Chapter Twelve – An Impostor

A/N – Some dialogue is taken from my story, "Which Witch?"

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They all stayed in the Room of Requirements well past curfew. Ron ran back to the Gryffindor common room to grab Harry's invisibility cloak to get them all back to their common rooms safely and without losing any points.

Hermione took Luna back to the Ravenclaw Tower first. Then she came back with the cloak, and Neville, Harry and Ginny all tried their hardest to fit under the cloak together. Finally, it was agreed that if anyone was coming, they'd have to duck down, to make sure their ankles weren't showing.

It was the slowest walk through the corridors that Neville had ever known. Ron groaned that he had forgotten the Mauderer's Map. Neville sincerely doubted that they would meet anyone in the hallways this late at night.

That theory was refuted quite quickly, as they stopped in a panic when they heard footsteps coming down a nearby hallway. Ron and Hermione ducked into a nearby classroom and Neville, with Harry and Ginny, knelt down, to make sure they weren't seen.

Professor Snape, looking with incredibly angry or upset, (Neville couldn't tell which) walked down the hallway very quickly. Neville thought they were safe, but then Tonks appeared silently ten feet behind Snape.

Finally, after that seemed like ages, they made it back to the Gryffindor common room, which was empty.

"Why'd you two hide?" Ginny asked to Ron and Hermione. She flopped down on the couch and yawned. "You're not going to get in trouble if you're seen out of bed."

Both Ron and Hermione started blushing furiously.

Ginny started giggling. "What?" she asked.

"We're allowed in the hallways, just not together," Hermione said in barely a whisper.

"McGonagall caught us snogging in a classroom and told us off," Ron added, his face practically the same color as his hair.

Neville, Harry and Ginny cracked up. "Can I tell Mum?" Ginny begged. "Please?"

"I'm going to bed," Hermione announced. "Ginny?"

"I'm going to stay down here for a bit," Ginny said casually.

"I'm turning in, myself," Ron said, standing up. Neville followed him. "Harry? You coming, mate?"

"I'll be up in a while," Harry said, looking at Ginny.

"Suit yourself," Ron said. "G'night."

Neville had a hard time falling asleep that night. So hard, that he was still up at four in the morning when Harry finally came to bed.

The Daily Prophet shed no light on the attacks that they had seen the previous night. Cornelius Fudge was on the front page, shaking the hand of the Ministry of Magic's employee of the month.

"I don't understand," Harry said, taking off his glasses and yawning. "It couldn't have been too far in the future. I mean, the people were wearing Halloween costumes."

Hermione looked at the teacher's table and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Snape's not at breakfast."

"We know he's here though, we saw him last night," Ron said.

The rest of breakfast was spent, theorizing on what they could have seen last night. After breakfast, Neville and Harry ambushed Professor Dumbledore before he left the Great Hall. They were told to come to Dumbledore's office that afternoon. Neville took a good look at the Headmaster. For the first time Neville could think of, Professor Dumbledore looked old, weary almost. It was not a comforting sight. Not in the least.

"Was there an attack last night?" Harry asked, later that afternoon.

"Yes," Professor Dumbledore said, sitting behind his desk. "Death Eaters attacked a muggle haunted house. Seventy-four people were killed. The muggle newspapers are calling it a massacre."

"Seventy-four…" Neville trailed off, feeling sick to his stomach. How could you-know-who order the deaths of so many so easily?

"The Ministry of Magic refused to believe that this was the work of Death Eaters, which is why you saw nothing of it in the paper this morning," Professor Dumbledore said.

"And I guess our word wouldn't help any," Harry said sarcastically.

Professor Dumbledore shook his head.

"Sir," Harry said hesitantly. "In the vision we shared, we saw a little girl, dressed like an angel…" Harry looked around. Professor Snape was not in Dumbledore's office. Neville understood exactly what Harry was thinking. Maybe Snape was there last night. Maybe he knew the fate of the little girl.

"I don't know specifics of who was killed, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said, almost kindly.

"Okay," Harry said sadly. "I just hoped…"

"I know, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said sadly. "I know more than you'll ever know."

All the joy Neville could have found in that crisp autumn day was gone. He kept picturing the people running and screaming for their lives. Even Luna couldn't make him feel any better.

That Monday, Neville, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all running late for Potions. Suddenly Harry's book bag split open, causing books and papers to be thrown everywhere.

"Go on," Harry said. "No point in us all losing points for Gryffindor."

