Draco had planned to tell Longbottom about the invasion of Malfoy Manor by Inferi, as well as the Slytherin who could use necromancy, but he was interrupted by another matter, which genuinely surprised him.
"We found a false Hermione." the boy had blurted out awkwardly.
It was a few days since the real one had been found, but apparently Weasley had been keeping this one longer, barely allowing her to eat, and then, what little he could smuggle from mealtimes.
"Has the real one been informed?"
"We've told her. We've been trying to question her, but we can't get anything out."
"You haven't told Professor Snape? He might be able to supply us with some Veritaserum."
"Good thinking, Silver, but I think the others want to keep it quiet." Neville explained. I should have assumed as much- Weasley's likely hanging by a thinner thread than I am. "We're still trying to get Quirrell's diary to Dumbeldore, but he's been out.
The disappearance of Hermione Granger had not gone unnoticed, thanks apparently to the red-haired fool hiding the facsimile in a broom closet. The way the Headmaster was trying to explain it, it was all the fault of the Inspectors providing cover for anyone who wanted to invade Hogwarts. Dumbledore was well regarded both domestically and internationally, and he did not throw his word around lightly. All the same, there was a Prophet article decrying his failure to protect the students. He's certainly not all he's cracked up to be, but I would think the average reader should at least make the connection that he's having to protect us from the Ministry-appointed Inspectors. If it hadn't been a Hogwarts professor's idea in the first place, he might have had the grounds to shut the program down entirely.
The clone was frozen in a dignified position. Either Weasley gave her the chance to pose or he re-applies the curse after feeding her.
"Petrified?"
"That's what I think the incantation means."
"Has your friend thought to un-petrify her to ask questions?"
"That's what he usually does. What are you going to ask her?"
"She's going to tell me what I want to know, Longbottom. Whoever she is really, she is one of the Inspectors- and one trying to impersonate the Granger girl- as you tell it, to cover up her disappearance. What has Weasley been asking her?"
"Mostly about where Hermione was hidden, then about Quirrell once we found her- a few things only she would know." Quirrell- almost certainly one of the Inspectors, though Neville says he can use dark magic. "Her proper name is Alecto Carrow, but that's the most we've had out of her, I think." Draco waved a hand and his loyal Hufflepuff unfroze not-Granger girl.
"I recognize you." the Inspector said suddenly. "You're Lucius's son." Just as she spoke she put a hand over her mouth.
"Yes, I may have met an Alecto at one point- you never went to prison with your brother, did you? Talked your way into a cozy position at the Ministry?" As Slytherins go, not a bad role model. "She's not lying about her name, Neville. I wager she knows she hasn't been caught with anything serious- playing dumb until the end of the term if all else fails. Was this the one who dragged you aside the once?"
"She might have been." Longbottom was visibly thinking. "She tried to set up the code words with me, so they know we have them."
"What did she use?"
"She used the core and wood for her wand, but I haven't the foggiest what they were." It's not important- she knew the Granger girl's wand because someone told her- Alecto doesn't know anything about wandlore, not from what I know. She's also not terribly creative, using the first detail about the girl that popped into her head. Probably doesn't know much about Granger or Longbottom. "Hermione asked me about it yesterday. I can't remember why. She told me McGonagall inspected her wand before that." Draco cursed under his breath. "What?"
"They're moving around. I've suspected McGonagall from the beginning- and we were right to get her out of Hogwarts- she didn't leave, the real one left and she just went back to being Granger. She'd done it before, if you have the timing right."
"What does it mean, Silver?"
"We ruled out the Imperius Curse and possession when there were two Granger girls. Polyjuice potion would have worn off." I don't have a clue how long the potion lasts, but it is supposed to run out eventually. It was impractical anyway- from what the girl said, it has to be brewed months in advance- the sheer amount that would be required for three Inspectors to be changing disguises all the time- even I couldn't afford it.
"What do you think it was?" Longbottom asked.
"There are spells that alter your appearance." Draco had seen his mother use them here and there. "This level of detail would be difficult, but not impossible." As he spoke, the impostor let out a mocking giggle. "Something funny?"
"You really think I could rearrange my appearance that much? You really are a child." Her sudden desire to have input was distracting. "You know nothing about magic- and nothing about the world outside your little school. You're just a rich boy in over his head, miles and miles away from daddy."
Unprepared, but not in the least bit flustered, or no more so than when McGonagall gave him indefinite detention in front of everyone, the Malfoy heir composed a dignified expression for response.
"You're going to tell us everything we want to know or you're going to wish you were that house-elf that forgot to praise the Dark Lord." he said suddenly, recycling one of his father's threats. The color seemed to drain out of not-Granger girl's face. Neville seemed shocked enough, though for an entirely different reason. "How are you changing your appearance?" he asked, pressing the momentary advantage.
