ope. Come on in, come in." Stepping into Hagrid's hut, Stacy looked around. It was a cozy place, although there were all sorts of strange objects everywhere.

"Don' mind this mess," Hagrid said, shuffling over to the fire. "Tea?" Stacy shook her head, smiling politely.

"Alrigh', so yeh have detention, do yeh? The work load won' be too hard on yeh, becuh' I know yer a good girl," Hagrid said, sitting down on the couch. "Might I ask why yeh got detention? Yeh don' seem the type tuh get in ter trouble." Stacy sat in an armchair next to the couch.

"My best friend defended me from Pansy Parkinson, and now the three of us have detention, including George Wasley and Draco Malfoy. That's the shortened version of it," Stacy said, realizing that it sounded slightly ridiculous saying that. Hagrid laughed his deep, throaty laugh.

"It some how makes a whole lotta sense that one er the Weasley twins is involved. But that Malfoy boy? He's no good," Hagrid shook his head.

"Shouldn't I start detention now, Professor Hagrid?" Stacy asked timidly.

"Blimey, Stacy! Am I still yer pruhfessor? No, I'm not! Calling me 'Hagrid will do jus' fine. An', well, I figure yeh can start about now. What needs ter be done is the cleaning of this humble abode. Jus' a lil' bit o' organizing an' I think yeh'll be alright fer detention."

"That's all?" Stacy asked, confused. She had expected more.

"Tha's all!" Hagrid said cheerily. "I figure what Pruhfessor McGonagall doesn't know won't 'urt 'er. Les' get a start on, shall we?"

Stacy let out a sigh of relief. She was fortunate to have received an easy detention. She set to work, listening to Hagrid's instructions and smiling happily to herself.