Late. That's what she was going to be if she didn't move faster. As she quickened her pace, her hurried footsteps echoed off the empty castle walls. Hermione Granger was always punctual and prepared, if she could help it; however, after the owl she had received that evening, she feared there wouldn't be enough time to get to her beloved Professor's office in time. In time for what, though, remained a mystery. The owl that had been delivered only stated, "Ms. Granger, it is most urgent that you be present in my office at 8:00 this evening. Regards, Minerva." Hermione had received the owl at 7:30 that evening during dinner with her parents. Since then her mind had been racing with the onslaught of thoughts the message provoked, most of them negative. 'What if Harry and Ron were in trouble; Was Professor McGonagall ill; Had the Order safe house been discovered by Voldemort; Was the Order in danger?' All of these thoughts raced through her mind, and she prayed nothing had happened to any of her friends or family.
Since Voldemort's rise to power and the infiltration of Death Eaters at the Ministry, the wards on Hogwarts had been strengthened and added to, making it impossible to Apparate onto the grounds, arrive via the Floo Network, or use any secret passages; even those Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and she had thought were absolutely unknown by anyone but them. She had been in such a rush to leave her home, she was still in her mundane lounge wear; but McGonagall wouldn't mind, she admired Hermione on her wits and loyalty, not her fashion choices. Hermione looked down at her muggle watch, 7:57, she started to jog down the corridor.
At 8:00 exactly she arrived at Professor McGonagall's closed door, out of breath. As she was raising her hand to knock, she was startled back by the door being jerked open. In its place she found herself staring at greasy, long black-hair, and the back of a rigid black-cloaked figure.
"I cannot stay Minerva, you know this. He is not my responsibility anymore and I will not jeopardize my good standings with The Dark Lord to listen to this whining insolent little boy. I have already sacrificed enough these last few months and will not raise suspicions. Should the worst case scenario arrive, may I suggest a body bind or a muting spell?" He seemed to move his head in the direction of someone else, "And may I remind you before I take my leave that I have put my life on the line these last two months for you. It was not an easy task keeping the Dark Lord preoccupied with information on Potter so that he might just forget your miserable failures. Now if you so much as slip….well I'd hate to see what happens when I can't get to you in time."
Severus Snape pivoted to look into the shocked face of one Hermione Granger. "Well well, Miss Granger, exactly 8:00, tell me do you ever disappoint?" Without looking away from her still shocked expression he said, "Have a good evening, Minerva," and brushed past her, breaking her out of her trance. Hermione quickly whipped out her wand from under her jacket and started firing spells at Snape.
He had killed Dumbledore, surely now Professor McGonagall was under some sort of spell or she would never have let Snape escape. Severus Snape turned around in time to block her first spell. She fired and hexed spell after spell, but all were blocked by the man. Without seeing the spell leave the tip of his wand, Hermione suddenly felt herself freeze.
"That is enough Miss Granger," she heard as Professor McGonagall came into view. "I will explain everything once you get inside the safety of my office, but I can tell you that this man is not our enemy." Hermione saw Snape turn away with a parting smirk, and felt her body relax to its natural state as his billowing cloak disappeared around the corner.
"Come in Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said. "And please shut the door behind you." Hermione could only stare at the woman, completely perplexed; but she rationalized, after checking for signs of the Imperius Curse and seeing none, that the woman must have her reasons. Hermione followed her Professor into the small office and closed the door behind her. She stepped out of the way to watch Professor McGonagall place a silencing charm on her door.
"What is this about, Professor? Has something happened? What was he doing here?"
"Jesus Christ, Granger. I'd hoped maybe you'd learned to stop suffocating people with your questions." Hermione whipped her head around, knowing the person she would see couldn't possibly match the voice.
"Although it is nice to see that you don't know everything, do you, mudblood?" She realized she was woefully wrong when she looked into the sneering face of Draco Malfoy.