Minerva McGonagall had seen quite a lot in her 37 years at Hogwarts. She had seen notorious pranksters and troublemakers grow up to be even bigger troublemakers and pranksters, as well wonderful people and parents. She had seen lovers' quarrels that ended humorously and those that ended violently. She had even seen a young couple's breakup end in a tragic suicide and another in jealous murder. However, this was perhaps one of the most troubling moments of her career.

Fred, George, and Percy Weasley were all angrily glaring at the box of chocolates on McGonagall's desk. The seriousness of the Weasley Twins was truly unnerving. Harry and Ron were embarrassed by the story they had just told while Ginny and Hermione were doing their best to act normal, though both girls were clearly embarrassed and frustrated. Willow was glaring at the box along with the older Weasley boys and Dawn was looking at the Transfiguration Professor expectantly.

"Are you sure of your findings Ms. Summers?" The Professor asked rereading the potion ingredients' list before looking back up at the young girl standing in front of her desk.

"I'm sure Ma'am. We would like the Aurors to be contacted. I haven't identified the potion used yet, but I'm sure it's ether restricted or outright band."

Looking down at the ingredients again in shock, McGonagall had no choice but to agree with that fact. Still she was apprehensive about acting to hastily without first notifying Albus or Severus. She looked back up at her students.

"I fully agree with your assessment of the potion Ms. Summers, but I would like to consult a Potion Master or Mistress before notifying the authorities. The effects that both Mr. Potter and Mr. Ronald Weasley describe are truly troubling but this is still a very delicate matter."

Dawn opened her Scooby Kit, which now once again contained her examination bowl, and pulled out a framed diploma. She looked at it for a second before handing it over to McGonagall. Upon reading the diploma the Professor was speechless for a moment while she took in what she was reading.

"You are already a Mistress Of Potions, Ms. Summers. I had no idea."

Dawn had a smug smile on her face as she said. "Yes Ma'am. I also guaranty that my Potion Breakdown Bowl is completely admissible in Ministry Court. If you want to call the Headmaster you can, but we still want to notify the American Aurors. You may also wish to contact the Ministry as well on Ron's behalf."

Minerva McGonagall saw no way around it. She indicated for Dawn to use her fireplace while she walked to the wall and taped a small brass nob with her wand. She spoke clearly to the nob. "Albus, Severus, please come to my office at once. There is an urgent matter that needs addressing. We will also be needing Mr. Vincent Crabbe and a Ministry Representative."

She returned to her desk and noticed an annoyed look on Dawn's face. "Is something wrong Ms. Summers?

"I don't see why you have to call Professor Snape."

"Dawn," Willow said tiredly. "Professor Snape is my Head Of House as well as Crabbe's. It's Crabbe we are accusing of assault so Professor Snape must act as his advocate if his father can't be reached."

Dawn lend against the wall sulking. McGonagall was confused by her attitude as Snape hadn't really said one word about her, ether positive or negative. There had also been no indication that there was any hostility between ether student or teacher.

There wasn't much time to ponder Dawn's attitude as the fire flared green depositing Leroy Gibbs. The old Auror looked around before asking McGonagall. "What seems to be the emergence?"

Minerva handed over Dawn's breakdown of ingredients and said. "There was an attempted assault on Willow Potter by an unidentified Lust Potion. We are waiting for a representative of the British Ministry as well as Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and the accused Vincent Crabbe."

Gibbs studied the list carefully before returning it to McGonagall. His face was hard and angry as he gave the children a once over, looking for signs of trauma and injury. The embarrassment on Ron and Harry's faces confused the old Auror as he didn't fully understand why they would be ashamed, but figured he would soon know.

Everyone stood in silence as they waited for the others. A few minutes later there came a knock on the office door. Dumbledore stuck his head in and addressed McGonagall.

"Sense we seem to have so many in attendance with us at the moment, could we perhaps discuss this in your classroom Professor McGonagall? It would be far more comfortable and less crowded I think."

McGonagall nodded and Dumbledore left. She then stood and addressed the children. "Misters Fred and George Weasley, could you please escort your sister back to Gryffindor Tower." Both twin boys and Ginny had mutinous looks upon their faces, so the Transfiguration Professor continued before they could start yelling. "The only ones needed for testimony are Ms. Granger, Ms. Potter, Ms. Summers, Mr. Potter and your brother Ronald. I'm allowing your oldest brother to stay with Ronald. You may also wish to write home and inform your parents on what has happened before a second party possible source does."

Grumbling the twins left with Ginny to do as they were told. Everyone else fallowed McGonagall down the hallway to her classroom. When they entered they saw Snape standing of to one side talking quietly to both Vincent and Rigel Crabbe. Madam Bones was discretely trying to lessen in standing quietly next to Minister Fudge and Undersecretary Umbridge. Dumbledore had apparently banished all the tables and chairs to the wall and summoned armchairs for everyone. He himself was sitting in a large purple recliner with Victor Whitehall across from him in a green one.