When it was half-way through Potions, and Harry still hadn't shown up, Neville was getting quite worried. Hermione kept looking at the door and then her watch. "I don't understand," she whispered to Neville between instructions. "Should we tell Snape?"

Just then, the door opened, and Harry entered the classroom. Professor Snape looked furious to see him.

"Potter!"

Harry looked guilty for just a moment, and then a smile spread over his face. "Yes, sir?" he asked. Neville was confused. Harry never called Snape sir unless it was demanded of him.

"Find something funny, do you?" Snape barked.

Harry looked like he was about to laugh. "No, sir. Not at all."

"How dare you walk into my class more than half way through," Snape said dangerously.

"I have a pass," Harry challenged. Neville breathed a sigh of relief. At least Harry wouldn't lose any points for Gryffindor.

Snape snatched the pass from Harry, who then sat next to Hermione to watch them finish the potion. Harry was bombarded after Potions.

"What happened?" Hermione asked worriedly.

Harry shrugged. "I had to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"Without me?" Neville asked. Lately, Neville had been included in all of the talks. He tried not to be hurt that he wasn't this time.

"Un-uh," Harry said. "Let's get some dinner. I'm starving."

Neville let himself get a few steps behind Harry and the rest of the group. He watched Harry carefully. He seemed to walk slightly different. Finally, Neville reached out, and tried to see if he could find the connection they shared Halloween night. He found nothing. But he was sure of one thing.

That wasn't Harry Potter.

Neville watched Harry closely throughout dinner and later in the common room, as they all sat by the fire doing homework. Little things were different. He didn't hold his quill normally.

The Impostor turned in early, much earlier than normal. Ginny went upstairs with him. Neville watched him go up the stairs.

"That's not Harry," Neville insisted the moment Harry went upstairs.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"I'm telling you, that's not Harry. That's an Impostor," Neville said, getting upset. Where the hell was Harry?

"Neville, calm down," Hermione said softly. "Take a breath, your face is all red."

"That's because I don't know where Harry is!" Neville said, his voice rising.

"Lower your voice, mate," Ron hissed. "Anyone can hear you."

"Sorry," Neville mumbled. "Look, you know that weird connection that Harry and I have. I feel nothing. That's not Harry."

Hermione shrugged. "Maybe you're both tired."

A look of realization passed Ron's face. "He didn't ask you to check his work, love," Ron said, eyes wide.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"His work. We always ask you to check our work, even when we know you won't. He didn't even ask!" Ron said, his voice rising. "That's not Harry Potter!"

"Ron, now you keep your voice down," Hermione scolded. "Harry acted odd during diner, but I'm not accusing him of anything. He might just be tired."

"That's not Harry," Neville said in a hushed voice.

"Think this out, Neville," Hermione said. "We were just sitting here for three hours. If it's not Harry, he's not using Polyjuice Potion. He didn't take a sip of anything the entire time. How else could someone take his place?"

Neville had Ron convinced, but Hermione wasn't so sure. The next morning, at breakfast, they all watched him carefully at breakfast. Harry loved bacon, and ate it almost every morning. He didn't have a single slice that morning.

Even Hermione was convinced after Transfiguration. Harry sat up and was alert the entire class, something that rarely happened. Professor McGonagall asked to see Harry alone after class, so they started upstairs to the common room, trying to decide a trap.

Luna and Ginny were walking out of the charms classroom, and they quickly joined in on the plan. Luna suggested that they simply ask the Impostor to go to the Room of Requirements.

They waited inside the common room, right by the entrance for Harry, who showed up just a few minutes later.

"Hi," Harry said uneasily.

"Something's happened," Hermione said quickly.

"Let's go to the Room of Requirement to talk," Ron said.

"Okay," the Impostor said.

He turned around and went back through the portrait hole.

"Lead the way," Neville said. Neville and the Impostor shared a long look, and Neville could see a flicker of doubt in the Impostor's eye.

Much to everyone's surprise, the Impostor knew where the Room of Requirements was. But not to take any chances, the moment the door closed behind them, with a flick of her wand, Hermione caused invisible ropes to bind around the Impostor's body.

Everyone had their wands out, pointing at the Impostor's chest.

"Peace," the Impostor said, smiling.

"Who are you?" Neville said confidently.

"Do me a favor and cast finite on my throat, please," he asked pleasantly.

"Why should we do anything for you?" Ginny asked.

The Impostor's face seemed to quiver for a moment, and he scrunched up his nose. The face changed from Harry's to a young woman's. "Because I'm on your side," she told them.

"Tonks?" Hermione asked.

"Wotcher," Tonks said.

