Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Veronica Mars. If I owned VM, that debacle that took place last night would NEVER have happened. Seriously, I'm in major mourning. Anyway, sorry the chapters are so long between updates. It'll probably continue like that, so I appreciate everyone sticking with the story.

"Shit. Oh, shit. Oh man, this is bad," Theodore Nott groaned. "Draco! Krum! Merlin, this is not good." The Slytherin stared in disbelief at the scene before him. His room was a wreck - broken glass, scattered bedding, torn paper. And the very thing he had come up to get was obviously gone. With it, it looked like his future might be on the way out, too. His eyes landed on the wall, and the red-scrawled words upon it.

He, Draco and Krum were on a "scouting trip." Dumbledore had given the two sixth year students permission to travel with Krum to meet with Quidditch teams. In reality, they had spent one afternoon hobnobbing with Quidditch bigwigs and were now carousing in Diagon Alley. The boys had gotten gloriously drunk the night before, and Theodore had ended up in Knockturn Alley, where he had purchased a highly illegal "performance potion" to assist his game. He never would have bought it sober, but after eight shots of firewhiskey, it had seemed like a great idea. He had stumbled back to their room at The Leaky Cauldron, shoved the potion in his bag and passed out. The next morning, he, Draco and Krum had wandered downstairs for a hangover-curing greasy breakfast. After eating he excused himself. In the light of day, he wasn't sure what he was going to do with the potion. On one hand, if he was caught with it, he's surely be banned from Quidditch and expelled from Hogwarts. On the other hand, it would help his game, and his chance at a professional career. Now, however, it looked like the decision had been taken out of his hands.

Naughty, Naughty, Nott. Missing something? Maybe Dumbledore will find it for you.

Theodore gaped at the message. Was it a threat? A mere taunt? He called for his friends again.

"Draco! Get your ass up here!"

"Merlin, keep your robes on, Theo," Draco grumbled from the hallway. "What's the-" He stopped short when he saw the wreckage. "What the hell?"

Theodore looked helplessly at his friend. Krum came in behind Draco, crashing into the still Slytherin, and did a double take. It would have been comical had the situation not been so dire.

"Vhat is the meaning of this?"

"I don't know," Theodore groaned. "When I came up after breakfast the room was like this. What in Salazar am I going to do?"

"What's that writing mean?" Draco asked.

Theo sunk onto the disheveled bed. "Merlin, what a shit pile. Okay, last night, when you two were challenging that hag to a drinking contest, I went to Knockturn Alley. I'd heard there were certain potions one could acquire to assist one's Quidditch game. Meeting with those players yesterday… All I've ever wanted to do with my life is play. I just thought…" He trailed off miserably. From the shocked look on his friends' faces, he could tell he'd screwed up even worse than he first thought. Damn! He'd give anything to destroy that potion right now. If only he still had it.

"That is dangerous idea, Nott," Krum said. "If you vere ever caught vith such a thing, your career vould be over before it began."

"You're not that bad a player, Theo," Draco added.

Theodore glared at his friend. "I know," he said, addressing Krum. "I was drunk, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn't actually take any though. I was going to get rid of it. But someone must have seen me with it. God, couldn't they just have accio'd it? Did they have to tear up the room, too?"

"That's probably just for effect," Draco said. "Or maybe we were being robbed and they didn't know what they'd find."

"Then why the love note?" asked Theodore. "No, whoever did this knew exactly what they'd find. What am I going to do? If they tell Dumbledore…"

"I'll lose my job," said Krum suddenly. "I took two underage vizards drinking. You bought illegal potions vhile under my supervision. I'll be banned from Quidditch."

"We'll all be banned," Draco said darkly. "Damn it, Theo! Couldn't you just practice more, like the rest of us?" He waved his wand, and the room returned to normal. "We are going to check out, return to Hogwarts, and pretend this never happened. If the other shoe drops, then we'll deal with it."

O O O O O O

Why, oh why can't I have a normal life? Hermione thought ruefully. Do I look like a help desk? Is this my office? Theodore Nott, a sixth year Slytherin, was standing before her in the library. He was relatively mild, as far as the green ones went, but his House could not be ignored. He was looking at her imploringly, having just spilled about the trip he took with Viktor and Draco. She looked down at the scrap of paper he'd handed her.

One hundred galleons may buy my silence. For now.

