The pranksters were hiding.
Their prank on Professor Snape had now become known to everybody at Hogwarts.
They had an angry Professor Snape whose skin looked like troll vomit, a furious Professor McGonagall and an amused Dumbledore searching for them.
Neville suggested what seemed at the time a perfect hiding place, Professor McGonagall's office.
His reasoning was if she were looking for them, she'd be searching places that the pranksters would go to avoid her, and her office would be the last place she'd expect them to go.
It was a portrait in Professor McGonagall's office that snitched where they were hiding, and Hermione swore she'd destroy it at a later date.
Trapped in the office with nowhere to run and two angry professors and one amused headmaster, they were in big trouble.
"I don't think I need to go into why you're all in trouble," Professor McGonagall said, glaring in sync with Professor Snape.
"Of course not, but I liked to take this time to say that when Mundungus Fletcher asked me to store the jewellery at Hogwarts, I didn't know he stole it, okay, I did, but he offered me a cut of the proceeds," Hermione blurted out, earning looks of "what the hell are you on about."
"Miss Granger, this has nothing to do with any items that you've hidden for Mundungus Fletcher, but rest assured we will discuss it later," Dumbledore told Hermione, who didn't look fazed at all over it.
"All of your behaviour of late is very worrying, and Miss Granger startling confession in helping a known criminal is startling," Professor McGonagall said, only getting out half of what she wanted to say before Hermione interrupted.
"Hey!, all I did was get Malfoy drunk to find out how to bypass the wards of Malfoy Manor, sneak out of Hogwarts to help Mundungus break In there and hide the goods at Hogwarts," Hermione cried out.
"It was you behind my mother's jewellery going missing," Draco said, looking shocked at how deep Hermione's rebellious streak seemed to run.
"Yes, but your father is responsible for being petrified my second year, he gave Ginny the diary, so I felt I needed compensation," Hermione told the blonde-haired Slytherin.
"Look, I don't care about what Granger gets up to in her own time, but I do care that I look like something that came out of a rat's behind, and I want to know how to reverse it," Professor Snape demanded.
There were several mutters, of "We don't know how to reverse it".
"I think the students except Miss Granger should return to their common rooms, and I will inform them of their punishment tomorrow," Dumbledore said because Professor Snape looked as if we're going to throttle someone.
While the others returned to their Common rooms, Hermione was left to explain her recent adventures to the headmaster.
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"Now, Miss Granger, would you care to explain your recent behaviour?" Dumbledore asked, looking at the Gryffindor with great concern.
"It's all part of my cunning plan to fool Voldemort," Hermione lied, popping a piece of chocolate from her pocket into her mouth. "See, if he thinks I, who is Harry's brains is insane, then he will underestimate us, and we will win the war,"
"That does sound like a good plan," Dumbledore said. "And you breaking into Malfoy Manor was to test how strong a Death Eater's homes were, using the ruse of stealing Mrs Malfoy's jewellery. Very clever.
"Yes, that is definitely what that was," Hermione continued to lie, "See, I didn't want to say in front of the others because well, no one thought Peter Pettigrew would betray the Potters, and he did, so I thought it is better to act discreet,"
"A wise choice, Miss Granger,"
"So I would appreciate it if we kept this between ourselves, Headmaster," Hermione said."Less chance of Lord Snake Face finding out my super awesome plan,"
"Well, while I wish you had come to me first before beginning this plan, it's nice to see everyone doing their bit in these trying times," Dumbledore commented. "But of course for, now I will keep this to myself."
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After a long talk with Dumbledore, which resulted in Hermione getting five hundred points for Gryffindor for her creative efforts to help with the war effort, she returned to the Gryffindor Common room.
"Malfoy wanted us to tell you that he wants his mum's jewellery back," Ron told her the moment she walked in.
"And I want to ride a unicorn while fighting the giant squid, but that isn't happening either," Hermione replied. "Anyways, Dumbledore gave house points because he said I'm awesome, so suck it the rest of you."
"You are behaving weirdly, lately, Mione," Harry told his best friend.
"Thanks,"
"It wasn't a compliment,"