Polyjuice Potion.
It's a high-level magical potion recorded in Most Potente Potions.
The effect? For one hour, it allows you to fully transform into the person whose hair or item you've used. And this isn't just a poor imitation—it's a total transformation. Height, voice, even scent—everything becomes identical to your target.
In short, it's a complete replication.
What's more, if taken in a large dose, it can even extend the transformation time.
It's said that the potion's color changes depending on the person you're turning into. For example, the muddy yellow color Harry Potter drank represented Gregory Goyle, while Ron Weasley's was a murky dark brown.
Worth mentioning—Hermione's potion was a pink hue, like some liquid made from sugar, spice, and everything nice. Though, sadly, it still tasted like overboiled cabbage.
Setting aside the taste and appearance, the effects left Hermione stunned. In that moment, she started to understand why Snape always claimed that potions could bring glory.
Because when she looked in the mirror and saw Pansy staring back, while touching her own now-transformed body, only a few thoughts ran through Hermione's mind.
This is incredible.
And... I actually lost...
...
Slytherin common room.
When you truly commit yourself to something, there's no obstacle you can't overcome.
That sentiment couldn't be truer for Hermione.
Everything—from the Slytherin robes they wore to the password required to enter the common room—had been flawlessly handled by her.
More importantly, the Polyjuice Potion she had spent months brewing looked like a resounding success.
If Snape were grading it, he'd no doubt award her an Outstanding.
Now that the surface-level problems were solved, the real challenge began: their acting.
Especially for Hermione, who was impersonating Pansy—a girl very close to Draco. This would test her observation and quick thinking to the limit. And before they could even say a word, the first obstacle appeared.
"You… why are you back so soon?"
"..."
"..."
Noticing the three standing awkwardly in silence, Draco furrowed his brows, set down his book, and looked over in confusion.
As expected from such a powerful and restricted potion, even though Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's expressions looked strained—almost like they had indigestion—the transformation was still convincing. Nothing gave away that they weren't the real Goyle and Crabbe.
In fact, no wizard could spot the difference with the naked eye, and certainly not Draco—who hadn't even considered the possibility that someone might be targeting him...
"Hehe~ Surprise! Did we scare you?"
It was "Pansy" who stepped forward, speaking to Draco in a slightly cheeky tone—though it was, of course, Hermione beneath the disguise.
No one could tell that behind the lovely smile on her face, her toes were curled tightly in nervousness inside her shoes. Especially in front of Draco, her voice even carried the faintest, almost imperceptible tremble.
Looking at the oddly guilty-looking "Pansy," Draco casually flicked a finger against her forehead...
"Ugh!"
"Spill it. Did you get into some kind of trouble? Is that why you rushed back—got caught or something?"
"No… no, I just wanted to get back to school early."
Though she denied it, Pansy's evasive eyes only made Draco more certain his guess had hit the mark.
He took a sip of Gurdyroot Infusion, the bitterness lingering on his tongue, and ignored the girl clutching her forehead with both hands and looking foolish. His gaze shifted to Goyle and Crabbe, who, for some reason, were still hanging back.
"And what about you two? Don't tell me this is all some surprise for me?"
"Uh…"
"Mm…"
Watching the pair hesitate, Draco frowned in confusion.
Before he could press further, Hermione suddenly cut in, snapping Draco out of his thoughts and shooting a sharp look at Harry and Ron, who were still standing there like statues.
"What, did you overeat on the express or something? Come over and sit down already."
"Yeah, maybe a little too much," Harry muttered.
"Mhm."
Once Harry and Ron nervously sat down across from Draco, their eyes were drawn to a copy of the Daily Prophet spread out on the table. A particular headline immediately caught their attention. Noticing their interest, Draco handed the paper to them.
"Hot off the press this morning. I'm guessing you haven't seen it yet."
"This is…"
[Ministry of Magic Investigation]
Those bold words made Harry and Ron's eyes widen, and the deeper they read, the worse their expressions became—turning downright grim.
The article gave a detailed account of Arthur Weasley being fined for enchanting a Muggle car.
The very car Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had flown at the start of the school year.
"Maybe that's why those idiot Weasleys couldn't go home."
"What did you just—"
"Hahaha, yeah, it's all because Weasley's too obsessed with Muggles. They ought to snap his wand in two and send him off to live among them."
Before Ron could explode, Harry jabbed him hard in the side and forced out a stiff, awkward laugh—saying words that went completely against how he actually felt.
What really surprised them, though, was that Draco didn't chime in.
He didn't mock them, didn't even react to the article—not even a jab at Goyle or Crabbe, who were actually Harry and Ron under the effects of Polyjuice Potion.
Hermione, who had long since seen through Draco's true nature, quietly pressed her lips together and shot Harry a hopeful glance.
Yes.
Unlike Harry and Ron, who just wanted to get information out of Draco, Hermione had a different reason for going through with this plan.
She wanted them to see Draco for who he really was—not the "evil wizard" Ron always accused him of being, and definitely not a Death Eater.
Shifting her gaze from Harry, Hermione looked toward Draco, who was lounging lazily on the sofa.
Thanks to her transformation into Pansy, she could openly observe him—and her cheeks flushed for no reason as her heart pounded in her chest.
Hermione thought she might be losing her mind.
Maybe it was a side effect of the Polyjuice Potion…
...
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