Wow, twenty chapters! It doesn't feel like it's been that long since I started this. Crazy. I also never dreamed it would get any kind of response resembling the reception it has. Thank you all so much for reading. And CJ and Kari for cheerleading me into doing it. For those that like playlist suggestions, the next several chapters were written listening to Tori Amos's Under the Pink and Boys for Pele cds on shuffle.

Chapter 20

Sunshine on her face woke Hermione. She tried to change positions, but a strong arm held her in place. She wiggled about, finally waking Theo enough to free herself. Slowly, mindful of her injuries, she swung her feet off the bed. She needed to empty her bladder rather desperately. Tentatively, she slid onto her feet, verifying her healed legs would bear her weight. It would be slow going, the fractures were healed, but not the bruising.

She made it as far as Harry's cot without waking the others. When she stumbled against it, the jolt jostled Harry enough to disturb him. "Mione! What are you doing?"

"Sh! I need to use the loo. My legs disagree with the plan, but my bladder outvoted them."

He smiled and climbed out of bed. "Let me help." Instead of reaching under her arms like she expected, Harry scooped her up bridal style. Shocked, Hermione began to squirm. "Hermione, while you aren't terribly heavy, if you keep it up I'm going to end up dropping you."

"Harry James Potter, you put me down right now, or so help me."

"I am helping you." Once they reached the bathroom, he lowered her. "Now you still have the energy to do your business by yourself." He grinned at her glare. "The words you are looking for are, 'thank you, Harry.'"
"Thank you, Harry. You are an annoying git." Quickly she tended to her needs, then waited for Harry to do the same. When he scooped her up again, Hermione remained silent. She let Harry deposit her back next to Theo.

"So, are you two okay?" He asked as he settled back onto his cot.

"I think we will be. Sirius helped me see we're both victims. And I don't want to lose him over wounded pride."

"Me either."

Turning, she found Theo awake and watching her. "Hey, you're up."

Theo sat up. "How are you feeling?"

"Stiff, and the bruises ache. How do you feel?"

"Angry." He frowned. "If Sirius didn't like me, or think I was good enough for you, this would have been his chance to be rid of me. What if you hadn't come into Three Broomsticks when you did? What if this had continued until things grew more serious? What if by the end of the year I was marrying Broadmoor at wand point because that bint got herself up the duff?" He spat out bitterly. "She's been after a rich pureblood since her fourth year. Lots of wizards have given her a broomstick ride."

"Don't be vulgar, Theodore." Hermione snapped. "If it's okay for blokes to get around, it should be for women, too."

"If she only wanted a good time, or really liked the bloke, or several blokes, I'd agree. She's only doing one thing- whatever it takes to get that wedding ring on her finger." He looked over at Harry, "And chances are that's what Weasley wants, too."

"Or the girls are innocent. Someone might have wanted to break us up. And the other two were just for a lark."

"Hate having to admit you could be right." Harry mumbled under his breath.

"Why? You have to do it so often. You should be used to it by now. Look, until we know what's going on it isn't fair to paint them as the villains."

"And if they aren't innocent?" asked Lachlan.

"In that case we make them regret they were born." Hermione flashed him an evil grin.

Madame Pomfrey brought in breakfast trays. After brief examinations she declared the boys cleared without restrictions. "Miss Malfoy, I have a few potions for you to take with you. And you need to take things easy for at least a few days."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Professor Dumbledore would like all of you to remain here until the meeting at eleven o'clock. Someone will come collect you. A housemate will be along with a change of clothes shortly."

Shortly turned out to be ten o'clock, the doors opened admitting three students. Angelina smiled at Harry when she entered. "The girls won the coin toss. I've clothes for you both, though, while I'm willing to help Mione get dressed, you're on your own."

Another seventh year Hufflepuff brought Lachlan a jumper and jeans. Draco joined them with something for Theo. "Will you help me get dressed?" Theo batted his eyelashes.

"Hell no, sod off."

"Nott, you're flirting with the wrong Malfoy." Harry teased. Everyone laughed, the earlier tension eased by humor.

Angelina shooed Theo off and pulled the curtains closed. "We tried to find a balance between comfortable, but still stylish. You want to look delicate, but not vulnerable. So, no make up." Hermione grabbed her undergarments and quickly donned them. Angie helped her into the leggings, pulling them to her knees. Hermione adjusted them accordingly. Angie held up the sapphire blue jumper for Hermione to lower over the head. The thick basket weave jumper ended in the exact middle of her knees. "Have a seat, I'll get your socks and boots." Hermione obediently sat. Angelina used her wand to detangle Hermione's hair and gather it into a bun. "All right, girl, you are good to go."

