"Disguise yourself, but remember where the disguise ends and self begins." - Lucius Malfoy
The Drawing proceeded briskly with a separate barrel for each house and no pause between students, unlike the Sorting. Students moved quickly to their barrel, thrust in a hand, pulled out a stone and with a flash their robes changed to announce their faction. The drawing started slowly, but after the first students' robes changed the effect felt routine. Now people moved along steadily as yet again the magical became mundane. A few minutes into the Drawing there was a brilliant green flash, brighter than normal, and everyone stopped chatting. Percy Weasley's brilliant robes had acquired a prominent green sash and locket. The first leader had been revealed.
The twins let out a groan. "Come on, Purple!" drawled Fred or George, to great laughter.
"Hurry along," said Headmistress McGonagall, standing at the lectern overlooking the four rows of students moving slowly to the barrels, "We haven't all night."
Draco sat next to Gregory, it would take about fifteen minutes before the older students finished. Gryffindors just rushed their barrel, Hufflepuffs moved in an orderly fashion that made sense to them, and nobody understood the Ravenclaw system. Slytherins queued by seniority and the fifth year was up. Another flash and everyone turned to see Lesath Lestrange wearing the purple sash of leadership.
Lesath blanched slightly then returned to his seat. Other students in purple robes moved to join him but nobody spoke once they'd selected their colour – Professor Lockhart had indicated that the stones had several charms on them (apart from the robe-changing charm) to ensure fairness. Students who picked later weren't at a disadvantage for plotting. The room grew quieter as people selected. Draco thought it imbued the process with the dignity it sorely needed.
"Lesath as leader, huh," Gregory said. "He looks like he's going to be sick. What will we do if we get Purple?"
"Follow Lesath," Draco said, automatically. About a quarter of the people's robes gave no obvious sign of any change. They could be civilians, such as he'd been in the Autumn battle when he'd lost his arm. Or perhaps sleepers. Draco reminded himself that some people who had purple robes were probably secretly green, and vice versa.
Professor Lockhart stepped up to the lectern. Apparently with half the students sitting mutely the room was quiet enough for him.
"While we're still picking, I'd like to say that the rules are simplicity itself," Professor Lockhart said. "Each side has four leaders, and when all four are dead that side has lost. In order to make up for the relatively vast differences in spell casting power, the only spells that can be used are Somnium and your Patronus, for those who can cast it. That means that everyone is on roughly equal footing with seventh years. Those are the basics, but the rules are not simple. For example, some individuals will be allowed more complex spells, and they'll know who they are. Rest assured that these individuals, like the leadership sashes, are determined randomly. Casting a spell that you know in real life but not in the game will lead to disqualification. To ensure that this particular War doesn't take longer than the weekend, there will be some rules that come into play around lunchtime Sunday, to speed things up. Should it come to that."
"Additionally you will all receive tidbits of information, mostly true."
Draco glanced behind him and saw Harry Potter smiling gleefully. Draco hadn't been wrong, at the beginning of the year. Harry really did love the battles, but had withheld himself out of them for some reason. But with an all-school war, Harry was involved again. Why had he denied himself the pleasure? Was this part of Voldemort's curse that Hermione had mentioned? That didn't make sense, he'd have to sit this fight out as well. Perhaps Harry had solved the curse. He hadn't said anything. But Draco could see Harry's joy and Harry, seeing Draco, gave a nod and a thumbs up, then held up his hand to his heart and rubbed his fingers across his chest diagonally, then pointed to Lesath.
There was still the Green leader for Slytherin and they were almost done with the third years. Draco shrugged, it's not like he could control the selection, so what was the point of worrying or hoping? Draco and the rest of the second years got up, Professor Lockhart still talking.
"...because, of course, while duels win battles, good intelligence wins wars. So there you go. Also, based on some feedback I've decided not to institute detention for those who died, unless you get disqualified. However, only members of the winning tribe will be invited to the victory feast, and I'm told the House Elves will really outdo themselves for dessert."
Draco's turn was up and he quickly reached into the barrel and grabbed the first stone, as his fingers closed around it his robes flashed to Purple. Gregory went after him and also got Purple. Draco went back to his seat, head turned, watching the line. Harry was almost up.
The Green Leader still hadn't been selected. Worrying served no purpose, but Draco couldn't help himself. Just my luck to have Harry draw it, instead of me. Actually, that wouldn't be so bad. Draco started to work out the possibilities. In many ways it would be refreshing, fighting Harry as part of a game, but a quick flash revealed Harry without any special markings or sash. Just green robes.
