Title: The Missing Clue (3/6)

Author: granger2malfoy

Pairing: B/Hr

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own characters, the concept of the game Clue, or the movie Clue.

A/N: This goes with the Masquerade Challenge on IATQO group. Yes, this is idea was conceived while playing the game Clue. Special thanks to the lovely and very talented Jade, who helped and betad this for me.

Summary: Dumbledore arranges the students sixth year and higher that stayed during the Christmas holidays to partake in a character masquerade party. At the party they will come in outfits appropriate with their character and will solve a mystery. Hermione finds more the missing clues.

Chapter Three

Harry led her by the arm as they crossed the hall on the ground floor of the Divination Tower. A door was open on the other side and showed a dark cherry dining room table. The table was covered in a fancy, white lace tablecloth and silver candlestick ran down the center. At each setting, a small folded card with each guests 'game' name on it.

Hermione circled around the left side and noticed she was to sit nearest the head of the table where Professor Lupin was to sit. Ron took the seat next to her and Luna on the other side of him. Harry pulled out the chair for Millicent as she sat across from Luna and he took his place next to her, which was across from Ron. Blaise set his half-full glass of butterbeer by his water glass and took his seat across from Hermione. Once everyone was seated, only one seat remained at the other end of the table between Luna and Millicent and Draco had yet to arrive.

Dinner was eaten in quietly except for the occasional talk of the safe subjects Quidditch and N.E.W.T. exams in a few months. Just as they were finished up, there the sound of the door of the of the entrance hall being open and closed. Everyone had known who it was and Hermione had already suspected that Draco or Mr. Grey was the person blackmailing her in the game.

With his trademark smirk, Draco Malfoy entered the dining room where everyone watched him enter. Hermione couldn't hold back about how disrespectful he was. "Nice for you to finally join us, Mr. Grey."

He took the long way around the table past Professor Lupin and paused a moment behind her to whisper in her ear, "Didn't know you missed, Miss Maroon." His fingertips just barely danced across her shoulders as he walked toward his seat and Ron was close to blowing a fuse by Draco's actions. She did not notice that Blaise's fists were clenched underneath the table till the blond Slytherin found his seat.

A small cough from Professor Lupin caused the students to look at him. He stood from his chair and stated, "Thank you coming, Mr. Grey. Now it is time for all of us to gather in the study, to discus a few things."

Once all had found their original places, Draco opted for the small chair closest to the door of the room. The professor pulled out a large brown envelope from inside the desk that Millicent was sitting on top of. Slowly he opened the package and pulled out a single piece of paper. He tucked the envelope under his arm as he held the list and his wand with his left hand. He spoke as he moved to stand next to the fireplace, which Blaise was also standing by. "As you know, you are all here to solve a mystery and you have all done well. You have kept in character and used each other's names for this game. Please remember to keep you eyes open and react as if this was truly happening. Now, for the next level of the game."

His eyes looked at each of them once and then he continued, "Something you do not know but may have guessed is that you are all being blackmailed. Every one of you has something being used against you in order to obtain things from you. At this time, I will get you to disclose what a mysterious person named 'A' is blackmailing you for. Now, Mr. Black, we'll start with you."

Blaise shifted uneasily on his foot and pushed his hands into his pants as he began, "Yes, I have been blackmailed for last two months since the first Charms test. It seems that somehow this 'A' person found out that I had cheated on the first test."

"What?" Hermione was shocked. Yes, she knew this was a game but the Head Boy accused of cheating was incredible, especially since he was second of their class.

"Yes, it was look bad if it got out that the Head Boy didn't pass the first test. I had had trouble sleeping and was too tired to study. So, I did the stupid thing and cheated to get high marks on my test," he exclaimed as he began to pace behind the couch she was sitting on. Man, he is a good actor. She thought to herself.

Professor Lupin looked down at his list and then said, "Miss Maroon, why don't you go next?"

