Accusation
The four Gryffindors sat in silence as they waited for Snape to bring in Malfoy. Dumbledore sat behind his desk his eyes seeming to stare unfocused into the beyond. Harry glanced over at Professor Dashall and Wood. Dashall wouldn't look at him. They all stood as the door opened and Malfoy entered the room followed closely by Snape.
"You wanted to see me Headmaster?" Malfoy said. Harry glared at Malfoy, who was acting so innocent as if he'd done nothing at all.
"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore began. "I'm afraid we have a very serious matter on our hands. A short while ago, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Miss Weasley found Miss Parkinson severly beaten and raped in the hall way." All innocense in Malfoy's face disappeared only to be replaced with shock and anger.
"Who did this to her?" he demanded.
"I'm afraidyou have been named as her attacker."
"What!" Malfoy shouted in outrage. "That's preposterous. I would never hurt Pansy." Malfoy turned andglaredat Harry. "This is all your doing isn't it Potter? You'd do anything to try and get me expelled."
"I didn't accuse you Malfoy," Harry said tightly. "Pansy is the one who said it was you." Malfoy looked so shocked that Harry almost believed that he was in fact innocent."
"How could she do this to me? Professor Dumbledore it wasn't me I swear. I've been in Professor Dashall's office all afternoon serving detention."
"I released you forty-five minutes ago, Mr. Malfoy," Dashall said. "I'm afraid I cannot account for your whereabouts after that."
"I went to the Slytherin commonroom. I've been there since Professor Dashall dismissed me until Professor Snape came and told me you wanted to see me." At this Malfoy turned and looked at the head of his house, pleading with him for assistance. Harry was certain that Snape would come to Malfoy's defense but he found the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher looked at his favorite pupil with nothing but contempt.
"Was anyone with you in the common room?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Malfoy admitted. "I was alone."
"Then I am afraid you have no verifiable alibi." Malfoy looked so pitiful that Harry almost found himself feeling sorry for the git.
"I didn't do this. Please you've got to believe me. I'll take a Truth Potion if that what it takes to prove my innocense."
"You admit you do this of your own free will?" Dumbledore asked. "That no one is coercing you."
"Yes." Dumbledore sighed.
"Very well," Dumbledore said standing up. "Severus will you bring a bottle of Veritaserum?"
"I believe, Headmaster, you meant to ask Professor Dashall," Snape said." After all she is the Potions Master."
"Yes, yes, of course," Dumbledore said, "Forgive me Emily. An old habit. Will you bring a bottle of Veritaserum please?"
"Yes Headmaster," Dashall said hurrying off.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, you may go." The four of them hurried out of the Headmasters's office and made their way to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Phoenix Feather," they all said together and the Fat Lady opened the door. They all sat on the plump couches no one spoke for a moment.
"What do you make of all of this?" Hermione finally broke the silence.
"I feel so horrible for Pansy," Ginny said. "I mean I've never really liked her or anything but still, it's a horrible thing that's happened."
"I can't believe that Malfoy would do something like this," Ron said. "I mean we all know he's a prat, but I never thought he'd stoop this low."
"I'm not so sure he did," Harry said thoughtfully. The other three turned and looked at him.
"What do you mean Harry?" Ron said.
"Yeah," GInny said. "Pansy told us herself. I mean we all know that she and Malfoy are kind of an item. She wouldn't just accuse him for no good reason."
"It's just the way Malfoy looked when Dumbledore told him that Pansy said it was him. He wasn't acting at all like Malfoy. He was generally shocked."
"And he wasn't acting all haughty either, like he usually does," Hermione said. "You know. "How dare you accuse me. What's this school coming to? Wait till my father finds out about this!""
"He didn't even mention his father," Ron said.
"And he offered to take a Truth Potion," Hermione said. "No one can lie under the influence of Veritaserum. No matter how powerful a witch or wizard you are."
"What about the way Snape was looking at him." Harry said. "I mean Snape is always protecting Malfoy. But he didn't stick up for him, just looked at him like he was scum."
"This is all just too puzzling," Hermione said.