Summary: McGonagall has summoned Hermione to a meeting which the young lady will not enjoy.
Bad Author notes: This little story address an issue I saw with the books that was never mentioned or dealt with.
I have this story set during Book 4
"Oh dear," McGonagall mumbled to herself as she once again dipped her quill into the pot of red ink. "What were you thinking, Miss Greene?"
A knock at her office door interrupted her as she continued to markup Miss Greene's paper.
"Come in." McGonagall called out as she placed the cap on the ink pot.
"You asked to see me, Professor," Hermione Granger said as she opened the door and stepped in.
"Yes. Yes," McGonagall said with a trace of dread in her voice. "Please shut the door and have a seat.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione said as she followed her instructions and took a seat in front of Professor's desk.
McGonagall silently placed the students' homework away before casting a silencing spell at the door.
"Do you know why I have asked you to come to my office?" McGonagall asked.
Hermione shook her head as she chewed on her bottom lip. "No, Professor."
"There," McGonagall paused for a moment before continuing, "have been some complaints about you."
"Complaints? Complaints about me? What for? Was it something I did? What did I do that was wrong? Who was complaining?" Hermione spouted out.
"Some of the parents and guardians have some concerns about your behavior," McGonagall worded the statement carefully.
"Was it Malfoy?" Hermione snarled. "He had his parents complain because I slapped him last year."
Taking a calming breath McGonagall said, "No, it was not Malfoy. And since no one reported that last year, I will not be making an inquiry into the matter. But I should remind you, not to assault your fellow students. Even if you believe that they deserve it."
"Is it the other students telling their parents that I am bossy and a know it all? Or that I make them look bad since I am a Muggleborn and getting higher grades than them?" Hermione demanded.
"While we have had some complaints about that in the past, we have dealt with those issues," McGonagall replied.
"How?"
"We reminded the parents in question that if they want their child to score better, then that child will have to apply themselves more to their studies," McGonagall replied.
"Good," Hermione replied with a firm nod of her head.
McGonagall laid her hands on the desk. "As for the problem at hand… have you or have you not gone into the boys' dorm?"
"Yes," Hermione replied the confusion evident on her face.
McGonagall cleared her throat. "I need to ask you a personal question, Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded her head.
"Sexually do you prefer boys, girls or both," McGonagall asked.
With a blush appearing on her face, Hermione sputtered, "What?"
"At this age, I would assuming you had inkling of your sexual preference," McGonagall stated dryly.
"Boys."
McGonagall nodded her head in acceptance. "Then you see the nature of the issue."
"No. I do not understand," Hermione gasped.
"You do realize that both Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom are the heirs to their family estates. Mr. Weasley, while his family is not wealthy, they are a respected family in the wizard world. There are also the Wood, McLaggen and the Jordan lines," McGonagall explained.
Hermione shook her head, her confusion evident on her face.
"Miss Granger, do you know why there is a trap step on the stairs that lead to girls' dorm?" McGonagall asked.
"To keep the boys for coming into our dorms," Hermione replied.
"Any do you know why boys are not allowed into the girl's dorm?" McGonagall asked.
"So, the boys do not have sex with their girlfriends," Hermione answered.
"No," McGonagall answered. "It's to prevent boys from forcing themselves on any girl in the dorm, especially the younger students who would not be able to fight back against their assailant."
Hermione sat quietly as she absorbed the knowledge.
"There is protection on the boys' dorm to prevent the same thing happening to them," McGonagall explained.
"But there is not a trick step on their side," Hermione pointed out.
"It is of the opinion of some people that girls are mature enough to decide when to engage in sexual activity and knowledgeable enough to protect themselves from an unwanted pregnancy," McGonagall explained.
Hermione shook her head slightly. "What does this have to do with the parents' complaints?"
"Some of the parents, especially those with limited or no real knowledge of the Muggle world, are concerned that you might have some… lightskirt tendencies. They are concerned about a cuckoo in the nest," McGonagall answered.
