Chapter reposted 5/19/19. This chapter did not have a beta. All mistakes are my own.

Wednesday

Hermione, Ginny and Harry were exhausted. It was after two in the morning and they were just now getting back to their common room after the night of endless questions. Despite their exhaustion, they didn't feel like sleeping because they hadn't had a chance to talk everything through amongst themselves. They had been instantly separated and questioned by Dumbledore.

Then the Aurors had arrived. Thank goodness, Tonks had been one of them. Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Snape were all there as well.

Hermione had been completely forthcoming with everyone with the exception of one thing; She did not disclose anything Professor Snape had told her Monday morning in his classroom. It was enough to recount all that had happened Saturday night, which had included her getting Snape involved. The man would have to answer for his own actions, or lack thereof. But his conversation with her before class on Monday was private and what he told her was in confidence. She would not betray his trust.

When she told them about the knickers in the duffle bag, Professor McGonagall had been sent to retrieve Harry as well as the knickers. Hermione also told them about her personal experience with her panties disappearing and how she thought they had been being charmed off. That was the worst part. She felt like an idiot and she knew the professors and Aurors thought she was foolish and naïve for assuming such an innocent explanation. In hindsight, and in light of what she had caught Blaise and others doing, she realized now that she had been a complete fool.

At the end of all the questioning, Blaise, Vincent, the knickers and the Sneak-O-Scope were taken into custody by the Aurors. The details had not been fully disclosed, but Trixie had been under the influence of a drug or potion of some sort. She had been taken to the infirmary and her parents had been called.

"This is so huge," Ginny said. "Who knows how long Blaise has been doing this," she continued in a shaky voice. Her eyes were moist and wide with worry when she whispered, "I was alone with him last week when we patrolled together...what if?"

Harry grabbed his distraught girlfriend and held her tight. "It doesn't mean he did anything to you." Despite his intention of reassurance, the words sounded false and untrue. He kissed the top of her head, trying to contain the fury that was brimming below the surface of his emotions.

Hermione was thinking out loud. "Frankly, it could have happened to me to for all I know. You, me and the Patil twins are all missing knickers. If he's the one who's been taking them, which I think we can assume he has...then what else did he do to us?" Hermione felt her own panic begin to swell. Her vision became blurred from her own tears. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to fall apart. It was when Harry reached for her, pulling her into the hug with Ginny, that she allowed herself the luxury of crying.

Just then, Professor McGonagall walked into the common room with three doses of Dreamless Sleep potion. She looked at them wearily and with no small amount of sympathy. "Drink these and go to your rooms." She rubbed her forehead. "This is all just a big mess. In all my years, I never..." Dropping her hand, her eyes softened with affection as she studied her charges. "Get to bed you three. You'll need a good night's sleep for all that's to come."

Draco was sound asleep when he was awakened by his godfather.

"Draco, Draco. Come with me."

He begrudgingly got up and followed Severus to his private quarters, realizing something significant must had happened. Snape had never retrieved him in the middle of the night before.

"Everything okay?" Draco asked as he yawned.

Severus shot him a lethal look. "If you consider Blaise and Vincent being arrested by Aurors as 'okay', then yes, everything is 'okay."

"What?" Draco's jaw fell as the probability of what had happened crashed down on him.

"Blaise was caught selling Trixie Sinclair's services to seven wizards."

"Oh shit." Draco collapsed into the wing chair as Snape rolled his eyes at his godson's understatement.

"Miss Granger and Miss Weasley caught them."

Draco shook his head, "I knew you should have obliviated her Saturday night! Because you didn't, she kept sniffing around like a dog looking for its buried bone."

Snape's glare was piercing. "Don't...blame...this...on...me, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco sighed, "I'm not blaming you. Blaise was reckless. I warned him this morning at breakfast."

"Yes, well, we need to have a plan, and we need to be consistent and on the same page. So far, nothing has come back to you. Frankly, I'm more implicated than you because I didn't do anything after Miss Granger came to me Saturday night." The professor sighed heavily and sat down. "I can talk my way out of that easily enough, though. As far as Miss Granger knows, I didn't actually catch them Saturday night."

Draco didn't say anything, he simply stared into the fire as all the possible implications began to wash over him.

"Apparently, Miss Granger overheard Blaise, Trixie, Theo and Vincent last night as well. She tried to come get me, but I was at the weekly staff meeting." He rubbed his tired eyes. "It's amazing Theo hasn't been arrested. But Miss Granger has no proof against him about Saturday or last night."

Severus was staring into the fire as he continued to think. "Draco, you need to hide every bit of that potion. It cannot be found amongst your things. I think you'll be protected as long as you aren't caught with any of it." He turned to look at his godson. "Do that first thing you go back to your room tonight. Get rid of your notes about it as well. All your research, everything... it needs to be where it can't be found. The antidote as well. Blaise will have to take the fall for this. I was able to speak with him privately for a few moments. He won't betray us. Of that I am quite certain."

Snape stood and walked to the bar where he poured two fire whiskys. He handed one to Draco. "One more thing, and this is very important, Miss Granger must not suspect you of anything, Draco. You need to be the concerned friend. She needs to trust you…confide in you." Snape consumed his drink in one swallow. He rolled his eyes as he said, "I will play my part as well and be the doting Professor."

Hermione woke up the next morning and lay in bed, dreading what the day would bring. How would this be handled? As word got out, witches would be panicking and wondering if they were among the victims.

Hermione rolled onto her side. Or, perhaps nothing will be shared with the student body? Maybe it will be classes as usual? After a moment's contemplation, she exhaled a deep breath. Only one way to find out.

