I had many questions when I woke up. My headache was gone. I was in my bed. The others had somehow managed to put me in a hospital-like area but not the hospital wing. Was I in the Room of Requirement? Probably. Molly stood over me, adjusting a few things in… yet another goddamn IV.

Some 7th and 6th years were here too. I didn't care about them. They probably didn't care about me and were only curious what that dosage would do. I swore I saw a Hufflepuff try to steal some of the Mescaline that was in the other IV bag. Why did I know it was Mescaline? How awake had I been?

When Molly looked at me again, she saw my open eyes. She called everyone over.

"He's awake again. Did you say that on average people recover from this kind of dosage after waking up 3 or 4 times? He's on his 4th."

I laid down. When had I sat up? Had I sat up? Ugh, it hurt to think, kind of. I still didn't understand what was going on with the world around me, but at least I was getting a better grip on reality.

Someone walked over. Irene, maybe. She smacked me in the face. The other kids looked at her angrily.

"It's all gone to shit. We're stuck in our dorms now since there are about 80 people outside patrolling for anyone who tries to leave, the building at least. The teachers told us to stay inside, but we don't really care. The Ministry tried to kick out Aranea and the others who were being gay as sacrifices- I think their actual words were 'better off dead than gay' but I'm not sure- so we've been in the Room of Requirement for awhile. It's the 1st of December, in case you wanted to know. Now ask away."

I was a little unhappy about how much Irene knew about me, but I wasn't going to complain right now.

"What did you treat me with? Was Pomfrey under Imperius or is she being like this in general?"

Everyone looked at me in surprise. I was getting better faster now. Roxy answered my first question.

"Wizardpedia. Cat and I have been filing the entirety of the library online and now we have all the answers to anything that's ever happened in history or will happen that someone predicted. It's a pretty fun thing to do since I was put in here. By the way, that happened 2 days ago."

She was pretty chill about this whole thing. She, Irene, Cat, Aranea, and the other Strilondes were always pretty okay with stuff happening that freaked everyone else out. They'd be one hell of a power group.

"We don't know about Pomfrey yet. And by the way, your boyfriend wants to know if you're okay. We haven't told him anything. Also, Roxy, get him back to your dorm. That way we'll find out about what happened to Pomfrey if she shows up to try to find him. Well, maybe not Roxy," Irene pondered aloud. "Probably Cas. He'll answer whatever questions you have."

"Toodle-oo!"

Cas levitated me out of the room and through the library. Why couldn't I have stayed longer? Where did that IV go?

Did I stay longer? I probably did and just can't remember. Great. Now whatever information I missed I would sound dumb for not knowing. Oh well. Cas probably wouldn't judge.

Wait a second. I had a boyfriend? No, she was just talking about John. Wait, was he my boyfriend? Why couldn't I think?

"Let me down a second."

Cas gave me a wary look but set me down on the ground.

"Do you have any more of that medicine they gave me earlier?"

He nodded and pulled something out of his pocket. "I don't know who got it here, but it's some kind of magic thing from St. Mungo's or something. I don't think you should take it this soon after the-"

I grabbed it out of his hand and took some more. My head cleared. I started walking up to the dorm.

He chased after me but didn't stop me from walking.

"That was not a great idea."

"I don't care."

JM was Cat. Probably. It was likely. So I could just get that figured out and it'd all be good. And she was in jail, so I just had to find her mole.

I got to my dorm and threw open her trunk. Her laptop could probably give me some idea as to who it was. But it wasn't there!

"Cas, do you know-"

Joseph was in the room.

"Sherlock, there you are! You've been missing classes. Come on now, I was sent to find you by Umbridge. She would like to talk to you about making up some work you've missed in all your classes. Would you mind coming with me?" He didn't even wait for a response, just grabbed my arm and took off.

I kept up with him. We passed Cas along the way, who was very confused. Joseph made too many twists and turns. Under his breath, I heard him mumble something about "should've stayed at Durmstrang", which explained why he was taking me to the wrong part of the school. But I stayed quiet.

Eventually, he tripped on the false stair and gave up, instead just folding up a paper airplane and following it.

