The Polyjuice Plot
BY Double Pea
SUMMARY: Harry Potter is sighted in Diagon Alley buying his schoolbooks with Hagrid. The story, complete with pictures is printed in the Daily Prophet on page one. It will change Ron, Ginny, and Draco. AU
Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I am not now nor have ever been J. K. Rowling. I wish that I could get paid by writing this, but I feel that I'm pushing my luck to hope that people might want to read it for free. In other words, it all belongs to someone else. All I own is a strange sense of humor!
Author's Note: Thank you, Spenser Hemmingway for editing and suggesting improvememts.
Chapter 1 - The Return of Harry Potter
As Harry Potter followed Hagrid through a very, very old pub, he was surprised as strangers started introducing themselves. "Very happy to meet you, Mr. Potter, I'm Doris Crockford," said a strangely dressed woman. Well, actually, everyone looked strangely dressed. What was the idea of addressing him as "Mr. Potter"? So far, the experience could be summed up as odd. He hadn't been able to wrap his mind around the fact that he was apparently a wizard. Freak- now, that he had heard often enough, but he didn't think that he had ever been called, Mr. Potter.
He continued to follow the large man across the pub to a wall. Why in the world could they have come all this way to walk into a pub and go to look at a wall? Maybe he shouldn't just have accepted Hagrid's statement that he was a wizard and follow him to "get his school books". He barely had time to consider this thought when he noticed that Hagrid had a umbrella in his hand and appeared to be touching certain bricks in the wall. Suddenly, the wall opened up and Harry could see a street in front of him with shops and more strangely dressed people. He moved into the street behind Hagrid. After taking a few steps, he couldn't resist turning around to look at where he entered. His mouth dropped open, because the opening was gone and only a wall stood in its place.
"Hurry up, Harry," urged Hagrid. "We have lots of shopping to do, but first we need to go to the bank and get money."
"I don't have any money. I wish that you had mentioned it earlier. I could have saved us some time. I guess I'll have to stay with my aunt and uncle. I'm sorry that I have wasted your time."
"Harry, your folks left you money to go to Hogwarts in Gringotts Bank. Professor Dumbledore gave me your vault key. " He then told Harry all about the goblins who ran the bank. Harry was pretty shocked when he saw his first goblin. They looked like something out of Dudley's horror movies that he would sneak downstairs and watch on the telly late at night. Harry only watched part of a couple of them, when he decided he had plenty of nightmares in his life and he didn't need more material for new ones.
He enjoyed the ride to his vault and looked forward to returning. Armed with the weird looking money that Hagrid explained to him as Galleons, Knuts and Sickles that made up wizard money; they exited the bank and began their shopping.
Harry had never brought anything for himself. The whole experience was so shocking, that he couldn't get his head wrapped around it. He felt like he was buying this stuff for someone else. His Aunt Petunia wouldn't want him to have NEW stuff. After getting the textbooks on his list, cauldron, and potion equipment, he entered the clothing store on his own while Hagrid ran an errand. Harry considered running away. He had never walked into a store on his own. He never had money to buy anything and the shopkeepers in Little Whinging wouldn't have let him in even if he had money. Everyone listened to his aunt and uncle complaints about Harry's behavior and criminal tendencies. They believed what they heard, too. So it was with a great deal of hesitancy that he opened the door to Madam Malkin's and entered the store. Fortunately, he was greeted by a lady's voice asking him if he wanted Hogwarts robes. He found himself a moment later standing on a box next to a blonde haired boy who was also being measured.
After listening to what sounded like bragging, Harry realized that he had just met a short thin wizard version of Dudley Dursley. He was so revolted that the first wizard student his age was not someone he even wanted to know. This blond idiot had ruined Harry's hopes of finding a friend. Pessimistically, he thought, they were all going to be this stuck up and nasty. He didn't need to make any response to the kid, since he was enjoying listening to himself talk so much, he didn't even give Harry a chance to get a word in edgewise. He had a strange name. What was it? Dragon, Madfly, something like that. Not that he cared. Harry left the store with instructions to pick up his school robes in two hours. He spotted Hagrid coming towards him, not that it was hard to spot Hagrid. He was huge, probably the tallest person he had ever seen.
"Did you get all fixed up with your robes?"
