Hello everyone, it is at this time that I feel that I should explain something about the battle in Dumbledore's office. Some of you seem to think that he was defeated only by superior numbers. This is only partly true, you see, it did exhaust him do defeat Marietta and her minions, but he could have been up against a hundred students and with difficulty won, despite his being weakened in Eastern Europe. But it was the shape shifter impersonating him that really did him in. He was fighting basically with himself, as the shape shifter had all his powers, the twenty students were just a distraction for him to get into position, and have Dumbledore concentrate on their collective thoughts, also the shape shifters need to have Marietta think that it was going to fight as Seamus in the battle allowed Dumbledore to read her mind and decide who the enemy under the cloak was. Now the fight between Dumbledore one and two would have lasted a long time, and eventually ended in the real Dumbledore's favor, but now the students who were left became a deciding factor, as Dumbledore had to spend all his energy fighting himself, and so everyone else's jinxes worked on his weakened state. Then Marietta shot him up with the weakening serums and that was it. The title Twenty to one odds was meant to show the irony, sorry, I should have been more clear about that. But in any event, the shape shifter was the deciding factor, and without him and Marietta's belief that he was fighting as Seamus, Marietta could not have defeated Dumbledore with one hundred students. Also his being weakened from events in Eastern Europe was a deciding factor.

I think that my next chapter will be my last, if it is… I'll be turning the story over to someone else. I'll also leave a message for everyone. Take care…

Fenraellis: Thank you for your comments, but I don't think I'm going to be able to keep going much longer.

Anaon: I hope that the above post settled your concerns about the fight in the Head Masters office, my life is suffering, and I have suffered but that is going to come to an end soon. I won't make it to Kenya.

Retribution Knows None: Harry defiantly knew that something was wrong, but he suspects the imperious curse, not a copy of Dumbledore, he may figure it out, but that may not be for me to write.

T-person: Thanks for the compliment; I'm going to miss your reviews. I'm going to read the book today. I hope that you enjoy this chapter; if you want me to read anymore reviews you better hurry and write them. I hope you keep interest in the story if it goes to someone else.

Chapter 63: Polly-juice Switch

Breakfast in the Great Hall:

Harry walked into the room flanked by Mr. Primfold of the Ministry of Magic, and Mr. Filch on either side. He stopped suddenly surveying the room of faces that looked up at him. There were fewer students than before; apparently a few of the children's parents had already sent for them to return, or even come to the school themselves to fetch them. He scanned the tables one by one starting with the Slytherin. There he received dirty looks from the purebloods assembled there, noting new, but he hated the satisfied look that Draco Malfoy was giving him, it felt a bad omen. Harry next turned his gaze on the Huffelpuff, and Ravenclaw tables, where Emmitt and Brian Walsh, (no relation) gave him dirty looks as the Slytherins did. The rest of the table's occupants expressions were a mixture of terrified, and disgusted. But, very disconcerting was Beverly Jones who seemed to be gripping her wand ready to thrust it at him. He glanced down further to see Luna Lovegood staring down at her plate of Ham and Eggs quite oblivious to his arrival. Finally Harry looked over to his house table of Griffendore; there several students turned their back on him. If he had any supporters no one showed it, apart from Hermione and Ron, who were waving him over. He walked over to where they sat, and a few third years quickly moved further away. Harry wasn't sure if it was to make room for Filch, and Mr. Primfold, who plopped down on either side of him, or if it was just to be far away from him. Either way, he felt distressed about the uneasy quite that fell over the great hall. Some students were even getting up to go to class early just to avoid being in the same room with him. Harry looked down at his plate as Ham and eggs appeared magically, but he wasn't that hungry. He looked up at Ron and Hermione.

So, I guess you two got here early?" Harry asked casually. They both nodded. "Anyone believe my side of things?" Harry asked.

