Chapter 31
Professor Minerva McGonagall sat at her desk, grading essays, when a sharp knock interrupted her. Severus Snape stood in the doorway, his expression inscrutable.
"Severus, what brings you here?" Minerva asked, setting her quill aside.
Snape stepped in, closing the door. "Minerva, I have concerns about a Slytherin student—Hermione Granger. I've heard troubling rumors involving her and Mr. Malfoy."
Minerva felt a pang of unease. "What kind of rumors?"
"Improper interactions. I believe something very dark has been going on between them for years."
Minerva's lips pressed into a thin line. "Hermione is a model student. I've never seen anything that suggests... what you're implying."
Snape's expression darkened. "These rumors are persistent. If there's smoke, there may be fire. Their relationship could be more insidious than it appears."
Before Snape turned to leave, Minerva spoke up, "There was an incident in their second year. They were caught out of bounds after curfew. Hermione seemed frightened, and Draco was smug. I dismissed it as mischief, but now... it feels more troubling."
Snape’s eyes widened in surprise. "Second year? I didn't realize it started so early."
Minerva nodded gravely. "Yes, it appears so. We must be vigilant."
As Snape left, Minerva returned to her grading, her mind lingering on the unsettling revelation. She couldn’t afford to ignore Snape’s warning. Not when her students' well-being was at stake.