Standing in front of the large desk in her office McGonagall simply looked at them, lips pursed so tight they were almost invisible. Hermione felt her face burning with shame. There was a reason they had rules, she knew this. Why did she keep ignoring that? Whatever punishment they got, she knew they would deserve it.

Finally, Professor McGonagall spoke, "I cannot express how disappointed I am in all of you. You all know the dangers we face. You know the trouble that everyone is going through to keep you safe. And yet, here you are. Again..." Hermione realized her professor looked tired, though no less dangerous for it.

"You have all been here before. For exactly the same reason as you are here now. It would seem the previous punishment was not severe enough if you are still so willing to flout the rules."

Hermione could see Harry, Ron, and even Malfoy's face drain of color, and was sure hers was doing the same. Last time they had lost 50 points each and had gotten a detention.

"I am left with no choice. 100 points each."

Hermione heard Ron gasp next to her.

"I don't like it any more than you do Weasley." and it sounded like she really meant it "but what else can I do? You four seem determined to break the rules. In addition to the points, you will all have detention every night for a month." Hermione felt the others stiffen beside her.

"Lastly,"

There was more?

"You three," she said indicating Ron, Harry, and Malfoy "will be suspended from your first quidditch matches. And you Ms. Granger, are suspended from your position of prefect until such time as they are able to play quidditch again."

It seemed all of them were too stunned to speak. No one even tried to protest, they couldn't believe what she had just said. "Malfoy, I will confirm your punishment with Snape, but do not expect it to change, I am quite sure he will agree with me on this."

She paused and looked them over sadly, with a sigh that belied more than just annoyance.

"All of you know the very real danger that exists in our world right now. My job is to protect you. Because whether you feel like you need protection or not" at this she glanced at Malfoy "let me assure you, you do. You may feel like you know what is going on. And I do not doubt that you know more than others and likely more than you should. But clearly, you do not realize the extent of the danger. If you do not value your own safety I must take away the things I know you do value."

With that, they were dismissed.

Hermione felt like she wasn't really there. Her body functioning without conscious thought as they made their way back to the common room and into their beds. Not one word had been spoken. They hadn't even looked at each other, all of them lost in their own thoughts. Hermione hated that she had lost so many points for her house but didn't have nearly as much invested in winning the house cup as the others did. And as far as losing friends because of it, Harry and Ron were in this with her, and they were her only friends really.

No, what she cared about was her suspension. He had been so proud when she got the prefect badge. And her parents had been proud too. They tried so hard to understand her new life, and this was something that they could connect with her on. This was something they could share, that they understood. Hermione's letters to them always talked about her duties and responsibilities as prefect. But that meant they would understand what it meant to have it be taken away. She was crushed. She was so disappointed in herself. Briefly, she was angry at Harry and Ron, but she that she had made her own choices. Stupid Gryffindor. As much as she hated to admit it she had been put here and not Ravenclaw for a reason.

Even if it was only her curiosity that ever brought out the unthinking bravery, it was still there. Hermione lay on her bed quietly trying not to wake anyone else up, but, she couldn't sleep. The longer she lay there the more she thought, the more she thought the worse she felt. Finally giving it up for a bad cause she quietly cast a silencing charm around her bed and gave into the sobs she had been trying to hold back. She was suspended from her position as prefect and she felt guilty about the points. She had failed, she knew it, and come morning, everyone else would too.

The next week was about as horrible as she had imagined. Her, Harry, and Ron were shunned to a degree she hadn't thought possible. The space they were given at the table in the great hall was so wide that everyone else had to sit squished together. Not that anyone seemed to mind. Everyone was united in their hatred of them. Cups of pumpkin juice seemed to spill with unnatural regularity whenever Hermione, Ron, or Harry set one down. They also seemed to be incredibly clumsy lately. Hermione knew people were casting tipping spells on them, but frankly, she didn't mind. She knew they deserved the ire directed at them. She was honestly quite glad it wasn't worse.

As usual, McGonagall had waited to send them their detention assignment. It was almost as though she wanted to spread out the pain as much as possible. Herself, Harry, and Ron had all been given separate assignments. It seemed with the extra patrolling the teachers were getting behind on their other work. Ron and Harry had both been given tasks of cleaning various equipment for different professors - without the use of magic of course. Hermione would be grading homework for students in the lower years. She supposed this wouldn't be too bad, but doing it for a month straight was sure to get tedious, and it would take a considerable amount of time away from her own work.