"We just made the Polyjuice last longer than normal- I think it's the same potion; it tastes the same. I don't know how they did it." Longbottom likely suspects I'm threatening her, but it's just so. Sooner or later he would learn the power the Malfoy name conveys, and sooner or later I needed an answer out of Alecto.
"Who is Quirrell, really?"
"Some older bloke from the Ministry- I don't keep track of-" Draco considered raising a hand, but Weasley had been doing enough with various jinxes if the bruises meant anything. Can't go too far with the real Granger around, can he?
"Flipendo" he cast, aiming for her knee. It took her legs out from under her, though not for the first time, by his estimation.
"Silver..." Neville started.
"She's an adult disguised as your friend, Longbottom. We're short on time here." He turned back to the captive. "Who is Quirrell? Where is the real one?"
"I really don't know- Rufus something- we were briefed on a few students, but our main responsibility was to find out what the Department of Mysteries didn't know. I don't know the bloke who's running about as Quirrell- he came in as a Ravenclaw boy; we were all supposed to enter as students."
"Told all this to Weasley?" A spectacularly uncharacteristic smirk spread across the not-Granger girl's face.
"He lacks the proper cruelty- a jinx here and there, yes, but he feeds me. If you get my wand back from him-"
"Don't change the subject." Neville insisted. "Where's the real Quirrell?"
"I don't know- the false one insisted we never check the second-floor girls' bathroom. Not that I needed persuading with Moaning Myrtle in there." Draco nodded at his loyal Hufflepuff, though the meaning seemed to escape him.
"Get Granger on it." Longbottom disappeared. "You weren't supposed to take on the guises of faculty?" he asked, turning back to the Inspector.
"Not really. We could temporarily be them if necessary, but the point of our presence isn't to interrupt the education of the students. Rufus, if that is his name, insisted he could do a better job teaching than the real Quirrell and it would keep suspicion away from him."
"Who's the other one?"
"Enid Bagnold. Youngish witch, works for the Department; don't know her. Last I checked she was a Hufflepuff Prefect." Looks like something really is going on in that House.
"Any relation to Millicent Bagnold?" His father had criticized her extensively, placing her on his long list of least competent Ministers of Magic, her term having expired just recently. Cornelius Fudge was 'a lovable, contented moron, well-regulated and competent enough in peacetime'.
"Her mother- the Malfoy family may have invented nepotism, but it isn't the sole proprietor. She was appointed in the twilight hours of her mother's term."
"How does the Ministry know when you leave?"
"We're not to leave the castle during our assignment. Hogwarts warding knows our true identities, and usually there's an official watching with Dumbledore. We don't report to the Department while in the castle as it would arouse suspicion, only to each other."
"So if any one of you is captured an extended period of time?"
"We're left to our own devices. Speaking of, you didn't believe you'd be getting all this for free, did you?" The smirk was starting to look oddly fitting.
"You know what I'll do to you if you're lying." Draco reminded her, realizing that she might have done just that as insurance.
"Oh, come on, Malfoy. You know I can be more useful to you out of here. I can be McGonagall and get you out of your punishment. I can memory charm her again. False Memories are introductory at the Department of Mysteries." I would think work at the Department changed more than your magical arsenal.
"A tempting offer, but detention has not proved a significant obstacle for a young man of my resources."
"Really? I'll allow it, but I've heard quite the opposite from the Weasley boy, with the same punishment as you." Draco's grimace did not make it to his face. "Of course, there's something else I can offer you- you like this little witch, don't you?" No expression of any kind reached him, though he did pause to consider it. His father had said something to the effect of Ravenclaw being the bride of Slytherin, and that he would not do ill by himself to marry from that house. "You don't have to say anything- but how about a kiss?"
It would have been beneath Malfoy's dignity to shy away entirely, and kissing her would hardly amount to agreement in the bargain she was proposing.
"Put your arms round my waist, boy." He smirked and did as instructed. I suppose some instruction on romantic matters would be welcome sooner or later. Their lips met softly and he felt a sharp pain in his lower back. Draco tried to pull away, startled, but the impostor's hands were already locked behind his back. She quickly grabbed his wand and kicked him in the shin, knocking him to the ground before casting the full body-bind curse.
"Petrificus Totalus." His arms and legs jerked straight and became immovable. "Really Draco, did you think I would go somewhere without a knife?" The brass weapon was pointed at his eye. "The Weasley boy thought to take my wand, but like you he lacked the stones to search me properly- of course, he never fell for that one. When the Dark Lord returns, I'll make sure to tell your father all about your first kiss."