"What's a lightskirt? And what does a bird have to do with this?" Hermione asked.
McGonagall squirmed in her seat. "A lightskirt is a term for a woman," she paused for a moment before hurrying with the next three words, "of questionable virtue."
"Questionable virtue?"
"A woman who would change partners often and not always with the previous partner's knowledge," McGonagall explained.
A moment later, Hermione sat straight up in her chair and glared at the Professor. "They are calling me a slut!"
McGonagall cleared her throat. "Yes, I believe that is the Muggle term for it."
"I can not believe that they calling me that! Or that you allowed them to. Or for you to call me down here to tell me that!" Hermione shouted.
"That is enough, Miss Granger," McGonagall snapped. "I called you to my office to talk about this matter before it could ruin your future."
"But what about Ginny?" Hermione snapped back. "She is in the dorm as often as I am."
"She also has 3 older brothers in the same dorm. Granted this will be the last year she is granted this pass since the Twins will be leaving this year," McGonagall explained.
"And because she is a Pureblood and I am a Mudblood," Hermione snarled.
"Because you are a Muggleborn, yes. That factors into the matter," McGonagall explained. "In the past it was not unheard of for a Muggleborn to trap a Half-blood or Pureblood into marriage with a child."
Hermione blinked a couple times before saying, "The cuckoo. They expect me to try to pass another man's baby as being the baby of whoever I was dating. They have a very low opinion of me and the other Muggleborns."
"They have a very long history to look back upon," McGonagall countered. "At least once a generation, a woman would try this to better her position in the community. While the cuckoo did happen, it was not as common as the trapping a man into a marriage he did not want. You can not tell me that this does not happen in the Muggle community."
Hermione was silent, her jaw tightly shut.
"You should be grateful that the concerned parents came to me now, when we can minimize the damage to your reputation," McGonagall continued.
"Well, you can assure those parents that I am a virgin," Hermione growled.
"Manual, oral, anal or vaginal?" McGonagall asked.
"What!" Hermione sputtered.
"I am asking what degree of virginity you possess," McGonagall answered. "A True Virgin has all four degrees of virgin. While the Honored Virgin has only… touched or been touched by their lover's hands."
Hermione's face grew redder and redder as McGonagall explained.
"Now a Spoiled Virgin…"
Hermione interrupted her professor before she could continue. "I am a True Virgin."
"Very good," McGonagall said as she picked up her wand. "Now hold still, please."
"What are you doing?" Hermione spouted out.
"Confirming it," McGonagall said as she cast a spell that caused Hermione to glow a soft sky blue before fading away. "You will not believe the number of people who lie about their status. They are ashamed to have someone find out they are more experienced than they claimed. Granted the spell is often used in the court of law when dealing with those who should be drawn and quartered."
"The British government has outlawed torture and capital punishment," Hermione snapped.
"And I am sure that a large number of people would love to see it reinstated for child molesters," McGonagall countered. "All thought I do not understand why Muggles insist that they use the word 'molesters' instead of what they truly are which is child rapist. It always feels like they are trying to make what happened less horrible than it is."
Hermione open her mouth to say something before snapping it shut. "That is not the point," she said through gritted teeth.
"You are right. We are here about your behavior and how it could reflect upon your future within the wizard community," McGonagall replied. "Now I can assure the parents in question that you are currently a True Virgin. I am assuming you will not be returning to the boys' dorm."
Hermione eyes narrowed; nostrils flared at the thought of being denied access to anything let along the boys' dorms. "I am assuming I have no choice unless I want to be called a slut."
"Lightskirt is the proper term," McGonagall corrected. "I would also suggest you limit any activities to kissing and some light petting until you are in a serious long-term relationship. And even then, I would hold off on losing your vaginal virginity until your wedding night."
Hermione finally snapped. "I can not believe you said that! You have no right to speak to me about my sexuality or ask if I was or was not a virgin!"
