This has been a very, very, very long time coming. And I apologise but with work being frantic and having to redraft some fiction that I am working on, the days went past. However as I want to finish this story, I will endeavour not to neglect it and continue till it's finished.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate your kind words and please enjoy this chapter.

 Oh and by the way, disclaimers as always.

Chapter 19

'Viril' screeched and flew to the ceiling when Lucius Malfoy threw the whiskey glass against the wall.

'Damm,' he cried, his voice ragged with fury. 'That idiot Borgin. He told me the potion would work. And now my son is….damm.'

Malfoy's light blue eyes turned even paler than usual, the shade of cold, deadly chunks of ice.

He gave his wand a lazy flick. Instantly the shattered glass and liquor running down the wall disappeared.

'It's alright 'Viril',' he said to the owl, who was perched up on the edge of an enormous chandelier, which adorned the study. 'You can come down now.'

Malfoy reread Draco's note once more before tossing it into the fire. He then seated himself at his expansive mahogany desk, picked up his gold studded quill and began writing.

'Dear Draco,' he wrote, 'it doesn't matter how many or who your adversaries are. If you are discovered, you are to deny. Deny! Deny! Deny!

Owl immediately if you need me but destroy this note.

Your loving father.

Lucius Malfoy'

After he sent the short note, Lucius Malfoy poured himself a fresh drink.

And now I have another job to attend to, he thought grimly, as he threw back his drink with one swallow.

*********************

Two days later, a pale but recovered Eleni was released from the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had wanted to keep her in the hospital wing longer but Eleni had insisted that she was fine.

'I'll sleep better in my own bed,' she had begged that morning, while Madam Pomfrey examined her. 'You did say that all I need is rest.'

'Perhaps I'll release you tonight,' Madam Pomfrey had said, 'but I'm not making any promises. It depends on how well you rest today.'

So Eleni had kept her eyes closed most of the day. However instead of filling her mind with blissful soothing thoughts, she had again thought and thought about what Snape had told her.

If only her memory of the man wasn't so confused and muddled. How wonderful it would be if she could identify him. She promised herself that somehow she was going to bring the perpetrators to justice. They were going to pay, she decided, for what they had done to her family.

And when she finished thinking about that, other uncomfortable thoughts surfaced. Somewhere in Hogwarts, there was someone responsible for exchanging the potions. Eleni was certain that by now they would know that their plans had been foiled. So were they planning to try again? Would she ever be safe again?

Hogwarts was the closest thing to real home she had even known and it was alarming to know that somewhere within its walls someone wanted her out of the way.

****************

Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the Gryffindor common room later that night snuggled up in armchairs by the fire. Hermione was reading, while Harry and Ron were discussing the upcoming Quidditch match.

It was late, past their curfew but word from Professor McGonagall was that Eleni was being released. She had earlier left for the hospital wing so she could accompany Eleni back and had grudgingly approved for the three to wait up for her.

The three jumped to their feet when they heard footsteps coming into the common room.

'Hi Eleni,' they chorused. 'We've been waiting for you.'

Eleni blushed with surprise. 'Hi,' she said, looking at Harry and Ron but avoiding Hermione's eyes. Seeing Hermione had suddenly reminded her of her talk with Dumbledore and Snape. She wondered if anything as yet had come of the talk.

'Now,' said Professor McGonagall, putting on her sternest face but with a slight twinkle in her eyes, 'the four of you have five minutes to catch up and then I want you all to go to bed. Remember that it's a school night.'

'Don't worry,' said Hermione, 'I'll make sure of it.'

'Good,' smiled McGonagall. 'I know Hermione, that I can always rely on you.'

'You're such a teacher's pet,' said Ron, once they were alone and he had settled back in his armchair.

'Well,' said Hermione, 'she was good enough to let us stay up, so we can do her the courtesy of obeying.'

'Will you two shut up,' said Harry, 'Eleni must be wondering why on earth she bothered to leave the hospital wing.'

'It's okay,' said Eleni, sitting on Ron's armrest. 'I was glad to get out of there. It was terribly boring.'

'We would have come to see you again,' said Harry, 'but Snape found out about our visit the other night and threatened us with detention if we did it again.'

'He sure was furious,' said Ron.

'Not to mention,' added Harry, 'that he threatened to confiscate my invisibility cloak.'

'Strange,' said Hermione, 'that he only threatened. I was surprised he didn't deduct points. He never threatens detention, he just gives it.'