For the love of God. What are we, in some spy novel? Hermione was not sure what Nott wanted her to do. She wasn't mad at Viktor - she knew he was friends with the Slytherins, and it sincerely didn't bother her that he went out drinking with them. Well, it did bother her a little, but she dealt with it. Sure, she wished he had better taste in friends, but she'd been seduced by those guys at one point, too. Besides, he was there on official business. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to cold-shoulder a whole House. She knew the Slytherin Quidditch players were talented. Naturally he would have dealings with them. Of course, how much of that talent was God-given and how much was magically enhanced seemed to be the issue here. She looked at the miserable Nott. You boys and your Quidditch.

"Um, I'm not really sure what you want," Hermione voiced her doubts. "You bought an illegal potion, someone stole it and is blackmailing you. Sorry. Where exactly do I come in?"

"You're Krum's girlfriend," Theo said, as if it were obvious. "If I get in trouble, he will, too. And you're Granger. You know about stuff."

"Wow, I'll have to get you to write me a letter of recommendation when the time comes," she said. "You obviously have my skills assessed. What stuff do I know about illegal potions and blackmail? I'd love to know."

"No, that's not what I- Let's start over," Theo said, shaking his head. "I know there's no love lost between you and the Slytherins."

"A brilliant observation," she said dryly.

"But you're a brain," he continued. "You helped Thomas. You busted Pansy, and broke her up with Draco, for which I think he was grateful. And like I said, you're dating Krum. This affects him, too."

Hermione sighed. "If you say you weren't going to use that potion, fine. I don't want Viktor to get in trouble. But I don't understand what you want me to do."

"Find out who's blackmailing me! Someone saw me buy that potion, and someone is now tormenting me with that knowledge. I don't have a hundred galleons, Granger. Draco said we'd have to wait for the other shoe to drop. Well, it has. Please help me. Think of Krum."

"I am," she said. God, this was a never-ending nightmare. Favors for Slytherins… What the hell next? Were she and Snape going to start working together? She inwardly shuddered. "Okay, Nott, I'll see what I can do. This is not for you, get it? I'm doing this for Viktor."

"Whatever. I'll owe you Granger. Thanks."

Wow, that sounded almost sincere, she thought, as he walked out of the library. Okay, Granger, looks like you're back on a case. Hermione Granger, P.I., at your service. She grinned a little.

She did feel she owed it to Viktor to find out what was happening. He was a talented, important athlete; he did not deserve to have his promising career shattered by a drunk, thoughtless Slytherin. So she had to go straight back into the snake pit, and deal with the very viper who had been on the trip with Nott and Viktor. Draco.

She found the Annoying One holding court next to the lake. He looked lazily up at her, and waved his hands at his friends. Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini took the hint; as they got to their feet, Zabini gave Hermione a lewd wink and grin.

"Don't worry, Draco," he said, walking away with his fellow Housemates. "We won't tell anyone you're slumming."

Draco issued a humorless laugh and motioned for Hermione to sit as he leaned back against his book bag, looking completely at ease. She hated to sink to his level, even metaphorically, but she needed information, and it would not do to argue. If it was even possible for them not to argue.

"Malfoy," she started in a controlled voice as she sat cross-legged across from him. "I understand you, Viktor and Nott went on a little bender and bought some no-no potion."

"Theo bought it, but continue."

"And some unknown criminal broke into your room, wrecked it, stole the potion and is now blackmailing Nott."

"Excellent summary, Granger," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "Is it enough for me to nod in agreement, or do I have to add something?"

She swallowed her biting retort with some difficulty. Viktor or no, dealing with Draco Malfoy was worth way more than a measly favor from Nott. Her ambiguous feelings for him following Ginny's memorial service had gone straight back to hate. "I would love for you to add something, Malfoy. Like a lead. I promised I'd help, but I'm not sure where to start. Do you remember anyone suspicious? Did they take anything else?"

"No and no," Draco said. "Krum and I were bombed; we didn't even know Theo left the bar, let alone bought some shady potion. I didn't know anything was up until I saw the room."

"Any ideas at all?"

"Granger, for once I'd love to help, as my ass is also on the line, but I have no clue who did this," said Draco. "I think it must be a Hogwarts student, though. As much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn't put it past a rogue Slytherin; after all, whoever did it knew where we'd be, and knew what to look for. They must have been spying on Theo. I don't know, maybe he looked even twitchier than usual. I think smashing the room up was for shock value, to unnerve us even more. Wizards don't have to resort to such methods to find things, especially if they know what they're after. It's very common and muggle."