I'd seen them flying around in the Ministry, but I hadn't seen this use before. I guess you really do get inventive when you're lost and hurt.

He still had an iron grip on my arm. I was not happy about that, but whatever. We followed the airplane which somehow had the patience to not fly off without us, or maybe it just went really slow. I wasn't sure.

But somehow, we made it to Umbridge's office. It wasn't Dumbledore's, but it was still pretty fancy. I wasn't sure how she'd managed it, but everywhere was covered in lacy pink kittens. I could've sworn I saw McGonagall's cat form on one of the photos of the wall, probably somewhere in the castle. I snorted. McGonagall probably was going to mess with Umbridge- make her hate cats by the end of this. If she didn't, Cat would.

God that was a shitty pun.

Damn it.

Umbridge was staring at me, looking as if she wanted a response to a question. She must've asked something. I didn't answer.

"I said, why have you been missing your classes?"

Oh. Ummm… I didn't have a good answer. I had answers, but none of them were good. "Well, I think that my classes are too easy and are teaching me either irrelevant or things I've learned before. And I can teach myself better. And that's not including the fact I've been poisoned and drugged several times now by the food you give me and the medicine I was given by Madame Pomfr-"

She cut me off.

"So you don't like our method of teaching? Well, Mr. Holmes, it's not up to you. So if you would attend class, we won't have these issues. Now, will you be attending class?"

"That wasn't what I said! Well, it was, but the main issue was that I've been on several drug trips due to others within the school! And I may not be the only one getting drugged! This is a major issue-"

"William Holmes, that is not what I asked. I asked will you be attending classes, and that was not an answer. I am not looking for an excuse."

"You asked me why I wasn't attending class, that was asking for an excuse, that contradicts your-"

"Don't talk back." Her trademark false sweetness was gone. She was getting very angry with me. Good!

"I will assign one of our on-sight Aurors to your case. Ever since America started doing it with their kids, I've hoped not to have to, but in your case, with your impertinence, I think it's the best possibility."

What? No. I didn't need an Auror. I needed someone who knew what the Imperious curse was and how to tell who was under it! I needed someone to find out who was putting LSD in the food, or water supply, or… whatever! Augh!

"Someone is threatening our school and poisoning people! I was kidnapped earlier this year!"

She took a deep breath. "And you're delusional."

I was nearly at my breaking point. "Ask McGonagall! Someone was kidnapped in September! And so was I! God, you're just-"

She called out into the hall. "Joseph? Take him back to his dorm. Keep him there until I get a case manager assigned."

He came in and grabbed my arm again. I was fuming. Normally, I wouldn't be, but this was the safety of the entire school! Not to mention, I was incredibly curious. And she just put so many barriers in my way…

We walked back. A short meeting with Umbridge had not only just made my file larger but kept me in my room. Unless…

I could see John from my room. What if…

I'd need someone to take messages back and forth, or set up something or other for communication…

I'd be the insider. I just had to work my way out of this and into a better place. And not eat. That was very important. My stomach growled just thinking about it.

As we passed by the endless halls, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I looked like a mess. I hadn't been in a shower since Thursday… What day was it anyways?

I almost pulled out my phone to check. But I managed to resist until I got into my dorm. I was the only one there.

"Stay in here. If you come out, I will know about it."

He enchanted my door. He wasn't supposed to be able to do that, but whatever. As soon as he shut it, I pulled out my phone.

I'm sure my face must've paled. It was the 22nd of November… The mission took place on the 16th! Jesus fuck, how long had I been in the hospital wing? No wonder Umbridge pulled me out of class.

I sat down on the bed. Then got right back up and got into the shower. I really, really smelled.

John didn't answer my text. I didn't worry too much. We were all on edge now. And since people like Chad were in his room… let's just say it wasn't unusual for them to take forever. Of course, Gamzee was there too, and everyone was afraid of the Makaras, but still.

I had been alone and locked up in my room for 8 hours now. I'd ransacked the Taken's trunks to see if I could be entertained, but the only things I found were their clothes. Not even their wands were there! Also, Cat's computer was gone. I thought that was something I only thought I did? That was interesting. Either someone took it and my brain thought it up, or…

I shot off a text to her. Maybe she did have it.