Harry took in stride and went back to the green side of the Slytherin table. Most of the houses had naturally divided themselves into their respective two sides. Draco glanced around the other tables, it seemed that seven of the leaders had been selected, and he didn't know any of them well. He knew Marcus Belby, the Purple Leader for Ravenclaw, somewhat. Glancing at the Gryffindor table, he saw that Hermione's hair tumbling across the shoulders of her green robe.
The Slytherin first years were drawing their stones and – with a bright flash – Colin Creevey blinked several times and stared down at the green sash of leadership, before breaking out a huge grin and practically skipping on his way back to the table.
Now that's interesting, Draco thought, He'll just go to Potter for advice. It's like Harry being in charge, but with a delay.
"I see that we are about done. Some final announcements. Once you get back to your room, there will be mail delivery, you are all familiar with the procedure. You'll be given a few minutes to digest any information you receive. At the signal, the war begins. And remember, no spells can be cast by you or at you when you are at home."
Several students tried to say something, but nothing came out. Ginny Weasley frantically jumped up and down but Professor Lockhart shook his headwhile taking out his wand. "Since there are no questions," he said, smilingly, and he waved his wand over the crowd and said a chant that Draco couldn't quite make out.
Draco found himself sitting in his own bed. He lifted his head and saw Gregory and Harry's bewildered looks.
Harry looked up, shock of disorientation fading. You can't apparate in Hogwarts which begged the question of what had just happened. The easiest way would be to just false memory charm everyone to go to their rooms and forget the walk. Had any time passed? Harry glanced down at his watch, and sure enough it was almost 7:30. Nearly fifteen minutes missing. Harry gritted his teeth, false memory charms should be banned, although this one – if it was one, and not some more powerful, subtle spell – seemed harmless enough. Just overly dramatic.
In any case, Harry's more urgent concern involved leaving the room alive.
"Well, that's another fine mess you've gotten us into, Draco," Harry joked. Gregory looked sharply over at him, while Draco cocked his head slightly, watching Draco.
"Vene lalare bokor sohap hewelog baramie tomotim ciep toluwan wi?" Gregory said, looking at Draco. Draco now turned his head towards Gregory, but kept his eyes on Harry. There was something in how he was watching them, Harry recognized that Draco was plotting. Already.
Draco shrugged and said, "Na cinarieg rietiehi arepod erusitot Petter huger hihulog." Harry thought Petter may refer to him. Apparently Lockhart had cast another spell to make the two teams unable to understand each other. That … made sense. Draco said something to Harry, the intonation sounded like a question, but Harry just shook his head No and raised his hands in a helpless shrug.
Often warring factions would be co-located, but separated by different native languages. Perhaps Professor Lockhart had used some warring tribes model, like some of the brewing European conflicts that the Muggle Parliament fretted about. Another way to differentiate the two factions. But had Draco said his name?
"Gregory," Harry said, loudly. Gregory looked over. Draco and Gregory exchanged a few phrases.
"Herry," Gregory said.
Harry nodded and pointed to himself. Then pointed to Gregory and said "Gregory," and then pointed to Draco and said "Draco." This experiment probably helped them more than it helped me, oh well. Harry eyed the room. He was closest to the door and if he dove for it once the war started he'd probably be able to make it out. Draco and Gregory spoke quickly and he didn't recognize any more names, so they'd probably stopped referring to people directly. Definitely helped them more than me.
Well, that wasn't necessarily so bad. They were involved in a wargame, but just a game and not necessarily zero-sum. In the strict sense, there could only be one winner, but if the process enhanced the prestige of everyone in the room that would be a nice benefit. Still, no more experiments. Harry considered the problem of escaping. Then he kicked himself, and got up out of his bed. Gregory and Draco instantly had their wands out, but then stopped.
The war hadn't started, not yet. There'd been no mail, and no signal. Harry took a few steps towards his chest before Draco and Gregory were up, collecting items from around the room and tossing them onto their beds. Harry went into his trunk.