The girls pulled the curtains back in time to see Professor Umbridge escort aurors into the Infirmary. She shot Angelina a pointed look to move away from Hermione. Reluctantly, she moved away. A large black man stepped forward. "Miss Malfoy," his deep voiced rumbled reassuringly. "my name is Kingsley Shacklebolt, we've met when you visited your adoptive parents."

"I remember."

"And this is my partner, Miles Davies."

"Nice to meet you."

"We have a few questions about your accident yesterday."

"Okay."

Davies pulled the curtains for privacy. Umbridge made sure he did not exclude her. Shacklebolt frowned, but continued. "What can you tell us about the events leading up to falling yesterday?"

Hermione sat, silently thinking over the events of the previous afternoon." "Oh, for Merlin's sake, girl!You're suppose to be smart?" Umbridge snapped irritably.

Hermione looked at her sharply, Shacklebolt speaking before she could. "Madame Under Secretary, if you cannot be silent, you will have to wait outside the curtain."

"At this point it is important to let the victim speak at their own pace. Just let them narrate the events. Right now, Miss Malfoy's brain thinks it is protecting her by keeping the details from her. It can take weeks for those memories to surface, if ever. So, whenever you're ready, Miss Malfoy" Davies shot Umbridge a glare, then softened his expression while addressing Hermione.

"I don't remember much, I'm afraid. I was quite upset yesterday. I ran most of the way back from the village. I was crying, so I really couldn't see much of anything. The staircase shifted as I got to the top. I barely stopped in time." Umbridge started to open her mouth, Hermione quickly continued. "But I did manage to stop. I wiped my face..." She stopped, concentrating on the wisps of thought. What did she remember? "Hands pushed from from behind, hard. I fell."

"Large hands or small?" Davies asked.

"Large."

"Did they push your shoulders or lower back?"

"The center, really."

"Did you hear anything?"

"Not that I remember."

Davies nodded, "We spoke to the first years, got their statements. We'll follow up with them in a few days to see if they remember anything else. Now, I know the temptation to take dreamless sleep will be strong, but do us a favor and skip it. Your dreams might show something your conscious mind is repressing. That's why we can't just view your memories in the pensive. Can't see what you don't know or didn't see. We will follow up with you in a few days. Though, feel free to contact us whenever you feel like you need to."

"I will. Thank you."

"And don't let your dreams distress you. Your imagination might fill in details. We'll compare any dreams to what the other students said. If we know something isn't real, we'll tell you." Shacklebolt nodded to her kindly. The aurors took Umbridge with them as they left, again leaving the teens alone.

Seconds later Professor Sprout arrived to collect them. "Mr Pratchett, Miss Johnson, you should go collect your things and head to the train. Mr Malfoy, your parents indicated you may wait in the castle, they will locate you when the meeting has concluded. The rest of you, please follow me."

"Of course, professor." Draco gave Hermione a peck on the cheek. "Good luck, I guess. What does one say to one's sister on her way to find out who tried to steal her boyfriend?" No one had an answer.

Somberly, the small group traversed the castle. They encountered the odd student, some scurrying to make the train, others staying for the holidays and just out for a stroll. Hermione resisted the temptation to yell 'Boo' at the ones that stopped to gawk. Pausing briefly at the stone gargoyles to give the password, Professor Sprout lead them up the staircase.

Professor Dumbledore twinkled at them from behind his desk. Professor Snape stood to one side of the room in conversation with Lucius. Narcissa, Sirius, and Mrs Cole stood near the semicircle of chairs in front of the headmaster's desk. On the other side of the room, Mr and Mrs Weasley spoke with another couple. A last couple entered behind them, escorted by Professor Flitwick. Professor McGonagall entered with the girls behind them. All conversations ceased. A few vaguely hostile glances flashed between the groups.

"Let's all be seated." Dumbledore addressed them. The four heads took seats on either side of the headmaster, leaving the semicircle for the families.

Lachlan and his mother took seats in the middle, next to the Weasleys. The McGuinness's sat next the Weasleys, and the Broadmoor's finished that side of the curve. Harry sat next to Lachlan, then Sirius. Hermione sat between Sirius and Lucius, while Narcissa sat next to her husband, with Theo besides her.