"What a lovely thought. You've been a real help, Malfoy," Hermione said, thinking secretly that he really had been. "Let's both pray I don't have to talk to you again."

"I pray that every day, Granger, but it seems you just can't stay away. Can't say I blame you. I mean, I do have a mirror."

"I'm surprised it's still intact," she said, rising to her feet and starting back to the castle. Hermione took one more look at the smirking boy and wondered how they had ever been friends. She was still pondering that mystery when she went to look for Viktor. She found him waiting for her outside the Gryffindor common room. Wanting complete privacy, she took him to the Room of Requirement, where he told her a little of the outing and expressed his concern about his career. He urged her to bury her feelings for the Slytherins and help them.

"I am, Viktor," she said, pulling him down on the couch the room had provided them. "I just wish I had more to go on. Draco said it might be a Slytherin, or someone else who knew you were going. Was there talk beforehand of this potion? Otherwise, I don't see how anyone would anticipate that he would buy it."

"Absolutely not," Viktor said, leaning against her. "Herm-own-ninny, I vould never have allowed such a thing. I should just resign myself to going back to Ministry. They vill not let me continue here after this debacle."

"I don't want you to go," said Hermione. "We'll figure this out."

He smiled at her. "Maybe you take my mind off troubles for a vhile?" She grinned at his cheek, and tugged him towards her. He kissed her fervently, as if it would be the last time. She hoped desperately that was not the case. His resignation was a little strange, though. He certainly seemed convinced that he'd be sent packing from the school after this. She'd have to work overtime to make sure that didn't happen.

For the next couple days, Hermione kept busy snooping around. Harry reluctantly agreed to help her for Viktor's sake, but warned her about aiding and abetting Slytherin illegalities.

"He really should be expelled," Harry insisted about Nott. "Even if he was drunk and wasn't going to use it, simply buying the potion in the first place was enough for that."

"Harry, like we've never done anything expulsion-worthy," she said. "Look, I agree with you. I don't want to help him, either. But I hardly think one error in judgment should get the guy kicked out of school. And blackmail is ugly stuff. I don't approve."

"Neither do I," said Harry grudgingly. "Okay, so we're helping Nott. And unfortunately Malfoy. What have you found out?"

"Frankly, a big fat nothing," said Hermione. "Nobody seems to know anything. Viktor went to the bathroom before Nott went up to their room, and he doesn't remember seeing anyone going upstairs or hanging around. Nott wouldn't have remembered if the entire Wizengamot followed him to Knockturn Alley; he was that out of it. I'm amazed he even found the place, as drunk as he was. Or says he was. Malfoy didn't see anyone. I don't know, Harry. The whole thing just seems fake, somehow. I mean, an anonymous blackmail note? A message on the wall? It's very cheesy."

"What, you think Nott set himself up?" Harry asked. "I wouldn't put it past him. Slytherin and everything."

"But that doesn't make any sense.

"Maybe he needs the money and he's trying to get it from Malfoy and Viktor. They are implicated, after all. He probably never even bought the stuff." Harry looked pleased with his deduction skills, but Hermione was not convinced.

"Why would he bring me into it? He'd have been better off just asking Draco and Viktor for the money."

"Maybe it was Viktor's idea to ask you."

"No, I heard it from Nott first. He specifically said he was asking me because I would help Viktor." Hermione looked thoughtful. "Viktor's very pessimistic about the whole thing. He's convinced the Ministry is going to send him away from Hogwarts because of this."

"They might, I suppose," Harry said. "It wasn't his fault Nott bought the stuff, but it was a little careless of him to even take them drinking in the first place. It doesn't really seem like something he would normally do."

"No, it doesn't." Hermione looked at Harry. A new idea was dawning. "I've gotta go. I'll check back with you soon."

Harry watched his friend leave. Despite everything, he loved to see that familiar I've-got-an-idea gleam in her eyes. No doubt she was off to the library.

In fact, Hermione was on her way to talk to Draco again. She found him asking Professor Flitwick about that day's lesson and waited for him to be finished.

"I knew you couldn't stay away, Granger," he said as he walked off beside her. "What excuse have you found this time?"

"Malfoy, I need to swallow an anti-vomit potion every time we speak. Your smirk threatens its effectiveness, too. I assure you I take no pleasure in your company."

"Ahh, the lies we tell ourselves."

"Anyway," she said, eager to end their interaction. "Do you think it's possible Nott staged this thing? Maybe to get you and Viktor to give him the blackmail money?"