Eleni stared at the fire, not saying anything but remembering how she had begged him not to give them detention.

'So are you ready to talk about what happened?' asked Harry.

Eleni shrugged and glanced at him. 'I don't know,' she said, 'like I told you the last time, if I tell you the whole story, you'll probably hate me.'

'No we won't,' insisted Ron.

'Of course they won't,' boomed a voice from inside the fireplace.

'Professor Dumbledore,' the four yelled in unison, as he stepped out of the fire and into the room.

'My apologies,' he said. 'I don't want to intrude but it's imperative I speak to the four of you in private.'

'Are we in trouble Professor?' asked Harry.

Dumbledore chuckled. 'Not any more than usual,' he said, sitting down in a spare armchair and inviting Harry and Hermione to join in. He then pursed his lips with thought, as his face became serious.

'I trust you're feeling better?' he asked Eleni.

'Yes sir, much better,' she said warily.

'Good,' said Dumbledore, settling back in his armchair before continuing. 'Now what we're about to discuss must not go beyond this room. Do I make myself clear?'

'Yes,' said Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Eleni's face however turned scarlet. She looked at Dumbledore, with pleading eyes. She knew exactly where the conversation was going.

'It's alright Eleni,' he said. 'Hermione will understand.'

'Understand what,' said Hermione.

'Let me start from the beginning,' said Dumbledore. 'The three of you know of course about the potion that Eleni was taking and that it was exchanged? That's why she became so seriously ill.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione nodded while Eleni looked miserable.

'Well Hermione,' continued Dumbledore, 'on the day you were supposed to be at Hogsmeade, which is the day the potions were switched, Eleni saw you coming out of the girl's dorm.'

Hermione's face became clouded and confused. 'Professor I don't understand what you're implying. I was in Hogsmeade.' She turned to Eleni who had turned a shade of green. 'You saw me leave with Harry and Ron.'

'We can vouch for that,' said Ron. 'She was with us the whole time.'

'Let's be clear about this,' said Dumbledore. 'Hermione, you didn't return to Hogwarts because you forgot something?'

'No,' she said emphatically.

'What's going on Professor,' said Harry.

Dumbledore stroked his beard before speaking. 'Eleni saw Hermione leave for Hogsmeade with you and Ron and then later that morning she saw and spoke to someone, that for all accounts was Hermione coming out of the girl's dormitories. She was surprised of course and asked what she was doing back and Hermione said she had come to fetch something she had forgotten.'

'But it can't have been me,' argued Hermione, beginning to look flustered, 'because I didn't come back.'

Dumbledore put up his hand to silence her. 'I suspect that it was that person who exchanged the potions.'

'But it wasn't me,' cried Hermione. 'I'd never do something like that.'

Dumbledore reached over and patted her knee. 'I know you wouldn't.'

Hermione turned to Eleni. 'How could you think it was me?' she demanded.

'I didn't but because she looked exactly like you,' said Eleni. 'She had the same voice and you said you had forgotten something and then you ran out. And I couldn't work it out because I had seen you leave and I wanted to question you that night but then I took the potion and got sick.'

'It wasn't me,' Hermione said again.

'Hermione,' said Dumbledore, in his most gentlest voice, 'we know it wasn't you. It was someone impersonating you.'

'You mean someone using the Polyjuice potion,' said Harry.

'Precisely,' said Dumbldore, 'that's why I wanted to talk to the four of you in private, to see if you have any idea who it could be.'

'But surely it can't be someone from Gryffindor,' said Ron. 'Who at Gryffindor would want to hurt Eleni?'

Eleni didn't utter a word but she knew it wasn't at all that unlikely. Ron she thought, didn't know the gravity of what she had done.

'Is there anything any of you have noticed, anything out of the ordinary?' asked Dumbledore.

'Well no,' began Hermione, 'I can't think of…'

'Malfoy,' interrupted Harry angrily. 'He's been acting positively weird, since this whole thing happened.'

Everyone turned to look at him.

'Tell me,' said Dumbledore, settling his hands under his chin in thought.

'Well he's been making cracks about Eleni, about how she was going to go mad. And the other morning, he went quite crazy when he found out she was going to be all right.'

'Harry's right Professor,' said Hermione. 'Draco's been acting very peculiar. His behaviour has been puzzling.'

Ron suddenly slapped his knee. 'What about that morning, you know, when he spent the entire time at breakfast staring at Hermione? Remember how we joked that he had to fancy her.'

