My second piece for the 'Great Maze Challenge' - Prompt: Polyjuice Potion.
Long fingers wrapped around the vial as he glanced side to side, making sure he was alone.
Harry knew he shouldn't keep doing this. It was a bad idea all around, and he was going to get caught sooner or later. Sooner, if he kept doing this in places where he could easily be stumbled upon like the back alley he was currently hiding in.
He couldn't help it though- they were all being so overbearing, and the other shoppers kept crowding him. His claustrophobia was starting to overwhelm him, and he really needed to get this shopping done.
He pulled a thin, plastic sleeve from his back pocket, and gently tugged out the blonde hair from inside. With one more glance around to ensure he was still alone, he eased the hair in to the vial and said the incantation to finish the potion.
The bubbling goo turned from a disgusting, dark brown-green colour to periwinkle blue, and started to emit a light scent of lilies. He'd managed to 'borrow' a muggle hair one day in London, knowing that nobody would recognise him if he used it for Diagon Alley.
Chugging down the concoction, he pulled out the simple handbag he had charmed for this purpose and started shoving items in it. First went his large backpack- that would be the first thing to give him away. Next went his jumper, and then buttoned shirt. Underneath, he was wearing a loose camisole that started to tighten around the chest as the Polyjuice potion took effect.
Transformation now complete, he glanced at his smaller hands and delicate wrists, and reached up to make sure he hadn't accidentally kept anything that would give him away. His light stubble was gone, as were his side burns. Grabbing a light cardigan from his expanded bag, he shrugged it over his narrow shoulders. Feeling much less claustrophobic, he shook his long, golden hair and pulled his simple handbag over his shoulder as he exited the alley.