"Most of the DA members. I guess you have the Quidditch team to support you. Some students here and there, but you don't really have anymore enemies than you had before… it's just that people are scared of you… its silly, but there it is.

"What's the DA?" Mr. Primfold asked curiously from Harry's right side. Filch turned to Mr. Primfold and scoffed from Harry's left.

"Potter has a long history of illegal activity at this school. This latest thing isn't the only nasty deed he's been accused of. He used to have an illegal Dark Arts class full of mischievous students who defied the Ministries teachings. Who known's what dark magic they were conjuring up in there, and who knows if Potter was raising an army of Wizards and Witches to take over the Ministry." Filch said accusingly. Mr. Primfold nodded.

"Ah yes I remember reading something about that, Dumbledore's Army wasn't it? But didn't the Head Master run that though?" Mr. Primfold asked curiously.

"Excuse me; can we have a private conversation please?" Ron shouted in an offended tone. Filch leaned toward him.

"Mr. Potter's private conversations are a thing of the past for now. We have to think of the safety of the other students, who he may hurt if left alone with them. You know what a bad reputation he has." Filch said. Ron clenched his fork tightly, and gave Filch a loathing look.

"You're the one with the bad reputation… squib!" he said through gritted teeth. Mr. Filch gave returned the loathing look.

"Better watch your mouth boy, or you'll be lashed within an inch of your worthless life. I may be a… but I'm a pureblood thru and thru, and unlike you not a blood traitor." Mr. Primfold glanced from Ron to Filch with a disapproving glance.

"Now look you two… I'll have you know that I have family members that are squibs, and friends who associate with Muggle-borne, and there is nothing wrong with either, furthermore I…" Mr. Primfold started in, but was cut off by Ron and Filch blaring at him.

"No one asked you!" They shouted in unison.

Suddenly there was the sound of metal hitting the ground, and everyone looked to the direction that it had come from. Harry gave a sheepish grin.

"Opps dropped my fork, Hermione will you help me find it Harry said putting his head under the table. Hermione followed suit, and saw Harry handing her the note that he had written the night before to Cho Chang. She took it and put it in her pocket a moment before Filch stuck his nosy face under the table as well.

"What are you two doing under there?" Filch asked suspiciously.

"Looking for my fork." Harry gave an innocent expression, and turned to stare at the ground. "Ah, here it is." He exclaimed picking it up, and rising from the table. Filch did not let up his untrusting glair at Harry.

For the remainder of the meal and every meal after that, no one said a word. Over the next few weeks students in Harry's classes seemed to have trouble concentrating on the assignments that they were given for constantly glancing back at Harry with uncertainly, disgust, and sometimes even genuine fear. There were still supporters that wished him well from time to time, mostly from the DA, but in the end Harry's list of friends was rapidly decreasing. Over the next month and a half it was the same, and Harry didn't talk to people much, but became largely withdrawn. At least his solitude allowed him to catch up on his studies, and at least Hermione and Ron were allowed to visit him for two hours each day, but he missed a trip to Hogsmead in the meantime. In addition to working on his studies, Harry spent a considerable Amount of time thinking on his last meeting with Dumbledore. What had happened? Something didn't seem right. His eyes were so black that they looked hollow. He had kept calling me Mr. Potter, and used the name of a treat that he didn't like for the password. In addition, he has become distant. Is he under the imperious curse, or… something else? Something is wrong, and I wonder if I should refer my questions to Professor McGonagall from now on.

The Head Masters office:

Marietta stood behind a set of curtains as the fraudulent Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall argued over Harry Potter and Dumbledore's refusal to have Order meetings anywhere but the Great Hall. Marietta's Dumbledore was doing a good job of fooling the staff so far, no one could suspect what he was, because after all he was Dumbledore in every genetic way possible. But there was a tradeoff to his perfect copy ability as well. He could not leave the Castle, and Dumbledore was more powerful when he was not given the injection by her twice a day and the injection had the terrible side effect of dilating his eyes, which caused him to have to where sunglasses to keep his eyes from being damage, and hurting. This might have been something that he could wave off as a spell gone wrong, but it still left his fellow masters annoyingly wanting to help, and recommending he go to Madam Pomfree and let her fix him up. He finally convinced a few of them that he was working on a new defensive spell that caused the side effects, but that it took a time for the effects to where off. That shut most of them up, but Professor McGonagall had special matters to discuss, and Marietta felt that she was becoming more suspicious.

