Once their detention was completed, they walked quicky and silently through the corridors back to Gryffindor tower, each of them clutching their bleeding hands to their chests.
"Oh my goodness," the Fat Lady said when she saw their hands, the portrait opening to admit them into the safety of their tower without waiting for the password.
"Miss Granger," the stern voice of their head of house spoke as they crossed through the portal.
"Professor," the girl at his side spoke, her eyes wide.
"What's going on," Fred asked, the professor was sat on one of the large red threadbare sofas and on the table in front of her was a book he didn't recognise.
"Am I in trouble," the girl beside him asked, her eyes wide.
"You know I was in the staff room with the other teachers, we began discussing you Hermione, your sudden change in personality, how you've changed your wardrobe, your hair, become more opinionated, acting more confident, uncaring of punishments or risks you may face," the professor said.
"I can explain," the girl said, Fred felt confused as he watched the two.
"Professor Snape said it was like you'd taken a potion, while Professor Sprout thought it was a simple act of teenage rebellion to impress a crush," the professor commented.
"So you decided to look through my stuff," Hermione asked sticking her chin out.
"I didn't have too; I went to the library to get a book professor Snape recommended. I learnt that Hogwarts doesn't stock it, the library at Headquarters however does and Sirius was most surprised to find it missing when I flooed him this evening, it wasn't difficult to put two and two together, a quick summoning spell from the doorway of your dorm had the book coming right to me.
"Hermione what have you done," Fred asked worriedly.
"It's nothing Fred, go to bed," she insisted, waving her hand at him.
"It sounds like you've taken a potion," he accused, Hermione's eyes watered.
"I just wanted you to like me, to be less frumpy, to not be scared to act out on all the things I keep silent about," she whispered.
"Hermione, I already liked you, why do you think I kissed you after the ball last year," he asked her, taking a step towards the girl.
"I was dressed up, I looked nothing like myself," she protested.
"I didn't care about any of that, I've fancied you since your third year," he told her quietly.
"You have," she asked her eyes wide, Fred nodded.
"Miss Granger are you aware of how long Locus Liquido Remotionem Fortuna remains in one's system once consumed," the professor asked, Fred jumped, for a moment he'd forgotten they weren't alone in the common room.
"No professor, the book didn't specify," Hermione replied.
"That's because the Black's copy is missing a page, Professor Snape however knew how long it would remain in your system," the professor smiled.
"How long," Hermione asked.
"According to Severus, the potion only remains in the system for a few hours, similar to the related potion Liquid Luck," Professor McGonagall told her students.
"That means," Hermione broke off flushing.
"It means Miss Granger that your actions over the past couple of days have been completely your own and it was a placebo, you thought the potion was working so you continued to act as though you were under its influence but every choice, change and action you made were completely your own," the professor said.
"Oh," Hermione said, her face flabbergasted.
"Oh indeed, I'd give you detention for taking an unregulated potion from a book you found in the Black library, but I think you've suffered enough, come here both of you," the professor said gesturing for them to take a seat on the couch beside her, Hermione and he did as instructed. Professor McGonagall waved her wand and two bowls appeared on the table before them.
"Essence of Dittany," Hermione said, staring at the potion within the bowl closest her.
"Yes, we're aware of what that dreadful woman is doing to students, submerge your hands in it and it should make them better," the professor told them.
"If your aware, why aren't you stopping her," Fred asked, hissing as the potion began to fix the hand, he'd submerged within it.
"The ministry is interfering at Hogwarts, there's nothing they can do," Hermione told him.
"That's right, ten points for Gryffindor, and another ten points for identifying the potion earlier," the professor said.
"One should stand up to an oppressive regime," he muttered, the professor smiled.
"I as a professor of course cannot condone any form of bad behaviour but if however our new professor found herself the victim of many more pranks like the one in the Great Hall earlier today, I can ensure that there will be no retribution from most of the faculty of the school," Professor McGonagall smirked.
"You're giving us permission to," Fred breathed, wide eyed.
"Overthrow a dictator Mr Weasley, yes I am," the professor smiled.
"She'll be mad," Hermione breathed.
"Undoubtedly, do your best not to get caught, and keep the pranks away from the younger students, I don't want them getting caught in the crossfire," the professor said as she stood, picking the book up off of the table.
"Yes professor," they both said.
"Oh and Miss Granger," the professor said, her eyes fixed on his girlfriend.
"Yes Professor," Hermione asked.
"No boy is worth changing yourself, those that truly like you will like you as you are, only make changes for yourself," the professor told her firmly as she stepped through the portal.
"You shouldn't have taken that potion," he told her quietly.
"I felt so uncertain on where we stood after that kiss," she confessed.
"We should have spoke to each other sooner, I should have told you I was crazy about you before you changed everything," he said, stroking his hand through her new hair.
"You said you liked it," she said.
"I do but I loved your natural curls," he confessed.
"You don't want to break up with me," she asked worriedly, Fred shook his head.
"of course not, just promise no more potions, I want you as you are," he said.
"I promise," she agreed.
"Good, now how are we going to get rid of Umbitch," he asked.
"Oh I have a few ideas," she laughed, leaning towards him, her eyes sparkling, Fred was completely and utterly bewitched.