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Professor McGonagall calmly replied, "If I were you, Mr. Malfoy, I would worry more about how your father will react to the… situation I walked in on thirty minutes ago than the punishment you will receive for them. Considering what it usually means when a young witch and wizard are found together past curfew."

Malfoy's face paled, making the scarlet bruise forming on his jaw becoming ever more prominent. Hermione turned her gaze back to her feet, the Persian rug was rough against her barefoot.

Hermione lost her right foot slipper after tripping a hard surface in the Astronomy tower. When McGonagall appeared in front of them with a bright Lumos cast, Hermione saw that the hard surface was a book titled Stars, the Sky, and the Moon. Draco went to the tower after curfew for the same reason she went and he lied about being on patrol.

This information she stumbled upon was interesting, to say the least. She felt the heat of two glares directed at her and tucked this thought into the back of her mind for later.

"I would never be sneaking out after curfew to snog a Mud-Muggleborn, Professor. You can't just-" Malfoy tried to say before Professor McGonagall cut him off. She looked down to see a slight tremor in the hand he combed through his hair.

Hermione was stunned. Professor McGonagall knew they hated each other, even the Ghosts of Hogwarts knew. Was the head of Gryffindor trying to blackmail Malfoy? She would be amused if this turn of events wasn't so surprising.

"I can do whatever I please . It does not matter what I think you both were up to. Given your...history with , do you think your father will believe you?" Professor McGonagall gave Malfoy a meaningful look. Hermione turned to him in confusion, he scowled at the ground. A pink flush began to creep up his neck, matching the bruise forming on his jaw.

History with her? What were they talking about? Lucius Malfoy knew Draco hated her, why would he believe they were snogging?

"Professor McGonagall, please, you must know Malfoy and I wouldn't touch each other with a ten-foot pole. It was merely a coincidence we were there at the same time." Hermione tried to reason, flustered that her old Professor was implying a romantic link between her and him.

"It is truly astounding to me that while you both are the brightest students in the entire school, and still neither of you can see the issue in your actions. I walked into the Astronomy tower after being alerted by concerned portraits, only to find you, , pushing over the edge!" Professor McGonagall huffed.

"Now, 's fighting back seemed justified considering the circumstance, except for the fact that he already had a bruise forming on his jaw. Now is it fair to assume this bruise was dealt by your hand, ?"

Hermione couldn't meet her eyes as she uttered a soft, "Yes."

"Not to mention, both of you were out hours after curfew! This behavior is appalling from any student, let alone two trusted prefects!"

Hermione felt her guilt eating her alive, she hated letting Professor McGonagall think so lowly of her. She looked over to see Malfoy slouching in his chair, glaring at a point on the wall next to him. He seemed more concerned with the fact that he got caught and was facing reprecussions than the fact that the professor was disappointed in him.

"Professor, is there anything I could do to keep my prefect badge and show you that I am responsible enough to handle it?" Hermione pleaded, hands loosely clasped in front of her.

Professor McGonagall sighed heavily, took her spectacles off, and looked at both of them meaningfully. Hermione heard Draco adjust in his seat.

"Well, I suppose there is something." She spoke.

Silence.

Hermione fidgeted in her seat.

After thirty more seconds of silence, Draco said, "Were you going to tell us what we could do or…" he trailed off, eyebrows raised in annoyance. When he caught Hermione looking at him in shock he jerked his head at her with an angry expression, startling her.

Jerk.

"Despite being the only candidates for this task, I'm not sure even you two have what it takes." Professor McGonagall challenged.

Prepostorous. Hermione was the most academically capable witch in the school. Malfoy was a prat but he was second behind her in grades, surely he wasn't useless.

"I will do whatever is necessary to show you I am responsible," Hermione said solemnly.

Malfoy scoffed next to her and crossed his legs over each other.

"This task requires both of you to work together. Based on the reason we are gathered in my office at nearly three in the morning, I am not confident this will be possible". Professor McGonagall replied smoothly.

"No, I promise we can work together. Whatever it takes, right Malfoy?" Hermione turned to him, warning him with her eyes.

He turned to her slowly, a fake smile on his face.

"We can make it work". He gritted out through clenched teeth.

"Excellent. Due to funding changes, the potions department and Infirmary now need to locally source its magical plants. The ministry has been made aware that many of the expensive ingredients necessary for potions can be found in the Forbidden Forest."

Malfoy's head swiveled towards Professor McGonagall, he leaned forward.

"You mean to tell me that you plan on sending us out to frolic through the Forbidden Forest! What, did Care for Magical Creatures funding get cut too and so now you have to locally source the meat you feed those beasts? I'm sure my father would sooner donate more money than have his only son become a human sacrifice."

"Do not forget that you are on thin ice, ." Hermione froze, even though the warning wasn't directed at her.

"You are both lucky to receive this option. You would do well to remember that." She said.

Draco seethed, sinking back into his leather chair.

"As the most skilled and knowledgeable in the entire school, Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey only trust the two of you to procure the correct plants correctly. You will work as a team to collect the plants or you won't pursue this option at all. It is far too dangerous for a student to go into the forest alone."

Draco opened his mouth, but Professor McGonagall spoke over him.

"You begin tomorrow. Meet me in my office immediately after classes". Professor McGonagall then shooed them out of the room and told them to go straight back to bed.

Hermione started towards the Gryffindor tower. She couldn't resist the temptation to look over her shoulder. She was met with Draco Malfoy's promising silver glare, he would not make this easy for her.