She sighed and looked up at Ron and Harry. Both of them seemed fittingly depressed. None of them had felt much like talking since they had been caught, but Hermione was sure they thought they got the worse end of the deal by being banned from quidditch. It certainly didn't make them any more popular with the rest of the house but, Hermione secretly thought it hadn't hurt them as personally as her suspension had.

Two days later Hermione was waiting patiently outside of the Arithmancy classroom waiting for professor McGonagall to get there so that her detention could start. It made sense that she would be grading papers, and though it shouldn't, it did make her a little proud that they had chosen her for this punishment. It meant that even though they were disappointed in her they still knew she was capable. She leaned back against the wall behind her briefly closing her eyes. A few seconds later she heard footsteps and turned to great the professor. Putting her best smile on - though not too big she reminded herself, this was a punishment - she waited for the footsteps to turn the corner.

The "Hello professor" was almost out of her mouth before she realized it was not the professor at all, but Malfoy. Having paused halfway through her greeting she realized what she had actually done was give Malfoy a very hearty and cheerful "Hello!" and he was looking appropriately confused. She flushed, but before she could figure out a way to fix it he simply scoffed and walked past her into the classroom.

Annoyed she followed him in. She felt it was polite to wait for the professor to let her in, but there was no way she was going to wait outside after Malfoy had gone in.

"What are you doing here?" She asked although she was afraid she already knew the answer. He looked at her as though the question itself was below him. He seemed to decide, however, that condescension was better than just ignoring her.

"Really Granger? What am I doing here?" He almost spat her name out, as though just saying it was painful to him.

She glared at him and turned away but couldn't help but respond "Harry, Ron, and I all had separate detentions, I don't know why I should expect you to show up at mine." It hadn't been a stupid question, not really, and she hated that he made her feel like it was.

Malfoy did not respond, and when she turned around he was leaning back in a desk. He had his legs propped up on the chair next to him, arms folded across his chest, and his head back looking at the ceiling as though he didn't have a care in the world. What a prat. And of course, now he decided to ignore her. In fact, he was acting like he didn't know he was in detention at all, let alone lost his house a hundred points. Gods, she shuddered at the thought - having all of Gryffindor house mad at you was one thing - having all of Slytherin house mad at you would be downright terrifying. Eyeing Malfoy more closely he did seem to be tired; he had dark bags under his eyes and seemed more drawn than usual. She couldn't imagine he had been sleeping much.

She almost felt a pang of pity for him. Her sanity returned quickly though when he gave her what was obviously supposed to be a long suffering sigh "I would offer you a photo so you could continue staring, however, the idea of your dirty mudblood hands touching even a likeness of me is absolutely revolting."

Hermione blushed a deep red, angry at the insinuation, and the name calling - but before anything could be said or done the door swung open.

Professor McGonagall walked in, struggling with the load or papers in her arms. She was carrying what looked like a year's worth of scrolls, Hermione was sure they would never read through all of them.

"This," McGonagall said, setting the scrolls down with a sigh and a shake of her arms "Are the first set of essays for the two of you to grade."

"We will start out with these because they are from the first and second years. As the two of you rank number one and two in your year, first and second-year material should be simple for you."

Hermione shot a stunned look at Malfoy. He was second in her year? She knew she was first, everyone knew that, but she hadn't even considered who was second - though she would have assumed a Ravenclaw. She wasn't quite sure why this was such a shock but it just seemed… Wrong. McGonagall continued, either not noticing or choosing to ignore the expression on Hermione's face.

"The names will be magically hidden from you to prevent favoritism" This she said with a pointed look at Malfoy who was studiously looking out of the window behind her. "You will not grade for grammar and style - heaven knows that would take much too much time."

Hermione was well aware of this already - the fact that no witches or wizards studied English beyond 11 years old was baffling to her.

"Each assigned essay has an outline of information they should have included and common mistakes. A point is given for each topic that is on the outline, points taken away for incorrect assumptions, irrelevant information, and obviously wrong facts. If you do not know how to grade something circle it and set it aside. I will be spot checking all of the essays you grade - so please do try to do what I have asked."

