Thorfinn knew he was up shit-creek now. If he got expelled, his father would thrash him, before sending him to Durmstrang. He knew he shouldn't have done it but he just couldn't resist it...worst of all? It wasn't even a clever prank, just a spur of the moment piece of mischief...he played and now it was time to pay! Thorfinn walked down the passageway and stopped in front of Professor Snape and prepared to brazen it out. He said, "Sir?"

Snape glowered at him and said, "This is the last straw. Do you remember what the Headmaster said after your last prank? You and I are going to take a little trip to see him...and then your father is going to be called. Your time at Hogwarts is up, Rowle!" the irate professor said forcefully!

Hermione was horrified. She didn't want Thorfinn expelled but she didn't have a clue how to stop it. Then she got a brilliant idea...she would tell Professor Snape that SHE did it as the result of a dare and she would take Thorfinn's punishment, thus keeping him safe. So before she had a chance to think it over, Hermione walked over to Professor Snape and said, "Sir?"

"What is it, girl? he snarled. "Can't you see I'm occupied?"

Hermione said, "It was me, sir. I did it..."

Thorfinn looked shocked. He didn't even know her other than by sight. She wasn't even from his own house...so why was she taking the blame for his action? He decided to keep his mouth shut and see what happened.

"You, girl? You aren't even big enough to do this," Snape sneered at her.

Hermione replied, "I did, sir. I was dared to do it and I did. Thorfinn had nothing to do with it at all, sir. I am very sorry, Sir!"

"You may not be truly sorry now but you will, Miss Granger! Two hundred points from Gryffindor. You are banned from Hogsmeade. Further, you will do detention with me until the end of the school year. And for the next month, when you are not in your classes, assisting another professor, eating your meals in the Great Hall, or serving detention with me, you are confined to your dorm room...yes, other than for personal care, you will be confined to your dorm. And you are very lucky I don't notify your parents or the Headmaster. I am VERY disappointed in you, Miss Granger. You are dismissed."


Both Thorfinn and Hermione were shocked at the severity of Snape's punishment. This was Hermione's first offense and traditionally, she would have been referred back to her Head of House. Instead, Snape had thrown the book at her. 200 points! Hermione was shocked...her Head of House would be so disappointed in her and all of Gryffindor would be upset with her...she had no idea though just how bad things were going to get for her. Hermione did what Snape had ordered her to do...she went back to her dorm and there she stayed until morning.

Thorfinn was disgusted with himself. He did that prank and he should have been punished. Knowing however that he would be severely flogged after having been expelled kept him silent. But there was one thing he had to know...who was Hermione Granger and WHY did she lie and take his much-justified punishment?


Later that afternoon, Minerva dropped in on Snape. "Ah Severus, I understand that you have grounded Miss Granger for a month, given her detention until the end of the school year...and docked Gryffindor 200 points. Isn't that a little much, especially since she is only in year 4?" she inquired.

Snape replied, "I know she didn't do it, Minerva. There is no way she could have managed that...she is just too tiny. And that is why I have punished her so harshly...she lied to me about it, thus depriving the real culprit from his rightful punishment!"

"Rowle? You believe Thorfinn Rowle to be the perpetrator?"

"I know he is, Minerva. And I mean to force it out of them by punishing her severely. If Rowle has a decent bone in his body, he will confess and take his punishment like a man. That, or Hermione will break and tell all. So, don't interfere."

And that was the end of the matter as far as Minerva was concerned!