They entered Dumbledore's office as silent as the dead.
'Sit, please.' Dumbledore requested. The students quickly sat on four chairs next to his big desk.
'I've heard some disturbing things. From an unreliable source though, that's why I called you four to help me. And hopefully prove these suspicions false. To be truthful, however, each of you looks guilty of something.'
'What are the charges against us? Who's the unreliable source.' Hermione asked nervously.
'Peeves the Poltergeist informed me. The charges are serious in nature, and if true, I fear the punishment.'
'The charges, Professor?' Draco asked.
'Well, first of all, this may be disturbing for your young minds to hear from your Head Master, but the first charges are against Miss Hermione and Mr. Malfoy...'
Hermione and Draco exchanged guilty looks and gulped.
'...you two know that having sexual relations within Hogwarts is forbidden, correct?'
Hermione looked to the floor and nodded. Draco looked straight at Dumbledore and also nodded.
'Peeves has told me some horrible things. Are they true?' Dumbledore asked them.
Hermione and Draco nodded.
'I know you two are engaged, but that still doesn't give you two the right to go against school policies. These are very serious crimes. Very upsetting and disturbing to me, frankly. My best students, my head students. I am afraid I have to suspend the both of you.'
Hermione started to cry.
'But, Professor--' Draco started.
'Hush, Mr. Malfoy. There are more charges.'
'Yes, sir.'
'There are also charges that have to do with all of you.' he said giving each of them the once over. 'Is it true that you four were fighting?? By the looks of Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley's faces, i'd have to guess this accusation is also true.'
'It is, sir.' Ron said quietly, 'But Lavender and Hermione were not fighting. They tried to stop Malfoy and myself.'
Dumbledore looked at Hermione and Lavender. Lavender was shaking from fear.
'All right, Miss Brown, you may leave, i'm sorry I frightened you.' Dumbledore said apologetically.
She nodded as she wiped her eyes. She brushed her hand over Ron's as she left and he smiled at her. She then left his office.
'Isn't Hermione allowed to leave now, sir?' Draco asked.
'No. Miss Brown wasn't guilty of anything, Miss Granger was.' Dumbledore stated, 'Mr. Malfoy, you also are suspended.'
'For how long sir?' he asked.
'You are suspended for a week, Mr. Malfoy, you are suspended for 3 weeks, and Miss Granger, you are suspended for 2 weeks.'
'Why is Draco suspended for 3 weeks?!' Hermione cried.
'He was guilty of both charges, one of which was very serious, that which you also were involved.'
Hermione nodded.
Dumbledore continued.
'I will be sending letters to your parents--'
'NO!' Draco cried, 'My father--'
'--please let me finish, Mr. Malfoy.' Dumbledore said sternly.
'Sorry, sir.'
'I will be sending letters to your parents, EXCEPT for you, Mr. Malfoy, I will be asking your mother to come here, to tell her only.'
'Thank you, sir.'
Dumbledore then turned to Ron.
'Mr. Weasley, you are excused, go pack your bags, you will leave for home tomorrow.'
Ron nodded and left quickly. Dumbledore then looked back at Draco and Hermione.
'Also, after the charges put against you, which are unfortunately true, i'm sorry, but I have to revoke your titles as Head Boy and Girl.'
Hermione started to cry again.
'Please, Professor,' Draco begged, 'Don't take it away from, Hermione, she's worked so hard for it. You can take mine, I deserve it, but not Hermione's, please, sir.'
'No, Draco,' Hermione said trying with all her might to stop crying as she talked, 'I'm guilty, too, it's only fair to take mine, too.'
Draco got off his chair and knelt on the floor in front of her.
'Hermione, you've worked so hard. I fought, you didn't, you shouldn't be suspended and have your title stripped from you.'
'Mr. Malfoy, you can't have sexual relations on your own. She was part of that, and I must keep Hogwarts an upstanding school. I can't have some one who deliberatly disobeyed school ruled, head girl.'
'I understand, Professor Dumbledore.' Hermione said.
Draco looked at Dumbledore in disappointment.
'I'm sorry, Professor, but I don't think it's right. After everything that's happened to Hermione lately--'
'Should have told Miss Granger that now is not the time to be getting in trouble.' Dumbledore finished Draco's sentence.
Draco nodded and went back to his seat.
'You two may go back your bags, you, too will be leaving tomorrow. Mr. Malfoy for three weeks, Miss Granger for two.'
'Where am I to go, Professor?' Draco asked, 'Because of my father?'
'Your mother will be here tomorrow, you two can talk it over then.' Draco nodded.
'You two are excused.' Dumbledore said.
They nodded and left the room.
'Draco, i've never been in so much trouble...' Hermione said hugging him tightly.
He hugged her back.
'It's okay, Hermione, we're going to be okay. We aren't expelled. We are suspended, we can graduate from here at least.'
'Draco, come with me. Stay with me.'
'We share the same room, Hermione.'
'No, while we are suspended. Ask your mother, you can't go home, so come with me.'
'I dunno, Hermione. I don't think our parents are going to allow us to do that after finding out the exact reason that we are being suspended is for sex.'
'If it's a life or death situation, how can they say no?'
'They can put me up in a hotel or something.'
Hermione shook her head.
'No, we're engaged. They will let you.'
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