Chapter 63: Lucius Malfoy

The old man in the somber painting overhead made an audible disgruntled noise. However, he quickly withdrew from the Headmaster's office, leaving it blank and ominous.

Ginny entered the office shortly after, her stride quick and determined, her expression revealing inner turmoil akin to sailing on stormy seas. Curiously, she found herself in an unusual situation: a room filled with three professors, the headmaster and Lucius Malfoy, enough to make her already ragged nerves slowly unravel.

"Now, now, Miss Weasley, you have nothing to worry about. We just want to ask you some questions," Dumbledore reassured her in his soothing, grandfatherly voice. His reassurance, reflected both in his gentle voice and serene visage, had somewhat of a calming effect on Ginny. She reminded Sherlock strongly of a skittish hare seeking safety.

"Since your arrival at Hogwarts, Ginny," Dumbledore began, his sharp, piercing blue gaze meeting her own, "have you witnessed anything strange, anything out of the ordinary?"

Sherlock, privy to this silent exchange, found himself wondering, even if only in half jest, if Dumbledore intended to use Legilimency on the innocent young girl who placed complete faith in him.

"No sir, I have not," she replied firmly, giving a decisive shake of her head in response to Dumbledore's question.

A faint shade of annoyance marred Dumbledore's otherwise tranquil face, seeing as Malfoy's reaction was significantly more explosive.

"Stop lying, you little brat!" Ginny, looking decidedly taken aback, replied indignantly to his accusation, her cheeks flaring red from a volatile mix of shock and embarrassment.

"No I'm not, I-" she began, abruptly cut off by a subtle nod from Dumbledore.

"I believe you, Miss Weasley. Now might I ask you to step outside for a moment?" Dumbledore gently requested. "Don't fret, I won't hold you up for too long – just stay close by for a moment, please." These few words, delivered with an air of sincerity and genuine concern, seemed to soothe Ginny. She nodded at him gratefully, swiftly exiting the office.

In the quiet aftermath of Ginny's departure, Dumbledore's gaze followed Malfoy. His expression was Peaceful, giving away nothing.

"I am positive that she isn't lying. She doesn't know anything and there's nothing suggesting she has had any contact with dark magical artefacts," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Impossible! She must have noticed the...!" Malfoy's murmuring was more to himself than an actual response. He was clearly trying to digest the newfound information, to fit it into his prior expectations. As he did so, Dumbledore merely watched him silently, finally breaking his silence with a pointed question.

"Noticed what? Exactly what are you expecting her to have come in contact with?" Dumbledore asked, his tone even.

"She ought to..." Malfoy, unable to finish his thought and deflect his feelings any longer, snapped his mouth shut, his face a veritable kaleidoscope of emotions. "What are you suggesting, Dumbledore?" His tone was icy, matching his piercing stare.

"I don't know anything about this situation for certain, my speculation is just that - speculation. Yet it seems to me that you're suggesting something else – that somehow, this chaos at Hogwarts can be tied back to me!" There was an unmistakable dark promise in his eyes.

Dumbledore remained calm, his attention keenly focused on the conversation, "If you are truly uninvolved in all of this, then where did your suspicions originate? Why should we trust them?"

Malfoy couldn't help angrily snapping back. "I told you it was just speculation! Do you want my help or not?" His reply was frosty, contrasting sharply with his previous pleas to Dumbledore.

Seemingly unwilling to reveal any more Malfoy remained silent for a moment before continuing, "I'll do my best to keep the issues at Hogwarts concealed, but in return, I hope you can quickly ensure my son's safety," he said, his furrowed brow speaking for the anguish he was trying hard to push back behind bravado.

Dumbledore responded calmly, "The school is currently growing Mandrakes. As soon as these plants have matured we can brew an antidote and all the affected students will be healed."

"Very well then," Malfoy replied tersely. "It seems I should take my leave. Narcissa is waiting to hear from me." With these parting words, he turned sharply on his heel and exited, leaving Dumbledore and the others in his wake.

Dumbledore didn't attempt to stop him, allowing him a dignified exit instead. Once the door had closed behind Malfoy, McGonagall turned to Dumbledore, her face filled with eager anticipation.

"Albus, did you know this was his doing from the very beginning?"

"I had my suspicions," Dumbledore admitted. "Yet it was only after careful consideration that I became certain Lucius Malfoy was the root of our problems, after all few are qualified to possess such evil artefacts."

"Why didn't you force him to confess all he knows then?" McGonagall interjected. "His own son has been endangered! Surely he'd..."

Her heated outburst was cut short by Dumbledore, who interjected with a shake of his head. "Minerva, you underestimate his kind," he explained. "Malfoy won't risk his own status, even for his own son."

"Indeed, he holds his family dear, their lineage is of utmost importance to him, but he knows full well that once he loses his authority and power, all he cherishes will be threatened, leaving his wife and son with nothing," Dumbledore further explained.

"Lastly, he knows we're not desperate yet. Confessing everything won't certainly save Draco and we'll most likely be able to save him without his confession," Dumbledore mused out loud. His eyes were lost in a distant thought, gazing idly at the office entrance.

"While his suspicions initially fell on Ginny, she's evidently not the culprit."

Sherlock found himself deep in thought. In the original storyline, it was Ginny indeed who had opened the Chamber of Secrets. Clearly, something had taken an unexpected turn. But what could have possibly strayed? (E/N.: Crazy how he suddenly remembers that now that it's not useful anymore..)

"Dumbledore," Sherlock interjected, "Is Ginny not still waiting outside?"

"Why, yes. Thank you, Sherlock. Could you ask Miss Weasley to join us once more?"

Shortly after, Ginny returned to the room. Dumbledore, in his usual patient manner, offered encouragement. "Miss Weasley, would you care for some tea? A small treat, perhaps?"

After her polite refusal, he continued, "I apologize for the inconvenience, dear child. Nevertheless, I still have a few more questions. When was the last time you saw Draco Malfoy?"

Ginny looked relieved now that Lucius Malfoy was gone. Except for the daunting Snape, she felt quite comfortable around the other professors.

"Last August," she replied, after a moment's careful consideration. "My parents took us shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley. We ran into Draco and his father at Flourish and Blotts."

She paused her retelling, throwing a deliberate look in Sherlock's direction. "My father and Mr. Malfoy... got into a fight. It was quite a scene... and Professor Forester was there too."