Time to go

Hermione liked to dive into a problem when she was stressed about something, focusing on the straightforward nature of arithmancy calculations, a method she found much more sensible and understandable than the nebulous subject of divination. So, although she had to swat away at the persistent moths every few moments, she was still able to fill in a complete table of arithmancy calculations which would give a prediction of the weather in Patagonia next year to within a reasonable degree of accuracy. With this complete she sat back in her chair, unfortunately no closer to figuring out what she was going to do about the curse Ginny had given her which caused moths to eat her clothing piece by piece.

She sighed and looked down, and realised how bad her current situation was. Her blouse was all but gone, now hanging on by a few tattered strips around her shoulders and collar, where the material was thicker and harder to chew. Her tie was no wider than a piece of knotted string, and her tights were more hole than nylon. She was reduced to her purple floral knickers and plain pink bra, and moths were still coming and going through the window.

Suddenly the class ended, pupils got up and began to file out. Hermione froze. After their initial surprise at her attracting what they had thought were a handful of insects, the others had got on with their work and ignored her, and no one sat at a desk behind her, so right now none of them knew she was wearing nothing but her underwear. That was all about to change, however, and Hermione could not stay here much longer without drawing more attention to herself, especially if another class was about to use the room.

She waited until the last of the pupils had got up and began to leave, and Professor Vector was turned to the board to write up formulae for her next class, then Hermione jumped to her feet and bolted for the door.

"No running." Professor Vector called absently over her shoulder without turning round.

Hermione shot into the corridor, saw a crowd of pupils dawdling to the left, and turned right. She knew there was a semi-secret staircase up ahead, as long as it had not decided that today was its day to shift around. She turned a corner, some persistent moths still after her to get a taste of her underwear. From the next corner she heard voices, at least three boys heading towards her. Hermione ducked behind a suit of armour, pressed on a particular brick and went through the door which opened for her, reaching the other side and pushing the secret door closed, hoping desperately that the boys she had heard did not know about it.

It seemed quiet, and Hermione thanked her lucky stars, as she climbed the stone staircase. She still had her shoes on, apparently the moths did not find them too digestible. At the top of the stairs it was only a few more turns before she found herself in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, who guarded the Gryffindor common room and dormitory.

"Chocolate Frog." Hermione gasped the password in relief. But the portrait did not move. "Chocolate Frog." she repeated.

"I heard you." the Fat Lady replied from her frame, "But you don't seem to be appropriately dressed to come in."

"I know I'm not appropriately dressed," Hermione replied, "that's why I want to come in, and quickly, before anyone sees me."

"You young girls today." the Fat Lady sighed, "It was bad enough that redhead earlier with no trousers on, but you've got nothing on at all but your smalls. And getting smaller by the moment."

"I have clothes in the dormitory, which I would dearly love to go and put on."

"Did I ever tell you how I once almost got hung in the Palace of Versailles? I was a much sought-after piece. And I did it with my clothes on."

"I'm sure you did, but please..."

"Not today, I won't have a thing like you lowering the tone."

"But... I need my clothes!" Hermione insisted, stamping her foot in frustration. The movement caused her nibbled knickers to snap at the waist and they drooped down, Hermione only just catching them and yanking them back into place before showing off even more of herself.

"Come back when you're attired more appropriately." the Fat Lady replied, before flouncing away from her frame.