"Now, I understand everyone is upset. This is a serious matter. At this time we are investigating all avenues. We want to discover what has occurred."

"Albus, this is absurd! Mild love potions are at worst a prank gone wrong, or a girl looking to get a boy's attention." Molly complained.

"Bollocks! A prank or getting attention is one dose, two at the most." Exploded Sirius, surprising numerous people in the room. "These boys were dosed for weeks."

"Excuse me," Mr McGuinness spoke up, "but my wife and I aren't magical, so we don't quite understand what exactly has happened."

Professor Snape gave them a tight smile. "These potions can create artificial feelings of affection. Taken long enough they begin to override feelings for other people. Some, like Mrs Weasley, see them as harmless pranks. Others, like Mr Black, consider them vile, as they can overcome free will." He sighed, "As much as it pains me to admit this, I agree with Black. Though the potions themselves are not illegal, at times the intentions behind them can be."

The McGuinness's looked horrified, especially Honey. Mrs McGuinness looked deeply concerned. "Are you suggesting Honey gave these potions to one of these boys?"

"Not necessarily." assured Professor Flitwick "We're here to discuss the matter with everyone present."

Honey began to cry, "So, it's true? Lachlan doesn't really like me?" Hermione's heart ached for the girl. "I'm so embarrassed." She looked straight at him. "I have no idea about any kind of potion. I've liked you for a long time." She made a derisive sound. "Kind of a standing joke in Ravenclaw. Honey's too much of a coward to go get her bee." She mocked herself before attempting to swallow a sob.

"No one gave you anything to give to him or offered helped in obtaining his attentions?" asked Dumbledore kindly.

"Not anything more than the usual advice: talk to him, ask him to study, ask him out. But, no, no one gave me anything to give to him. And I would never, love potion love is fake!" She began to sob in earnest now, her heart clearly broken. Her parents appeared at a loss for what to do.

Lucius produced a handkerchief and stood up from his chair. He crossed the semicircle to offer her his handkerchief He patted her gently on the shoulder. "Calm yourself, dear, we believe you." Her sobs slowed, but the tears did not stop completely. Lucius retook his seat.

Being seated across from her, Hermione noticed Essence exchange a smug look with Ginny. A suspicion of their plan formed. Honey McGuinness might be innocent, but the other two were not. If they hadn't done it themselves, they knew who had. She smoothed her facial expression into one of concerned interest. She made eye contact with Harry and raised an eyebrow. She gave a small jerk of her head towards Ginny.

After a moment of consideration, Harry nodded. "Um, so if somebody wanted set us up with girls who had crushes on us, why not ask us? We might have been interested."

"Yeah right, Potter." retorted Essence hotly. "Theo's dating Malfoy, and you brushed off Ginny before and Lachlan had no idea Honey was even alive." Harry raised an eyebrow. "And Hermione has been poisoning you against Ginny. She's a pureblood princess and heir to a noble house in her own right. She's ridiculously rich. How is anyone suppose to compete with that?"

"I'm not with Hermione for money or prestige. I wanted to date her in third year when she was Hermione Granger, Potter's pet muggleborn. I liked her because she's smart, fierce, and pretty."

"You may have liked her, but you didn't act on it until after her blood status changed and her vault size increased." Essence snapped back.

"And that is between Theo and myself." Hermione interjected calmly. "And that certainly isn't a reason to sabotage our relationship, not there is ever a valid reason to do that."

"What about you sabotaging other people's?" demanded Ginny.

"What relationship have I sabotaged?" Hermione asked innocently. The calmer she acted, the more agitated the other two became.

"Mine and Harry's."

Hermione turned to Harry. "Did you start dating Ginny and neglect to tell me?"

"Someone neglected to tell me." Harry answered with a chuckle. "We're not dating, Gin. I told you several times I wanted to be friends."

"Because Hermione told you to!" Ginny's voice rose an octave. "That's why we had to take drastic measures." she wailed. "You were never going to notice me properly with her around to poison you against me."

"And just what kind of drastic measures did you employ, Miss Weasley?" inquired Professor Snape, his hands steepled under his chin.

"Um, I asked Essence to help distract Hermione." She swallowed hard.

"And she chose to do that by flirting with Mr Nott?" questioned Professor Snape. "Instead of, say, befriending Miss Malfoy or luring her into Charms Club to be partners?" Miserably, Essence nodded. "And just how did distracting Miss Malfoy help you, Miss Weasley?"