"No way," said Draco. "Slytherins will occasionally pull their sneaky tricks on their own house, but not close friends. It wouldn't make any sense, because really, the only one that would get in real trouble is Theo himself. They can't really trace the potion to me or Krum."

"I thought you all were worried," she said.

"We are. I mean, it wouldlook bad on us," he admitted. "We may have overreacted a bit, though. I think he should just pay the money."

"He says he doesn't have it," Hermione told him.

"Well, he'll figure something out," said Draco shrugging.

"It's nice to know you're concerned for your fellow Housemates," Hermione said. "Has he asked you or Viktor to lend him the money? Would you give it to him?"

"He hasn't asked," said Draco. "I guess I could, if he had no other resources. I know Krum doesn't have that kind of money right now, unless you're paying him to date you, which is actually pretty likely."

"You're a riot."

"I really don't know what else to tell you, Granger," said Draco. "I've been extremely forthcoming, considering how much I dislike you. I want to help Theo, but I don't know anything else, and I'm tired of talking to you. Now I'm off to the dungeons. There's a no mudblood policy in Slytherin, so you'll have to get your next Draco fix elsewhere."

Hermione didn't bother to reply; she simply watched him walk away, thinking hard about their conversation. There were things that just didn't add up for her. She had a disquieting suspicion that she wasn't going to like the outcome of this little mystery.

Hermione spent the rest of the afternoon poring over various potions books in the library. She found the one Nott had bought; it was extremely effective and extremely illegal. It was also virtually untraceable, which was why many athletes had reportedly used it in the past. Most of them only confessed - anonymously, of course - about it years later, after their sports careers were over. Nott would have had a very good chance of getting away with his indiscretion; so would the person who stole it. Hermione was surprised Nott had been able to afford the potion in the first place. It was supposed to be very expensive and hard to find. Hermione was beginning to suspect that he had purchased a fake. He would have been drunk enough to trick. Still, if the blackmailer turned him in, the intention behind his acquisition would have him banned whether the potion was fake or not. Hermione next browsed through old Daily Prophets, looking for more stories about the potion. One headline caught her eye: Bulgarians Under Investigation. The story was based on rumors that the Bulgarian Quidditch team regularly took the illegal potion. The article was seven years old; three years before Viktor had joined the team. Still, it made her pause; he would have worked closely with some of the wizards who were accused of taking the potion. Nothing was ever proven, and as Hermione scanned through subsequent articles, she saw that Viktor's addition to the team had cleared the Bulgarians' names for good. She filed that information away and went to find Harry.

Hours later, Hermione still felt that she was missing something big. She and Harry had discussed the case ad nauseum, and she had reassured an increasingly panicky Nott that everything was under control. A lie, of course, but Hermione was confident that confused or not, she would find the answer.

Viktor was no help. She had found him on the Quidditch pitch with Ron and Draco, running drills. He smiled when he saw her and motioned the boys away. Ron scowled; Draco merely looked amused.

"Herm-own-ninny," he greeted her. "Haf you come to rescue me from the boys? Perhaps we find private place to enjoy the last of our time together?"

"Viktor, that's not funny," she said. "We're trying to keep you here. I need to ask you some things."

He sighed. "It's no use. The ministry wants me back."

"But they don't even know about this! If we work quickly, they never will. Why would they take you out of Hogwarts?"

"They said I haf been here long enough," Viktor said. "That I haf talked to all the promising young players here and should be returning to my team, and my duties at the Ministry. It is better I go back before Nott brings me down as well."

Hermione looked at Viktor as if for the first time. A friend was in trouble, and he was eager to escape so it didn't effect him. This was not what Hermione expected.

"Do no look at me like that, Herm-own-ninny," he said. "I can see disappointment in your eyes, but vhat am I to do? It is my job."

"I know, but-"

"No," he said angrily. "No buts. I am sorry for Theo, but perhaps he should just pay money and hope for the best. The Ministry wants me back; I can't stay here any longer even if I vanted to. I vill be sorry to leave you again, but perhaps it is for best. I can see you're not happy vith me."

"That doesn't mean I want to break up," she said, equally angry. "Alright, Viktor, if we can't survive one argument, then I guess you're right. Good luck. I'll try to keep helping Nott. Make sure you tell Harry bye before you go." She turned and stomped back to the castle, wiping hot tears as she went. She heard Viktor call after her, but ignored him. She returned to her room and threw herself on her bed. She was upset about Viktor, but more than anything, she was mad at herself for believing in him, for letting herself get close to someone again. Here she was, desperately trying to keep him with her, and he acted like it was nothing to go away, as if shemeant nothing to him. She would not make that mistake again so easily.

