Only the knowledge that she'd risk further punishment quelled Hermione's temptation to skip the rest of her classes. Losing three hundred points in one go was unprecedented, even for Harry, Ron, and herself. Merlin, Hermione was positive that not even the Weasley twins had ever lost that many points at once. Knowing her housemates would only be further incited by any additional loss propelled her to commit to attending all her classes as normal.
"300 points?!" Harry hissed at her as she slid into her seat next to him. "What were you doing, stealing from Snape again?"
Talking out of the corner of her mouth Hermione answered, "Don't be absurd Harry."
"Then what?" Harry asked her, refusing to let the topic go. "Did he learn you were set him on fire during our first year?"
"Of course not," Hermione admonished him, rolling her eyes. "Honestly Harry, just drop it."
"Not even Snape would take that many points without reason," Harry hissed back at her.
"Mr. Potter, perhaps you would prefer to teach today's transfiguration lesson?" McGonagall asked, interrupting his interrogation.
"Er…not really Professor."
"Then kindly cease speaking to Ms. Granger, lest you care to share with the rest of your classmates what you find so fascinating." Wide-eyed, Harry shook his head, and ceased his attempts to talk to Hermione. This behavior lasted for nearly five minutes before he restarted grilling her.
"Hermione, everyone was talking about how some Slytherin set off dung-bombs in the library, and the next thing everyone can't shut up about is you losing three hundred points! What in Merlin's name happened? Did Snape manage to frame you?"
Thankfully, Professor McGonagall intervened before she had to answer, "Mr. Potter, perhaps you will escort Ms. Granger to the Headmaster's office and explain to him why the two of you cannot behave."
Eager to escape Harry's incessant questioning, Hermione, snatched her satchel and left before Harry processed that he was being punished. She had made it halfway down the corridor before Harry managed to get out of the classroom.
"Mione wait up!" Harry called from behind her. The witch didn't stop, forcing Harry to practically sprint to catch up with her.
"The Headmaster's office is in the opposite direction," He said, once he realized she was headed in the opposite direction.
"Yes Harry," Hermione agreed, without elaborating further.
"You're not going to see Dumbledore?"
"No Harry," Hermione said, shaking her head. "I've already managed to lose three hundred points today. I've no desire to submit myself willingly to more punishment."
"McGonagall told us to go."
"She said perhaps, and I'm choosing to interpret that as a suggestion rather than an order. You may do what you want," Hermione said as she continued to head towards Gryffindor Tower. Predictably, Harry fell in step with her.
"You realize Ron's going to be absolutely insufferable now that you've lost us three hundred points," Harry said, changing the subject.
"As if he wasn't before?" Hermione scoffed. "Ron's been an arse since that stupid Goblet spat your name out. He didn't waste a minute to begin whining about how you must have put your name in and not tell him."
Harry sighed, clearly not wanting to badmouth his friend, but also realizing there wasn't a defense he could make for Ron.
"It's always for an audience too, as though he's holding court. Honestly, Malfoy's been more palatable this year."
Her comparison made Harry stop short.
"Hermione, has something happened with Ron that I don't know about?"
"No."
"Hermione?"
"It's just…he's a fair weathered friend," Hermione admitted. "Ronald disappears when a friendship becomes difficult or something doesn't go his way. It angers me, because that's not true friendship, and I already can guess his reaction to me losing so many points in one go."
"Oh?"
"He'll assume the two of us were up to something and left him out," Hermione answered with a shrug. Harry glanced at her as they resumed walking towards Gryffindor Tower.
"Really?"
"Ron's a jealous git," Hermione said. "Besides, it's not like it really matters. I'm lucky Snape didn't give me detention on top of it."
"Wait...he didn't?"
"No. I think he may have thought pissing off Krum's fan girls would be enough of a punishment on top of the points," Hermione said shrugging.
"Why would they care?"
"I may have loudly insinuated I was sick of having them in the library," Hermione muttered as Harry stared at her. "What? It's true."
