Chapter 23: Veritaserum
Hermione's POV
"I still have a bad feeling about this Hermione." Draco mumbled as we prepared to go to the Order.
"Relax Draco. I promise, they will believe you and they will help us." I cooed, placing a hand on his cheek.
"Alright." He sighed.
I grabbed onto his hand and apparated us to 12 Grimmauld Place.
After the defeat of Voldemort, the Order decided to shift back to using 12 Grimmauld Place as their Headquarters instead of the Burrow and still ran in case of any emergencies.
Once we reached the Headquarters, I heard a small gasp and saw Professor Lupin run out of the kitchen.
With Harry's permission, Professor Lupin moved into the house. He was always around so that if there was any problem, we could just come here and he'd always be here.
"Hermione! What brings you…" He trailed off as he noticed Draco holding my hand.
"Professor Lupin. We need your help. There's a problem." I spoke hurriedly.
"Oh. Well, come on then. We'll talk about it upstairs." He murmured, still eyeing Draco suspiciously.
I could feel Draco tense up under Professor Lupin's gaze and squeezed his hand re-assuringly.
Upstairs, we went into one of the bedrooms and sat on the bed.
"Now, what is the problem?" Professor Lupin asked, sitting on an armchair in front of the bed.
Draco and I began to tell the story, taking turns at different parts of it. By the end of it, Professor Lupin's face was a range of emotions.
From shocked…
To angry…
To upset…
To fearful…
To suspicious.
"Hermione…would you please wait outside. I would like a moment alone with Draco here." Professor Lupin finally mumbled, his eyes never leaving Draco's face.
I hesitated for a bit, wondering if it was alright to leave them two in the room alone together, but finally got up and waited outside the door.
As I closed the door behind me, I slid to the floor and pressed my ear to the door, curious to know what they were talking about.
Draco's POV
Professor Lupin just stared at me for a bit before standing up and walking over to a cabinet.
"Tell me, Mr Malfoy, why did you help Hermione escape?" He questioned, looking at me intently.
I was caught off guard about that question and hesitated a bit.
It's best to tell him the truth.
"Because I love her."
Professor Lupin's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he continued looking at me intently, probably trying to find out if I was lying or not.
"You love…Hermione?" He murmured, an eyebrow arched in suspicion.
I didn't blame him for doubting me.
Everyone who went to Hogwarts knew Hermione and I were enemies, and that I loathed her.
No one knew all that changed…
After a while, Professor Lupin got up and walked over to a small cabinet by the fireplace.
"Ever heard of Veritaserum, Mr Malfoy?" Professor Lupin asked casually as he started pulling out potions and looking at their labels.
"Y-Yes sir." I mumbled, not liking where this was going.
He walked over to me with a vial of clear liquid and stood expectantly in front of me.
"Open up then."
I gulped as I eyed the vial carefully, rather scared about what was going to happen next.
"If you have been honest all this while about your actions, then you should have nothing to fear." Professor Lupin mumbled.
Taking in a deep breath, I opened my mouth and let him pour three drops of the potion inside my mouth.
It tasted…bland at first, though slightly warm as it slid down my throat. I didn't feel any side-effects and it felt like I didn't even take it in the first place.
He then sat back in the armchair with a huge sigh.
"Alright. First off, did you agree to the Renatusis Spell when you were first told about it?"
"Yes." I immediately responded, horrified at the way it came out and looked like. It was like I didn't even think at all.
Like my brain was not in control…
"It's true…but-"
"Did you have that bet with Chad Durklin about kidnapping Hermione?" Professor Lupin's tone was cold and strict.
"Y-Yes."
"Did you help in the kidnapping of Hermione?"
"No."
"How long was Hermione under hostage and were you aware about her situation?"
"3 weeks."
"In those 3 weeks, were you, along with the other DeathEaters…planning out the Renatusis Spell?"
"Yes."
"Did you torture Hermione?"
By this point, tears were strolling down my cheeks and I was clutching the temples of my head, trying to restrain the answer from coming out, because it was just too painful.
But alas…
"Y-Yes."
There was a moment's pause and I looked up through my tears to see Professor Lupin looking at me closely, almost like he was studying me.
I knew the type of questions he was asking me made me look like the monster and villain of the situation.
But I was that…some amount…
"Tell me Draco…did you want to become a DeathEater?"
This time, Professor Lupin's tone was softer and gentler.
"No."
"Were you forced into it?"
"Yes."
"Did you agree to do the Renatusis Spell with the intention of reviving Voldemort?"
"No."
"Did you want to harm, or plan to harm Hermione?"
"No."
"Were your intentions all this while, to destroy the cauldron and stop the Renatusis Spell from being fulfilled?"
"Yes."
There was another long pause and I kept my gaze to the ground, though I was rather happy that he decided to give me a chance instead of just assuming I was the bad guy.
"Do you love Hermione sincerely?"
I didn't need the potion to work on me as I responded sincerely in the blink of an eye.
"Yes."
I watched Professor Lupin nod slightly at me before calling Hermione back in.
As she sat beside me and held my hand, I could see her eyes were slightly glassy with tears and she had a small smile on her face.
No doubt she's been listening all the while…
"Well, I no longer have any doubts of Mr Malfoy's intentions and where his heart lies." Professor Lupin spoke as he glanced at Hermione with a tiny smirk.
"We have to go to the Burrow and alert Harry and the rest. You two go on first. I'll rally the rest of the Order members and meet you two there." He said as he got up.
"Thank you, Professor." I mumbled, sticking out my hand to shake his.
"No, Draco…" He murmured, pulling my arm a bit so he could whisper into my ear.
"Thank you."