A Simple Mission
After receiving Hermione's message, they all gathered once more in the girls' bathroom on the third floor, staring at the bubbling, thoroughly unappetising Polyjuice Potion that was still sitting inside the cauldron. The fire beneath it had already been extinguished, and now all they had to do was let it settle.
"So... it's ready? Because it doesn't exactly look ready to me," Percy said. He'd been expecting the disgusting appearance to disappear and turn into one of those bright, colourful potions. Instead, it looked more like thick brown sludge. Even the smell was revolting enough to make more than one of them gag.
"Yes, it's ready," Hermione said, sounding slightly offended by Percy's comments about her masterpiece. "Now we just need the hairs you'll use to transform," she added.
The moment they heard that, both Harry and Percy realised that, with everything that had happened yesterday—Justin being petrified and then ending up in the Headmaster's office—they had completely forgotten about that part.
Ron hadn't done much either.
Tyson simply kept looking at all of them in complete confusion, still not entirely sure what they were talking about.
"Haa..." Hermione sighed, as though she'd already expected this to happen. "Fortunately, I predicted it. Using some of the leftover ingredients, I brewed a Sleeping Potion as well, since we also need to make sure the real ones don't show up while we're questioning them," she explained as she picked up something wrapped in napkins that had been resting on top of one of the toilet cisterns.
When she unfolded it, it revealed three small cakes.
"You just have to get them to eat these, put them inside a cupboard, pull out several hairs, and when we're finished, they won't even realise anything happened," she said matter-of-factly.
The three boys looked at each other, equally surprised...
And slightly horrified.
Only Tyson stared at the cakes with genuine interest.
"First of all... ew," Ron said, looking at where Hermione had been keeping the cakes. "And has anyone ever told you that you're terrifying sometimes?" he added.
"Do you have a better idea?" she asked disdainfully.
"Well, I thought we'd just grab them from behind and..." Percy mimed a sharp chop to the back of the neck like some martial artist.
"Or just hit them with a Stunner while they're distracted," Harry added.
"You're terrifying too," Ron commented immediately.
"Just make sure they eat these," Hermione said as she handed one cake each to Harry, Ron, and Percy. "And by they, I mean the ones who are always with Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle," she added.
Ron couldn't help making a face of disgust.
Harry, however, seemed to have reached exactly the same conclusion as Hermione, so he accepted the cake much more quickly.
As for Percy, now that his plan of using Justin had obviously become impossible, he needed to think of another Hufflepuff to impersonate.
Only one person came to mind.
Especially as he remembered how much that particular Hufflepuff seemed to enjoy spreading rumours about Harry being Slytherin's Heir.
"What are you waiting for? Go!" Hermione ordered bluntly.
The four boys quickly left the bathroom.
...
"She makes it sound so easy. It's not like we can just hold out a few cakes and they'll eat them, right?" Ron complained, slightly annoyed that Hermione had somehow taken charge.
"Well, knowing Crabbe and Goyle, they probably would," Harry replied with a calm shrug, not sounding bothered in the slightest. "Besides, her plan isn't bad."
Ron knew that perfectly well.
He'd only wanted to complain a little.
Since Harry wasn't joining in, he simply pulled a face and nodded.
"Percy, do you need any help?" Harry asked his brother.
"No, I'll be fine. I've already got the perfect person in mind. That Hufflepuff who seems to enjoy spreading rumours and talking nonsense. What's his name again? Ernie?" Percy said with a rather wicked smile.
"Macmillan. Justin's best friend," Tyson added sadly. He used to get along with both of them too, even if Ernie avoided him now and Justin was lying petrified in the Hospital Wing.
"Yeah, him," Percy replied.
"I don't think he looks like someone who'd accept a cake from the bloke who's supposedly helped petrify his friend," Harry said, raising an eyebrow. Ernie wasn't exactly the kind of fool Crabbe and Goyle were. He'd be much harder to trick.
"Trust me. The cake's going to be essential," Percy said with one of those smiles that clearly meant he was planning something.
Harry recognised that smile immediately.
He decided it was better not to ask.
"Just don't kill anyone," Harry added.
Percy simply gave him a thumbs-up, as though that settled everything.
Watching the exchange between the brothers, Ron couldn't help thinking that yes...
They really were terrifying.
And somehow he'd only just realised it.
With that, the group split into two.
Percy and Tyson headed one way.
Harry and Ron the other.
...
Harry and Ron headed towards the Great Hall, looking for Crabbe and Goyle in the most obvious place they could think of.
And, unsurprisingly, there they were.
Sitting at the Slytherin table, happily stuffing themselves with food, while Draco sat not far away surrounded by the other Slytherins.