"Why do you have Harry's voice?" she asked suspiciously. "Metamorphs can't copy people's voices."

"How can you be sure about that?" Tonks asked.

"Because I read all about them when I met one," Hermione replied, lowering her wand slightly.

"It's a potion. Cast finite on my throat," Tonks said.

Hermione pointed her wand at Tonks throat and said the incantation.

"Thank you," Tonks said in her real voice. The ropes disappeared and Tonks fell to the ground.

"Where's Harry?" Neville asked worriedly.

"Harry's at Headquarters. He was beat up yesterday. I'm taking his place until he gets better," Tonks told the group.

"Will he be okay?" Ginny asked quickly.

"He should be fine. Hopefully, he'll be back within a week. Until then, please consider me Harry," Tonks said.

"Were you Harry yesterday?" Ginny asked, looking down at her feet.

"Yes."

"Oh," Ginny said in an unnaturally high voice.

Tonks gave them more specifics, such as how often she would need to rest and needing help to remember the class schedule. Hermione actually took out a piece of parchment and a quill to write things down for Tonks.

"What about homework?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"What about it?" Tonks asked. "It's been eight years, but I'm sure not much has changed."

"The professors will realize that it's not Harry's handwriting," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

Tonks raised her eyebrows up in surprise. "Good point," Tonks said softly.

"Pretend to hurt your hand," Luna said dreamily. "Then you'd have to write with your other hand, and no one would notice."

"Good idea, Luna," Ron said. "But if his hand is hurt, wouldn't Madam Pomfrey be able to fix it in a second?"

Luna waved her hand. "I'm sure Neville knows of a plant that would leave a mark for a week."

Neville looked down at the ground, trying to think of a plant that would work. "A Chokia Cubius Nationus would make your hand swell up for a week or two. You would just have to come with me to the Greenhouse. It's in the restricted plant section."

"I'm not getting bitten by anything," Tonks announced.

"But Tonks-"

Tonks raised her hand, and made it swell up to twice its normal size. "We'll pretend I had a visit to the Greenhouse."

The group continued to discuss a few more details, and then Hermione announced it was almost time for class.

Tonks and Ginny stayed behind for a moment, and Neville left with Luna, feeling much better than he did this morning. But at the same time, he was worried. It must have been Slytherins who beat him up.

It was an interesting week with Tonks as Harry. She told them that she was quite a good flyer, but had a little problem with landing, so running quidditch practices were out of the question. Ron ran practice that week, and Tonks sat with Neville and Dean once or twice as they watched.

Tonks tired easily, holding a full body morph. Hermione ended up doing a great deal of Harry's homework that week, but much to Ron's chagrin, didn't complain in the slightest.

"Don't worry, Ron," Hermione said pleasantly, putting her hand on his. "If Slytherins beat you up to a pulp and Tonks had to take your place, I'd do your homework for you, too."

"Thanks," Ron muttered, while Ginny laughed. Just then, Tonks as Harry bounded down the stairs.

She flopped down on the couch next to Ginny. "Just got the word from Remus," she said happily. "We're making the switch tonight at nine o'clock. You'll have Harry back soon."

"It's been fun having you here, though," Ron said in a hushed voice.

"Maybe for you," Tonks laughed. Whatever potion she was taking to change her voice was amazing; even her laugh sounded just like Harry's laugh. "I wasn't too thrilled having to take some classes."

Ron snorted. "You probably thought you would never have to have another class with Snape, eh?"

Tonks looked thoughtful for a moment. "Snape can be a complete prat in the classroom, can't he?"

"I think you mean all the time," Ron said.

Tonks leaned back. "I've dealt with him more than you, Ron. When he's working for the Order, his heart is in the right place."

"If you say so," Ron said rolling his eyes.

The next two hours past quickly, and Tonks stood up and said goodbye as Harry. A half hour later, the real Harry walked through the portrait hole with a big smile on his face. He was walking with a bit of a limp.

"Are you all right?" Neville asked. He felt better, knowing that this was the real Harry Potter.

"Much better than last week," Harry grinned. "Once I felt better, it was a nice little break from school. I just hope Tonks didn't mess up my grades!"

A/N – The plant, Chokia Cubius Nationus, is from dialogue that was written in the beginning of this past October. I am a die hard Cubs fan, and they choked the last week of the season and didn't make the play-offs. The plant name is a Latinization of "Choke Cub Nation." I look back at that now, and realize that the Cubs not making the play-offs had me a little more than upset. But now Spring Training has started, all I can say is, "Cubs will thrive in 2005!"