"Because Hermione was too busy with her own problems to tell Harry bad things about me."

Professor McGonagall addressed Hermione, "Miss Malfoy, have you disparaged a relationship between Mr Potter and Miss Weasley?"
"No, professor. As with all his relationships, romantic or otherwise, I have encouraged Harry to make his own decisions. The only relationship he has that concerns me is our friendship."

Dumbledore addressed the girls, "So none of you prepared the love potions of the boys?"

"No, sir." both Essence and Ginny answered.

"Never." swore Honey, still looking miserable.

"What happens now?" asked Olivia Cole.

Dumbledore sighed. "Well then, we shall turn this over to the aurors as well as Miss Malfoy's accident."

"Aurors? For a harmless prank?" questioned Mr Broadmoor. "That seems a bit extreme." The Weasleys nodded.

"Sadly it is out of my hands. Under Secretary Dolores Umbridge is the defense professor this year. She notified the Minister this morning of the events. That the boys were potioned for so long without anyone noticing is concerning. Especially given how ill Mr Nott became. Initially, Madame Pomfrey suspected bad ingredients. That Mr Nott and Miss Malfoy have entered into an serious relationship, one including the exchange of heirloom jewelry, adds to the Ministry's concerns. Alienation of affection is a rather serious offense." Hermione shot Theo a suspicious look, which he returned sheepishly.

"Really?" asked Mrs McGuinness in amazement.

"In a world where I could make you my completely willing slave with a sip of water, yes." replied Snape. "Happily, most people prefer to earn each other's affection honestly. But if formal arrangements can be called off because of perceived cheating, even if one individual had no say in the matter."

"How serious is this?"

"Several thousands pounds in fines and prison time, depending on their defense and the leniency of the victim and the courts for alienation. The love potions are technically illegal, so it will depend on what the investigation brings. Again, Madame Umbridge removed the matter from your hands." McGonagall replied.

"Oh my."

"Indeed." Dumbledore stood. "As there is nothing more we can do today, I wish you all a joyous holiday season."

As the families filed towards the door, Hermione remained seated, carefully watching the three girls. Honey looked devastated. Her red rimmed eyes suggested this morning's tears were not the first she had shed. Ginny looked a bit pale, her freckles standing out against her nearly white skin. Essence looked unconcerned. She didn't look like a girl that just found out her crush could barely stand the sight of her, or especially guilty. Hermione suspected she had a plan to implicate the others, or someone else entirely. She had little doubt in her mind, Honey was innocent, but Ginny and Essence knew something.

Once the girls' families departed, Hermione slowly climbed to her feet. Sitting for too long stiffened her legs and back again. Lucius offered her a hand, which she gratefully accepted. The group allowed her to set the pace leaving the castle. Dobby eagerly agreed to collect Draco.

Lucius took a moment to apologize to the small creature over his treatment at Abraxas's hands. Dobby grinned wildly, assuring Lucius he understood and enjoyed working at Hogwarts for the famous Harry Potter.

Once outside the castle, the group paused to allow Hermione to rest. She sat on the steps, wincing at the hitch in her side. Harry leaned against the railing. "So, which one did it?"

"Pardon me, Mr Potter?" Mrs Cole.

"Hermione knows," he nodded her head at her, "or at least a working theory."

She shrugged, "I have a working theory."

"And?" Sirius asked. Olivia Cole raised an eyebrow. "My heir is heralded as the brightest witch of her generation."

"She is rather brilliant, mum." Lachlan offered. "I want to hear her theories."

"Honey is innocent. She had no part of any scheme. She genuinely likes Lachlan. That he doesn't truly like her back has destroyed her. I feel bad. The other two at least know something, if they didn't do it. And I suspect Essence has an exit strategy. She has a scapegoat ready to go."

"Anything you can prove?" Lucius inquired.

"Not as of yet, or I would have let them have it in there. Dolores Umbridge does not need anymore power. I still have no idea how the potion got into your systems."

Sirius offered her a hand up. "I'll have study guides for you before you go back."

"Thanks." The group slowly made their way down the driver to the gates. Theo supporting Hermione discreetly when her pains began affecting her gait. When she stumbled, Theo caught her and swept her up into his arms. "Not again." she muttered. Narcissa gave Lucius's arm a squeeze when he started to surge forward, only to find his daughter's beau had everything in hand. He frowned at her gentle smile. He settled for glaring at the back of Theo's head as Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck.