Daphne was sweating. Profusely. She was about to be questioned by the Auror Samuel Proudfoot. There was another Auror there observing and noting her confession of placement in a pensieve later. Also present was an Auror trainee. There were two guards, even though her hands were magically bound to the table, and they had her wand. She did not know the names of the guards, nor did she know the name of the observing Auror. That had not been mentioned.

The Auror trainee, Malcolm Baddock, who she actually recognized from Slytherin house, had said they were waiting on the Ministry's current potions master Norman Rhines to bring the Veritaserum. Daphne was fairly certain she was being observed on the other side of the giant mirror that was in the room as well as being watched and noted by the other Auror in the room. It was almost too much for her. No wand, bound, and having to drink something brewed by someone not her. When Rhines came in, Daphne tensed.

"No need to be nervous, Miss Greengrass. Veritaserum won't harm you."

Daphne glared at the man. "I know that."

She looked at the vial. It looked off. The color was close, but not exactly right.

"I don't think so."

"Just be a good girl and drink up," Proudfoot said. "Don't make us force you."

Daphne glared at him as well. That coloring is OFF. Can you lot not see it? I'm not drinking that piss. Who knows what it will do to me. Then she turned her gaze to Baddock. He was playing with a silver medallion on a chain around his neck. Daphne blinked.

Was that a gift from FRIENDS they shared? Was playing with that silver jewelry a sign? Was he one of them?

As if sensing her questions, Baddock nodded slightly. Daphne began looking around the room. The only person not wearing some sort of jewelry was the Auror Proudfoot. Oh my gods.

Shaking, Daphne took the potion. She did not feel any differently. Good. Not likely to be poison then.

"Miss Greengrass, you are charged with illegal potion supply and distribution. You are also being charged as an accessory to the attempted murder of Ginevra Weasley," Proudfoot said. "Did you knowingly distribute these potions?"

Oh gods. Here it comes. Word vomit of truth. "No."

Daphne was shocked. How on earth had she said no? What had they given her? It definitely was not Veritaserum, whatever it was.

"You were seen distributing potions, Miss Greengrass. Can you explain how you were not involved then?"

"He made me do it," Daphne said. She was talking, but these were not her words. It was as if she could not control her own voice. Someone else was controlling her. Daphne was starting to panic. This was more terrifying than anything she could have imagined.

"Who made you do it?"

"Roland Prentice." Who in the bloody hell was Roland Prentice? Who was she setting up for a big fall here?

Proudfoot gestured to a guard. Daphne heard him whisper to have Prentice brought in.

"How did he make you? Tell us everything."

"The Imperious curse," Daphne said. "He also beat me when a poison he made me brew failed to kill his intended target. Healer Weasley, Brody MacDougal, and Bernard Sprock of Hogsmeade can vouch for the truth of this."

It was all lies, but it sounded so true.

"You illegally obtained dragon's blood from the Welsh reserve."

"Yes."

"Where you volunteer?"

"Yes." Daphne looked around nervously. Who was putting these words in her mouth?

"When was the last time you saw Prentice?"

"After he beat me."

"Why did you keep making illegal potions then?"

"I didn't," Daphne lied. "Everything I have brewed after getting away from him has been mostly innocuous."

"She did only have dreamless draught on her," Malcolm added.

"You will have to be fined for not having a peddler's license," Proudfoot said. "And we can not release you without further investigation. This matter will be looked into."

Daphne nodded. She didn't know what in the hell was going on, but a fine sounded a hell of a lot better than accessory to murder.

"Why did you not come forward after escaping Prentice?"

"I was afraid," Daphne said. "I was hiding at a friend's flat. I was frightened he would find me. He almost killed me, and I am not so fond of the Ministry. You lot took everything my family had after He-who-must-not-be-named fell."

Well that last bit was true enough.

"When Healer Weasley was poisoned, her brother's face was used. We suspect polyjuice."

Against her will, Daphne let out a sobbing sound. Her hand jerked up to her eyes, like she was a puppet on a string. She supposed she was in a way. She was also shaking violently, but that was all her. This was such a violation.

"Did you brew the polyjuice as well?"

"Yes, I brewed the poison and the polyjuice, but I didn't know what he was going to do with them, I swear it. Why would he want to hurt Charlie's sister?"

"Did you supply Prentice with hair or nail clippings from Charlie Weasley?"

"I don't know how he got it," Daphne wailed, the drama picking up.

She was crying. Daphne could not recall the last time she had cried. Probably when she found out about Astoria. It was as if her body was no longer her own. She had been used dozens of times by various men and women alike, but she had never felt as dirty as she did right now.

"If Prentice used the Imperius on her as she has stated," Baddock said. "We need to send for a medi-witch to examine her. Perhpas other curses have been used as well. Have you had any gaps in memory lately, Miss Greengrass?"

Daphne looked at him sharply. "Yes."

"How recent?"

"I believe the week before last. I was gone for several days with no memory of them."

Baddock loud-whispered to Proudfoot. "There was a missing persons report filed with Dunlap... on the fifteenth."

Proudfoot got up suddenly. "This interview is over. Please escort Miss Greengrass back to her holding cell and call a medi-witch."

Baddock just smiled at Daphne. "Is there any one we should contact for you? Family? Friends? Your Mother perhaps?"

I think she already knows. "No, I do believe everyone who needs to be informed is in the know, but thank you."

What in the bleeding hell have I gotten myself into?


{SUMMARY} Daphne gets questioned. There's something very fishy about it.