After a minute, Hermione swallowed as she nervously played with the hem of her skirt. Even if what her pretend blackmail wasn't true, it was not something she wanted to disclose to everyone else. She was about to speak when Blaise's voice came from by the door on the opposite side of Draco. "Yes, Miss Maroon. Tell all about the nice pictures they have of you."

She turned and gave him a deadly glare as a sly smile played across his lips. I guess we know who knows my secret. With a cold tone, she admitted, "Yes, I am being blackmail for some photos that this 'A' person got a hold of. The cost of their silence was my Charms notes from every class."

"What were the pictures of?" Harry asked from next to her and raised an eyebrow when she turned to face him. Thanks, Harry. Just for that, no Christmas present from me. I don't care if this is just a game. She thought grimly.

"One day during the beginning of the summer, Mr. Navy's little sister dared me to try on some – rather risky nightwear in a store down in Diagon Alley. Some how, there a pictures of this and it would not be good for the Head Girl to have pictures blown up for the whole school to see as the blackmailer stated they would, if I did not give over every class notes for Charms," Hermione slowly admitted as she turned and saw the triumphant smile of Head Boy. "But how did you know about the photos?"

With an amused look, he stated. "Lets just say a little birdie told me about them. I know I'd pay a few Galleons to see those, my dear."

"Then I'd have to hex your eyes out."

His indigo eyes stared into hers as he simply wiggled his eyebrows up and down. Hermione huffed and turned away from the insufferable git. A small chuckle came from the Professor as he began again, "Mr. Navy, you and Miss Violet are next."

All eyes turned toward them as Luna suddenly had a small smile and Ron turned a shade redder. "Um, well. We are being blackmailed for - um – snogging in Transfiguration classroom."

"Hah. I don't think you were 'just' snogging in the classroom but actually McGonagall 's desk and wrote naughty things on the blackboard," Millicent added and looked very proud of herself

"How did you know about the blackboard?" Ron blurted out.

Harry started laughing next to Hermione and she couldn't help but smile at their dirty little secret. The female Slytherin stated, "They say a picture speaks a thousand words."

Her best friend next to her was to the point of having fits of uncontrollable laughter. With a sharp smack to his back, he was able to calm down and breathe again. She shook her head and then asked the couple, "What were you giving to keep those photos hidden?"

"Each week, on the nights I was to do my Prefect's rounds, I was given a name of a place to conveniently miss and make sure no one else went there either," Luna held her boyfriend's hand as she continued, "Ron, was forced to move the dates of some of Gryffindor's practices to different dates with no reason given."

The professor pulled the same piece of paper back out of the envelope and then continued down what must have been the list of names. "Miss White, you are next."

"Fine, my diary was stolen. Not one word about me keeping a diary or you'll have pink bunny ears for the rest of your lives. And before you ask Miss Maroon. I had to give up three-fourths of my mother's monthly box of chocolate fudge. Now, that is hard I have to tell you. She makes killer fudge. What about you Mr. Green? What does the mysterious 'A' person have on you?"

Harry placed his hands behind his head and leaned back a little more as he stated very matter-of-factually, "They know I snuck into Snape's private stash of ingredients at the start of term."

"They wouldn't have known if you hadn't left the list of ingredients there, you git," Hermione mentioned as smacked him on the arm.

"Can I help it the list slipped out of my hand as I was picking them up? The person wanted 10 Galleons a week from me to keep them quiet and not blow my cover to Snape," Harry admitted and turned to Draco. "So, what is in that envelope, Professor Brown?"

Professor Lupin chuckled as he tapped his hand on it. "Why it is all the evidence you all mention? But I assure you it is not going anywhere."

Hermione noticed how Millicent's eyes stayed on the envelope as Harry asked his next question. "So, that just leaves you, Mr. Gray. What is your little secret?"

Draco did not look like he was going to answer and Blaise chuckled, "Haven't you figured that out yet, Mr. Green. He is the blackmailing us."

At the point all hell broke loose, Ron and Harry stood up and headed for Slytherin. Since they were supposed to be acting, they would beat him to a pulp for that. Luna and Hermione tried to stop the boys as a voice stated, "Nox."