"Mr. Potter, I would have thought you would be on your best behavior! Your Quidditch game IS today! And Ms. Granger, I expect more from you!" Professor McGonagall scolded Harry and Hermione the following morning. "Harry, you consider yourself lucky that you are still going to compete in Quidditch today." Harry smiled the tiniest smile possible.
"However, there are consequences. 15 points from Gryffindor. EACH." Professor McGonagall said. Harry and Hermione's faces fell. The whole of Gryffindor - except maybe Neville, Ron, Ginny, Fred, And George - would be furious!
"You are too soft, Professor McGonagall. If they were in my house, I'd take away 20 points each, have them stay away from each other for 3 weeks, and -" Professor Snape began. "Professor Snape, they are in my house, I shall decide how to punish them. Thank you for your suggestions." Professor McGonagall interrupted. She looked back at Harry and Hermione. "You may go." She said shortly.
On the way to the dining hall, Harry started to speak. "Hey 'Mione, I'm really sorry -" Harry started saying. Hermione stopped walking and glared at him. "I do not care, Harry! Breaking the rules to try to save the wizard world is one thing. This is another." Hermione replied. "It may have been an accident, but you should be more careful!" She got in front of Harry and slapped him across the face - very hard.
"OW! 'Mione, what was that for?" Harry asked, on the edge of yelling. "For being an idiot! And do NOT call me 'Mione!" Hermione replied. She ran off to dining room, leaving Harry behind. Harry rubbed the spot where Hermione had slapped him. He saw his reflection in a window and he had a big red hand on his left cheek.
Harry walked into the dining hall, covering his cheek. He walked to where Ron, Neville, Fred, George, and Ginny were sitting. "What'd you do to 'Mione, Harry?" Fred and George asked at the same time. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Harry replied. "She came in looking so mad, we thought you'd joined He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or something." Ron said.
Ginny looked at Harry from her seat next to Fred. "Harry, what's happened to your cheek? You're covering it." She asked curiously. "What? Oh, uh... nothing..." Harry replied, putting both hands on his left cheek. Fred and George smiled. "GET HIM!" the twins yelled, and they trampled Harry.
"What's under there, Harry?" George asked, holding down Harry. "C'mon, show us!" Fred said, trying to pry off Harry's hands. "ALRIGHT! Alright, I'll show you..." Harry said angrily. "Deal." Fred and George said, going back to their seats. "Uh... Harry...? If it's, you know, something we don't need to see... then..." Neville said, slurping his orange juice. "Show us, Harry. We'd love to see it!" Ron asked excitedly. "Fine..." Harry replied, and he uncovered his cheek.
Ron jumped up. "Did that rotten Malfoy smack you?" he asked, furious. "No, Ron! It was..." Harry began. Everyone stared at him. "...Hermione." They stared at each other for a moment, before Ron started to laugh. "Hermione did that?" Ron asked. Everyone burst into laughter. Harry got up and sat down in a seat. "Hey... Where is Hermione, anyways?" he asked.
Everyone looked around. "She was here before you walked in..." Ginny said. "She was right next to me!" "I heard Draco say, "Hey, filthy mudblood!" and saw Hermione get up..." Neville said nervously. "WHAT?" everyone else replied, jumping up. "Why didn't you say something, Neville?" Ron asked. "Harry had just gotten here." Neville replied. The 7 of them ran out of the dining hall, shouting, "HERMIONE?" "COME OUT, HERMIONE!" " HEY, 'MIONE!" But there was no reply. "Everyone - be quiet for a second..." Ron said. Everyone quieted down. Then, the 6 heard muffled sniffling.
It was coming from the girls bathroom. Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. They all ran in, and found Myrtle floating around, humming. "Oh, it's you all! Hello!" she said happily. "That friend of yours - Hermione, was it? - is in that stall over there. She's rather upset! Isn't it grand?" All 7 children looked at each other. 'Who should go into Hermione's stall?' Ron mouthed. Fred and George looked as if they were trying not to laugh. 'You, Ron!' They mouthed back. Ron's eyes widened, but he didn't protest. He went in, taking a deep breath.
"H - Hermione?" he said quietly when he entered the big stall. His reply was a sniffle and the sound of a quiet cry. "Ron? What are you d - doing here?" Hermione asked, trying to fight her tears. She turned around. Her eyes were pink from the tears, and her voice was hoarse from sobbing. "Hermione! What happened?" Ron said, concerned. Hermione didn't get to finish her sentence. She only had to say one word to get all of Dumbledore's Army (well, except Luna. She wasn't there) furious. And that one word was, "Draco..." Hermione replied.