Professor McGonagall looked them both over as though still not sure that this was a good idea. "This is not a typical detention, and if our two highest ranked students had not found it necessary to go wandering in the middle of the night, this would not be happening. As it is, you will be utilized for your talents. Please do not make me regret this." She said the last bit with a glare that, despite the earlier please, made it clear this was not a request.

Hermione was actually starting to feel a little excited to do this. it was a big responsibility, other students grades were in her hands! She quickly straightened in the seat she had taken when the McGonagall had started talking. She heard Malfoy snicker behind her, but she didn't care. He may not want to prove himself, but she did, and this was a great opportunity. She wasn't about to waste it. Not even if it meant she had to deal with Malfoy's taunts. Like that was anything new.

Professor McGonagall placed a sizable stack of essays on Hermione's desk along with the outline and, after giving the same to Malfoy started walking to the door "I am sure you two are able to work without direct supervision, I do expect something to show for the next few hours. I will be back once it is time to end for the night." and with that, she swept out of the classroom.

Eager to begin Hermione pulled the first essay to her. The essays she had been handed were about switching spells and their allowed uses. She took a deep breath and dove in. Just like when she did her own homework Hermione became completely absorbed in her work. She thought she might be marking the papers a little too much, but she was trying to grade fairly. Trying to remember this was a first-year class. She shook her head at one student's proposition to use switching spells to turn spoiled food back to unspoiled by simply transforming the mold to, well, they didn't actually say what they would switch it to, just to be switched. That wasn't just a bad idea - it wasn't even fully formed.

Hermione let out a sigh of exasperation and ran her fingers through her thick hair, pausing at the back of her head before untwining her fingers from her hair to start again. She jumped slightly at the sudden laugh behind her. She had almost forgotten that Malfoy was here too. He was at a desk behind her and to see him she had to turn all the way around. She did just this as she heard another chuckle from him.

"Is something funny?" she attempted to insert as much ice in her voice as possible. She didn't want him to think she was making conversation, but she wanted to make clear her annoyance at his interruption.

He looked at her, an irritating quirk in his mouth "Well Granger, you might want to at least try to control your responses. You've run your fingers through that fizzy mess on your head so many times it might just decide to fly off on its own."

She glared at him, again. Is there a record for how many times someone had glared in a single night? She was sure she would be reaching it soon.

"I mean" He continued, only grinning wider at her response "that might be an improvement for you. Being bald I mean." Smiling at what he seemed to think had been a terribly clever joke he looked at her with a mild expression, clearly waiting for her to glare again.

Shots at her hair were really getting old as of late, but if that was the worst he could do she wasn't even going to give it a response. Turning back to the papers in front of her she contented herself with a derisive sniff. She could hear him chuckle again, but didn't turn, but it was impossible to stop her shoulders from involuntarily tensing at the sound.

Once she was again absorbed in the work Hermione was surprised with how quickly the time passed and before long McGonagall was striding back into the room. Proud of the number of essays she had graded Hermione turned her head back to Malfoy to confirm that she had indeed done more than him. Unfortunately, his pile of graded papers seemed to be almost the same size as hers! There was no way he did as many as her - he must not have been grading as thoroughly as she had.

Content with this explanation she turned her head back to McGonagall. "It appears as though you have both completed your share of essays. Do either of you have any questions about the process? You will be doing the same thing for the duration of your detentions, so please ask them now to avoid any future delay." McGonagall paused for a second, looking at them both

"Nothing? Okay. Dismissed. I will see you back here at the same time tomorrow."

Hermione shot the professor a smile and then quickly walked out of the room hoping to avoid having to be around Malfoy any more than necessary. Thankfully he seemed in no hurry, and so it was with a relieved sigh that she made her way up to the common room.

It looked like Harry had just returned from his detention as well, though Ron was nowhere to be seen.

"How was it?" Hermione asked breezily as she walked over to where Harry had just collapsed by the fire.

"Not as good as yours it would seem." Harry looked a little annoyed at her seemingly easy detention but continued "It was just cleaning, nothing the Dursley's haven't made me do a thousand times, but I am sure my back will just kill tomorrow. If I never have to see the floor of the potions room again it will be too soon."