"We need to pick them up in two hours. Is that an owl?" asked Harry. He was astounded to see a pure white owl in a cage. In school he had learned that owls were nocturnal and slept during the day. They were wild birds and people didn't keep them around the house in cages as pets.
"This here's a birthday present for you Harry. You can bring one pet to school, an owl, rat, or a toad. I thought that you might like an owl. They can carry mail."
"Thanks, I've never gotten a birthday present that I can remember." Harry wanted to be polite, but he was thinking, I don't have anyone to mail anything to, or get mail from. An owl is a rather strange pet, but is definitely preferable to a toad or rat. About that time the owl opened her eyes and looked into Harry's. Her gaze connected to Harry's and he accepted that he now had a pet. Reaching out, he stroked her feathers. Meeting a friend with feathers went much better than meeting a friend that was a dumb blonde.
A visit to the wizard store that sold ice cream made a hit, even if there were some unusual flavors. He ordered a "Muggle Special" which was just plain chocolate ice cream, but it had sprinkles on top that moved. Harry continued to watch the crowd while he was eating. Hagrid took Harry to Ollivander's Wand Shop. He couldn't see anyone when they walked in. Shortly an old man with white hair popped into view. He seemed to know far too much about Harry. Then, he measured Harry for a wand. At least that was what he claimed to be doing. Yeah, right, why would one need to know how long your nose was to find your wand size?
"Here, wave this around a little," said the man as he handed him a wand. Nothing happened. The next one sent out a couple of sparks, followed by one that emitted smoke. Harry was getting very annoyed. No one told him what the wand would do if it were the right one for him. Suddenly, when he waved the latest wand to be placed in his hand, a shelf of boxes flew onto the floor and Ollivander grabbed it out of his hand. Harry was getting gun shy of trying wands when finally a large burst of sparkles flew from the wand in his hand. Harry was so busy looking and feeling his new wand that he missed whatever the old man was blathering on about.
A quick visit to pick up his robes, and they were ready to go back to Harry's aunt and uncle's. Hagrid led him back to the location to use Portkeys, as Harry looked around. Yes, the whole place and everyone he met were a little to a lot odd.-very odd. Harry never knew that someone in the pub sent a tip into the newspapers. By the time he came out of the bank, there were cameras and reporters all around watching Harry meet the Wizard World. Tomorrow's paper, complete with pictures, would tell the tale of Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley.
Chapter 2 – Plotting and Traveling
MALFOY MANSION
Three people were seated at the breakfast room. Everything was very prim and proper. Hair was combed, and people were formally dressed. A small house elf quietly entered the room with more food and removed empty plates. The boy, Draco Malfoy, silently ate his breakfast while he dreamed of his arrival at Hogwarts. He visualized the other students being impressed with him. iYes, they will defer to me since I am after all, A MALFOY, whose name speaks wealth, power, and fame. I'll be at the top of my class. After all, how can I not be when they let mudbloods and half bloods in the school? Fortunately, I'll be in Slytherin and won't have to tolerate them. i
The room was very quiet, broken only by the sound of pages being turned in the daily newspaper the blond man was reading. When he was finished, he looked up at his son. "Well, Draco, it appears that we went to Diagon Alley on the same day as Harry Potter made his first appearance. Did you by any chance see him?" he aked passing the paper over.
Draco looked over a few pictures before answering his father. "Yes, father, I did see him. He was in Madam Malken's getting robes when I was there."
"Did you talk to him? What did you talk about? What did he say?" firing out questions quickly.
"I don't remember much. I think that I was talking about having my robes made for Hogwarts. He didn't say anything. He seemed pretty dumb. He didn't even introduce himself. No manners at all."
"Well, this is what I want you to do. When you get to Hogwarts, I want you to introduce yourself and make friends with him. It is most important that he confides in you about what he is thinking and what he does. Find out where he is living."
Draco looked at his father. He was more serious than he had ever seen him. What if he couldn't become friends with Potter? He didn't want to ask what would happen. He could tell that he wouldn't like the consequences at all. It wasn't good to disappoint Father.
THE BURROW
Seven people were seated around the kitchen table. The mother and father were dressed, but only one of the children was. George, Fred, Ron, and Ginny Weasley sat in their pajamas, hair uncombed, still half asleep. Only Percy, their older brother, sat immaculate as if he were going to school this morning. The table was full of food, and everyone was involved in eating and talking with each other, except Percy, who was reading a book as he ate. Mr. Weasley was reading the paper before he left for work.
