Harry Potter. Hermione X Male Reader Story

Burning Sensation and Avoided Immolation

(Y/N)'s POV

I started to make my way to the common room, trying to distract myself from the stares and whispers of almost everyone I passed, but each one made me feel more and more stressed.

Slytherins I passed where the worst, each of them glaring at me and even shouting out insults, it was clear I hadn't been spared from the rumour train and had been lumped in with Harry.

Nothing new, so over the years I had developed a fool proof way to ignore them, to stare at the floor of the castle most of the way to my destination, the whole time wishing the Draught of Peace lasted longer.

I was halfway through the west corridor when McGonagall found me. I tried to turn and run by ducking down the nearest flight of stairs but she called out "Mr. (L/N), I've been looking for you."

"Hey professor, didn't see you there" I tried to smile. She looked sternly at me, turned on her heel and said, "Come with me" and we walked to her office as if I was walking to my death.

Harry had already been called out of the common room to endure fifteen highly unpleasant minutes in the company of Professor McGonagall. He was waiting outside because it was my turn now.

She had me explain how it went down from my perspective, of course I had to doctor parts to fit the narrative that I fed Snape. I purposely omitted certain sections, like anything to do with the Marauders Map or knowing Harry was looking for the Room of Requirement.

I had to feed her the same lie about going with Hermione to see Vector. But just recounting the story of the scene I found in the bathroom made me shiver and I realised my draught of peace had worn off entirely when she glared at me intensely and I averted my eyes in panic.

Lying to Snape felt justified but lying to McGonagall just felt...wrong. It left a terrible taste in my mouth, "-And that's when Snape came in and helped me heal him" I said finally, she had taken the whole story in quietly, her eyes scanning my face.

She didn't say anything during my retelling and remained silent long after I had finished. She laced her hands together and sighed.

"I don't know what on earth possessed you to run into the room but both you and Mr. Potter narrowly avoided disaster, frankly it is a miracle this scenario ended up as it did. You are lucky this issue didn't go further" She said tiredly.

"After speaking with Myrtle and from what little Mr. Malfoy has told us, it seems you are telling the truth, because of this, I am willing to settle for detention with me, every week until the end of term" she said calmly.

I was sure I'd misheard. "The rest of term! I only tried to help!" I defended myself, "I should be getting praised, why should I be punished for trying to help, that makes no sense!" I said angrily.

"Do not raise your voice at me!" she said quickly. I shrunk away, not wanting to give her any reason to punish me more. "Sorry..." I said meekly. "Mr. (L/N), I understand your frustration, I do, and if it were up to me, you would be right but I'm afraid, it is not."

I was incredibly confused now, "Yes it is, you're my head of house" She sighed, "Try to look at this from the school's perspective" she said suddenly, as if it was a threat of what was to come "This is a delicate position to be in."

"Why?" "You are made of age and a short time after you and a close friend are found stood over a bloody body of another student." My heart sank, I didn't think of it like that.

"The headmaster is under pressure from the schoolboard and is having to seriously consider expulsion, something has to be done." Now I really didn't like where this was going.