Trapped in a Musical | ongoing

seeing the unseen

"Where's Ginny?" demanded Pansy, her eyes scanning the room.

The group exchanged knowing glances – a collective eyebrow raise echoed silently. They were all gathered at the front of the classroom, perched on desks, with Auror Robards nonchalantly leaning against a professor's desk. There was an bigger-than-usual pensive next to him.

"Wasn't she panicking thirty minutes ago?" murmured Hermione, her curiosity evident.

"That's Pansy Parkinson for you," Daphne replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Auror Robards observed them closely, his eyes sharp and discerning.

Harry noticed the absence of every other Auror and couldn't help but ask, "There's quite a lot of us. Won't you interview us separately?"

Robards grinned, a twinkle in his eye. He strolled around the desk and took a seat. "No need," he said confidently, "I've heard a lot about you guys in my interviews."

"I don't care what that Rita Skeeter is saying. I did not help the Death Eaters," Draco immediately stood up to defend himself.

"I'm not Rita Skeeter interviewing student ; I'm an Auror investigating students. Sit down, Malfoy," Robards ordered, and Draco reluctantly took his seat. "They're saying you lot helped a lot. The third years have a name for your little group that's starting to catch on – 'The Unpredictables.'"

"Lame," coughed Theo.

"Super lame," echoed Seamus.

"I kinda like it," Blaise chimed in, a delighted expression on his face.

"I hate it," deadpanned Daphne, her disapproval clear.

"I have a question!" Jason's left hand shot up eagerly.

"It's not a lesson, but go ahead, kid," responded the Auror, acknowledging him.

"Why are me and Neville here? We weren't at the Hogsmeade attack," Jason inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Auror Robards sighed, the levity disappearing from his tone. "You aren't here just to answer questions about the attack. You're also here to answer questions about Ginny Weasley."

The group exchanged puzzled glances.

"What do you mean?" Harry cried out. The rest immediately followed suit, each shouting out a protest.

Robards spoke above them, "I understand your confusion! There's an easier way to explain all this," he stood and walked over to the Pensieve, "You're a close-knit group that seems to know each other's secrets. All I need is your permissions, and we'll dive into each of your perspectives of the attack."

The silence in the room became palpable.

"Can't you just interview us with questions?" Hermione asked, her voice shaky. Harry shot her a confused look.

"Hermione, you were with me and Draco for the majority of the attack," he pointed out.

Hermione hesitated, her expression conflicted. "I just don't want to relive it."

"The reason I'm offering this option to you is because me and my Aurors have inteviewed about 70 students. Most of the stories are corresponing. Most of them mentioning those of you who were present at the attack as key players. I want to see it from your perpectives,"

"What if we say no?" asked Draco.

"Then I'll go to Ministry to get warrants that will allow me wheteher you say yes or no,"

silence.

Hermione, torn between the importance of the investigation and her own apprehensions, finally spoke, "What guarantees do we have that our memories won't be mishandled or used against us?"