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"Tonight, you will be sorting through the book returns and replacing them on their proper shelves, without magic ." Professor Flitwick frowned at the small group of students gathered in front of him. His squeaky voice echoed through the quiet warmth of the Hogwarts Library.
"If you need help figuring out where a book should go, there are several student aides working tonight." He gestured to the Information Desk, which was manned by the trustworthy academics who assisted Madam Pince. "They should be able to help you."
Ron stared at the Information Desk, trying to catch a glimpse of the person working, but Professor Flitwick cleared his throat, commanding his attention again. Flitwick leveled his students with a grave look. "Let this detention serve as a reminder that class times are concrete, and not mere suggestions."
He waved them off with a squeaky, "go on then," and Ron surveyed his fellow detention attendees. There were only four of them tonight, which was less than usual. Professor Flitwick reserved this unique task for his tardy students, a group which Ron found himself in more often than not these days.
He pulled books from the returns shelf, stacking as many as he could carry and walking across the room. Balancing his armload on a table, he grabbed the first one off the top and made a show of checking the cover before turning to the giant card catalog behind him. He opened and closed drawers with enthusiasm, sometimes checking cards at random, then stuffing them back. Once he was satisfied that he'd killed enough time pretending, he set off quickly for the Information Desk, glancing about for Flitwick. He held his breath as he neared, praying that one aide in particular was on duty tonight.
He heard her before he saw her, and waited happily in line behind a confused second year, watching a bushy haired brunette explain something kindly to her patron. In the candlelight, Hermione's skin took an olive tone and her brown eyes seemed to melt into sparkling pools. Her honey highlighted locks were pulled into a messy plait over her shoulder, and Ron could barely distinguish a dusting of freckles over the bridge of her nose. He couldn't fight his smile, watching her in her element, a bubble of excitement expanding in his chest.
When the second year cleared out and Hermione finally saw who was next in the queue, her eye roll only made him grin more.
"Again?" She asked, exasperated.
Ron nodded, doing his best to look apologetic. "Will you help me with the card catalog, like last time?"
"You could try NOT being late for class, you know.”
He nodded again, keeping his face as pitiful as possible in an attempt to win her sympathy. "Please?"
She sighed, but looked amused as she glanced over his overly pathetic expression. "Fine," she agreed. "Let me tell Terry that he needs to run the desk, and I'll meet you over there in five."
Ron nearly skipped back to his stack of books, eager to spend another evening alone with Hermione. The last time he'd been stuck in this detention, they'd worked the task together for nearly three hours, and he'd been able to accidentally touch her hand twice. Plus, something about her enthusiasm for the library was...adorable. There was no other word for it, and Ron chose to not overanalyze why he'd been looking forward to detention all day.
"You know, Mr. Weasley," Flitwick's voice surprised him so much that he hit his shin on the table as he wheeled about.
Biting back the curses on his tongue, Ron wheezed a response. "Yes, Professor?"
"I could sign you up to do this work on a volunteer basis," Flitwick replied, suppressing a smile. "So that you don't need to get detention on purpose anymore."
Ron's face heated, and he averted his eyes, stammering, "oh, I don't… I didn't…"
"Ok, Ron." Hermione pulled up a chair at his table and handed him some parchment and a quill. "Let's get started. Oh, hello, Professor," she exclaimed, noticing Flitwick. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt..."
"Nonsense." The teacher waved and turned on his heel. "I can see that Mr. Weasley here is in good hands." He winked at Ron as he walked away.
Ron wanted to sink beneath the table with embarrassment, but as Hermione caught his eye, biting her bottom lip in the tantalizing way she did, he felt a surge of bravery.
"Here," he suggested, picking up a book and handing it to her so that his fingers grazed her palm. "Let's start with this one."