"Oh, gross! The floor of the potions room?" There were so many spills in that room, not to mention all of the animal parts used in potions. She was feeling very lucky to just be grading papers, even if she did have to deal with Malfoy.

"So why are you so cheery then? I suppose correcting papers is just another normal night for you, huh?" Harry said this with a small laugh, as it was usually his paper's she was grading.

'Well, ya." She didn't want to rub it in, certainly not while Harry grimaced rubbing his back like he was "But, I have to do it with Malfoy."

"Ugh, I guess that does make it a little more even. Did he try anything?"

"No, thankfully. For him." She said the last part with a smirk. Her new found knowledge of Malfoy's success made her a little less confident in her superior ability, but only slightly so.

She didn't mean to be arrogant about it, and she really didn't think she was. She was smart, it was as simple as that. She had never had too much of a challenge coming in first, and she didn't feel like she should pretend that she did. Harry knew this, and his appreciative snort at her comment made it clear that he knew she meant what she said. So what if others thought she was stuck-up, her friends didn't, they appreciated her ability. That was all that mattered. Most of the time.

Turning at what she thought might be the most dramatic sigh she had ever heard Hermione saw Ron walking through the portrait hole. "Ha, Ron, what could they possibly have done to you to have you make that sound?" Hermione could help but laugh as he scowled at her.

"For your information, I just spent the entire evening carrying very heavy cauldrons from the dungeons to Slughorn's private brewing room. Apparently, the seventh year's NEWT trials are so dangerous they can't even practice on the same floor as everyone else. No, he had to find an abandoned classroom practically in the astronomy tower!" Hermione let out a small gasp.

"Well," Ron continued getting a little flush in the face "maybe not that far, but after an entire night even carrying them from the dungeon to the first floor feels like the astronomy tower! And, if I could have used magic I would have been done in ten minutes! It is just cruel."

Hermione turned away as she smiled at his response, the first floor was nothing to the astronomy tower - but it was a long time to carry heavy objects, even if it was just up a single floor. She met Harry's eyes and couldn't help but grin even wider, she knew he was thinking the same thing.

"Hey!" Ron exclaimed, catching their glance "Whatever I was doing I am sure it was harder than what you had to do! Grading papers, honestly, for you that's probably a reward." Although Hermione had been thinking something similar earlier, she certainly wasn't going to let them know that.

"For your information, it is not exactly a piece of cake trying to decipher eleven-year-old hand writing, it gives you a terrible headache, and by the end of the month, I am sure I will need glasses. Besides, I have to do my detentions with Malfoy."

"Oh... that is rotten luck. Still, you're not carrying cauldrons." Ron persisted collapsing into a comfy armchair by the fire. "What did you have to do Harry?"

As Harry and Ron began a surprisingly heated discussion on the various aspects of cleaning potions floors versus carrying cauldrons Hermione turned to watch the fire. She really was glad she had gotten the detention she had and not either of those the boys had. She felt a brief surge of annoyance when she wondered whether she hadn't simply because she was a witch and they didn't think she was physically capable, but then she remembered Malfoy was with her so that couldn't be it - or all of it at least.

But why was Malfoy there - or, more specifically, how could he be ranked second in their year? She couldn't figure it out, but more than that she couldn't figure out exactly where she had gotten the idea that he wasn't smart. He was always able to answer questions in class. Though typically only once the professor got sick of calling on her. He was even in Arithmancy with her - a class typically only taken by Ravenclaws. How had she not have noticed this? Did they really spend hours a week together without him insulting her or scoffing at her? No, she was sure he still did that - probably just not to her face.

She was a mudblood, a mudblood that was doing better than a Malfoy was. The thought made her smile. She had known she was doing better than him before, but knowing that he was so close made it even better somehow. She grinned even more broadly at the thought. Determined to make it even more clear to Malfoy that this mudblood was smarter than him. In the back of her mind, she knew this was not the best side of her, but her sense of competition could rival those of the quidditch players. Probably another reason she was a Gryffindor.

With this thought, she wished the boys goodnight and went down to her room. She drifted off to sleep with surprising ease.