Trusts And Betrayals

Chapter Thirteen

The four of them quietly went to their common room and sat in a corner away from everyone else to talk. "I was so sure it was them. Hermione, is there anything they could have done to lie with the Vertiserum? Couldn't they have taken a potion beforehand?" Harry looked at her questioningly.

"No, that's why Vertiserum is very restricted, it doesn't give people a right to their own private thoughts. This is why I'm amazed that Fudge was asking about Professor Malfoy's reason for being here, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Professor Lupin." Hermione looked thoughtful for a minute. "Though he did seem to be saying that he was friendly with her husband. It seemed as though Mr. Malfoy accused her of being a Death Eater."

"I found it odd that Professor White dragged her out as though he didn't want her telling her reasons for being here." Neville, who had been sitting so quietly with them, had made a very interesting point. "That man scares me." Neville was basically a member of their group now. They had already filled him in on Harry's summer events, and he had been amazed about Draco. Draco had become very subdued lately, and it was unnerving to all of them.

"Harry, go and get your map. I want to see where everyone is." Hermione told him. She looked as though she had an idea. Harry ran up the stairs and swung the trunk open, taking out the map and bringing it down. Hermione watched the map for a few minutes, with them all looking over her shoulder. They could see the small printing in Dumbledore's office that said Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore, and in the dungeons by the Slytherin Corridor was Narcissa Malfoy talking to Draco Malfoy. "Damn!" Hermione said frustrated. "Where is Professor White?"

Ron pointed. "Right there, the Hospital Wing, looks like he's leaving there." They all could see Orion White leaving the Wing and heading towards the grounds.

"DAMN!" Hermione repeated to herself. "I was thinking he was Lucius Malfoy with Polyjuice Potion or something, but I guess we can rule that out! The map never lies. I wonder what he was doing in the Hospital Wing? I think Professor Lupin would still be there. I read that adding sugar to Wolfsbane is very harmful and he might be out for a few days. The poor man, it makes them very ill afterwards, and he always looks so tired already."

"Do you think this is in any way related to the Death Eater that betrayed Harry?" Ron whispered.

Hermione looked skeptical, and looked at the map for a moment before answering. "I don't see how, I would think that they would have tried to do something to Harry, and he was nowhere near Lupin at the time, I think it may be unrelated, someone out to get Lupin... or possibly Snape."

"Well that narrows it down, doesn't everyone hate him?" Ron exclaimed. Harry and Neville burst out laughing, but soon stopped from the piercing look that Hermione gave them. She was biting her nails in frustration. "Harry had spotted Professor Malfoy with Snape, and it appeared as though they were more than just friends, but romantically involved." Ron and Neville looked thoroughly disgusted at this. Hermione ignored them and continued. "So if this is the case it gives Lucius Malfoy a motive to go after him... same for Draco, really. Or it could just be someone out to make trouble for the school..."

Hermione was cut short be a jab in her side from Ron's elbow. They looked up and saw Ginny walking by, with Collin Creevey. "Hiya, Harry!" Collin said, but Ginny grabbed his arm and angrily walked him out of the common room quickly, before Harry could answer. She turned and gave Harry a cold look before stepping out the door.

"Whoa, Harry! What did you do?" Ron was sniggering.

Harry shrugged, and looked as confused as Ron. "No idea."

"Boys!" Hermione muttered and walked out.

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The next morning they went rushing to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class early, hoping to see Professor Lupin before anyone else arrived, and see if they could ask him questions about Halloween. They were very surprised to see Professor White sat at Lupin's desk, looking over some papers, and Percy Weasley sitting at the back of the classroom, again with a notepad and quill. He looked up and saw their startled faces.

"Oh, hello. Mr. Fudge assigned me here, I am to report to him about the competence of the teachers, beginning with the new ones." He was talking with an air of importance. "Fudge appointed me as Junior Executive of the Board of Trustees for the school."

All the other students began coming in, looking at Percy with confusion. The all knew of coarse that he had been Head Boy just two years ago. "Ok. Students? Could you take your seats? As you see, Mr. Weasley is here from the Ministry, so lets try and do this class as we would if he weren't here." Harry thought he could detect disgust in White's gravelly voice. They all scrambled to their seats, he looked like a no-nonsense type.

"Well, as you all must have heard, there had been a mishap with Professor Lupin's Wolfsbane, so I have been asked to substitute his class for him. He should be back on his feet tomorrow. So I realize that Werewolves are third year knowledge, but can anyone tell me what happens to them on a total Lunar Eclipse?"