"I'm telling Albus, you need to take more of an active role in Easter Europe again, the Aurors from their Ministry are having a bloody mess of a time against You-Know-Who. I know that you said that you needed to spend more time with Harry, but you could walk down to Hogsmead and apperate every weekend, just to catch up to speed with the Hungarian Minister, and his staff. And the least you can do is go talk to the leader of the Centaurs! Professor Hagrid is having so much trouble with them; it's become dangerous for him to enter the forest. And what about the Order, you haven't had a meeting in Grimald Place for some time; you keep having me bring members here to report to you, now you know how that could endanger them." Professor McGonagall lectured him. "Albus, what is going on with you? You can tell me if there is something wrong?" Professor Dumbledore sighed, and had a weary look on his face.

"I'm tired Minerva, tired of the war, and I'm old. I need to rest. I'm just trying to pass on some of the responsibility, so I can rest. I'm weak from my battle with the Death Eaters… when I fought Bellatrix Lestrange. I promise that I will take care of the Order concerns and Hagrid's as well. Please just a little more time." Dumbledore pleaded. Professor McGonagall nodded finally.

"Very well Albus, but I can tell something more than that is wrong. We'll discuss this later." She said, and turned to go, still upset. When she was sure that Professor McGonagall was well away Marietta pushed aside the curtains and walked up to the false Dumbledore.

"That was too bloody close! You're slipping too much, she almost saw right through you! We cannot afford to lose everything we have gained because you cannot properly impersonate one old blood traitor!" Marietta shouted hotly. "You said that you could read his thoughts, and tell the others things only that were discussed between Dumbledore and themselves, but you seem to be reaching for memories, what has happened?" Marietta asked through gritted teeth. Her lover spun around giving her a blistering stare that caused her to jump back.

"I can reach into his memories, and I can imitate him correctly, but it's more difficult than I had anticipated it would be. The serum that you give him to weaken his powers also affects me, and it makes it more difficult to sort through his mind without great difficulty, in addition to his own attempts to keep me out. We need a way to restrain him without having to inject the potion. In addition, she would naturally be suspicious that I don't seem to be going very far from the castle, and cannot attend these meetings of this stupid order." He said resentfully. Marietta stared at the floor disappointed with herself.

"I… I can't keep him contained unless I give him the potion; it also keeps him from summoning help. I've not had enough time to train to do that, but the Professor will take care of that when he arrives." She said more calmly. The false Dumbledore scoffed.

"Ha! The Professor. Now when is he supposed to arrive? We've been here more or less on our own for over a month and a half since we've captured him… and the Masters are becoming suspicious. If he doesn't arrive soon… we're going to be found out. When are we going to kill Potter so I can take over some else?" the shape shifter asked. Marietta pulled a cigarette out of her purse and lit it. She took a drag off of it, and exhaled. She then took a long look at the smoldering end, as if it were a disgusting thing.

"I've got to stop this smoking these. I used to be able to run three times around the length of the castle before tiring, now I'm knackered after just one and a half." Marietta said regretfully.

"I asked you a question!" Her lover shouted.

"I know you did love, and I don't know, I think that it will be around the time that the Ministry officials take him away to London. The later part of Christmas break. Think you can wait that long?" she finished. He sat back down in his chair.

"I suppose so. When do you want to send your friend the letter from him?" He asked. Marietta reflected at the same time.

