Professor McGonagall fixed the audacious young wizards with a stern look. "What on earth are you playing at?"
Cold anger tinged her voice. "Why weren't you all staying safely in your dormitories? You're lucky it didn't kill you!"
At that moment, Hermione, having recovered somewhat from her terror, stepped in front of Professor McGonagall. "Professor McGonagall, they came looking for me."
She had meant to lie to Professor McGonagall, claiming that she had read about trolls in a book and thought she could handle one.
But Hannah unexpectedly stepped forward first.
"Professor McGonagall! Ron and Hermione had an argument after Charms this afternoon."
Hannah's blunt honesty immediately ruined the little beaver's plan.
"I spent the whole afternoon with Hermione in the girls' bathroom. We didn't know a troll had entered the castle."
Kyle stepped forward as well. "I was worried the two of them might run into the troll, so I came to find them."
Professor McGonagall studied the three of them. She knew they were close. "Is that so, Miss Granger?"
Hermione could only nod helplessly. That was indeed what had happened.
However, she left out part of the truth—namely, how two idiots had locked the troll inside the bathroom and nearly gotten her and Hannah killed.
Since the two of them had at least turned back to draw the troll's attention away from them, Hermione and Hannah decided to let them off for now.
Professor McGonagall's stern gaze settled on Harry and Ron. "And what about you two?"
"They must have been worried about my safety too, so they came looking for me," Hermione explained on their behalf.
Professor McGonagall's expression visibly softened. Looking at Harry and Ron, her tone was slightly gentler than before. "If that is the case, then five points each for your brave actions."