Albus looked down at his acid green potion. It was bubbling and fizzing. Howard and Rose were both looking at their potions with a similar disgusted expression. Earlier that evening, Howard and Rose had sneaked off and locked Crabbe and Goyle in a broom cupboard, after knocking them out with a sleeping draught hidden in a cupcake. Albus had copied the idea from his Aunt Hermione. They all lifted the potion to their lips and drank. Albus shuddered. The potion tasted vile. Then his skin began to burn, as it stretched. He felt the bones in his hands grow longer and he felt his spine curl in on itself, as he grew shorter. He knew the transformation was over when the pain stopped. He called for Howard and Rose who came out as Crabbe and Goyle, respectively. "Let's go" muttered Albus. His voice was higher and somehow slightly evil. Howard and Rose nodded and they hurried off to the Slytherin common room, which both Albus and Rose knew the location of, thanks to their parents. Just as Albus thought, they met Malfoy along the way, alone.
"Crabbe! Goyle! Where have you two been? What the hell!?" Malfoy swore when he saw his copy.
"Scorpio! Give Dana her voice back!" Albus said clearly. Rose and Howard advanced, cracking their overlarge knuckles. Scorpio was as white as sheet. Albus almost felt bad for him. Almost.
"Why would I do that? She is a pain and a disgrace to wizards!"
Albus glared and Malfoy faltered. "I am your double! I am way more powerful than you! I can kill you with a blink of my eye. Or I can just let Crabbe and Goyle finish you off!" Albus saw Malfoy swallow twice as he took in the sheer size of Crabbe and Goyle, and Albus' wand, pointed right at his face. Albus was right. Malfoy was a coward. His life was way too important.
"Fine! I'll lift the curse! But it's better if she never talks again!" Albus snorted and Malfoy took a step back.
"You can lower your wand now!"
"How can I trust a prat like you won't go against your word! You're a Slytherin after all. No, you'll lift the curse now!"
"But I need Dana and she is clearly not here!" At that moment Dana appeared from under the Invisibility Cloak, which James had finally lent them. To Malfoy it looked like Dana was appearing out of thin air. To help matters, Albus had twirled his wand, making it look like he had summoned Dana. Malfoy's eye were wide with fear. He shakily lifted his wand a muttered the counter curse, then before anyone could do or say anything, Malfoy turned tail and ran, screaming bloody murder. Albus, Howard, Rose and Dana all ran, Dana screaming with delight all the way back to the toilets. Finally, panting and back to their normal selves, they all collapsed on the floor, recounting their story, Dana talking the most out of anyone. Albus couldn't help noticing that she had a beautiful, musical quality to her voice.

Harry stared at Ginny blankly. He knew that Hermione had known and so, apparently, did Ron. He couldn't believe noboody had told him.
"How long?" he whispered
"Only four months"
"Only! ONLY! GINNY WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING COMING WITH US LIKE THIS!"
"Here he goes!" he heard Ron mutter. Harry didn't care.
"YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED! WHAT ABOUT WHEN THE HOUSE BLEW UP? AND YOU!" he turned on Hermione "LETTING HER COME, WHEN YOU KNEW!"
"Hey!" said Ron sharply "Back off Hermione! I knew too! And do you really think that we didn't try to persuade her not to come! She is as stubborn as you mate!" Harry glared at them all and then collapsed into a chair.
"It's very touching that your so concerned about me, but I'm fine. And I'm not going home" she added sharply.
"Harry, it's not like the muggle world. There are spells that keep babies alive, and Ginny has been drinking a potion that keeps the baby safe. Don't worry!" Harry let it go, however he never let Ginny out of his sight after that. He made sure she always drank her potion and that she was never on her feet for too long. Meanwhile, Hermione had finally agreed to pay a visit to Malfoy Manor, after they had gone to Albania and scoured the whole forest for Voldemort's body, to no avail. They were preparing to go on Wednesday. They had sent Narcissa a letter. Whether she replied or not, they were still going. Harry hadn't wanted Ginny to come but she was insistent. So in the end all four were going. Harry didn't think that was such a good idea, but no one wanted to stay behind. They spent the rest of the week planning even though Harry knew their plan would go awry anyway. Better to keep Hermione happy. The plan was for Ginny and Hermione to distract Narcissa and Ron to distract Lucius, while Harry searched the house under a disillusionment charm.
"What if Draco's home?" asked Hermione again
"He won't be. He is out searching for Voldemort's body too" said Harry
"Just say he's home for vacation then?" growled Hermione
"Ron can distract him and Lucius, can't you Ron?"
"Wha'? Oh yeah of course" Ron reddened at the sight of Hermione's glare.
"I-I mean I'll try." Harry grinned.
"Ok well I guess we will just have to wait for Wednesday to come now!" Hermione humped. Harry sat in thought for a while when he suddenly remembered something.
"Kreacher!" he called. Hermione looked startled. A loud crack issued and a very old house elf appeared.
"Bloody hell Harry! Warn us next time!" Ron said, his freckles standing out starkly against his white face.
"Master called Kreacher? Kreacher wonders what master wants. Kreacher was busy cleaning the house while master was gone and looking after Miss Lily."
"Sorry Kreacher, I just have a job for you. Could you tail Malfoy for me?" Harry ignored Hermione's choked annoyance.
"Certainly master. If the Malfoy boy is up to anything Kreacher will tell master. If the Malfoy is up to any ark arts Kreacher will report it to master straight away."
"Good!" said Harry pleased. It was amazing the total change Kreacher had had. He seemed to really dislike Malfoy now. But just to be on the safe side... "And Kreacher, don't warn Malfoy of you're presence, don't try to speak to him, don't tell anyone else what you are doing and report back at the end of the week, ok? Thanks." For a moment, Harry thought he saw a bitterness in Kreacher's eyes but then it was gone and Kreacher was bowing and then he disappeared with a crack.
"Harry! How could you make Kreacher do that? Can't you see how old he is now? He won't last the week! Why don't you just set him free?"
"Because, Hermione, Kreacher doesn't want to be free. And if we set him free, he will go back to the Malfoy's and tell them everything" snapped Ginny. Then she got up and went to bed.
"I'll take first watch!" said Ron, trying to break the awkward silence. All he got was a glare from Hermione.
"Harry... I'm not sure we are doing the right thing here." But Harry wasn't listening. He couldn't help notice Kreacher's odd expression after Harry gave him his instructions. Something was up. But how could there be? Could a house elf go against their master?