"Before then, in time for her to come back here. You can write her a letter of acceptance to the school, and then she could tell everyone what our friend under the floor of Uncle Filches office said to her about Potter before Potter leaves." Marietta smiled. Dumbledore still had a grim look on his face.

"You sure that she'll come back for him?" Dumbledore asked.

"He'll have to. You know she loves him still. She'll be here, and when we turn her against Potter then no one will support him. When the parents demand Dumbledore force Potter out of close the school then you my dear, will have no choice but to send him away. But first we have some minor details to attend to, and right before Potter leaves we have some other business to attend to, and a teaching position to open up. Which means that I have to take my invisibility cloak to the green houses one more time. Oh! You have to make another appearance as Mr. Finnegan, and you did write that request to his family to stay in Hogwarts didn't you?" Marietta asked. Dumbledore nodded.

"Not only that, but I have received permission for it. I wrote as Dumbledore assuring them that it was perfectly safe, and writing that he was going to take extra lessons with me that would allow him to become head boy next year. They were elated, despite the fact that they would miss him over the summer. Of coerce I had to tell them to be quite hush-hush about it, not wanting to show favoritism and ruin his chances. "He finished. Marietta beamed.

"Wonderful! You've done well. But you'll have to write him a note, excusing his constant absences, but in the end it won't matter. Tell me, how is dear Seamus feeling these days?" Marietta said happily, her mood having changed completely. Dumbledore frowned.

"Not to well, he's pale, depressed, and thin despite having gone through most of the food already. He's also going a bit mental. When I become him, it takes great effort not to break down and cry. I don't think he'll last longer than a month without coming out of the cell; it's mostly the solitude you see. I should mention that he now has one desire in life, to kill you… slowly." He finished. A chill ran down Marietta's spine, but she recovered after a minute.

"Well… he's going to be disappointed. After we get rid of Potter it won't matter… and he can rot in that cell. But until Potter leaves, Mr. Finnegan will have to make enough appearances to stop people asking too many questions, so I want to see him tonight at the great Hall, and try not to break down into tears." Marietta finished. Seamus nodded with a slight grin.

Harry stood at the foot of his bed, and waited for Ron, hoping that he would agree to his plan, and hoping that his parents would agree to let Ron stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas Holidays. Will he agree? This is the biggest favor that I've ever asked of someone. It could be dangerous, but I have to know, I have to go see her, and it's the only way. I hope that he was able to get the ingreadances, and that Snape won't notice any of it missing until he gets back from Christmas Holliday. What will Ron think… will he say yes, will he even understand. Hermione had handed me the information yesterday. She's in London. I hadn't expected that… must be a nurse, or a Doctor or something. Why would she do that, go to live amongst those people? She's supposed to be here, that world has nothing for her. But I've got to see her… got to talk to her. But will she believe me or the papers? I don't know. Somewhere in his reflections Ron came into the room unnoticed, not having to knock anymore as he used to.

"Oy, Harry what's up." Ron said, as he pulled two small green bottles from under his robes each marked with their perspective names on them. Harry waved Ron over to his bed, and he took a seat next to him.

"Hello Ron, how are you?" Harry asked.

"Confused Harry, Hermione asked me to bring these bottles to you." He pulled open the top of one and had a whiff. "Smells like Polly-juice potion." Ron said confused. Harry nodded.

"It's is Polly-Juice Potion. I need you to help me Ron, I need to leave school for personal reasons, and since your dad agreed to let you stay here over the summer, well I needed to ask you a big favor." Harry said hesitantly. Ron's eyebrow rose.

"Leave school, where are you going, are you going to try to run off and hide, like Sirius did?" He asked. Harry was hesitant to tell him, but if he was going to ask him to do this than he had to be very honest with him about what he was going to attempt.