Harry and Hermione nodded vigorously, while Dumbledore's face turned grave as he ran the information through his head.

'It still doesn't explain where he got the potion,' he said.

'Couldn't he have brewed it himself?' asked Hermione, even if she was sceptical about Draco's potion making abilities.

'No,' said Dumbledore, 'apparently it's quite a complex, advanced potion and several of the ingredients are not even kept at Hogwarts.'

'But he could have brewed the Polyjuice potion,' said Ron.

'That's not easy either,' said Hermione, 'and it takes time.'

'You're right,' said Dumbledore, smiling at her knowingly.

Eleni sat listening to all this, not certain what to think. If it was Draco who exchanged the potions, what possible motive did he have, what did he have against her? She trembled at the thought of how much he must hate her to do such a thing.

'It's late,' said Dumbledore, standing and stepping towards the fireplace. 'It's imperative that you remember what I said. What we talked about tonight is not to be discussed with anyone. But I will get back to you when I know something.'

The four nodded solemnly.

'Very well,' said Dumbledore. 'I best be going. Goodnight.'

They watched as he stepped into the fire and disappeared.

'So what do you make of that,' said Ron.

Harry turned to Eleni. 'Do you have any idea why Malfoy would have it in for you?'

'Not really,' she said, 'but does his father have anything to do with the Ministry?'

Ron and Harry laughed.

'Are you kidding,' said Ron. 'Malfoy's father is a death eater.'

'A death eater,' said Eleni, turning pale, despite being close to the fire. 'I didn't know.'

'Oh yes,' said Harry, 'he's one of Voldemort's greatest supporters.'

*********************

Snape angrily cleared away the cauldrons and vials. The analysis had been long and time consuming but had left him with little doubt. The person who had brewed the potion had hardly been what Snape would call competent. It had been constructed clumsily, haphazard, as if the hands had been unsure of exactly what they were supposed to be doing.

He looked up sharply when he heard a knock on the door.

'Yes,' he called out irritably.

'Severus,' said Dumbledore.

'Headmaster,' Snape said, somewhat annoyed, 'you pre-empted me, I was about to summon you.'

'I know.'

'Then I presume you are here for the results.'

'Yes,' said Dumbledore.

'It was Borgin who brewed that potion,' said Snape. 'His signature is all over it.'

'Then it all fits,' said Dumbledore. 'Harry, Ron and Hermione told me tonight that Draco Malfoy has been acting most peculiarly. Gloating about Eleni, convinced that she'd go mad because of the potion but then becoming distressed when finding out she had recovered.'

Snape's eyebrows shot upwards. Of course he thought. Malfoy! Lucius Malfoy was a good friend of Borgin, another well-known death eater. And Snape knew how Draco would do anything to win his father's approval.

'It's possible,' he told Dumbledore, 'very possible.

'Which means that Lucius Malfoy was there that night,' said Dumbledore, more as a statement than a question. 'He could even have been the man Eleni spoke about.'

'Perhaps,' said Snape, 'nothing would surprise me. Are you planning to question Draco?'

'Not as yet,' said Dumbledore, 'as it will only alert his father and I need time to think.'

'Yes you're right.'

 What a pity Eleni can't identify those responsible. By the way she was released tonight.'

Snape nodded before turning away and thinking about the visit he intended paying Mr Borgin.

'Severus no,' said Dumbledore, reading his thoughts. 'You know that at present it isn't safe for you to be away from Hogwarts.'

'I'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about.'

'I don't want to alert Lucius Malfoy of our suspicions,' warned Dumbledore.

Snape smirked. 'I will only be paying a visit.'

******************

The screams were deafening and continuous, as if someone was slowly being skinned alive.

Lucius Malfoy grinned and filled his empty glass with a good dose of the best whisky he had. He always brought his best bottle when on a job. He enjoyed a celebratory drink when his work was over but tonight he thought, he deserved an extra reward. His cold eyes toasted the man at his feet, writhing in anguish before taking a long sip.

'Crucius,' he said yet again before waving his wand so as to increase the intensity. 'Now you know what happens when my expectations are not met,' he added to the boiling piece of flesh on the floor.

The man on the floor tried to open his swollen eyes. He then tried to speak but when he opened his mouth, only a tidal wave of blood gushed out.

'Are you ready to die Borgin?' asked Malfoy with a devastating chuckle, priming himself, ready to utter the words Avada Kedavra.