An evening of choices
Hermione stood outside Dumbledore's office, shifting from one foot to the other. Heart thudding as she recalled Snape's sudden explosive rage. He did not say a single word to her, but screamed at Harry and Ron and kicked them all out summarily. She heard the smash of potions bottles and counted herself lucky for having a quick-reflexed Ron pull them both out before more drama could unfold. She suddenly snorted at the thought of Ron's round-eyed reverence after what he called "the you-know when she yelled at Snape".
"Come in, Miss Granger!" came Professor Dumbledore's voice from within the doors. She flushed. She ought not to forget that she, Hermione Granger, prefect had shouted at a teacher, going out of line and saying he was less than a man in her eyes - she couldn't feel a certain smothered triumph still at it - and was now facing detention or worse at Dumbledore's court of justice, with Snape as a gleeful executioner. Worse than detention. Her prefect badge would be suspended. Would she be expelled? It was unlikely that the Headmaster would expel her, Gryffindor and Harry's best friend and a brilliant muggleborn to boot. And yet what if it was worthy of expulsion? Harry had never been expelled, but a friend of Harry was not the same as Harry himself..
Soberly she walked in, facing a grave looking but twinkly-eyed Headmaster. She inwardly smothered a sigh of relief. She hastily assumed an ashamed expression, only half-pretended as the horror as she thought of her own behavior was enough to make her hang her head sincerely.
"Good evening, Professor," she said in a small voice.
"Good evening, Miss Granger. I confess I am surprised to hear of you misbehaving in class. As Headmaster I will have to take a strict view of this. Your head of house will be doling out the detentions."
Hermione's face burned, more still at his kind expression. "I'm sorry Professor." she said. "I just - it just came out. I am willing to accept any punishment you give me. If you feel I will not be a good prefect -"
"Oh no, no Miss Granger." he said with the hint of a smile. "It would be over harsh to punish you so severely over your first infraction" not my first, not by far - but yes perhaps at this scale publicly.. "I will leave the discipline up to Professor McGonagall. I am sure it was, let's say a momentary lapse, wasn't it? That is not to say that I will condone disrespect to your teachers, Miss Granger" he said, expression growing stern, "but sometimes the best of us lose control. And between ourselves, my dear, Professor Snape can be a difficult man at the best of times."
He steepled his fingers together. "I wonder though my dear, the reason behind this sudden outburst."
"It wasn't anything much, Professor", she muttered embarrassedly. "I am sorry. I think it had been building up for some time. I had some friction with some friends as well and stress about the Tournament.. I think I just burst. It will not happen again, I promise you."
"I am sure of that, my dear". He looked at her keenly. "When you mention friction with friends, would you say any of them has been behaving.. say uncharacteristically?" She opened her mouth to respond but he continued, "I do know that you are young and would scarcely be interested in confiding in an old man such as myself," he smiled, "but believe me when I say that I am not asking this out of idle curiosity or the wish to meddle in my students's affairs, though I have been accused of that often." He grew grave. "Believe me when I say that it is of vital importance that any.. unexpected behavior is observed. I hope I am not imposing on you too much, my dear, if I tell you it is crucial that any strange sign must be detected immediately. You very well know what occurred in second year. We do not want a similar instance occurring again."
"I do understand, Professor", she said earnestly.
He smiled. "I am glad, Miss Granger. It is a great relief that Harry has an astute and sensible friend like yourself, especially during this debacle of the Tournament. It is a wonderful thing to have strong bonds of friendship like those the two of you and Mr. Weasley share."
She smiled back, and hesitantly said, "Professor, you do know that Harry did not put his name in the Cup, right? It is unfair that he has to compete.. He is not able to put in the time for Occlumency either.. And Professor Snape -"
Author's note: I am shifting things a little so that Occlumency is in fourth year
"Ah, Miss Granger, now we arrive at the crux of the reason why I called you to my office." She frowned. "How would you like, Miss Granger, to learn Occlumency?"