FINALLY! After months of trying to figure out how I wanted this story to go, I think I finally have it! Thank you for all your patience in waiting for it. Here is the next chapter, and look for more to come! Comments are welcome!


Reunion, Part 8

The hospital wing was fairly empty so Madame Pomfrey was surprised to see she had some business.

"Really Neville," Hermione said, keeping just a step ahead of him, "I'm OK...I just..." she said weakly, her face still pale.

Madame Pomfrey looked at the two of them and led Hermione over to a nearby bed. "What has happened?" she said worriedly.

"M..Murder.." Neville managed to get out, his throat croaking as if Trevor was in it.

Madame Pomfrey's eyebrows raise "Indeed?"

"Yeah...Pansy Parkinson..dis..guised as me," Hermione gulped.

Pomfrey just nodded her head in affirmation. Even if she didn't know the whole story, it was her job to calm her patient down. "Here, here is some sleeping potion, it looks like you need it, " she explained, pouring a tonic into a small glass and handing it to Hermione.

"I really...don't want to sleep, I'm fine, really, after the initial shock." Hermione insisted, starting to get up off the bed. "Besides, I need to be on my guard."

"I'll watch over you Hermione," Neville offered, smiling at her. He was being very sweet but it didn't seem to comfort Hermione much. "It's just that if someone is trying to kill me, " she gulped again, "I don't want to take any unecessary risks....that potion could be poisoned." she stated, crossing her arms.

"Miss Granger I assure you this is from my personal stock..no one has access to it but myself."

"Still...I'd rather not..."

Madame Pomfrey looked like for the good of her patient she couldn't let this go by, but she also could hear the frightened quiver in Hermione's voice that she was trying very hard to hide.

"Very well, then just get some rest..naturally. Mr Longbottom can stay here and watch you."

Hermione nodded and laid down on the bed nervously, not saying much else as Neville sat next to her and Madame Pomfrey closed the curtains around them.

* * *

In McGonagall's office Malfoy, Harry, Ron and their families were sitting in chairs around McGonagall's desk. McGonagall was obviously very disturbed although she was trying hard to keep an impartial expression on her face.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy, have you noticed unusual behavior in Miss Parkinson recently or have any idea why she might have wanted to disguise herself as Miss Granger?" McGonagall already looked exasperated, taking over Dumbledore's problems at this school was definitely wearing on her.

"I thought we weren't focusing on the Polyjuice Potion right now." Malfoy sneered, insulted.

"Mr Malfoy, I know I said that, but it's possible that it has a bearing on this terrible business and we must investigate all avenues...."

Malfoy cut her off. "I'm sure Pansy was just having a little fun, we all know that Granger needs to lighten up a bit." he scowled.

"Hey, you shouldn't..." Harry began but McGonagall put up her hand to silence him.

"I understand this is a loss for you Mr. Malfoy but there is no reason for slander and it isn't going to help us discover who committed the crime."

Malfoy just took in a deep breath. "I'm saying that Pansy was a complete innocent here, I'm sure she had a good reason for doing what she did. For all I know she knew someone was after Granger and went in disguise to HELP her."

"Oh yeah, like we're supposed to believe THAT, " Ron grimaced, "I'm sure she deliberately hit on Harry in the Three Broomsticks to HELP Hermione."

McGonagall looked about to say something again when there was a knock on the door, it was Colin Creavy.

"You called for me Headmaster?" he said, looking a bit timid as he looked at everyone in the room staring at him as he walked in.

"Yes Mr. Creavy, please have a seat."

Colin did so, looking at McGonagall uncertainly.

"There has been a murder, Mr. Creavy. Miss Pansy Parkinson."

Colin looked taken aback. "Oh dear...."

"She was under the influence of Polyjuice potion, but that is secondary to the fact that she was coughing up blood and collapsed at Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley's feet."

Colin just looked awestruck and horrified.

"As Potions Master, I was wondering if you knew of any potion which could cause these symptoms, and if we can suspect poisoning as the culprit."

"Well there are definitely things that can't be mixed with Polyjuice Potion, and other things that would work on their own to cause such a result," Colin gulped.

"I see," McGonagall stated. "Would you be so good as to write me up a short list of such potions Mr. Creavy?"

"Of..of course..." Colin got up hurriedly, it was apparent that he was very uncomfortable with this whole situation. "I will do that right away Headmaster and, and get it to you." Colin finished and then with a swish of his robes he left the room.

McGonagall shook her head. "I think that we have all been under a lot of strain. I have experts looking at Pansy at this moment..between that and Mr. Creavy's research, that may be all we can do for now. I am going to look into the various spells that could have caused such a condition. I will call all of you back soon to discuss this further, but for now, please get some rest and Mr. Potter and Weasley, I suggest you keep a close eye out on Miss Granger. I am going to have a protection spell placed on her too just in case."

With that everyone got up and left the room, their spirits considerably dampened.

* * *

Hermione woke up after sleeping fitfully for over an hour. She was startled by Neville's concerned face looming over her.

"Wha..what happened?" she said groggily, although she knew the answer. Not all the sleep in the world could mask the horrible events that had occurred.

"Hermione!" Neville said, a bit too loudly. The sound made her head hurt, and she tried to sit up without it pounding even more.

"I'm OK Neville," she said weakly, holding her pulsing head with one hand as her other supported her in an upright position on the bed.