"Look who was in Diagon Alley yesterday," he announced pushing the paper in the middle of the table.
Immediately all heads turned to look at the pictures of Harry Potter shopping for his school supplies. After everyone looked at the pictures, Ginny, the only girl and the youngest of the children, reached out for the paper. A smile lit her face as she saw a picture of Harry Potter for the first time. She had heard his story since she was four. She had a Harry Potter doll, using it to role-play her future life as Mrs. Harry Potter. Of course, that was a couple of years ago, as she was a mature ten years old now.
Her brother Ron, who was only a year older, and was going to attend Hogwarts this year, noticed her rapt attention to Harry's face. As only an older brother can, he punctured her dreams simply by saying, "It's a shame that you aren't going to Hogwarts this year. By the time you get there next year, Harry will have lots of friends. He won't even notice you." With that cheerful announcement, he went back to eating ignoring the downcast look and tears welling in his sister's eyes.
"You can never have too many friends, Ginny," consoled her mother. She cast a nasty look at Ron, but he was focused on eating and didn't notice.
Ginny asked, "May I be excused?" And left the room with the paper in hand.
Her twin brothers, who were older than Ron, soon followed her. They stood on either side of Ginny and patted her shoulder, "If we can do anything to help you get even with Ron; let us know. He was being a real git to you."
Ginny spent a few days thinking of what Ron had said to her. She mulled over many options. Should she turn his hair Slytherin green? Should it be worse? What did he deserve? Knocking on the twins' room she entered, speaking softly, so her voice wouldn't be heard in the hall. "Did you mean what you said about helping me get even with Ron?"
" George and Fred looked at each other, and spoke in unison, "Anything for you, Ginny."
"Okay, this is what I was thinking about doing." She proceeded to outline her idea. By the time she finished, the twins' mouths were hanging wide open. "We didn't expect that, but we think we can help you pull it off. Remind us not to get on your bad side."
TRAVELING
Kings Cross Station was full of people, but Harry felt isolated and alone. It was pretty understandable, since his uncle had dumped him at the entrance of the train station like a bag of garbage. He did get out of the car, hauled Harry's trunk out, and raced off without so much as a good-bye. Harry managed to find a cart and get his trunk on it. There were people standing everywhere. The hustle and bustle was overwhelming for Harry. Wheeling his cart around people, he followed the signs to Platform 9. He looked around and saw the sign to Number10. There was no sign for 9 ¾. There was no one around, so he did the only thing that he could think of. He got his wand out and started tapping on the bricks on the wall exactly as Hagrid did at Diagon Alley. Nothing happened, except he heard some laughter behind him. Turning around, he saw a group of redheaded people. The mother of the group smiled at him.
"Are you going to Hogwarts?"
"Yes, ma'am, but I don't know how to get onto the platform."
"We'll show you how, just watch George and Fred." Two of the red haired boys ran at the wall with their luggage carts. Harry's eyes opened wide as he saw them vanish into the wall. " Ron is going to school this year, too. Why don't you go with him?"
Another red haired boy, who was taller than him, looked over and grinned. "Hi, I'm Ron Weasley."
"I'm Harry Potter," he replied with a smile back.
They faced the wall and ran through. The sight of the steam engine and the platform full of families was exciting on one hand, but also depressing because he didn't have a family to send him off. The rest of the Weasleys came through the wall and the oldest three, said good-bye, and climbed onto the train. Mrs. Weasley hugged the youngest, telling him to write and to study hard. Then she surprised Harry by hugging him.
"I hope you also have a good year, and maybe you and Ron can become friends," she told him.
"You want to sit with me, Harry?" asked Ron hopefully.
"Sure," responded Harry with a smile. This was the most normal experience he'd had in the Wizarding world yet, and the first hug that he could remember. Ron seemed really nice; maybe he had found his first friend.
They climbed on the train and were struggling with their trunks, when George and Fred, Ron's brothers came down the aisle. "Let us help you two out with your luggage." In a short while, they were sitting in a compartment, watching the station become smaller as the train traveled farther away.
Ron smiled at Harry, "I'm happy to be going to Hogwarts. I'm the sixth child in my family to attend. My two oldest brothers have graduated. Bill is the oldest and he is a curse breaker who works for Gringotts Bank. Charlie works with dragons on a reserve in Romania. My next oldest brother is Percy. He's in his fifth year and is a prefect. That means he tries to find anyone not following the rules. I'm planning on staying away from him. I like to have fun. The twins that helped with our luggage are Fred and George. They like to have fun and play pranks on people. That leaves one brother that I left at home."