"No, before you and Hermione left for that last Hogsmead trip I asked her to make a phone call at the phone offices in Hogsmead to her parents. I needed to know where in Motherwell Cho Chang lived, or what Hospital her mum was at, and we thought that after that we could ask Dobby to act as a messenger back and fourth because it' now quicker than the mail. Anyway, he popped in today, and told me that Hermione had some news for me from her parents, and that I should talk with her as soon as possible. Ron… I want to… I need to meet Cho Chang. I have to talk to her about everything in the papers. I have to talk about what they are saying about me, and let her know that it's not true. I want to also convince her to come back to school. But mostly I just have to see her again. So… I need to ask you this favor to help me. I need you to impersonate me for a short time. Which means that you'll be stuck here, but I recon since Hermione and you are now on good terms, and since she's staying here this Christmas that you two can use the room to snog, and… more." Harry said hesitantly. Ron had a slight smile at the thought of two hours in a room alone with Hermione.

"Wow… that sounds… very good, but why don't you just get Dumbledore to help you with going to London? I mean, he could really work something up for you, and pull some more strings with the Ministry…" Ron added but Harry cut him off.

"I can't trust him." Harry said gloomily. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on Harry, you can't hold what happened to Sirius and you being kept in the dark for the summer against him forever, he…" Ron went on but Harry cut in again.

"It's not that, but he's been acting strange and I don't know what to make of it. I really think that he may under the imperious curse. His eyes are dilated; they look like sharks eyes, that is why he's been wearing those sunglasses, that Hermione told me about when he's in the Great Hall. Also… when I spoke to him the last couple of times… something wasn't right. It's like I was talking to a stranger. I can't explain it." Harry said in a most serious tone. Ron shook his head.

"Come off it mate, Dumbledore's the most powerful wizard in the world. No way Voldermort could put him under the curse. He's invincible." He said assuredly. This time it was Harry's turn to shake his head.

"I wish I could believe that Ron, but I know something was wrong from our last meeting. I think Voldermort himself may be influencing him. But never mind that for now. I need to know if you will help me? I know it's a lot to ask but it would only be for a day or two, certainly no more than three. I know it's a lot to ask but I'll owe you big. And I don't mean to press, but I have to know by tomorrow. Please Ron, I have to see her again. I don't know what's going to happen after Christmas break." Harry pleaded. Ron was silent for several minutes; he seemed to ponder what Harry was asking, the benefits, and the consequences. Finally he decided. He looked at Harry in a serious tone.

"Do they ever interrupt you without knocking?" He asked. Harry shook his head. Ron looked around the room. "And are the walls quite soundproof?" He continued.

"As far as I know" Harry replied. Ron gave a great sigh. Well I know Hermione would never approve but…" Ron started, but was cut off.

"She already has, she seemed to understand. I would have thought that it would have been harder to convince her, but I didn't. I asked her first because I need her to make the Polly-juice potion. She said it was one of the most romantic things she'd ever hear of." Harry finished.

"Well I guess I'm in too Harry." He said shaking Harry's hand. "When do you want to do it?"

"Tomorrow, if you don't mind." Harry said. Ron nodded. Harry gave him a tight hug, a tear streaming from his eye. When they pulled apart, Ron looked at Harry quizzically.

"You know, I've never understood the relation between you two. You both seemed to be at each others throats all year, and I never did find out what was up with Cho in the potions lab, or finding her earring in the bewitched room, or weather it was her under the invisibility cloak. Did you ever get your answers, to weather it what she was doing?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head.

"No, but I don't need them… I just trust her, and I suppose she will tell me in time. I'm just going to trust her for once. And… it wasn't like we were at each others throats; it's more like I was at her throat all year, but… I need her now. I need her to believe in me." Harry said. Ron nodded.

"OK Harry, so tomorrow it Is. Thanks for the room, and do you think I should bring flowers and candles for after you leave? You know, make it more romantic?" Ron asked. Harry nodded.

"Oh, yes I think that she would like that." Harry replied. Ron nodded.

