That night a party was thrown in the Gryffindor common room in celebration. The cup was displayed on the mantle above the fire place, an inspiration to everyone. Hermione danced as happily as the others. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, a weight that had been costing her, her best friend for a week now. For the first time in her life, Hermione felt grateful towards Pansy Parkinson.
Looking around she spotted Harry sitting in an arm chair by the fire with a plastic cup of fizzy in his hands talking to a 3rd year boy. When the boy stood up again to join his friends Hermione saw Harry turn to watch the rest of the celebrating Gryffindors with a look which someone who didn't know what Harry was thinking would probably call disapproval or even envy. But no, Hermione knew what Harry was thinking, she knew exactly what he was thinking.
He was still troubled by the memory of last weeks party (or lack thereof). He blamed himself for the mess. But what Hermione didn't know was that in addition to feeling guilty Harry also felt very uneasy. Uneasy because of what Malfoy had said to him at the beginning of the match. He had been forced the forget the conversation while they were playing but now that the game was over and the high that always came after winning a game against Slytherin (and the house cup) had worn off, the memory had come back to Harry with a vengeance.
Hermione disentangled herself from the group of partiers and made her way over to Harry. He was now sitting on the arm of the chair and gazing into the depths of his cup of fizzy drink. Hermione came up behind him and laid a hand on his shoulder, he turned and gave her a very brief, very small smile before facing his drink again.
"You look miserable." said Hermione. Harry gave her a look of acknowledgement and turned away.
There was a long pause in which both stood there wondering what to say before Harry burst out.
"Look Mione, I'm sorry for want happened. You're right it's all my fault, I just I dunno … I drank too much and I forgot…" Harry kept rambling on for quite sometime, Hermione put her hand on his shoulder and said "Harry, don't worry it wasn't your fault."
"…I just don't know what came over me, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still blame me because you should, what happened was completely inexcusable... "
"Hey listen to me. Harry it's not your-,"
"What I guess I'm trying to tell you is- What'd you just say?"
Hermione gave a small laugh and replied "It's not your fault Harry."
"Yes it is Hermione, it is! I mean it's definitely not YOUR fault!"
"Harry," she calmed "It's not your fault and it's not my fault."
"But-" Harry sounded flabbergasted "What are talking about?"
"Look," said Hermione grabbing him by the upper arm and pulling him up "lets go somewhere quieter to discuss this." With that she dragged Harry though the portrait hole and down the corridor.
"Where are we going?" asked Harry. "Um …" came Hermione's reply " Oh, I know."
A couple of minutes later Harry and Hermione stepped into the Room of Requirement. 'I need somewhere we came talk' she had thought as she walked passed the piece of wall between a window and a large ornamental vaseopposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on the7thfloor. And another job well done for the room it was! It had conjured up two comfy looking arm chairs, a sofa and a blazing fire all sitting around a coffee table with two mugs of steaming hot chocolate. Hermione sat down in one of the arm chairs, and Harry looking confused and a bit anxious followed suit.
"I talked to Pansy Parkinson earlier today" Hermione said, doing absolutely nothing to sweep away the fog of confusion that was currently Harry's mind.
He waited a moment hoping that Hermione would explain herself, she finally asked "You know what she said"
"No Hermione, I don't know." said Harry warily. "She said that there were spiked drinks at the party last week and it seemed she knew for a fact that we got given them."
Harry was silent for a moment then he replied "But that doesn't make sense Hermione. That would only mean that we would pass out or start vomiting or something, which we didn't. Not even close"
"Do you know what the 'Date Rape' drug is Harry?" Hermione asked him hopefully "Yes," answered Harry "it's a drug that muggle guys slip girls at parties when they want to, well, basically take advantage of them."
"Pretty much" said Hermione.
She waited for Harry to connect these two pieces of information together, but after a moment he burst out unexpectedly "Oh my god Hermione, I can't believe you could even THINK that!" he stood up an started shouting "I would never even for a moment consider spiking your drink or anyone else's for that matter! Is this what you've been thinking all along or did Pansy Parkinson just plant that in you mind today?" "What?" Hermione screeched taken aback "No Harry that's not what I'm saying!"
Now Hermione was standing up too. Harry scowled at her and made to walk out but she grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her.
"Harry, that's not what I mean!" Harry studied her for a moment and then he relaxed "Oh." He said, shoulders slumping with relief. Hermione smiled and sat backdown.
"What I was trying to say was that Slytherin brought spike drinks to the party right? Pansy said that both of us got one, so that's obviously the reason for what happened"
"But where does the date rape drug come into this? If that's what was in the drinks we would have been all-"
"Yes I know. But it could have been a variation of it, not that particular drug at all. Or it could have been magically tampered with thats why the outcome was different. Or," Hermione went on "It could have been something to do with us. Because of our magical abilities it reacted different in our bodies that it would a muggle."
"Um, ok."
"But I find that doubtful, the first is more likely," she continued "but it would be extremely difficult. Pansy wouldn't have a chance at it!"
"What about others form Slytherin?" Harry asked "Well, I doubt that too."
"Would you be able to do it Hermione?"
"Me?" Shesmiled "I don't think so, not that I would want to if I could anyway. I'm thinking it would take a lot of practise and skill. That's another reason I'm sure it was a Slytherin."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
Hermione sighed "Only a Slytherin would try to produce something so … vile and, well, damaging with such … precision."