They all seemed to be chatting animatedly until they noticed Harry and Ron approaching.
Every conversation died instantly.
Draco shot both of them a look sharp enough to cut, especially Harry, and he looked visibly furious.
Though whether that was because of the Duelling Club...
Or because everyone now believed Harry was Slytherin's Heir...
No one could really tell.
"Make way for the Heir!" Fred suddenly shouted, rising from his seat at the same time as he placed one hand over his chest, as though greeting a nobleman.
George, immediately playing along, added:
"Have you finished having tea in the Chamber of Secrets with your fanged servant, sir?" he asked, acting like some kind of servant.
This, of course, didn't bother Harry. Instead, it seemed to amuse him a little, since out of all the students, the Weasleys still seemed to treat both him and Percy exactly the same, even joking about the whole thing.
Earlier that very morning, when Harry had come down from his room and all the Gryffindor students fell silent at his presence, Fred suddenly pulled out a clove of garlic, acting as though he were in complete, exaggerated panic and shouting at Harry not to eat him because he didn't taste that good.
That caused the rest of the House to break through the stiff atmosphere and start laughing.
It showed that the twins considered the whole Heir business nothing more than a joke.
Their words annoyed the eldest Weasley, who told them to be quiet, while Ginny didn't seem particularly happy with her brothers' jokes either, so the two of them urged them to shut their mouths.
That made the atmosphere in the Great Hall return a little more to normal.
Except Draco Malfoy now seemed even more annoyed after the twins' performance, making it clear why he had been so furious.
"It's obvious he's dying to announce that it's him," Ron declared, having noticed Malfoy's expression as well. "It's like you're stealing all the glory for his dirty work," he added with contempt toward the blond.
Harry didn't answer.
The real problem was still Crabbe and Goyle. As long as they remained glued to Malfoy's side, it would be impossible to approach them.
Then he saw Fred and George finish mocking his supposed title as Heir, smiled slightly, and walked over to them.
"What is it, Heir? Trying to increase the number of your subjects? Because if so, I don't think we can accept. Mum would be furious if we joined the dark side," George said immediately, the moment he saw Harry approaching.
"Unless the pay is good," Fred added.
Harry smiled slightly. He had actually been about to ask them for a favour.
"Actually, I do have a small job for you," Harry said.
Fred and George looked at each other for a moment.
Before Harry could explain whatever his request was, Fred and George spoke in professional tones.
"Ten Sickles for a distraction, fifteen for sabotage, one Galleon if you want Filch to have extra work for the entire week," Fred said immediately, as though reciting a price list for their services.
"Though we'll include the Filch part as a bonus no matter which one you choose," George added.
Even Ron couldn't help falling silent at his brothers, as though this wasn't the first time they had made this kind of deal.
"Fine," Harry replied with a smile.
...
While Harry finished arranging the details with the Weasley twins to create the perfect distraction, Percy and Tyson continued following Macmillan.
He was walking with his friends while they talked, though he was still visibly affected by what had happened to Justin.
"You lot go ahead. I'm going to see if there's any news about a cure for Justin's petrification," Macmillan said at that moment, causing his friends to offer him a few words of support before continuing towards the Great Hall.
Macmillan watched them leave, then headed towards the Hospital Wing.
But the moment he took a step, something struck him on the head.
He jumped and spun around in alarm, even pulling out his wand.
But when he looked around, there was no one there.
Still on guard, he searched for whoever had attacked him.
"Who's there?" he shouted, sounding slightly frightened.
Then, just as he took another step, he felt as though he'd stepped on something soft, so he looked down and lifted his foot.
That was when he realised he'd stepped on what looked like some sort of small cake, now crushed beneath the sole of his shoe.
"Mmm?" he murmured in confusion, staring strangely at the dessert.
Then he heard footsteps rushing towards him at full speed.
So he quickly turned around, ready to attack if necessary.
But the moment he did, he saw a hand.
A hand that struck him on the side of the neck.
Before everything went dark and he collapsed to the floor.
Percy, the owner of that hand, still had it raised, a proud smile on his lips.
"See? The cake was essential," he said, nodding.
Tyson looked down at the crushed cake.
Then he looked back at Percy, still not understanding exactly what role it had played.
"But he didn't eat the cake," he murmured, though Percy didn't seem to hear him.
"Come on, Tyson, don't get distracted. Help me carry him," Percy urged immediately as he lifted Macmillan by the legs.
"Oh, right," Tyson said quickly, hurrying over to grab him by the arms.
And just like that, the two of them carried Macmillan off to the side with extreme ease.