Lavender Brown had been plaiting her dark hair. She turned around to see Hermione enter their dormitory.
"Hello Hermione, are you feeling better?" Lavender asked in a motherly tone. "I heard about what happened last yesterday, Draco Malfoy is a nasty piece of work."
"I am feeling better, thanks," replied Hermione artificially.
She gave a cheery smile as if proving Lavender that she was feeling better. Hermione strode over to her bedside cabinet and started packing as soon as Lavender's back had turned to leave the dorm. She packed everything up from old odd socka to Hogwarts: A History back inside her trunk until shoving it unceremoniously under her bed. She still needed to tell Professor McGonagall she was leaving.
"A week's notice!"
Hermione's face told it all – she was appalled, Hermione had no idea she should have 'booked' a week ago.
"Yes. That's what I just said."
"But I had no idea I wanted to leave a week ago!" protested Hermione.
"Obviously not!" McGonagall said vehemently. "Under the usual circumstances I would not allow a student to leave without parental consent. But as you are muggle-born and your parents aren't in contact with me I just have to trust you have it! Trust this isn't on impulse! I've seen Professor Snape's shoulder, Granger!"
Professor McGonagall was breathing heavily, her nostrils flared.
She continued coolly, "I can arrange for the Hogwarts Express to pick you up next Sunday, which conveniently is after the first Triwizard task. I was under the impression you wanted to see your friend Mr Potter compete rather than leave now. You don't know the pressures, he needs support, Hermione."
Hermione bore her eyes darkly into Professor McGonagall.
"Don't look at me like that, girl!" barked McGonagall. "Be at my office ten o'clock a week today."
Hermione slipped out of Professor McGonagall's hard-backed chair and slouched off to the grounds alone.