Hermione was cursing her sense as she crept along the corridor holding on to Norbert's cage with both hands. She was wearing dragon hide gloves because the last thing she needed was to wind up in the hospital wing with Ron. She'd most likely smack him if that happened.
She was also wishing that he was well enough to take the cage up with Harry instead. Unfortunately for her, he wasn't. So, Hermione was stuck carrying a dragon up to the top of the astronomy tower at midnight.
There was a good chance that no one was going to be up there. Even N.E.W.T students got Saturday nights off. But Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that they were going to get caught. Even with Harry's invisibility cloak.
"Would you stop that?" Harry hissed.
"Stop what?" Hermione whispered back.
"The anxious humming," Harry said. "You're gonna get us caught."
As if the talking isn't, Hermione thought. Nevertheless, she stopped and focused on her breathing and keeping the cage from rattling.
They were able to hand Norbert off to Charlie and his team without too much trouble. They put him in a larger cage carried between four brooms. Harry and Hermione watched them fly away in awe. They made it look so easy.
They may have lingered a little too long. They may have just been tired. It was very late. And neither of them was the best at listening for noise when they were tired. Mostly they were just excited to have Norbert gone.
"Just where do you think you're going?" a stern Scottish voice called.
Both Harry and Hermione froze and looked at each other. They had forgotten to put the cloak back on. Hermione silent fumed. How could she have been so silly?
"Heading back to our dorms, professor," Harry said. He stumbled a little over the words. But anyone would have.
McGonagall looked over them dubiously. "And what might you have been doing in the astronomy tower at this time of night?"
"It's really quite a sight," Harry said. "And you don't need to ask Hermione about my astronomy grades. I'm trying to do better. Hermione's the only one who doesn't seem to need help."
Hermione was amazed. He hadn't said anything that wasn't true. He did need to work on his astronomy. And most everyone was struggling. Even the purebloods. Hermione was sorely tempted to ask her parents for a proper telescope. The school ones weren't nearly as powerful as even basic new muggle ones.
"Where might your books be?" McGonagall asked.
"Back at the dorm," Hermione said. "We forgot them."
"And yet, you have dragonhide gloves?" There was a calculating note in the professor's voice.
"It gets cold?" Harry said slowly.
"My office. Now."
They followed meekly, and took the detention that was given. Apparently, Malfoy had ratted them out. But because he was out of bed after curfew as well, he still wound up with detention. He'd tried to fight that. It hadn't gone so well.
"That could have gone better," Hermione said.
"It could have also gone much worse," Harry said. "Can you imagine what would have happened if Malfoy had gone to Snape?"
They both shuddered at the mere thought. Malfoy would have gotten off scot free. And they would have wound up with at least a week's worth of detention. Not something that Harry could afford.
"I bet he won't go to anyone else," Hermione said.
"Not anymore," Harry agreed.