A small cruel smile appeared on McGonagall's face. "And that is where you are wrong Miss Granger. I am completely within my rights as a professor of this fine establishment when a student endangers the reputation of Hogwarts' and the future of at least one of her students."
Hermione stopped for a moment. "My future is endangered?"
"I was speaking of the unfortunate young man but your future could be very bleak," McGonagall replied. "It is not unknown for the young lady, who may or may not have been a Lightskirt, to have an accident shortly after the marriage or the birth of the child. The child's fate depends on whether or not the child was their father's child."
Hermione's eyes grew wide.
"My own grandfather lost his first wife shortly after she had given birth to a girl, who was not the daughter of my grandfather," McGonagall explained. "And before you start spouting some nonsense about her being a Muggleborn who was murdered for whatever reason you can come up with; she was in fact a Pure Blood. She came from a poor family and saw my grandfather as a means to improve her lot in life with little effort. And before you ask my grandfather had the child adopted by a magical family in Canada. He did not believe it was the child's fault that she was a cuckoo her mother was trying pass off as his."
"That is wrong," Hermione said softly.
"Because my grandfather was honorable?" McGonagall said. "The girl claimed to be a virgin. She claimed to love my grandfather. She claimed that she was carrying his child. He married her so the child would not be a no named bastard. And the family corrected the problem when the truth was revealed. The world would be a better place if there was a charm to determine parentage before the birth of the child."
"He could have waited. Waited until the baby was born," Hermione stated.
"At that time, the child would have been considered a bastard. The child would not have been accepted by either family nor would she have been accepted as the heir of a family. Most likely the child would have been put in an orphanage if not disposed of in a more permanent fashion."
Hermione shook her head.
"You, Miss Granger, need to understand that this is not the British Muggle world but the British Wizard world. We have our own ways of living, our own traditions, that you will need to adapt to it if you wish to remain in our world," McGonagall explained. "You would not be the first student who could not do so. Most leave the British Isles for another wizard community that is more in line with their beliefs."
Hermione hugged herself as she listened to the professor's words.
"Miss Granger… Hermione, you are a child who is turning to a young woman while you try to live in a strange land with rules and traditions that you are not familiar with. And while you have trended very close to breaking one of these traditions, I do not think there will be any lasting harm if you change your ways," McGonagall said soothing manner. "I will speak to the parents in question and assure them that the matter has been dealt with."
Hermione wiped her eyes as they started to tear up. "No one will call me a… a lightskirt."
"If I hear anyone saying that, I will deal with them," McGonagall reassured the girl.
"But Malfoy and the other…"
McGonagall held up her hand. "This is a Gryffindor matter and if Mr. Malfoy implies that you are less than a young lady, I will contact his mother."
Hermione looked at McGonagall in confusion as she wiped the last of the tears from her cheeks.
"Narcissa is a rather strong-willed woman who would not approve of her son making such a comment about any woman." McGonagall said with a grin. "I have seen her go after her own husband when he used a less polite tone of voice on a young sales clerk."
Hermione nodded her head. "So, I just need to stay out of the boys' dorms."
"That is advisable," McGonagall said with a smile.
"I can do that," Hermione admitted.
"That is all I am asking for," McGonagall said. "You should be thankful that the parents approached me instead of the Headmaster. He tends to be rather… male when it comes to these matters."
"I am just glad it was not Professor Snape."
"Oh no, child. He runs from this matter or any other female issue. He leaves it to Sprout or myself to deal with," McGonagall explained. "Flitwick at least tries. He does make sure to have a female Prefect in the room, of course."
Hermione gave a knowing smile.
It was nearly 8 pm as McGonagall finished grading the last paper. "I need to purchase more red ink," she said softly to herself.
At that moment the fire in McGonagall's office announced at someone needed to speak with her.
"My day never ends," McGonagall grumbled softly as she cast the spell to accept the call.
