The Punishment Of Hermione Granger (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1: A VISIT TO THE MINISTRY



Hermione knows the words shouldn’t have come out of her mouth, but it is too late to take them back. Watching Professor Umbridge deny the existence of Voldemort and make Harry look like a fool in front of everything has just been too much for her. She couldn’t help standing up in the middle of class and defending her friend. The look on her Professor’s face, however, makes regret instantly wash over her. She won’t take what she said back, though. She stands by her words, if not the action of speaking them aloud.

“Miss Granger,” her professor says in her simpering voice. “Please inform the class that you spoke in error and that you support the Ministry’s efforts to protect the students of Hogwarts!”

“I—I’m sorry, Professor, but I cannot do that.” She doesn’t expand on her words—doesn’t say that she does not believe the Ministry has the good of the students, or even Hogwarts in mind, and she certainly doesn’t say that she believes they’re operating based on their own agenda, but it doesn’t matter in the end, her refusal to take back her earlier accusations seal her fate.

“Then there is only one course of action,” Umbridge declares. “Please stay after class for a lesson in respecting your betters.”

In the future, in her more lucid moments, Hermione will wonder what would have happened if she had just left with Harry and Ron after class that day, but she didn’t. She obeyed her teacher and stayed in her seat until Umbridge beckoned her over to the fireplace.

“Come with me, Miss Granger; you have a punishment scheduled with the Minister.”

Hermione gulped, fear sinking deep into her bones as she steps into the fireplace. She hears Umbridge call out their location—Ministry of Magic, the Minister’s Office—and wonders what they could possibly do to her.

Standing beside her professor in the Minister’s office, Hermione is frozen when the command reaches her ears. “Please remove your clothes for your punishment, Miss Granger,” Umbridge instructs her.

Hermione shakes her head. “No!” she protests, “You can’t possibly expect me to do that—you can’t possibly make me!”

The smile on Umbridge’s face is impossibly cruel. With a pointed look to the silent but ever-watchful Minister, Cornelius Fudge, Umbridge replies, “On the contrary, Miss Granger, I have the express permission of the Ministry to keep the students of Hogwarts in line, and I do expect you to comply with any and all orders. Now, strip for your punishment.”

With shaky hands, Hermione slowly unbuttons her blouse and lets it fall to the floor. She chances a glance at Minister Fudge and can see his eyes watching her closely. She sucks in a breath before continuing, pushing her skirt down her hips and stepping out of it. Her hands reach for the tie around her neck, but Umbridge stops her.

“The tie can stay, as can your shoes and socks, but the bra and panties need to go.”

Shame enveloping Hermione completely, she reluctantly complies with the order. Her hands reach behind her to unhook her bra, letting it fall to the floor, and then she hooks her fingers in her panties and pulls them down.

“Leave them just around the ankles, Miss Granger,” Fudge speaks up for the first time.

Hermione nods her understanding, her face flushing with further embarrassment as she complies, pushing her panties down to her ankles before standing back up.

“Now, bend over and hold onto the desk facing Minister Fudge,” Umbridge takes over again. When Hermione complies, closing her eyes so she doesn’t have to see the Minister’s face as her own gets even redder.