The Truth.

Chapter 18-Under suspicion

Draco nodded to me as he walked past the stairs and exit the Three Broomsticks, noticing Harry and Ron had come in and sat at a table. Harry's eyed Draco suspiciously but his attention was taken away by Slughorn, who was sat at the bar. I thought nothing of it, and Harry was too busy looking at Slughorn to even notice where he had come from, and Ron was too busy looking at his sister making out with Dean to notice me. I leant back and observed, seeing what I could gather. Madam Rosmerta walked towards me with a tray of Butterbeer. Many adored Madam Rosmerta, though they had no idea that she was spying for the 'dark lord.' She was helping Draco to smuggle in a necklace which was intended for Dumbledore. I had raised the potential problems with trying to kill Dumbledore with this method but the problems I raised where dismissed, overconfident in that the plan they had made would work.

"Hello dear Hermione." I smiled back at the blonde and replied "Hello Madam Rosmerta. How are you today?" She huffed and replied, "All the men here a bloody terrible. I have lost count of how many hands I have slapped away before they could grab my ass." I chuckled, raising my eyebrow and saying "Want me to talk to a few of them?" She smirked and replied "No Hun, nothing I can't handle. Thank you though." I smiled and took a sip of the butterbeer. Her name was called, she leant forward, placing a butterbeer on the table and whispering the first half of her sentence, "Everything is in place but let me know if you need anything." I nodded in thanks and she turned and walked to where she was called.

My hearing picked up on Harry saying to Ron "Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him." My eyes narrowed in annoyance. Ever the willing servant. Ron questioned Harry and he replied "I don't know. It must be important. If it wasn't, Dumbledore wouldn't ask." My brain tried to think of why Dumbledore would ask Harry to get close to Professor Slughorn, but I could not think of anything. I got up and exited the Three Broomsticks, noticing Harry and Ron exiting a couple seconds after. "Hermione!" I bit my tongue to hold back the words that I wanted to let out at Harry and glanced behind me, not stopping walking. "Yes, Harry?" He ran up next to me, soon followed by Ron. My eyes caught Katie and saw her opening the package and before I could say anything, the curse that was meant for Dumbledore hit her. Idiot. She screamed out in pain and I closed my eyes in annoyance. It had failed.

I stood in front of Professor McGonagall, alongside Harry and Ron, as she looked at us with exasperation, saying, "Why is it that when something happens, it is always you three?" I said nothing but thought bad timing. It appears that many still think I'm friends with Harry and Ron so I guess this was good for appearances I suppose, not that I enjoyed it after how Harry has been but I suppose I have to try and raise as little suspicion as possible even though it annoyed me greatly. It did make me wonder how McGonagall would handle Dumbledore's lies and manipulation, though she cared greatly for many students, she was a no-nonsense kind of woman who I hoped could be persuaded once she isn't blinded by Dumbledore's lies.

Snape arrived and McGonagall questioned, and Snape replied, "I think Miss Bell is lucky to be alive." Harry then blurted out "She was cursed, wasn't she?" I rolled my eyes well done for stating the obvious. "I know Katie off the quidditch pitch; she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was delivering that to professor Dumbledore, she wasn't doing it knowingly." I heard McGonagall mutter "Yes. She was cursed."

My head snapped to Harry as he stated, "It was Malfoy." A quiet snarl rumbled passed my lips, but no one heard it as Professor McGonagall said in a slightly raised voice of disbelief, "That is a serious accusation Potter." Snape had frozen before turning around agreeing with Professor McGonagall. "Your evidence?" Harry paused then stated, "I just know." Snape condescendingly repeated his words before saying, "Once again you astonish me with your gifts Potter; gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One." I withheld my snicker as Professor McGonagall said for us to go back to our dorms. I caught Harry's anger filled glare he was giving Snape. So now Harry had his suspicions about Draco. Great.

*Grins*
I wasn't going to publish this but I thought why not!
Hope you enjoyed!