Harry already stored emergency equipment in his pouch, but took a quick inventory just to make sure it hadn't been tampered with. He'd witnessed the fall battle in the lake, when the other young Slytherins had been abducted without any gear. He still had everything he expected. He grabbed a vial of Polyjuice and put it carefully into his pouch. It probably wasn't worth using now, but 'Be Prepared' rang in his head. Harry felt guilty, but there were no rules against it. He certainly wouldn't use anything unreasonably powerful, nothing whose existence he dare not reveal. Harry considered leaving the potion behind, just to keep himself from being tempted, but Polyjuice potions were merely expensive, not rare. He packed it in his pouch. It probably belonged there in any case.
Harry heard the flutter of wings and raced out of the trunk and jumped onto his bed. The owls had dropped off their letters and were already back at the window.
Gregory and Draco were hastily shoving spare wands into holsters. Draco had changed into his more formal robes, but they'd apparently changed colour as soon as he put them on.
"That was a good idea," Harry said to nobody. Draco looked over and Harry pointed to Draco's robes and then laughed. Draco just shook his head, and there was something odd in the way he was acting. Draco had been sleeping poorly, even Harry had noticed. He may just be tired. That was another important discussion to have.
When he could talk to Draco.
Harry Potter opened up his letter:
Daphne Greengrass (who wears a neutral robe) is secretly loyal to green.
You are allowed to cast Expelliarmus, in addition to standard spells. If you cast this on your leader successfully, you steal the leadership stash. (This is true for anyone).
The purple leader of Slytherin is immune to Somnium.
You may summon a house elf once every twelve hours to bring a small set of rations by loudly asking for "Emergency Food, please!". Only one student in ten has this ability. If your house elf is shot by a spell during this time you lose this ability.
Harry chuckled at the last one. He could summon the house elf already, but this made sense in game. In real wars lack of food was a confounding factor. If this went for a full two days some students would be able to dole out food. Nobody would be in danger of starving, but it would add level of stress. Harry wondered when the twelve hours reset. In any case, he had a full pouch of Granola bars and bottles of water, but he'd never planned on supporting multiple people for days. That was a gross oversight, he'd stock up and buy several weeks worth of rations for a small team. Just in case.
Harry went back to reading.
There are twelve traitors.
Harry considered this. Roughly three traitors per house, one or two each side, if they were divided evenly. Which meant that he shouldn't worry about traitors too much. From a strictly numerical point of view most people wouldn't be a traitor. Giving this information wasn't unrealistic. In a real battle you'd have to worry about this. However, as a simulation, Harry had to admit it worked pretty well. It gave him a rough estimate to work with. A base error rate. Paradoxically, rarer traitors could do incredible damage if everyone automatically trusted everyone else. If everyone suspected everyone else then the resulting security level would supress traitors. But with so few, security would (in most cases) be counterproductive. The classic tradeoff. Harry decided to focus on rooting out the (approximately) one and a half traitors wearing green Slytherin robes.
His first step: discover if there were passwords for the purple traitors secretly loyal to green. Presumably Colin would be given that information. If not, he could ask around. There was no reason that purple and green would have symmetric security measures, but those kind of things often happened, in simulations.
What else did the letters imply? Assume each student got three to seven facts of information, even if they were all duplicated several times – they probably were, so people could separate fact from fiction - there were still hundreds of facts in this game. Again, this worked as a realistic simulation. In the real world you wouldn't necessarily know many details about your enemies.
This was going to be fun.
He read the rest of the facts, which dealt with who he could trust from other houses. Harry read the scroll several times, once again wishing there was a spell to give him Hermione's perfect recall. Suddenly there was a loud roar echoing throughout the halls that set his teeth on edge and Harry's scroll – along with Draco's and Gregory's – crumbled, the pieces of paper blown out the window by the fading echoes.
Harry took out his wand. Draco and Gregory did likewise.
"It occurs to me that I could do a lot of good keeping the two of you bottled up in here," Harry said. "I mean, if it was just Draco and me, I'd probably be better of going. But you've got a broom, Gregory, and I don't imagine that they've suddenly made you a bad flyer. You could go tearing around the hallways, picking people off." Harry kept flicking glances between Gregory and Draco. Draco looked puzzled, probably trying to figure out what Harry's game was.
"But where's the fun in that?" Harry said and jumped up and raced for the door, wand out. Draco fired at him but nothing happened and then Draco was jumping behind his bed - putting it between them as a shield - but Harry was already out of the room before the first Somnium was cast. He laughed at Draco's shouted word, even a Babel spell didn't mask his meaning.
Author's Note - The gibberish above is just gibberish. Not code or anything.