As the Inspector left out the open door, he tried to groan, but no sound came out. How do people breathe while petrified? Is the blood still coming out of the wound? He vainly attempted to look, but even his eyes refused to move. All the same, a pool of blood answered the question for him. At least my sense of panic seems to be petrified. I feel like I'm dying and I couldn't lose my marbles if I wanted.
Within moments Neville and Hermione were at the door, the latter screaming. A few panicked bursts of light came from Longbottom's wand as the girl collected herself and sank to the floor, taking her wand out. He felt the wound seal, bit by bit as the Hufflepuff released him from the curse. Must have learned a healing spell after I made her node bleed. Arms and legs spilling out, the Ravenclaw's panicked voice insisting that he stay still, Draco grabbed at a wand sticking out of the boy's cloak, taking it as he held him down. Probably didn't even notice- could be Alecto's wand, I suppose.
Granger finished healing him- patching up his injuries and not a word was exchanged between the three of them until Weasley entered.
"Alecto got away- slipped off into the crowd." He turned to Draco. "Good show, there, letting her out."
"Really now? Little miss problem child had a brass knife on her. I don't expect you found it."
"Not really. Didn't let her get close enough to use it."
"Stop it, both of you- you're not helping anything." Granger interceded.
"I had the Inspector all wrapped up-" Weasley started.
"We were going to have to let her go eventually." the witch argued, cutting him off. "Draco, what did you learn from her?"
"She can't leave the castle- Dumbledore will know. There's a Hufflepuff Prefect-" Longbottom's face lit up. "I see you've met her."
"I have as well." Granger offered. "Ebony's starting something with the Hufflepuffs-" The lack of surprise on the Gryffindor's face indicated he had been informed of most of it at least. "What was this about the second floor girls' bathroom?"
"We think it's where the real Quirrell is stored. If we move quickly, together, he'll expose all of them." Draco explained, having exited the broom closet, bringing the others with him.
"Stay close- she'll know about all four of us." Weasley started. "We're out in the open and if we make it to the second floor, it's over for them." Draco chose not to respond, casting the light charm in the hopes it could detect invisibility. Mostly right, but there's no need to tell him that. "We have to assume Quirrell knows as well. No more pretending for Hermione." The Slytherin supposed that was how she had been attending Defense classes the past few days; a simple wink in the instructor's direction would be enough to let him know she was an impostor too. Clever girl.
Neville deflected a curse coming from the rear, though the caster was nowhere to be seen. Granger was less forgiving. Casting a flame charm, a blue jet of fire erupted from her wand, which she waved around behind them as they moved to the staircase.
"I made an invisibility potion weeks ago, but Quirrell might have taken it from me. I no longer have it."
"Good to know." Weasley commented, casting the locking charm on a nearby door, lest there was someone waiting to jump out of it. Lucky it's a Saturday- couldn't imagine having to get around the teachers when I'm supposed to be in detention. As they made their way out onto the moving stair, the Defense teacher was waiting at the top.
"You've come far enough, Miss Granger." Four wands were at the ready, but Draco had little enough confidence they would be enough, even together. Aim for the feet. Neville was immediately blinded by what seemed to be an arcing pair of streams to the eyes, but not before attempting a body-bind curse, which the target easily deflected, along with Weasley's explosive of some sort. He and the girl managed to get close with the knockback jinxes, though only one of them hit. Momentarily off balance, Quirrell deflected a few panicked curses from the witch before hitting her with a silencer. Unfortunately for the professor, Weasley's curse along with his own struck true, knocking him off his feet and hitting him with the basic body bind. Lucky Wea-
His thoughts were interrupted as Longbottom shouted, his robes being tugged by the silenced girl.
"What!" he shouted, Granger pointing down the stairs, but not for his benefit. McGonagall and a witch who looked to be a Hufflepuff Prefect were at the bottom of the stairs with an entire crowd of students and teachers looking on in shock.
"That's quite enough out of you, Mr. Longbottom." the Deputy Headmistress started. Could Alecto have changed disguises this suddenly? We can't be sure that isn't the real McGonagall.
"Wait, when did you get here? Quirrell blinded-" the Transfiguration teacher hit him with an expert silencer, which he failed to deflect. How do they communicate? Floo? He had some awareness that the Ravenclaw was kneeling down next to his loyal Hufflepuff, who seemed to be struggling to make sense of his current predicament.
"As for you two, I should hardly think you need me to say this is the last straw." McGonagall said as she hexed Weasley which he deflected. Draco doubted he could do the same with Alecto's wand; for some reason it felt unresponsive.
"Malfoy!" he shouted amid the chaos of the students getting involved. "It's not getting any worse for us-"
"Run for it." Draco assented, sprinting up the stairs after him, deflecting spells from students and teachers alike. He reached down to grab Quirrell's wand as he ran, the Gryffindor's shouts of protest distant in his mind.
We've really done it now.