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"The moment MacDougal joined Potter and their little group of outcasts was the moment her social life died." Countered dismissively Neville. "And the MacDougal influence is limited to Ireland. At Hogwarts and London, they only play minor and unimportant roles in politics. No, we have very little to fear. We have just to hope the Exiled don't beat up Parvati too badly."
"Yeah," Snorted Ron Weasley. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"Let me repeat all over again, because I don't think I can measure properly the levels of intelligence in this plan. Longbottom and his minions thought I was the Heir of Slytherin?"
"You were one of their main suspects, yes." Said numbly Parvati Patil. The moments since she had being reanimated from Alexandra Body-Bind Curse in an abandoned classroom had obviously been a shock to her. Having her hands tied behind her back and three students, two Ravenclaw and one Gryffindor, soon joined by a very irate Hermione granger, had decreased her courage to the point of non-existence.
"And what sort of facts convinced them of this? Did a genealogical search of my family revealed a past marriage with a Slytherin descendant? Did they have proof I was present at one of the attack scenes? Am I gifted with Parseltongue? Or has the Boy-Who-Lived made a careful investigation and discovered I had never a proper alibi?"
"Errr...no."
"Great." Alexandra did not bother hiding the sarcasm in her attitude and her voice. "May I know the reason why I was singled out then?"
"You fought them to protect Slytherins. And your father was a Death Eater."
"That's their reason?" Parvati nodded vigorously. "Fighting to defend someone being bullied is proof your are a witch with morals and an ethic. Of course, it's something most of the Lions lack in their everyday's life."
"You dare..." Silent and stony glares from Morag, Hermione, Nigel and Alexandra stopped the rest of the sentence.
"As for the subject of Death Eater relatives, I'm afraid I'm not the only one at Hogwarts. Because of the Ministry having accepted these ridiculous 'Imperius' pleads, a quarter of Slytherin House is testing positive to this trait. That we know about."
"There must be about a dozen Ravenclaw too." Added Morag. "Mostly older years."
The face of the Indian girl twitched slightly at that titbit of information. Like she had not been aware her twin sister was in the second-darkest House of Hogwarts.
"They did the same thing with the Slytherin, didn't they? Taking someone appearance and asking them several questions?"
Parvati hesitated briefly, before answering positively a muffled 'yes'.
"You have to admit, it could have worked..." Remarked Nigel.
"No." Answered Alexandra. "Not unless you know the person you impersonate very well, have amazing theatrical skills and your target has an ego bigger than the fortress of Minas Tirith."
"That's the problems which go with Polyjuice Potion." Said Hermione in her teaching tone. "It only copies the appearance of the genetic material you put into the Potion. There are no transfer of memories, no copy of mannerisms."
"Interesting."
"That and it's a very carefully controlled recipe." Noted Morag. "The Ministry had imposed very stringent regulations on its brewing, the potential for misuse of Polyjuice is too great for inheritance questions and usurpation of identity. You need Potions Master level for sure and the payment of a tax on the special ingredients needed. The text of instructions will not be found in the Common Library, maybe in the Restricted Section."
"And the sentence once caught brewing and using it illegally?"
Alexandra had a good idea but it was best to put a bit more pressure on Parvati.
"Brewing Polyjuice without Ministry authorisation is a one-way ticket for Azkaban." Unsurprisingly, it was Hermione who had answered. Seeing four heads turn in her direction, the brown-haired witch spoke defensively. "What? Professor Snape spoke of it in a class in December!"
"It must have been only the Gryffindor-Slytherin group, because I sure as Hell don't remember Professor Snape talking about this. And I don't sleep in Potions." Alexandra shrugged. "And using illegal Polyjuice?"
"Anything between heavy fine and a small prison detainment."
"You intent to sent me to jail?" The shriek of Parvati was enough to pierce the eardrums of the boy and the three girls forced to listen it.
"I could argue that if you had respected the law you wouldn't be in danger of making a quick trip to prison, but that would be a tad hypocritical for my taste." Alexandra frowned. "Besides, I doubt you would go to prison one single day or be physically incarcerated in the best of cases. Dumbledore has a soft spot for you the Gryffindors, and I think one of you being caught breaking the rules by me would be enough for an instantaneous dismissal of the charges."
"Professor Dumbledore is just and fair!" The bark had been almost automatic, but Parvati flushed one second after, realising how...submissive this answer could be taken. Plus the group of four was looking at her with pity at the naivety this affirmation implied.
Alexandra sent an ironic look to the fashion-girl before her, before her visage turning deadly serious.
"I am going to forget your pathetic attempt at spying, Parvati, but on the condition you will owe me one favour, to be paid to one of us at a later date."
"And if I refuse?" The brown skin of the Indian twelve-year old was transpiring with anxiety.
"Morag's family has quite a few shares in the Irish newspaper the Dancing Farfadet. I think we could arrange a few articles witnessing such a blatant rule-breaking, don't we Morag?"
"Sure, Alex. One of my mother's friends is their lead journalist-investigator."
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