"I wish I had family. I live with my aunt, uncle, and a cousin. They aren't really family, more like people that wish I had died with my parents." Harry lost his smile by the time he finished.
"I have problems with my brother that's at home. He doesn't think of my feelings and makes me unhappy. He doesn't like to play with me."
"Next year, we'll ignore him," suggested Harry.
"I would like to be your friend, Harry. I don't have very many. We live in the country, outside a small town. "
"I don't have any friends at all, Ron. My cousin would beat up anyone who talked to me. I would like to be friends with you also." He reached out and shook hands with Ron.
They both said "Friends". Ron looked shyly at Harry, "I've got a secret, Harry. I wanted to come to Hogwarts and meet you. I traded places with my brother Ron."
"Didn't he want to come to Hogwarts?"
"I didn't ask him. He told me that by the time I got to school, you would have lots of friends and I would just be another little kid to you. I asked the twins for help and here I am. Are you going to turn me in?"
"Of course not, you are the first person who wanted to be my friend. Nobody else has ever cared enough for me to get into trouble. Tell me how you switched places"
" In my house, you learn some spells when you are young that you would normally learn in Hogwarts. We play pranks on each other, so you have to learn how to prank the other person back. You have to understand that my brother is a very sound sleeper. He didn't even notice when the twins and I moved him from his bed to my bedroom. I had borrowed my mum's wand and cast a sticking charm to stick him to the mattress. I told my mum when I went to bed that I couldn't stand to watch the train leave without me and asked to sleep in. This morning, I gave him a potion called iUncle John's Long Lasting Polyjuicei with one of my hairs in it. He turned into me, and I turned into him when I had a dose with his hair. I gave him a sleeping potion, and he'll sleep until after they go to bed. He'll have to wait to get unstuck until they go to check on him. Hopefully, it will be too late, and by then I'll be sorted into a house."
"What if they still make you go home?" Harry asked with worry in his voice. He was enjoying his friend and didn't want to lose "Ron." This was a friend to keep. He couldn't believe that someone went to this much trouble to meet him.
"Then I'll have to write you lots of letters. We'll have a head start on knowing each other."
About that time, the door opened, and a short, pale, thin boy stepped in the compartment. He had the most artificial smile that Harry had ever seen. Unfortunately, he remembered meeting him. Turning he said, "Ron, let me introduce you to Dragon Madfly. I met him in Diagon Alley. Dragon, this is my friend, Ron Weasley."
Draco Malfoy was struck dumb. HE, who was a pure blood wizard with a VERY important father, and lived in a mansion, was being called by such an idiotic name. This Potter didn't even seem to be aware he was calling him by the wrong name. To top it off, Draco was supposed to be making friends with him. He was about to correct his name, when Potter went on talking and he couldn't manage to get a word in edgewise.
"Madfly here, was telling me when we were getting our robes that the quality of the robes was not good. He was complaining quite a bit about them. It may just be me, but I don't really think too much about clothes. What do you think, Ron?"
"It sounds like a pretty girly thing to think about, Harry. Not my thing either." Draco was totally demoralized by now. His name of which he was very proud had been changed to a parody and he had been branded as 'girly'. Potter had made a friend and it wasn't him. He turned and fled the compartment, wondering if he could make a better impression. He didn't want to think about informing his father that he had failed his mission. Harry and Ron started laughing, and then gave each other a high five.
"By the way, if Ron is back at your home, what is your name?"
Chapter 4 – Sorting
Every once in a while, Harry would look over at "Ron" and giggle. They played games of magical and muggle variety, although 'Ron' knew more games than Harry. When the cart with snacks came around, Harry went crazy buying a wide variety. He had to go out and buy more chocolate frogs when the first ones jumped away from him. It took a while for 'Ron' to convince him that they weren't real frogs, only chocolate that had been charmed. Harry enjoyed having someone to ask questions about the world of wizards. Fred and George stopped by to check on them, and explain what was going to happen when the train got into the station. They also got Harry's and 'Ron's' trunks down so they could put their robes on over their clothes.