Everyone decided to take a set when they noticed McGonagall and the children enter. Snape, Crabbe Senior, and Crabbe Junior sat by themselves on the left side of the room and Amelia sat next to Albus with Fudge and Umbridge taking seats on the other side of her. The Gryffindors and Willow sat with Whitehall and Gibbs chose to remain standing of to the side, where he could see everyone at one time.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As Professor McGonagall has called this urgent meeting will let her start." Dumbledore said pleasantly.

"Thank you Albus." Minerva began. "A number of my students came to me today with troubling news. Through a series of advents, Mr. Potter and Mr. Ronald Weasley accidentally intercepted a box of potion laced chocolates meant for Ms. Potter. After the young men described the troubling side effects to Ms. Summers, she was able to break the potion down to discover its ingredients. Several are quite alarming."

McGonagall waved her wand and distributed copies of the ingredient list to every adult in the room. There reactions were confused to extremely angry. Snape looked from the list to the Crabbes, his face a mask of rage, before calming himself down and addressing McGonagall.

"Breaking down a potion, especially one this advanced, is no easy matter. I would be most interested in learning how Ms. Summers managed this feat as she has never shown such aptitude for potion in my classroom. I would also like to hear more about how Misters Potter and Weasley intercepted the chocolates."

Everyone turned to look at Willow, Dawn, Harry, and Ron. Hermione decided to speak as she knew the boys were still embarrassed by the ordeal.

"Friday night me, Harry, and Ron found a way to sneak into Slytherin House. We met Willow in her common room and proceeded to have a conversation about various school related things, just enjoying each other's company. During the course of our stay, Professor Snape came in to collect Pansy Parkinson and Willow hid us under a powerful Notice Me Not Charm."

"Willow helped Professor Snape get Pansy out of her room and the three left together. We were going to leave sense Willow was gone but heard someone approaching from the boy's hallway. Vincent Crabbe came out dressed nice looking for Willow it seemed. When he noticed she was gone, he left the room throwing the chocolates in a chair. We left soon after and Ron took the chocolates as a joke." Hermione finished her story sheepishly looking down at her feet.

"So, you admit that the tree of you were out of bounds in Slytherin when you acquired the chocolates. Do you know how many rules you broke, how much trouble you're in?" Snape snarled.

"That doesn't matter to me or the A.R.W.K. The only thing that matters is the potential assault on Willow Potter. The school rules, violation, and punishments can be addressed afterwards." Gibbs said shortly.

"Auror Gibbs is correct Severus, the true issue is the magical assault." Dumbledore explained patiently.

Severus looked to the Headmaster subdued, he was only trying to advocate for Vincent Crabbe. He understood the significance of the investigation. He also was smart enough to understand the marriage contract was no more. It wasn't like he was entirely hung up on it ether, but he had to play his part.

Dumbledore looked to both Harry and Ron asking. "I'm sorry boys, but I must know what effect the potion had on both of you."

Harry and Ron exchange troubled looks before Harry answered quietly. "We had adult dreams about Crabbe."

Dumbledore expected as much but still needed confirmation. "So, it was the Elixir Of Sweet Dreams Potion. Vincent, do you know what this potion does to its victims?"

Vincent gave the Headmaster an uncertain look. He glanced at his father, how was no help, then at Snape. The look his Head Of House gave him suggested he answer quickly. The young Crabbe spoke quietly. "I was never told what potion the chocolates had." Snape cleared his throat loudly and Crabbe finished hastily. "Headmaster."

Amelia realized Crabbe's mistaken confession and capitalized quickly. "So, you admit you knew there was a potion in the chocolates?"

The boy chose to keep his mouth shut. Dumbledore explained the potion to everyone but focused his eyes on the Crabbes. "The Elixir Of Sweet Dreams makes the victim have adult dreams about a specific person. If left unchecked, the dreams can make victims fall in love with, or at least desire, the potion's intended benefactor. Though the dreams themselves are artificial, the mental effect they have on the mind are not. It is why the Elixir Of Sweet Dreams is illegal. It is not much different than the Imperius Curse. A Love Potion can easily be detected but a Lust Potion can go unnoticed for years. However, it will have no effect on someone who has no base desire for a relationship with someone of the benefactor's gender, or if the victim in question has prior knowledge of the benefactor that makes the attraction impossible."

"What do you mean by that?" Rigel Crabbe asked gruffly.

"Nether Harry or Ronald have any desire for a relationship with another boy, so all the potion did was give them nightmares." Dumbledore explained. "I take it you, Ms. Granger, did not eat any chocolates?"