She slipped out of bed and grabbed her shower things and uniform before heading to the prefect's bath. When she entered the common room, her question was answered. There was a sign that said classes would be cancelled and breakfast was mandatory. Everyone was to report to the Great Hall no later than eight-thirty that morning. Hermione looked at her watch. She had just enough time for a bath.

When she arrived at the prefect's bath, the door would not open for her, which meant a male was inside. After about five minutes, just before she was going to give up, Draco walked out looking miserable. He froze when he saw her. He swallowed and simply said, "I didn't know, Hermione. I had no idea my best friend was such a monster."

She watched him warily for a moment, wanting to believe him but questioning if she should. When his eyes started to glisten with moisture, Hermione felt his words were more than likely sincere. She stepped towards him and took his hand before pulling him into a hug. "Oh Draco," she whispered with a heavy sigh. What else could she say?

He froze for a second's pause before his arms reciprocated with what Draco deemed was the appropriate show of disbelief and hesitation. When her hold on him tightened in response, he internally beamed with pleasure. This might all work out in his favor quite nicely if he played his cards correctly.

Thirty minutes later, Hermione was sitting next to Harry and Ron in the Great Hall when Dumbledore appeared at the podium and began to speak. "By now, many of you are aware of what happened last evening. In case what you heard was a fabricated version, or in case you haven't heard at all, I will be telling you an abbreviated, but factual, version of events. It is not necessary, nor your right, to know every detail. Blaise Zabini and Vincent Crabbe have been taken into custody by Aurors. Six other students have been suspended and sent home. Trixie Sinclair's parents have withdrawn her from the school and taken her home."

There were loud mumblings around the Great Hall as students started whispering amongst themselves and looking around to try to figure out who the six suspended wizards were.

Dumbledore gave them a moment and then continued. "It appears, and I say appears, because all wizards and witches accused of a crime are innocent until proven guilty." He stopped and slowly gazed about the room for effect. "It appears that Mr. Zabini had acquired a potion that when given to others caused them to lose their better judgment and become susceptible to the suggestions and desires of the wizard giving the potion. It also appears this potion was given to Miss Sinclair in the presence of not only Mr. Zabini, but Vincent Crabbe and six other wizards. Suffice it to say, events transpired that rendered the arrests and suspensions necessary."

There were loud exclamations of shock and outrage. Dumbledore spoke loudly over the crowd. "Please remain calm. Your heads of house will be visiting your common rooms where more questions will be answered." With that, Dumbledore stepped down from the podium and the students rose, anxious to get back to their house where they could discuss everything and hopefully, get more information.

Hermione stood and Harry took her hand, leading her out of the room with his other arm around Ginny.

While they were waiting for McGonagall, Ron said quietly. "What I don't get, is why the knickers ended up in Harry's bag."

Harry shrugged, "Well, Malfoy was surely in on it all. He's Zabini's best friend, after all. Malfoy probably took them and planted them on me."

Hermione couldn't help herself. "Just because Blaise did these things, doesn't mean Draco was in on it. I saw him this morning. He was absolutely devastated."

Ron replied dismissively, "Yeah, devastated because he's afraid the truth will out, and his involvement will be proven."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Also, Zabini sucked at potions. There's no way he brewed something that could do that. Malfoy, on the other hand, is great at potions. It makes the most sense that he's involved."

Hermione was irritated. "How do you jump to these wild accusations without any proof? Blaise could have purchased the potion in Knockturn Alley!"

Ron rolled his eyes, "Hermione, we have plenty of proof. Look at Malfoy's behavior, his bigotry and his hatefulness over the past five years. He's got you fooled... all of a sudden being nice to you because he needs your help with this potions project."

Hermione knew it was pointless. "Well, I think you're wrong. Draco has become my friend. I even told him I'd go to Hogsmeade with him on Saturday."

Harry and Ron both shrieked, "You what?"

Just then McGonagall walked in.

Talking turned to yelling as everyone was trying to be heard to get their questions answered.

"One question at a time, please!" McGonagall insisted. Hermione could see how tired the Professor was.

"If you won't tell us the names of the suspended students, will you at least tell us their houses?" Dean Thomas asked.

She responded, "Their names are not a secret. Four were from Slytherin and two were from Ravenclaw." She paused and then sighed. "Terry Boot and Michael Corner from Ravenclaw. Theo Nott, Gregory Goyle, Justin Harper and Adrian Pucey from Slytherin."

Hermione was angry that Theo Nott had merely been suspended. He should have been arrested as well. But she had no proof that what she heard Saturday and Monday was what she thought it was. They only had proof of the events the prior night, thanks to Ginny's Sneak-O-Scope.

"Do we know if the potion was used on any other witches? Have any others come forward to say they had been potioned?" Parvarti asked.

"We do not know. We do not know if the potion had been used prior to last night. However, it is possible, as there has been a witness to a possible attack against another witch. I will not say her name, so don't ask. I will say that she denied having been involved, so either the young lady was obliviated afterwards, or the witness was wrong."

She paused and continued. "Clearly, it is our hope that this was an isolated incident. We do not have all the facts yet as interrogations and the investigation are still in full swing. At some point today, an owl post will be sent to all parents or guardians with a brief explanation of what has happened."

The Gryffindors continued looking at each other and whispering amongst themselves.

McGonagall looked around the room. "If any witches have been attacked, or fear they may have been, please see Madam Pomfrey." She then added. "There are certain diagnostic tests she can perform that might help…" Professor McGonagall swayed. Harry and Neville were closest and jumped up to assist her into a chair.

"I'm sorry," The professor said with exhaustion and sadness in her voice. "I'm so sorry this has happened. I just feel sick." The students all gathered around their head of house and offered her the same emotional support they were offering each other. She was one of them at this moment. Not a teacher, not the deputy headmistress…just a Gryffindor.