"Professor McGonagall, I was hoping to speak to you for a moment," the caller said.
"If it is about what I think it is, you might want to come through," McGonagall replied.
"Very well," the caller replied before disconnecting the call. Almost immediately the fire turned to a neon green as the flames licked the upper reaches of the fireplace.
"Scotch?" McGonagall asked as she held up the bottle so her visitor could see it.
"I would not mind a finger or two," Augusta Longbottom replied as she cast the spell to remove the soot from her clothing.
"Or three or four," McGonagall replied as she poured the liquid.
"Rough day, Minerva?" Augusta asked as she took her chair.
Minerva let out a snort. "It is always a rough day. We are understaffed, overworked and under paid. Add in hormonal children who act first and think second. Then top it off with a Headmaster who prefers to do anything else but his job. I am surprised I am not an alcoholic or have not attempted to kill Albus yet."
Augusta accepted her glass. "It is not like we can replace him," she admitted. "Too many people think the sun shines out his ass. And if we tried, we would have Malfoy and his kind trying to gain power. Better the asshole we know than the monster we do not."
"I would suggest killing off Malfoy but we both know that Fudge would be upset to lose his sugar daddy, as the Muggleborn would say," Minerva said as she took a sip.
Augusta chocked on her drink. "That is a horrible thought. I wonder who would wear the skirt in the relationship."
"Malfoy," Minerva answered. "He was a bit of a sissy-boy when he was a student. His son is no different. I still wonder how Narcissa became pregnant with him."
"Spell work," Augusta suggested, "Or at least that would be my guess."
"That poor girl. Having a husband who is trying to beat her to the title of the prettiest Malfoy or the Best Hair," Minerva commented.
"Hopefully, she has a lover on the side or it would be very lonely," Augusta suggested.
Minerva and Augusta looked at each other before breaking down into giggling.
"We are horrible," Minerva admitted.
"That we are," Augusta agreed as the two ladies clinked their glasses together.
The ladies spent a moment enjoying their drink and each other's companionship.
"So have you talked to the girl?" Augusta asked with a sigh.
Minerva nodded her head. "She was rather upset that someone would think that of her."
Augusta snorted. "It was better to address it now than a year or two down the line. Or after some boy took her being there as an invitation."
Minerva looked down at her glass as she swirled the pale gold liquid in the glass. "I wish Albus and the board would let us place the same spell on the boys' dorm."
"It a rite of passage," Augusta said in a mocking tone. "It is a girl's choice if she wants to bed the whole dorm or not. Oh, how I hate those old fossils."
Minerva snorted. "I seem to remember you spending time in Robert's room, when you were a student."
"That was different," Augusta pointed out. "I was already betrothed to him and he had the private room."
"I seem to remember catching Frank and Alice a number of times in odd closets or classrooms when they were students," Minerva admitted.
"Tell me about this Granger girl," Augusta demanded.
"Why? Are you looking for a bride for Neville?" Minerva inquired.
"No. A Longbottom finds his own bride even if she has the knock him up across the back of the head a few times," Augusta admitted.
Minerva chuckled. "I remember. I was sure you were going to knock him out a few times."
"Only because he was being more obtuse than usual," Augusta replied with a smug smile.
Minerva shook her head before turning back to the subject at hand. "As you know Hermione Granger is a Muggleborn…"
"Assumed," Augusta interrupted. "She is assumed to be a Muggleborn. Without a review of her ancestors, we can not tell if she's a true Muggleborn or a spark in a squib line. For all we know she could be a Black, a Dagworth, a Flume or one of the other lines that encourage their men to sow their oats."
Minerva sighed. "She is assumed to be a Muggleborn until she goes to Gringotts to take the test, which no one will even suggest to her to take since everyone knows that Muggleborn are new magicals and could never come from a squib line," Minerva rolled her eyes like a teenager as she said that.
"And you can thank Dumbledore, the school board and Wizengamot for that," Augusta chimed in.
