So now we find out what really happened on the Hogsmeade trip, hope you enjoy!

Steven, in Trix's opinion, was far too relaxed when he entered. Through out the time at the Inn he hadn't said more then five words to Severus and now he was walking in like having an interview with the headmaster about something so serious was very normal.

"Sit down, Mr. Blask." Severus said making a chair appear from nowhere.

"Thank you, Sir. Professors." He nodded to Minerva and Filius then looked curiously at Trix. "Trixabelle." He said cordially.

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Surprised to see her here?"

"She's not being questioned, Sir?"

"In time."

"What we want to know, Steven," Filius said from behind his steepled fingers, "is what happened today after you left The Three Broomsticks."

Trix leaned forwards on her table ever so slightly. This side of the story she still had not heard and had been wanting to ask about it since she had got back to the castle.

"We left the Broomsticks and Sophia decided she needed a quill from the shop so she left and we waited outside. Laura wanted to see if Madam Lucy was back at the salon yet so Archie, Sam and I waited in the shelter of Zonkos. Sophia came back from Scrivenshaft's and we walked back down the street. She said that she hadn't seen Laura in the salon but we all said we did and made her come back to the castle."

He said it all quite breezily, without even seeming to care what he was saying. He sat slightly slouched in his chair as was usual from sitting with books most of the time. Trix still wasn't comfortable with the ease with which he was acting and she could tell that her dad and the professors were becoming just as uneasy as she was. She caught her dad's eye and they both shared the same perturbed glance.

"How did Sophia act on the way back up to the castle?"

"She kept asking to let us let her go back."

"And it never occurred to you that there might be something wrong?"

"No. Why would we?

"Perhaps because there was something wrong?" Trix blurted before she could stop herself.

"Observing only." Severus snapped. "Did you never second guess yourself?"

"No."

"That will be all for now. Send Archie Danes in."

The same questions were asked and answered with answers that were the same word for word. The way the words were said was different to accommodate his personality but there was little expression in his voice. There was the same carelessness there too. Even Sam, who Trix felt sure would at least care that he was wrong didn't appear to see anything wrong with his actions.

"They were all the same." Minerva sighed.

"Not quite." Severus said. "Steven said 'Laura wanted to see if Madam Lucy was back at the salon yet'. Archie and Samuel said 'Laura wanted to see if Madam Lucy was at the salon."

"Wait." Trixabelle said standing from the table and walking into the light. "Are you saying she went to the salon before we went to the Broomsticks?"

"You have no recollection?"

"No." she said but her mind wasn't on her words but trying to remember what happened before her dad got to the inn.

They walked to the village, went to the sweet shop and then straight to the broomsticks. No one left the group at any time between being the sweet shop and going to the Broomsticks. They'd conversed, joked, laughed at Sam when he tripped over.

Her heart pounding she went into the other room where she's spent so long recovering from Peeve's 'joke'. Her three friends were there as was Aberforth.

"Steven, did you and Laura go to Madam Lucy's before we went to the Broomsticks?"

"Yeah." He said suddenly more like himself. "We didn't say long because Madame Lucy wasn't there. Remember Sophia asked if there was any point in us getting hair cuts as they only took about half an inch off?"

"No you didn't." Sam argued. "You came with us straight to the Inn after going to the sweet shop and you laughed at me when I fell over." He blushed when silence met his words. "He did."

"Yes and you took out your scroll, Steven, for marking and ask me about it most of the way there."

"No. No. I took it out in the pub and quietly asked Sophia about it whilst you and Sam talked about quidditch and you, Archie, and Laura were eating sweets."

"We didn't start eating sweets until Professor Snape arrived." Archie calmly argued. "Didn't we?" he asked turning to face Professor Snape for the first time.

"There were already wrappers on the table." He replied.

"So we've all had our memories altered?" Sam asked.

A heavy weight filled the room and for a few moments everyone looked at Severus waiting for an answer.

"Yes."

"So what really happened?"

"Steven and Laura went to the salon before going to The Three Broomsticks–"

"Where Madam Lucy was all day until she closed up." Aberforth interrupted Severus. "I talked to her in the street once I closed up. Said that she'd had two strange acting customers in the morning. Most likely Laura and yourself." He nodded at Steven.

" –You stayed there for a short time before joining Trixabelle, Sophia, Archie and Samuel at The Three Broomsticks where their memories were then altered to gloss over your absence. I arrived. And from then all of your memories, I suspect, will be the same until you left. Then Laura went back to the salon, Sophia went to Scrivenshaft's. Your three memories will have been altered then. From there… I will have to speak to Sophia and Laura before we can know."

"Go back to your dormitories you three." Minerva said. "Trixabelle I think it's time we spoke to Miss Brown."

The four students left leaving the professors to question Aberforth.

"I was walking home when I noticed that the Whomping Willow was still." He began and the rest of his words were spoken as if from far away.

He walked towards the willow his wand already drawn. A young girl was stood there with a hunched over man who was giving her instructions. Then he raised his wand against her. Aberforth ran into the clearing trying to stun the man but he ran away behind the willow which was likely to come to life at any moment.

He put his hand on the girl's shoulder but she aggressively pushed him away and drew her wand. She whispered one simple word, Crucio. When she let the curse go he slowly got to his feet. Then Trixabelle stepped between them.

"Need I go on, Severus?"

"No. Are you sure she was under the Imperious curse?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Aberforth."

He stood from his chair and walked out the office.

Sophia came into the room trying to hold back her tears. Trix lead her to the empty sofa and sat next to her holding her hand.

