At the same time Sarah, although a certified healer, could not carry out the examination without causing problems. If Cho were a person in the street, Sarah could justifiably ask her to come in for an examination, but Hogwarts was different. With Madam Pomfrey already on site, any other healer who wanted to take a look at one of the students during term time would have to do so with the school's permission. Also, as Cho was a minor, her parents would have to be consulted first. In fact, getting permission from Cho's parents was more important than getting the school's permission.
Harry looked at his watch. At this time Sarah should be at the Ministry, putting her case to Madam Bones so that they both could decide on the next step.
As Harry understood it, the plan would be for Madam Bones to contact Cho's parents and ask that Cho be examined by a professional healer in order to make sure that she was coping well after Cedric's death. It was, admittedly, slightly off putting to use Cedric's death as leverage in this situation, but Harry had a feeling that the boy would have approved of it as long as it meant that Cho was okay.
Of course, one the potions were "discovered" in Cho's blood stream, the Ministry would have reason to investigate other cases where students were suspected to be under the control of potions.
That list, of course, included Hermione.
Harry sighed and tried to put thoughts of Hermione out of his head so that he could concentrate on the task at hand. Cutting her off had been one of the hardest things that he had ever had to do, and a large part of him really did hope that she was under the influence of potions. If she was, then they could get rid of them and he and Hermione could repair their friendship.
If she wasn't under the influence of potions… Harry didn't like to think about that. As angry as he had been with her at the end of summer and on the Hogwarts Express, he still wanted his friend back. He didn't want to think that her behaviour might have been all her own, but he knew that he might be forced to accept that it was.
He shook his head and forced himself to read the parchment in his hand. He had a job to do and he wasn't going to get it done if he just sat there pondering the "ifs, buts and maybes" of life.
At the Ministry, Sarah had told Amelia of hers and Harry's suspicions and what they wanted the next course of action to be.
Amelia leaned back in her chair, pondering the situation.
"If we begin examining more students for potions, we risk Dumbledore panicking and closing off many of the in-roads of our investigations."
"I know," replied Sarah "But we cannot just sit back and do nothing about this. The girl is quite clearly not herself and her friends are worried about her."
Amelia sighed and said "Even if we only do this for Miss Chang we still risk alerting Dumbledore that we are on to him. You say that her behaviour has changed drastically under the influence of these potions, Dumbledore will certainly notice if she suddenly changes back."
Sarah frowned. She hated situations like this. Choosing between what was right and what was easy was hardly ever a simple option, usually because it was so hard to tell between the two. In addition, what was right was ultimately a matter of perspective.
Was it right to jeopardise an entire investigation into the negligent and criminal actions of a potentially dangerous individual just for the sake of one person? No.
Was it right to condemn an innocent person to living a life without free will in order to satisfy your own ends? Of course not.
Obviously people did both of these things to varying degrees all of the time but that did not make either one of them right and in the end it was all down to one's own perspective.
Much like cruelty, come to think of it.
If only you could see things from a retrospective point of view before they actually happened, life would be so much simpler.
Finally Sarah said "I'm not comfortable with doing nothing for her."
"I know that," replied Amelia "and I understand. But I am not comfortable with the idea of tipping off Dumbledore and have him slip through our clutches before we can arrest him and hit him with everything that we have."
"I know," said Sarah "I don't want that either. That bastard has got a lot to answer for but that doesn't mean we can just sit back and leave Cho Chang as she is."
Amelia thought for a few moments before asking "How about we try and convince her parents to take her out of Hogwarts?"
"That could work," replied Sarah. "Chances are that they might do that anyway once we've carried out the required tests."
"Then I believe that we have found our best course of action," said Amelia.
"Until Dumbledore decides which girl to use to distract Harry next," answered Sarah.
"We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it," said Amelia. "Now, I have a meeting with Professors Marchbanks and Tofty in a few minutes and we will be joined by several of Hogwarts Governors. Perhaps it would pay for you to tell them what you have told me."
Sarah nodded her acceptance. Given the situation, this was the best solution that they could come up with. It didn't mean that she had to like that a promising student would be pulled from Hogwarts because of Dumbledore's evil schemes.
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