A Cold Morning in Hogwarts

Hermione woke up early with her muscles sore. She hadn't done anything like this since last year. She had hoped that her first year without Harry and Ron at school with her would have meant that she could study with no distractions. But it seemed that whatever powers that may be decided that a completely restful year wasn't something she could ever have.

She felt colder than usual. Sure, she was so tired that she didn't get dressed before falling onto her bed, but it shouldn't have been that cold. She looked out the window to see a late snowfall. Frozen flakes gently fell on Hogwarts, lightly coating the grounds.

Hermione shivered as she went to her trunk to put something on to warm herself. As she dug out robes, socks, and her winter cloak, she saw old robes from her younger years lying on the bottom of the chest. She was surprised, as she could've sworn she had donated them to the second-hand robe shop on Diagon Alley.

Hermione put on some socks, her robes, and her winter cloak. She didn't bother to put on any sort of undergarments. "If the Slytherins see I have anything under my robes, they'll just take them away anyway. Along with everything else." She shuddered, unsure if it was from fear or from excitement. She also decided against shoes for now, since she hadn't realized how comfortable she could walk without them on all the time.

As she wandered the halls of Hogwarts, it did seem quieter than usual, even with how few people remained. As cold drafts flowed through the corridors, it made the hems of her robes flutter, caressing her butt. She shivered, and this time, she KNEW it wasn't just from the cold.

After she entered the Great Hall, she saw that the only people there were herself and McGonagall.

"Miss Granger!" McGonagall exclaimed. "Oh, thank the stat!s you're alright!"

Hermione froze. How much did McGonagall know? "I-what do you mean? What's happened?"

McGonagall stiffened. "It seems..." she began, "that Filch has been neglecting his own self-care. After Filch **** Mr. Taylor to let him inspect his feet, Mr. Taylor reported to the hospital wing last night. The boy has contracted Scrofungulus!"

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, but caught herself before she let on that she was alright with the news. "That's... That's horrible!"

"Indeed... Sadly, Mr. Taylor spread it around at dinner last night, and now nearly everyone has it!" She scoffed. "To think that the only reason you might be safe is that the other students wanted to keep their distance from Misses Parkinson, Bulstrode, and Greengrass!"

McGonagall recomposed herself. "Well then... I still expect you to behave yourself, but I'll be busy up in the hospital wing helping Madam Pomfrey with whatever she needs to help the others recover." She shot Hermione a severe look. "If you need anything, don't come to the hospital wing yourself! Scrofonfulus is highly contagious, after all! Madam Pomfrey, Professor Hagrid, and myself are the only teachers that stayed here for the holidays that didn't catch it, so you can either send an owl to us or go speak to Professor Hagrid." Her face softened slightly. "Well, you're free to walk the castle, anyway. Just don't do anything stupid!"

"Well, this makes Ginny's story more credible," Hermione thought to herself. As McGonagall was collecting the few items she had in the great hall that she'd need while she helped in the hospital wing, more questions came to Hermione.

"Professor McGonagall, Filch made me show him my foot yesterday... Why didn't I catch it?"

McGonagall stopped briefly to look at Hermione. "The infliction is passed on only if you breathed air directly from an infected individual. It seems that Filch had gotten rather close to Mr. Taylor when he tried to refuse." Her eyes narrowed. "And if Filch keeps up this sort of behavior, I think we can expect to start the search for a new caretaker next year!"

"And Professor, where are the ghosts?" Hermione had just realized why it was so quiet. She normally would see at least one ghost floating around the school on her way down to breakfast, or at least hear them deep in conversation.

McGonagall answered Hermione as she left the hall. "The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has summoned all of the Hogwarts ghosts, from Sir Nicholas to Myrtle. It seems there are new rules and laws that ghosts are expected to obey. They'll be gone until the start of term, as well."

"And Peeves?"

"Is a poltergeist. The Ministry couldn't remove him from the castle if they tried! Now, I really must return to the hospital wing."

And with that, McGonagall left Hermione in the Great Hall to breakfast alone.

The castle was practically empty. Only herself, portraits, Hagrid, and the three Slytherin girls were there now.

She sat at the singular table in the hall. Since she was alone, she decided to adjust her robes so the back of them hung behind her, exposing her bare arse to the wooden seating. She felt the cold wood as her butt pressed onto it. A quiver was felt in front, and she made a soft giggle to herself. Hermione tucked into a plate of eggs and sausage while she contemplated what a nearly empty castle would mean for herself...