Excuses

Chapter 4

Excuses

In the office, Grace was trying to explain what happened.

"Headmaster, I think a practical joke got out of control," Grace reasoned. Evelyn stood up in disgust.

"No, sir. I think it was a deliberate attempt on my sister's life."

"Evelyn, please," Grace pleaded, pulling her sister down by the arm.

"I don't think they realised how serious diabetes can get if it's left untreated. It's usually a Muggle condition, as far as I'm aware. So they might not have known what could happen," Grace tried to reason.

Just then, Snape strolled in with the four Slytherins behind him. Parkinson, Crabbe, and Goyle had their heads down; Malfoy stood with his chin up and his arms folded in defiance. Dumbledore waved a hand and five chairs appeared.

"Please sit, all of you." No one hesitated, including Snape, who deep down felt partly responsible for the situation since Grace was technically under his care.

"Now, I presume you all know why you have been brought here?" Dumbledore asked in his mild-mannered tone.

"No, Headmaster," replied Draco assertively.

"I see. Then you are not aware of Professor Huxton falling ill after your Potions class?" he enquired. Pansy gave Draco a worried look; he simply scowled back.

"No, Headmaster." Draco was deliberately trying to avoid looking at Dumbledore.

"I see. And how about you three?" Dumbledore asked, looking to the others. Pansy continued to look down, while Crabbe and Goyle gazed absently into space.

"Headmaster, perhaps I could talk to them," Evelyn offered.

Dumbledore was well aware of her telepathic capabilities, as they were much more advanced than any Legilimency could be.

"Before Miss Huxton proceeds, do any of you have anything to say? No? As you wish." He sat back in his chair. Evelyn calmly approached the four students.

"Do you all know what a telepath is?" she asked the group with undeniable restraint.

"Of course," huffed Malfoy.

"Good. Did you also know that a telepath does not have to look into the eyes of the intended person? The two merely have to be in proximity with one another." Malfoy's expression changed to confusion mixed with worry.

Pansy had a terrified look on her face ... so much so that Evelyn thought Pansy might actually wet herself with fright. Crabbe and Goyle looked as confounded as ever, not understanding a word of what Evelyn had said. She decided not to probe their thoughts for fear of irreparably damaging her own IQ.

"Did you also know that when a telepath 'reads' someone's mind, the person invariably is not aware of it? And even if the person is, he or she can do nothing to stop it. Even the most skilled Occlumens would have great difficulty blocking a telepath."

Snape raised an eyebrow, feeling that this comment was directed more at him than at the students.

"Miss Parkinson, please close your mouth. You are not a guppy," Evelyn continued.

Pansy's mouth snapped shut.

"Basically, what I am trying to say is, I am a born telepath. If need be, I will retrieve any and all information regarding the aforesaid incident, unless any of you decides to tell us what happened. I would much rather not take the information by force ... but I will if I have to."

Pansy looked as though she might crack, but she obviously felt she couldn't in Draco's presence. They kept quiet.

Draco stood up, and Snape whipped up behind him. Evelyn stepped forward just as Draco decided to step back, and he trod on Snape's shoes. Snape pushed him back in place as Evelyn took hold of his shoulders. He quickly looked away, but Evelyn gained access to his mind regardless. In a flash, she was reliving the memory as Draco had seen it.

Evelyn saw Grace and Snape run round to the front desk as Ron collapsed. She watched through Draco's eyes as he sneaked to the front of the class and rummaged around in Grace's bag, removing the injections and stuffing them in his robes. He returned quickly as Grace and Snape set up the cauldron for the revival potion on the front desk.

Pansy leaned over to Draco and told him she had acquired an unusual potion meant for hyperactive children or children who ate too many sweets and chocolate. She explained that it should reduce the sugar levels in a person's body almost instantly. She hesitated in giving Draco the bottle, but he simply snatched it from her to look at it before handing it back.

Evelyn pushed forwards into the memory and was brought to the moment Draco called Grace over to check the potion he'd been working on. She saw Grace come around and give her cup to Pansy. Then as Grace was looking over Draco's cauldron, Draco motioned to Pansy to add the potion from the vial to the cup. Pansy hesitated, but she did it after an evil glare from Draco. Grace told Draco his potion was fine, and Snape reminded the class to bring samples to his desk for marking. Grace retrieved her cup and drank what was left. By the time she was at the front of the class, most of the students had submitted their potions and left. Grace was already beginning to feel hot and a little dizzy. The memory ended as Draco left the classroom. He was smiling to himself. Evelyn withdrew from his mind and looked him straight in the eyes. She was overwhelmed with anger. Draco now looked like he might wet himself, and Pansy was crying.