Hermione was the only one who raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"It causes an imbalance on Werewolves, making them more dangerous, and Wolfsbane is ineffective during that time," she said quietly.

"That is correct. Fortunately, The Eclipse is very brief, usually lasting twenty minutes to a half hour. And once over, the Wolfsbane kicks in again." His gruff voice and tone gave made the students hang on his every word, out of fear that he might turn nasty; he certainly looked as though he could.

Later that day during Charms, they walked in to see Percy again, standing and talking to Professor Malfoy. It looked as though they had been arguing. Percy turned to see them all pouring in and went to sit at the back of the class again with his notebook. Professor Malfoy looked displeased at Percy being there.

"Well, as you can see, Mr. Weasley is here to take notes on the class, however I do not wish for him to cause a distraction to your lesson, so why don't we pretend he is not here?" She pointed her wand at Percy, and uttered a curse. A brick wall appeared between Percy and the rest of the class.

"Brilliant! Can you teach me to do that to him? He annoys me year round!" Ron grinned.

Professor Malfoy gave Ron a weak smile. "He can see and hear everything still Ron, but yes, we will be learning those further into the term. Actually, those very curses are used in interrogations by Aurors."

Her usually friendly disposition had been replaced with a now very formal attitude, and looked as though she had not slept well in the last couple days.

"Could you all please take out your quills? I am giving you all a quiz based on what we have covered so far." A few students groaned as she handed out papers, then took her seat behind the desk. Near the end of the class there was a knock at her door and White walked in looking as though he wanted to talk with her. She nervously looked at the brick wall. "Deletrius." The wall disappeared and showed Percy sitting there, looking highly interested. "Class dismissed, please hand your quizzes in on my desk. Mr. Weasley? I'm sure that is all? My classes are done for the day." She glared pointedly at Percy, who then smirked and slowly walked out, eyeing them both.

Harry and Ron walked out together, and were going to go to the Great Hall for dinner, but Percy had been waiting for them. "Ron! Hello, Harry." Percy shook Ron's and Harry's hands, looking around. "Looks like a boring class. Flitwick was much more fun."

"Professor Malfoy is usually better than that! I'm betting it was the stress caused by Fudge that put her off!" Ron glared defiantly at Percy.

"Really Ron, do not insult Mr. Fudge, he is brilliant." Percy's eyes moved to the now closed door of the Charms classroom. "What's the story on those two? Are they..." Percy was smirking. Harry had always found Percy a bit obnoxious, but this was much even for him! He sensed that Percy was trying to get some information off them, and decided against telling him anything about Snape and Malfoy. "Not to my knowledge, Percy."

Ron just shook his head, as though agreeing with Harry. Harry figured that if Ron had actually spoken, Percy would know that Ron was hiding something. Harry decided to change the subject. "So how long are you here?"

"Until I have viewed all the classes a couple times each. Dumbledore set me up with a private room and office. I'll be at the teacher's table for meals." He sounded as though he was warning them to not disturb him. Harry thought that was ridiculous, as he felt no desire to speak with Percy with the way he was behaving. Percy looked at his watch. "Well, I've got to go and Owl Mr. Fudge before dinner. Cheerio!" He rushed off down the hall.

Ron looked humiliated. "Bloody Hell! If I even bothered to Owl mum about how he is embarrassing me, I'd likely get a Howler saying I should be proud of him! He really changed a lot over the summer when Penelope dumped him!"

They walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down with Hermione, Neville, Fred and George. Harry had had no idea that Percy and Penelope had broken up, and made a mental note to discuss it with Ron again later. They were about to eat when the heard a loud voice behind them.

"Well! Potter, Weasley, looks like it's Slytherin versus Gryffindor this coming weekend. Shall Goyle book you each a bed at the Hospital wing? Maybe Weasley's older brother can kiss your wounds, as he's already kissing the Minister's ass. " Draco was again standing over their table, smiling smugly.

Ron stood up quickly and angrily. "No Malfoy, should Snape book a bed for your mother? Seeing as he seems to be trying to shag her!"

Hermione jumped up to stop the fight that was sure to begin, but she was too late, Draco had sucker punched Ron. "I've warned you both..." He looked at Harry. "Don't EVER insult my mother." He stormed over to the Slytherin table, and took a seat next to Pansy Parkinson, glaring over at them.

Fred and George jumped up to help Ron to his feet, and sat him next to Hermione, who had immediately summoned some ice and applied it to his already bruising jaw. Harry was amazed that there weren't any teachers to witness Draco's assault on Ron.

"Don't worry, little brother, we'll get him on the pitch." Harry was beginning to dread the upcoming match.