Minerva McGonagall rolled up a final sheet of parchment and stood, ready to retire to bed. She bid the other professors good night and left the staff room, only to find Hermione Granger there, flipping through a copy of her Charms textbook, which she snapped shut as soon as she caught sight of Minerva.
"Not relaxing, Miss Granger?" Minerva asked archly, though she wasn't surprised. "I would have thought that even you would want some leisure time after all that happened this year."
"I've been reading ahead, professor," Hermione admitted. "It was rather dull in the Hospital Wing. I just wanted to ask you something?"
"What is it?"
In all truth, she was expecting a bizarre query about NEWT-Level Transfiguration, and so was surprised when Hermione's voice fell to an embarrassed mumble and said, "I just wondered, professor- I mean, it must have happened at least once- just a precaution, but..."
"What do you want to ask, Miss Granger?"
"Well- in OWLS- what happens if we fail everything?"
Minerva's first inclination was to laugh out loud, but she couldn't do that to the poor girl. Swallowing her amusement, she explained amusedly that they would have to have a discussion with their head of House about their future prospects and the possibility of retaking certain exams. Hermione bit her lip, still looking anxious.
"Don't worry, Miss Granger. I can promise you that if you receive anything less than straight O's I will maintain for the rest of my days that you were sent the wrong owl." Minerva smiled fondly as Hermione nodded gratefully and rushed back to her common room- or possibly the library. As soon as the girl was out of sight, Minerva slipped back into the common room, laughing under her breath, to recount the tale to the other teachers. Even Severus couldn't fail to be amused by this one.