"As you know she is a Gryffindor in the same year as Neville. She actually missed the age cut off by a few days so she is almost a year older than most of her classmates," Minerva continued on having ignored Augusta's comment.
"And you had to explain to her why it was bad for a young woman to go into the boys' dorm," Augusta said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, yes," Minerva admitted. "In her defense, I can say she is very smart, perhaps the smartest witch of her generation but she lacks when it comes to social cues."
"Which you happen to see in very smart people, who just happen to be as dumb as a kneazle's hind leg," Augusta commented. "Please tell me that the girl can think. That she is not some parrot parroting back what is expected from her."
Minerva reached for her bottle of scotch and poured herself another few fingers of the amber liquid. She then did the same for Augusta.
"That is not a good sign," Augusta said as she accepted her glass.
"One of Hermione's biggest issues is her love of rules," Minerva stated.
"So she probably follows them to the letter and expects others to do so," Augusta chimed in.
Minerva nodded her head. "She will bend the rules on occasion."
"Like when she used Leg-Lock curve on my Neville during his first year," Augusta growled.
Minerva nodded her head. "Which ties in to her love of authority figures… or respectable figures.
"She has a daddy kink?" August asked in surprise.
Minerva had been taking a drink just as Augusta had said that. As she sputtered, she said. "Ouch. Damn that hurt. And no, she does not have a daddy kink. Maybe a future dominatrix but I think she is still too young to be called that yet." Setting her glass down, she continued. "She has not learned to question those in power yet, and I doubt she will. If Albus said the sky was green, I think she would accept it without question."
"Oh, she can not be that bad," Augusta argued.
"Perhaps not that bad but once the girl makes up her mind about the truth you practically have to set am Exploding Charm off next to her head to get her to listen," Minerva replied. "Did Neville tell you about S.P.E.W.?"
"No," Augusta said cautiously.
"Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. She wanted to free the house elves. Not to give them protection or help escape from cruel families but to free them all," Minerva explained. "When others tried to explain why this was wrong, she would not listen. Even the house elves tried but she thought they were blinded by how they were raised and they would be thanking her after they were freed."
Augusta groaned. "That answered that question. The girl is destined for the Ministry, if she turns out to be from a squib line, or as someone's assistant if she does not."
"You were hoping for something else?" Minerva asked.
With a sigh, Augusta took a sip from her glass. "I was hoping for more. The past two wars took so much from us, I was hoping for something more from the girl. I hoped she would be a researcher, an inventor, to have the spark to actually change the world."
"And you do not think she can change the world as an employee in the Ministry?" Minerva asked.
"You know the answer as well as I do," Augusta counter. "Were you not the one who wanted to change how things were in Hogwarts. How has that gone?"
"Point taken," Minerva grumbled.
Augusta drained her glass before standing and gathering her things. "We can always implement Plan Q."
"But then if we did that Dark Lady Longbottom, we would have heroes trying to kill us," Minerva counseled.
"But my dear Dark Lady McGonagall, we would only be killing off the dead and diseased branches of magic like the old bastards on the school board and Death Eaters. I am sure the heroes will agree with us that it needed to happen," Augusta countered.
When Minerva did not reply right away, Augusta turned back to her. "Minerva?"
"The most likely hero would be Potter," Minerva said.
"And where a Potter goes, a Longbottom will be at his side," Augusta stated. "We will have to work on getting the boys together more often and to limit Albus's helpers."
"That should not be too hard. Ron needs to improve his grades. As for Hermione, I am sure I can find her something to research. Maybe it will light the spark that we need," Minerva answered.
Augusta nodded her head before turning back to the fireplace. "Until next time," she said before vanished into the flames of the floo.
Minerva finished her drink with a gulp. "Yes. The world is going to change. All because Granger walked into the boys' dorm while Neville was changing his clothes. I guess his manhood really rocked the world," she chuckled.
The End?