"Well at least I won't be the sole Gryffindor pariah anymore."
"Gee thanks," Hermione said, swatting at her best friend. "On the plus side, I'm now helping Madam Pince restore destroyed books, so I may stumble upon something useful for the tournament."
"Why bother?" Harry asked, resignation filling his voice. "I don't even want to participate."
"What if you don't?"
"Dumbledore said I don't have a choice," Harry answered, glaring at the floor. "You already know it's a magically binding contract, and I'm forced to participate."
Hermione bit her lip before speaking.
"I pulled information from the school archives about previous tournament contracts. Each specified that a chosen champion must take part, but not one clarifies the extent of participation that is required, much less about the effort one is expected to make towards winning."
Harry gave her a blank look, "What's your point?"
"You could refuse to actively compete. According to the archives, no one's done it before, which means there isn't an existing rule against it. Go into each task and just sit there. Refuse to move forward and complete the task. Just fail."
"Just fail?" Harry repeated, goggling at her. "Hospital Wing. Now. Hermione Granger just told me to purposefully fail. Clearly you're ill."
"Stop it you prat. I'm serious. If Professor Dumbledore refuses to do anything to help you, we need to come up with creative solutions. You're already at a disadvantage due to your age. There's no point in actively participating."
"I'd be a laughingstock," Harry muttered under his breath. "Hermione, everyone would mock me. They'd claim I was insufficient at magic for not even trying to win."
"How's that different than now?"
"Although I'd be alive, so that's a bonus," Harry said as though she'd not spoken. "I am rather sick of nearly dying. Do you think I should write Sirius?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, latching on to the suggestion. "He'll have insight to the legalities, considering he's the heir to a pureblood house. From what I understand, pureblood scions are educated in all matters of law from a young age," Hermione answered, nodding in agreement as she realized there was another scion she could ask for advice. "He'll also be able to give us feedback on refusing to participate."
She was grateful to see Harry nod in agreement as they continued their trek upwards. When they finally reached Gryffindor Tower, Hermione went to take a nap, purposefully giving Harry time to speak with Sirius privately via the twin mirrors. Harry didn't have time to update Hermione on Sirius' reaction before the former prisoner appeared at Hogwarts and dragged the two of them to Dumbledore's office.
"He's fourteen Albus!"
"I understand that Sirius, truly I do," Dumbledore said, trying to placate the fugitive. "However, the perils of a binding magical contract outweigh both of our desires. It is most unfortunate."
"Are you even bothering to look for who put his name in the Goblet?" Sirius demanded.
"We have no leads at this time."
Sirius laughed, shaking his head at the old headmaster, "So you're doing nothing, as always. At least you're consistent."
"Sirius, I understand that you're frustrated," Dumbledore said holding up one of his hands.
"Find out who put his name in, or I'll pull Harry from this school," Sirius threatened.
"Sirius, we both know you have no legal authority to do so."
"Do not push me Albus," Sirius answered glaring at him. "We both know what happens when a member of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black is cornered. You may believe I'm powerless because of my incarceration and subsequent escape in comparison to your position on the Wizengamot. It would be unwise to test me." Headmaster Dumbledore remained silent as he stared at Sirius Black. The heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Black sneered at his former educator.
"You're pathetic."
Without waiting for a response, Sirius steered both Hermione and Harry out of the Headmaster's office. On the staircase, Sirius changed back into his animangas form, before leading them to the seventh floor.
"What's your plan for the first task?" Sirius asked Harry once the three of them were sequestered in the Room of Requirement.
"Nothing."
"Harry, as much as I dislike it, you can't go in to this without preparing. It isn't something you can just wing."
"No, Sirius, you don't understand. That's our plan. Go into each task, and just refuse to participate. Hermione pointed out I don't have to win. So, I'm going to enter the arena and just wait it out."
Sirius stared at the two of them before he erupted into laughter. It took him several minutes to settle down enough to speak again. "Albus is going to be pissed."