The Next Day:

Hermione poured two goblets full of the mixture, and gave one to Harry and one to Ron. After a short time Ron and Harry had switched forms, now looking like each other. Ron who now looked like Harry gave Harry who now looked like Ron a key. He looked down at it.

"What's this?" Harry asked.

"It's the key to the Griffendore changing room at the Quidditch pitch. Your firebolt is there in the broom closet, fastest way to England. Harry nodded his thanks, and Hermione said that she would accompany him out since he now looked like Ron, Mr. Primfold would expect the two to leave together, and she said that she would accompany Harry down to the Pitch. They made their way down several corridors, and to the pitch before Harry left Hermione had him wait so that she could give him some advice. She handed him one of the green Polly-juice bottles, it had only a small amount in it.

"Now listen Harry, you've only had enough potion to keep you looking like Ron for about an hour, and then it wears off. I thought that you showing up as Ron might confuse her. Also there is enough of it to take when you get back to the castle so that you can switch places again. I guess since you'll be going to a Muggle hospital in England that no one will be looking for you, but try not to make yourself too visible." Hermione said helpfully.

"Thanks, so it's defiantly England, and not Scotland?" He asked curiously. Hermione nodded.

She handed him some parchment. "Take this paper, and look at it now, it's got the address of the Hospital that Cho's mum is staying at, and evidently where Cho works at. It's called Wellington Hospital, in London. My parents found out for me, and told Dobby. They weren't able to find out where Cho lived because there were several Changs in London, and mum didn't have the time to look through all of them, and she was just lucky to find the one Chang in Wellington Hospital, right before she was about to give up on searching. She went through a lot of trouble for this Harry so make it count." Hermione said in a serious tone. Harry nodded.

"Thank you Hermione, thanks for everything. How your mum… did how was she able to search for…" Harry began.

"She's got connections Harry, you just concentrate on getting Cho back, you see, I'm only guessing that Cho works there. I think it's a good bet if her mum is sick there. Luna told me that she was desperate to see her." Hermione finished. Harry's face expressed surprise.

"Cho… works… for Muggles?" He asked.

"I guess so Harry, my family found a Chang working there, well they found out that a Chang worked there, but didn't have the information on what she did by the time Dobby reported to me. But I guess she does work there." Hermione said.

"Harry thought of what Cho might be doing at the Hospital? What could a magic user do at a Muggle hospital? Is she using cheering charms to make people better, or even doing surgery, has Cho become a… a doctor? Should I ask for Dr. Cho Chang, or just simply Head Nurse Cho Chang? What could she possibly be doing working for Muggles? Harry wondered.

After he spent several minutes going over the map with Hermione, and deciding on the time and distance that it would take him to get there, Hermione reached into her purse, pulled out two hundred and fifty pounds, and handed it to Harry. She looked up at him.

"Never thought I'd need this, carried it since my first year, mum and dad wanted me to have it just in case, never got used to Wizarding money. You'll need to have a place to stay when you go to London, and you can rent a room for a couple of days, get something to eat, and even get bus fare, or if you need to take the tubes." Hermione said. Harry started to protest, but Hermione put her hand up to stop him. "Harry, this is a lone, you can pay it back some other time… so don't protest. Besides, you can't exactly waltz into Gringots can you? By the time you get to London the potion will have worn off, and you need the rest of it for when you return here." Harry nodded his head. "This is so romantic Harry, you risking yourself and flying all the way to London to go after the girl that you love. I think that it's one of the most romantic acts I've ever known." Hermione said with a tear in her eye. "I wonder if Ron would do the same for me?" She said sorrowfully. Harry gave her a hug.

"I'm sure he would Hermione, that you… thank you for everything. I've got to be off now, but I'll be back in a few days, I promise." Harry mounted his firebolt, and with a final wave shot into the sky towards London as fast as his broom would carry him. Wellington Hospital here I come! He thought, and as the icy wind blew in his face. He wished that he had brought a heavier coat.