Hermione blushed in embarrassment at being asked such a pointed question. "No Headmaster, I don't like sugar very much."

Dumbledore smiled a little at Hermione's statement. "Even if you had, Ms. Granger, your prior interactions with Vincent Crabbe would have more than likely stopped the unnatural attraction."

"Hold on! We are jumping to conclusions." Dolores said snobbishly. "Dawn Summers was the one who broke the potion down, so how do we know she did it correctly? Perhaps Headmaster Dumbledore or Professor Snape should check her findings."

Dawn took her Potion Mistress Certification out of her Scooby Kit and handed it to Dolores. The frog looking Witch's eyes widened comically as she sputtered. "This m-m-must be a mistake. It's a forgery."

Gibbs rolled his eyes angrily. "No, it's not. Dawn sat the examinations for O.W.L.s, N.E.W.T.S, and Master Certification in Potions when she was eleven. She is the youngest Witch ever to receive the title Mistress Of Potions from the A.R.W.K."

Dumbledore reached across a shocked Fudge and took the certificate from Umbridge. After examining the diploma, he passed it to Snape. The Hogwarts Potion Master stared down at the framed piece of paper in disbelief before saying offhandedly. "I would expect one who had this level of qualifications to do much better in my class."

Dawn stared coldly at Snape and took back the frame before saying. "I give exactly what you teach and nothing more. If you want better students than be a better teacher."

"Can we move on. Dawn Summers is more than qualified to investigate a potion." Gibbs said angrily. He wanted to have Vincent Crabbe expelled and possibly jailed for his actions.

"I would like to know the method in which Ms. Summers broke the potion down. Just for the record." Amelia Bones stated kindly.

Dawn shrugged and explained. "Me and Willow designed and created a bowl that uses a basic catalyst potion and ruins to do the work of potion brake down. It has been fully tested and patented through the A.R.W.K."

"May we see this bowl Ms. Summers?" Dumbledore asked in his grandfatherly voice.

"You may sir, but I'd prefer it if Professor Snape doesn't."

Fudge gave her a calculating look before asking with arrogant curiosity. "Why is that Ms. Summers? Are you worried Professor Snape could possibly discover something wrong with your design?"

Dawn looked the pompous fool in the eye. "If there is something wrong with my bowl than Headmaster Dumbledore could spot it easier than Professor Snape. My reasons for not wanting him to look at it are because the man has yet to earn my trust and I don't want him gaining any of my knowledge."

"As one of your Professors, Ms. Summers, he has shared his knowledge with you in class through teaching." McGonagall said with a look that promised a harsher talking later. Snape made no comment, but he sat rigidly in his chair.

Dawn gave McGonagall a look that clearly said she wasn't worried. "The only knowledge I have gained in Potions came from the assigned book and nothing more."

She pulled her bowl from her kit, after placing her certification back inside, and handed it over to Dumbledore. The Headmaster took it and studied the ruins along the outside and inside then handed it back.

"Most impressive Dawn, and you to Willow. Truly a work of genius."

Dumbledore sat back in his chair with his hands folded in front of himself thinking. "The question of guilt and legal action revolves around intent. Mr. Crabbe explained he didn't know what potion was inside the chocolates so had no intent of using the Elixir Of Sweet Dreams to its full potential against Willow. Vincent, what was your intent?"

Vincent hunched his shoulders and said subdued. "I'm not sure sir, the candy was given to me by Simon Parkinson. I just wanted her to give me another chance."

Amelia looked at Auror Gibbs to see his angered face, he had already come to the same conclusion as she had. They couldn't order a child to take Veritaserum and they couldn't question a dead man. As Vincent Crabbe had no true knowledge of what was contained in the chocolates, or so he claimed, than they couldn't truly hold a miner such as himself fully accountable. Also, because Simon Parkinson was dead, they had to take Vincent's word that it was Simon who gave him the chocolates.

"Vincent Crabbe, you knowingly attempted to us a potion on Ms. Potter by your own admission. Your actions caused trauma to two fellow classmates. You will pay ten thousand gallons to each wronged party or do you Lord Crabbe have an objection?" Amelia asked formally.

"Ah.." was Rigel's intelligent response.

"Very well then." Amelia said dismissively.

"I am truly disappointed in you Vincent." Dumbledore began. "You will have detention with Mr. Filch every weekday from now until the end of the school year. Two hundred points will be deducted from Slytherin and you will be confined to your dormitories unless you are in class, eating, or serving detention. If you violate the terms of this punishment in any way you shall be immediately expelled."

Vincent sat horrified next to Snape. Several people looked at the Headmaster with surprised faces at such a harsh punishment. Gibbs looked like he didn't think it was enough but said nothing. Cornelius looked like he was about to say something but shut his mouth when he saw the angry look on the face of Leroy Gibbs.