"I was so worried...what with that sight, what it must have been like for you."

"I'm not a baby, Neville, but anyone would be frightened at the sight of a murder victim.."

"Especially one impersonating them," Neville added, trying to help Hermione sit up.

"Well, I really would like to get back to the library," Hermione said, now getting off the bed completely, her head still reeling.

Suddenly the curtains were pulled back and Madam Pomfrey stood there, looking them over. "How's the patient?" she said kindly.

"Ready to leave," Neville said, frowning a bit. He evidently thought she'd be safer staying here.

"Well Miss Granger you don't look well enough to..."

"Please, Madam Pomfrey, I'm fine. I've had a bit of a scare, but I can't sit around and do nothing..I have to help find who is doing this..before..(gulp) anything else happens."

"It's against my recommendations dear girl," Madam Pomfrey insisted.

Hermione tried to force a smile. "I know, but I'm the world's worst patient. I can't relax, even if I'm sick, when there are things to be done. And in this case there are much more important things to do than staying here and sleeping, which won't solve anything," she said with finality, hopping off the bed and brushing off her robes. "I have to go find Harry and Ron and besides..Neville can protect me," she said, smiling. She didn't really think Neville would be much help but she had to say something to appease Madam Pomfrey's nerves and to boost Neville's ego.

"Oh...very well then. But any other sign of not feeling well, you report back here immediately. Stress can be a very powerful physical enemy."

"I know," Hermione nodded. She then headed toward the exit of the hospital wing, followed closely by Neville. They could hear music and dragon noises drifting from the Great Hall, the DragonBall was still in full swing, undoubtably none of the other attendees were aware of what had happened, and wisely McGonagall must have wanted to avoid telling anyone else unless it was absolutely necessary. Why cause pandimonium unduly, even if there WAS a murderer loose.

Hermione determinedly headed toward the Gryffindor Common room. She was gripping her wand a lot tighter than normal and she was sweating profusely. She just wanted to have her friends around her, this was one thing she knew she couldn't handle on her own and the sooner she felt safe the sooner she'd feel like herself again. As it was she was showing signs of fear, and showing any emotion in front of most people was a sign of weakness. As it was she'd already cried several times in front of Harry and Ron, that was embarrassing enough, but she couldn't possibly let on to Neville how afraid she really was.

"I thought you wanted to go to the library?" Neville said, rushing behind her, trying to keep up.

"We have to get Harry and Ron first," Hermione explained.

"Oh...right." Neville said. He knew he wasn't the most dignified person in the world, and not the smartest either, but he was confident that where it counted, he could come through, and even though he himself was afraid, he wanted nothing more than to make sure Hermione was protected. He hated that she obviously wanted her other friends because he wasn't good enough.

The common room was bustling, many people had come from the ballroom and were now conversing there. Hermione and Neville made their way through the crowd up toward the guest dorms. Harry, Ron and their families were softly talking outside Harry's door, and they were startled to see Hermione rushing over to them.

"Hermione..you're here..we were about to come down and see how you were," Ginny exclaimed, hugging Hermione.

"I couldn't stay there one more minute...we have to find out what's going on!"

"Yeah, Colin's looking into possible poisons, McGonagall's checking into spells, we were just trying to decide what we could do. This isn't just another mystery, it's personal..one of our own is in danger," Harry said, looking worriedly at Hermione.

"I'm fine Harry," Hermione lied, "nothing is going to happen to me..not with all of you around." She forced a weak smile which was not hard to see through.

"So," Ron said.

"So," Hermione repeated.

"To the library I suppose?" Ron suggested.

"Exactly." Hermione nodded in confirmation.

With that they headed in that direction. Harry found himself secretly hoping that Hermione's precious books would come through for them because he still had that unsettling feeling...this was not the end, there was a lot more to come.


* * *

Draco Malfoy was pacing around his quarters, his faithful minions Crabbe and Goyle standing there dutifully.

"I just can't believe it...Pansy..my Pansy." Malfoy sneered. He didn't want to show it in front of Crabbe and Goyle, but Pansy's death was having an extreme affect on him. Sure he had been engaged to her, but he was the kind of guy who was not happy with just one girl. Pansy, however, had loved him unconditionally and she would have made a good wife. He had to admit that he probably really DID love her too, although since he had arrived here his unexpected attraction to Hermione Granger had complicated matters and it had both excited and disgusted him. The only way he knew how to handle the situation was to cause as much trouble for her as possible, and drag Potter and Weasley along for the ride. But Pansy's murder...he had no idea who or what was behind it. The idea had been simply to ruin a few reps with Polyjuice potion, not to get anyone killed. An accusation of murder by any stretch of the imagination would certainly get him kicked out of Hogwarts no matter who he knew, and he wasn't about to risk that.

"We know Draco, sorry." Goyle said as sympathetically as was possible for the big awkward looking man.

"Even if they WERE trying to kill Granger, it's now become personal. Pansy was one of ours, so we have to find out the one responsible for this," Draco scowled, not looking at either Crabbe nor Goyle.

"What do you want us to do?" Crabbe said, trying to look attentive, which was difficult for someone with a brain only slightly larger than a troll's.

Draco looked thoughtful. "Well, here's the deal..." he sat down now in a nearby chair and motioned for the others to sit closely around him, then Malfoy revealed his plan...