Hermione laid in bed that night, unable to sleep. Her mind was going over and over Nott's case. There was one little detail Hermione kept playing in her head, something Draco had told her about breakfast that morning. Suddenly, she sat straight up. She knew who the blackmailer was. Tomorrow was going to be another helluva day.

Hermione grabbed Nott outside their potions class.

"You're off the hook," she said. "I'll name my favor later."

"What?" he said, staring blankly at her. "How am I off the hook? I got another letter just this morning, saying I needed to pay today, or else. How is that good, Granger?"

"Don't pay it," Hermione answered. "I know who it is, and you're fine. No one will know about the potion, and you don't have to pay a single sickle. Just don't buy that crap again."

His incredulous expression soon turned to one of awe. "Granger, are you serious? I might love you."

"Don't let the Slytherins hear you say that," she said.

"Who was it?" Nott asked eagerly. "I'll hex the bastard's balls off."

"I'm not telling you who it is. That's for me to deal with."

"What? No way, Granger, I want to get my hands on this guy."

"I never said it was a guy," said Hermione. "And I'm not telling you who it is. End of story."

"Fine," Nott said. He pouted for a moment, and then grinned at her. "Thanks, Granger. You're not bad for a mudblood slut. Draco's words, not mine." He turned and walked into the classroom, leaving Hermione stunned and glaring after him. Well, that's what you get for helping Slytherins. You know better.

Hermione ignored the satisfied smirks of Draco and Nott throughout their potions lesson, and waved away Harry's inquiries. Later, she mouthed when he pressed her for the third time. She still had the final act to get through.

Viktor was leaving that afternoon; he had sent her an owl that morning pleading forgiveness and begging her to see him off. His letter stated that he loved the time they spent together and he hated to leave on bad terms. He told her he looked forward to resuming their prior correspondence and would like to visit her as frequently as his schedule would allow. Hermione read it with mixed feelings. As much as he had disappointed her recently, Viktor hadmeant a lot to her. What the hell. The least she could do was say goodbye.

He was waiting for her at the entrance hall. His face cleared when he saw her approach and he pulled her into a fierce hug.

"I'm going to miss you," he said. "We did not end things vell last night. That is not how I vish to leave. Ve haf had good times."

"We have," Hermione said warmly and sincerely. "But you have to go now. Write me, if you want. Here's a letter for you; don't read it until you leave or I'll be embarrassed."

He looked at her quizzically but nodded. She kissed him on the cheek and left. She was a little sad to see him go, but she also knew it was for the best.

Viktor said his goodbyes to Harry, Ron and Draco. He promised to pass along names to Quidditch officials and put in a good word for several people at the Ministry. He was more than ready to leave Hogwarts; being older than everyone else did get rather boring. He had enjoyed himself, and it was fun to play celebrity, but in truth, he was the one who had asked the Ministry to bring him back. Leaving Hermione did give him slight pause, because despite everything, he liked Hermione a lot. He knew there wasn't much of a future there, but the pretty, clever young witch never ceased to please him. His biggest regret was that he had been unable to bed her; obviously the rumors about her loose virtue were so much hogwash. Still, it would be enough to keep in touch and see her occasionally. There were other witches out there.

Viktor had plans to have lunch in Hogsmeade and apparate back to London from there. His belongings had already been shipped home, and he was looking forward to a leisurely walk to the Three Broomsticks.

Viktor opened Hermione's letter as he walked.

Dear Viktor,

I don't know what you needed the 100 galleons for, but I hope you have another source of income, one not quite so nefarious. It pains me a bit to write this; I tried every possible scenario to make it not be true, but I think we both know who has Nott's fake potion, and blackmail on his resume. I won't tell anyone, but don't do it again, or there will be hell to pay.

Hermione

P.S. My goodbye was sincere. Feel free to write me once you've cleaned up your act. I think it's safe to say our romance is over, but we were once friends. Maybe we could be again.

Viktor stared in shock at the letter. How did she...? Well, he should have known better than to let Nott involve her. Damn it! His Slytherin friends had warned him that she was tricky. He laughed a little. His criminal career was over before it began; maybe he should thank her for keeping his nose clean. Well, at least he could trust her to keep her word and keep quiet. He'd have to scrape up the money some other way.

"Herm-own-ninny, you are full of surprises," he said to himself. "I'll do vell to remember that, next time."