As they stepped onto the platform, they heard a voice loudly call, "First year students over here!" Looking over, Harry saw Hagrid, his guide from Diagon Alley. They quickly went to where he was gathering all the first year students.
"Hi ya, Harry, did you meet a friend?"
"Yeah, this is 'Ron'," said Harry with a chuckle.
Hagrid didn't understand why Harry was laughing, but said, "He must be a Weasley, right"?
"He sure is!" said Harry and now 'Ron' was also giggling. Hagrid was happy that they seemed to be happy. He hated when the kids were scared, homesick, and crying. He had had his share of those.
Everything went smoothly, and soon they were waiting to enter the Great hall and be sorted. Some of the kids were very worried. One boy thought he was going to have to fight, and a girl thought she was going to be tested on spell work. Thanks to Fred and George, Harry and 'Ron' were calmly waiting. They entered and the Sorting Hat sang his song.
The sorting began and Harry was sent into Gryffindor. Finally, Ronald Weasley was called out. The hat was placed over his head. Suddenly, 'Ron' heard a voice, "Well, well, well, I can see that you aren't Ronald Weasley. This is a very tough choice. You definitely have intelligence and would fit into Ravenclaw. You are friendly and loyal, a good fit for Hufflepuff. You have lots of courage to carry this scheme off, enough to be a Gryffindor. Being able to plan this scheme would definitely put you into Slytherin. So what house would be best for you?"
"You just have to put me in Gryffindor! The whole reason that I'm here now is to make friends with Harry Potter. You'll ruin the whole thing if you put me in a different house from Harry. I have to be in Gryffindor!
Then in a loud voice, the hat called out " GRYFFINDOR FOR GINNY WEASLEY."
The hall was in shock, except for three cheering voices, Harry, George and Fred. Professor Dumbledore asked Professor McGonagall, "Who was supposed to be sorted?"
"The name on my list was Ronald Weasley."
The Sorting Hat spoke up, "I sorted Ginny Weasley into Gryffindor! She is now a Hogwarts student and is part of the Gryffindor House."
"Miss Weasley, how old are you?" which seemed weird since she still looked like Ron.
"I'm ten years old, Professor." The two professors and the Sorting Hat had a short conversation and Dumbledore announced "Miss Ginny Weasley is now a student of Hogwarts and is in the House of Gryffindor." The hall was still silent, but suddenly, 'Ron' started to shrink. A short red haired girl now stood where, just a minute before, Ron had. Her robes were dragging on the ground and sleeves eating up her hands.
"If I might help you, Miss Weasley? Professor McGonagall waved her wand and shortened her robe. "You may go and sit with your new house." Ginny ran over to cheers from all the houses and hugged Harry, George, and Fred.
Percy came over, "Ginny what in the world are you doing here? You belong at home with Mother and Father. I will have to tell them immediately."
"I think that is up to the professors, Percy," Ginny countered.
The rest of the feast went on and everyone but Percy seemed to have a good time. All the other Gryffindors wanted to ask how Ginny came and what happened to Ron. When the feast ended, all the students went to their dorm. Harry and Ginny were amazed at the castle. They promised each other to spend time exploring it in the near future. They were exhausted. It had been a very eventful day. Harry and Ginny parted at the bottom of the stairway to the girls' dorm.
"Only one more hurdle to jump. What do you think your parents will do, Ginny?"
"I'm hoping it is out of their hands, but I'll probably be in trouble. I can take the punishment. It's worth it to be your friend, Harry."
"I have one thing to say, you are much prettier than 'Ron'. Thank you for changing places and being my friend!"
THE NEXT MORNING
At breakfast the next morning, the doors were suddenly opened and Ginny's parents and a boy that all the Gryffindors knew was the real Ronald Weasley entered the hall and approached the head table.
After a brief conversation that most of the students couldn't hear, in a louder, more empathic voice "She has already been sorted and must now attend Hogwarts. She is a Gryffindor." Then Dumbledore announced that Ronald Weasley was there now and would be sorted into his house. Ron had been looking around, and when he saw his sister sitting next to Harry Potter, he got red in the face and looked ready to kill her. Ron was still glaring at Ginny when the Sorting Hat was placed on his head.
"You seem to be very angry, that leaves out Hufflepuff. You aren't interested in studying; you are more interested in games, so that leaves out Ravenclaw. You are plotting how to get your parents to punish your sister, so the best house for you is …
SLYTHERIN!"