Whitehall would not be silent. "I want him expelled right now. He tried to violate my granddaughter!"

Rigel Crabbe looked like he was about to say something, but Dumbledore cut him off. "Victor there is no true proof of that. We cannot expel him based on suspicion alone."

"Fine," Victor snarled turning to look at the Crabbes. "but you can consider the Marriage Contract revoked!" Without waiting for a response, he tore out of the room in a furious rage.

Everyone began to leave after that. Cornelius Fudge and Umbridge left along with Lord Crabbe without a word to anyone. Snape escorted Vincent Crabbe back to Slytherin and Percy left to inform the other Weasleys about what had happened. McGonagall made Dawn and the other Gryffindors fallow her out and Willow vanished without anyone noticing.

Gibbs spoke to Albus harshly. "Vance will not be satisfied with the disciplinary punishments, we would have preferred the boy prosecuted for assault. It's becoming more difficult to protect Harry and Willow in what was rumored to be one of the safest places on earth."

Albus looked at Gibbs sadly but said nothing to defend his school. He was angry at himself for failing to keep his students safe. That particular potion, given several of its questionable ingredients, should have set of the Hogwarts' wards the moment it came onto the grounds. The Supreme Mugwump was wondering how many other children could possibly have been victims of that potion and other similar brews. He would have to retrieve the chocolate box later to see if it had unknown measures to bypass the detection wards, and look into ways to upgrade security so this didn't happen again. Gibbs stormed out to report to Vance.

Meanwhile, Snape had dragged Crabbe to his office down in the Dungeons. He forced the boy to set down then stood over him glaring, arms crossed in front of his chest, and said softly. "I will not protest the point reduction, nor will I attempt to have your detentions and restrictions reduced. You will serve them quietly and without complaint, is that clear Mr. Crabbe?"

At the boy's silent nod Snape continued. "I want to know who gave you those chocolates and how they bypassed the castle's security wards."

Crabbe fidgeted uneasily in his chair before saying. "I told you sir, Lord Parkinson gave them to me."

Snape leaned down towards the frightened Slytherin, placing both palms of his hand on the chair's armrests, and said quietly. "Do you take me for a fool Mr. Crabbe? I know perfectly well Simon Parkinson did not give you those chocolates. Had he done so then he would have informed me so I could oversee the use of them, as to avoid the blunder you made."

Crabbe continued to fidget under Snape's withering gaze before finally saying. "It was Brice Pronfeather. He told me they would bring Willow back to me but not what was in them. Draco suspected an Affectionate Potion sense a Love Potion would be to noticeable."

Snape stood up straight thinking about the information. Brice Pronfeather was a sixth year Ravenclaw who was from an old magic family. Though a Ravenclaw, the boy was without a doubt die hard Pureblood Elitist. This also made some information regarding Brice darker than it was at first glance.

Rumors had begun to surface about young Brice's conquests. He had become quite the ladies' man ever sense last year when he was a fifth year. Rumors, unfortunately, were not enough for the staff to take disciplinary action and many Professors had been trying to catch the young fool in the act. If the Elixir Of Sweet Dreams was involved than this issue was far darker and problematic than first originally realized.

He looked back down at Vincent coldly. "Get out, and I suggest you keep your head as far down as possible until the start of next term. Make sure you inform Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Goyle to do the same."

Vincent got up quickly to leave. When he reached the door, he turned once again to address Snape. His father's words about Pureblood doctrine, painfully beaten in during long hours of private lessons, came back to the forefront of the young heir's mind. "I'm sorry my actions were discovered and were used by our enemies to bring shame to Slytherin. I will do better in the future to ensure my plans go undiscovered like a Pure Wizard worthy of the house of serpents."

Snape stood stiffly, not betraying his true feelings. Crabbe believed Snape's anger was because he had been caught and not because he had almost violated a fellow student. The Potion Master felt responsible for every student that lived within his house and knew that he had already failed the young man standing in front of him. This boy's hands were already stained with innocent blood.

Snape had gone down that road once and felt every time a child in his care, whether they were Slytherin or not, who followed that path was a failure to Lily. That road had cost him his most precious friend and he vowed on her grave to do all he could to protect other's from walking that dark road. There were still others that Snape could save, so he did what he had to in order to maintain his cover.

"See that you keep from shaming are house again then Mr. Crabbe."

Vincent left and Snape retired to his Ingredients Cupboard to retrieve a hidden bottle of Goblin Wine. After the revelations of tonight he needed a stiff drink.

Nether student or teacher noticed the small bat that was hidden in a shadowed corner of the ceiling. Once the room was empty the bat flew down to the ground and quickly took the form of a resolved faced Willow Potter.

"Brice Pronfeather, what am I going to do about him, I wonder?"