In HP and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry, Ron, and Hermione "break about fifty school rules" by brewing Polyjuice Potion and drugging and impersonating other students, just in order to get into the Slytherin common room and probe Malfoy for information about the Chamber of Secrets.
Is this little adventure ever discovered by Those in Charge (teachers)? Or even by Malfoy?
If so, did they ever get punished? I can't see how they could fairly have avoided it (other than they're the Golden Trio and always do). In the end they don't actually get any useful information, except that Malfoy isn't the culprit. This escapade doesn't help them at all in their eventual discovery of the culprit and destruction of the Basilisk. It was just motivated by their suspicion of Malfoy, which was essentially based on "he's Slytherin and we don't like him" and turned out to be unfounded.
If not, how could it remain undetected? Hermione's skill with Polyjuice Potion is eventually common knowledge ... more importantly, why didn't Crabbe and Goyle run to tell someone when they woke up and found they'd been drugged? Did the topic never come up between Malfoy and the pair of them, with Malfoy realising he'd been talking to impostors? What did they tell Madam Pomfrey about Hermione's semifelinity after her failed attempt to Polyjuice herself into Millicent Bulstrode?
Answer
Do the teachers find out?
Snape works out part of their crime. Others might work it out as well.
When they steal the Polyjuice ingredients, they let off a firework in his classroom. He's bound to realise which ingredients were stolen, and what they were likely used for. Given that Hermione's feline appearance was public knowledge:
So many students filed past the hospital wing trying to catch a glimpse of [Hermione] that Madam Pomfrey took out her curtains again and placed them around Hermione’s bed, to spare her the shame of being seen with a furry face.
— Chamber of Secrets, chapter 13 (The Very Secret Diary)
I'm sure Snape is able to put it all together – somebody has been trying to make Polyjuice, Hermione has had a botched transformation, Hermione probably tried to make Polyjuice. And since the trio operate as a single unit, Harry and Ron were probably involved as well.
In Harry's fourth year, we get confirmation that Snape suspected something funny, but was apparently unable to prove it:
Harry stared back at Snape, determined not to blink or to look guilty. In truth, he hadn’t stolen either [Boomslang skin or Gillyweed] from Snape. Hermione had taken the boomslang skin back in their second year — they had needed it for the Polyjuice Potion — and while Snape had suspected Harry at the time, he had never been able to prove it.
— Goblet of Fire, chapter 27 (Padfoot Returns)
Unless other teachers knew that Snape's stores had been raided, and what exactly had been stolen, it would be much harder for them to work it out unless he told them.
However, I don't recall any indication that Snape knew why they were making Polyjuice. For example, he never seems to suspect they were infiltrating the Slytherin common room.
Were they ever punished? If not, why not?
I don't recall any punishments.
The most serious (known) crime would be stealing from Snape's stores, something he was never able to prove. McGonagall would object if Snape inflicted major punishment based on an unproven crime.
And even if he can prove that Hermione has taken Polyjuice, she could have obtained the ingredients and/or potion itself from elsewhere. (A plausible line of thinking is that Hermione ordered dodgy Polyjuice via mail order, and that's why she looks like a cat.)
Apparently Madam Pomfrey isn't a source of probing questions:
“It’s okay, Hermione,” said Harry quickly. “We’ll take you up to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey never asks too many questions….”
— Chamber of Secrets, chapter 12 (The Polyjuice Potion)
She probably knows that Hermione was using Polyjuice – so that she can treat her – but again, not why or how.
Given that Hermione is ridiculed by her peers and looks like a cat for a week, some may also consider her sufficiently chastised that she's unlikely to try experimental potions again in a hurry. Why punish her further?
Did Malfoy ever work it out?
Seems unlikely. When Harry and Ron are chatting with him, he doesn't seem to rate Crabbe or Goyle's mental prowess:
“What’s the matter with you two?”
Far too late, Harry and Ron forced themselves to laugh, but Malfoy seemed satisfied; perhaps Crabbe and Goyle were always slow on the uptake.
— Chamber of Secrets, chapter 12 (The Polyjuice Potion)
The whole episode could be written off as extreme dopiness. If they stumble in later claiming they were drugged, what's more likely – they were actually drugged, or just having another moment? There are plenty of other plausible reasons they could be knocked out for a few hours – Weasley twins, Peeves, bumbling incompetence – that don’t involve foul play. Hanlon’s razor, etc. I don’t think they ever realised something had happened.
Even if they noticed, it would be hard for them to say something which would get Malfoy really suspicious. And by the time he learns about Polyjuice in years to come, I don't think this episode would stand out enough to be unusual.
If Malfoy ever suspected impostors in the Slytherin common room (especially the trio), he would raise merry hell about it, whether or not he could prove it. The fact that he never mentions it seems suspicious.
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