"Mum's going to take me out of school for this."

"No she won't." Trix soothed. "I told her what happened before she left the Broomsticks. She's got the same memories as Archie, Sam and I."

"They wouldn't let me anywhere near the castle until it was dark. They took me around the lake – used the Imperious curse." She took a breath and collected herself. Everyone else in the room exchanged troubled looks.

"They said I was talking nonsense. That I was in danger of being sent to St. Mungo's. They only let me in a few moments before you opened the doors on us arguing. They were more like themselves after dark. Before they were…"

"Too calm. Too normal." Trix whispered.

"I didn't see her in Madam Lucy's and I got worried. They just said I must have glanced over her without realising. It was only once we got near the castle that they started acting like they were being influenced. I tried to break free, I swear I did." She broke back down into tears and hid behind a tissue.

Trix squeezed her hand and rubbed her back.

"You can go now, Sophia." Severus said.

Once the door had closed he walked to his desk, everyone followed.

"Minerva, I was supposed to go the ministry tomorrow. In light of what has happened I would like you to take care of the business instead." He passed her some parchment which had details of what she had to do. "Filius, you teach all of them – keep an eye on them in your class. Tell the rest of the staff what has happened. Trixabelle… stay with your friends tomorrow. On Monday evening tell me if anything in their actions changes. Keep a close eye on them. Especially Laura –"

"You think she's still in danger?"

"You all are I think. We'll resume Defence Against the Dark Arts in the evening. I will tell their parents what has happened."

Minerva, Filius and Trixabelle took that as a dismissal and left the office. Severus sat back in his chair and let out a slow breath. He glanced over at Dumbledore's portrait and saw him nod before snoozing in his chair. Severus sighed again and stood from his chair deciding what to tell the parents before they arrived. Simply that some dark magic had been used on them or a brief overview of the whole story? He had to decide quickly.

A glass of wine appeared before him.

"Stressed?" Trixabelle asked.

"You were dismissed." He took the wine anyway and sat back down.

"Taking daughterly liberties." She leaned against the desk and folded her arms looking at him in concern.

He looked slightly paler than usual and extra lines had appeared on his face. His eyes unfocused for a moment and reflected the light of the fire. His eyes flicked to Trixabelle when she rubbed her eyes.

"I'm alright. Eventful evening. Lack of food."

"There're some toffees over there."

"You're more annoyed with yourself." She said with a wisdom beyond her years. "You could never have seen this coming."

"I swore to myself I would protect you." He seethed and clenched his fist on the desk top.

Trix closed her hand over his. "You're protecting me now."

She then stood up and walked out of the office and closed the door behind herself.

Once outside and down the stairs Trix let the emotions of the night roll over her. It was still barely seven in the evening but the day had seemed to last forever. The happiness of the Hogsmeade visit had vanished because she didn't know what had actually happened anymore. What conversations had she had? Did Sam really fall over?

There was the worry she was harbouring for everyone. Laura and Sophia especially. And Sam. Sam who… who what? Had been through the same as Archie. Laura and Sophia were the biggest victims here. Forced to fight, emotionally tortured by friends. Imperioused.

What was most difficult for her to deal with was that someone had changed her memory without her even realising. She didn't know what had happened to her today because someone had used magic against her. Thinking about it the shock crept upon her again and she felt tears in her eyes.

Seeing Sophia in her minds eye again, crying as she walked towards the very office she had just left, crying inside it and crying with Laura… She'd been scared. Scared that they were both seriously damaged by what had happened and would have to be taken to St. Mungo's.

Anger also burst forth even though she now knew it was without foundation. Archie, Steven and Sam's actions hadn't been entirely their own but the careless explanations they gave almost made her shake with anger.

Then fear of a new sort washed over her. One thought that she'd been pushing back all evening came forward. The one thought she didn't dare to think. The one thought she bluntly refused to think.

Footsteps at the sop of the stairs made her swallow her tears and wipe a few from her eyes.

"Trixabelle?" her Dad asked.

"Yeah." She turned back to him affecting a calm air.

Severus however wasn't fooled by it. His face fell into concern and all thoughts of meeting the parents in the guest rooms vanished. Slowly he walked towards her and rested a hand on her shoulder. She looked down at her feet and he felt her take a shuddering breath and knew she was swallowing tears.

"Do you think – do you think this is linked to the vision I had?" she looked back up at him, tears glistening on her lashes and shining on her face.

For a moment he wondered whether to tell her. Lying would be easier. Would save her from a little more fear.

"Yes." he said. "I think it has everything to do with the vision you had."

More tears fell from her eyes. She looked away, further down the stairs and bit her bottom lip. She took another deep breath.

"You'll be safe."

"That's not the point." She whispered.

"You might not be seeing the whole vision."

She spun to face him and snapped, "I know enough." in a voice barely audible she said, "I dream of it every night."

Unable to take her sorrow anymore without doing anything Severus moved down to the step she was stood on and pulled her into his arms. Trixabelle seemed to give in entirely to her emotions and curled up in his arms and silently cried over everything that had happened and what was to happen in the future.

For a few minutes they just stood there, Severus almost moved to tears too. He wanted to stay with her until she was alright but once again duty pulled him away.

"I have to go and explain today's events to everyone's parents. You will be alright I trust."

Trixabelle nodded and sniffed. Severus gently squeezed her shoulder before allowing her to leave.

Now to sort everyone else out, they both thought as they walked down their respective corridors.

Not the best chapter in terms of how it's written but I hope you liked it anyway. Please leave a review!

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