"I didn't want to do it!" Pansy exclaimed between sobs. "He made me do it!"

"No, I didn't!" Draco snapped at her.

"Enough!" bellowed Snape, and Draco and Pansy flinched.

"Headmaster, I think it would be prudent if we were to observe the memory for ourselves ... with Professor Huxton's permission, of course." Evelyn looked back to Grace, who shrugged her shoulders.

Dumbledore brought out his Pensieve and told Evelyn how to extract her memories. Soon the memory was swirling around inside the Pensieve, and Snape and Dumbledore entered into it.

Several minutes later, they returned to the office looking extremely disappointed.

"I am extremely disturbed by what has happened. I shall be writing to all of your parents tonight. I feel no alternative than to expel you both, effective immediately," Dumbledore stated.

"Headmaster, I don't think that would be a good idea. With everything that is going on and with Voldemort getting stronger..." Grace started. Snape and the students all flinched. "I think it best for them to stay here. They should be punished, of course; but they should remain here for their safety. I would also like to make it clear that if anyone were to try to poison me again, simply because of my lineage, I'm sure Evelyn here will hex them into oblivion for me." Grace looked over to the students.

Draco had a look of fear and confusion splashed across his face. Pansy was sniffing back tears, and Crabbe and Goyle still looked utterly confounded.

"If you are sure. I'd hate to think that I'm getting soft in my old age," said Dumbledore.

"Yes, I'm sure. Although some hefty punishments will have to be administered."

"Of course. I shall leave that in the capable hands of Severus."

"Of course, Headmaster," Snape replied and nodded, ready to leave, when Professor Umbridge came rushing into the room.

"Professor Dumbledore. You are here! Good! I have just been informed about the incident in the Potions class. I came to help clear the matter up." Umbridge beamed at him. Grace, who had her back to Umbridge, rolled her eyes in disbelief. Snape caught the expression with understanding, but he neither spoke nor moved a muscle.

"There is no need, Professor Umbridge. The matter has already been resolved. Against my best wishes, the culprits are to remain at Hogwarts, albeit under strict conditions."

"Against your best wishes?" Umbridge questioned.

"Yes. Given the nature of the incident and its dire seriousness, I had planned on the expulsion of both Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson."

"But surely their misdemeanour couldn't possibly warrant an expulsion?" Umbridge placated.

"Almost killing a Professor would indeed warrant an expulsion. If they had succeeded in her death, I would have had no reservations in having them both arrested and charged with murder," said Dumbledore.

Umbridge stared up at him in deep shock, but she quickly regained her usual disgustingly sweet composure.

"I'm sure they didn't mean for this little joke to go so far. How serious could it be?" she reasoned.

"Are you kidding?" Evelyn snapped.

Grace grabbed hold of her arm. "Evelyn, it's done now," she warned.

"Yes, well, I'll make sure they receive detention," Umbridge said insincerely.

"Actually, Professor Umbridge, it is for Professor Snape to decide their punishments since he is their Head of House," Dumbledore stated.

"Of course. However, I am here to help in any way I can. If you need me to discipline them, I shall be happy to take the responsibility," Umbridge smiled at Snape, making him feel physically ill.

"No. Thank you, Professor Umbridge. I can handle it."

"Very well. You know where I am if you need me." With that, she swiftly left.

Evelyn made gagging signs behind her, which made Grace chuckle.

"There is something about her I don't trust," Grace commented.

"Oh, really, you think?" snapped Evelyn, causing Snape to glare at her angrily.

"For goodness sake, Evelyn, can't you hold your tongue for five minutes?" Grace exclaimed.

Evelyn stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

"I'm sorry about her; I'll go see to her." Grace got up to leave but turned as she reached the door. "Professor," she called. Snape turned to look at her.

"Thank you for doing what you did. I can only imagine what would have happened if you hadn't. I would... thanks." She quickly left, leaving Snape to his thoughts. He was relieved that she was still alive.

He couldn't believe that Draco had done something so openly to a teacher. He usually wasn't that stupid. And he involved Pansy in it, who was a nasty piece of work herself, but she was never one to follow up her threats. He would make sure they had detention for at least a month. He would even consider banning them from Quidditch.

He quickly came back to reality when he realised Draco, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were still staring at him.

"Crabbe, Goyle, go back to the common room. Malfoy, Parkinson, follow me," Snape ordered.

Pansy whimpered. Draco tried to glare at Snape with no success.

They followed him to the dungeons, where Snape took 50 points off each Slytherin and made them gut rats, separating the organs into piles. Gutting the rats was to be expected, but he had never taken off so many points from his own House.