She responded quickly enough. "Yeah lmao it just appeared over my bed idek why, but it did. Anyways how is everyone?"

I didn't answer that. So someone sent it to her. Was it possible in my drugged state I'd managed to get it to her? It seems possible. I could check Wizardpedia, but maybe not. I was pretty sure I'd read about things like that happening before.

Was Wizardpedia even still running with the two main coordinators in jail and hidden in a room respectively? Honestly, almost definitely. Roxy could keep anything running if she tried hard enough.

The next text I got was an "asshole" from Felipe. I wasn't sure if he texted that or if Cat stole his phone and texted it, but whatever. They didn't matter anymore.

I had things to do.

Okay, maybe they did matter. If they were Moriarty. Or at least if Cat was. So that was that.

I went back to the spreadsheet. I didn't think that Moriarty would get themselves arrested, which was why they were moving further down. Also, why would they bother getting Egan to do work for them? They were Ravenclaw. They'd do it themselves, probably. Although Hufflepuffs were hard workers… Ugh.

Jim Soliani. He and Moran were getting more and more likely with each moment. Maybe they were all working together. That wouldn't be surprising.

I still couldn't think. What was wrong with my brain? Maybe sleep would help. Or violin! Yes, that would be better. Right? Nope. Everything hurt. I cried out in pain as I tried to reach under the bed. No, no, no! Not again! This was annoying. And also made me fear for my life, but mostly annoyed me to hell. Whoever was drugging me needed to take a chill pill. I was probably going to die soon. Shit.

I had learned to apparate years ago. I was a bored child and they couldn't really do anything about it. All I had to do was get out of here and to the outside where I could apparate away. To St. Mungo's. Hopefully, no one would follow me there. There was nowhere safe! … But still, St. Mungo's was my best hope.

If I crawled out of the window…

Yeah, I was just gonna go back to the Room of Requirement for another few days. I'd disappear after that. Cas was in the common room as I made my way back downstairs. I'd grabbed Calvin's invisibility cloak his mom had given him and threw it on over myself.

"Bring me back to that room. Now."

He must've seen the panic in my disembodied voice since he grabbed where he thought my arm was and headed off. Eventually, he gave up and just levitated me.

Why was my life going down the drain as quickly as it was? What was going on? Who was causing this?

On our way, we bumped into a Gryffindor. He pulled off the cloak.

"Sherlock? Are you okay?"

I felt instantly better from the contact. Whoever had done this… had they tampered with my body's chemicals? I'd read theories about people doing that so their chosen slave couldn't escape from them… But it was unlikely. I used the jolt I got to stand up.

"I've been poisoned and drugged. Again. Come on, we should show you the common room." I grabbed his arm and ran through the halls with him, pulling the invisibility cloak and Cas along with us. We made it in record time- whoever controlled the stairs must've been working in our favor. I silently thanked the Grey Lady and knocked at the door.

A muffled "password" came from the other side. Cas stepped up to the task.

"Your mom."

There was an audible "lmao" from the other side. I almost had a cringe attack. The door swung open.

"No matter what anyone says, there is no way that is ever going to be not funny," Dan said. When did he get here? It doesn't matter.

"I need to stay in here. I'm on the run too for missing class. And it's also possible I'm constantly drugged and I need a constant solution."

"Makes sense. But I'll leave that to Rose and the Ravenclaws."

I looked around. "Where are they, anyway?" The only people in the room were Cas, John, Mark, Felix, Mariza, Dan, and Phil.

"Oh! They went to get some things from the kitchens! They'll be back soon." I smiled at Mariza kindly. There was like a 20% chance her defense squad would kill me if I didn't. Better safe than sorry.

"Thank you. But I need them back up here… well, I don't know. Probably not."

"Sherlock, what is going on?"

Right. John was still clueless. And I'd been gone from class and everything for several days. I did my best to explain as we waited for the others to get back.

"That makes no sense."

"Just don't tell anyone it might be Cat."

Cas and the others had given us the back space with the beds to talk while they waited for the group to get back. Why did they all have to go, anyway? How much food were they getting?

A better question: how long were they going to stay here?