We huddled in the dimly lit girls' bathroom, the air thick with tension and anticipation. The faded tiles on the floor and cracked mirrors reflected our anxious faces as we prepared for our daring escapade. The low hum of the enchanted lights overhead was the only sound breaking the silence.
Justin, his expression focused and serious, was adding the final touches to his own disguise. "How did you handle both of the Ravenclaw girls?" he asked, casting a sidelong glance at Hannah as she prepped her potion.
Hannah flashed a mischievous smile, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "No need to worry about that," she said confidently. "We got it all handled." She looked at me, and we exchanged a high five, our palms slapping together with a satisfying smack.
"What about Davis and the other guy?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued as I fiddled with my potion bottle.
Justin's grin widened. "Justin here made a sleeping potion," he said, gesturing to himself with a smirk. "I managed to slip it into their drinks earlier, and BAM—they're passed out, locked in a closet." He chuckled, clearly pleased with his handiwork. "I feel a bit bad for them, honestly. We locked the two girls in a closet too."
I shot a look at Hannah, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Oh, shut up. You'll grow out of it," she said dismissively, crossing the room to where Justin stood.
Justin handed out the vials of potion, his expression turning serious. "It's all ready now. It may taste disgusting, but before you drink it, add the hair you have in it. It'll melt away so you can drink it." He demonstrated with his own potion, his movements precise and practiced.
With a deep breath, I took the vial and hesitated for a moment. As soon as I swallowed, my insides twisted violently, as though live snakes were writhing in my stomach. My initial concern about being sick was soon overshadowed by an intense burning sensation that spread from my stomach to the tips of my fingers and toes. My skin felt as if it were melting like hot wax. I glanced nervously at my friends, who were already in the bathroom, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
My fingers began to elongate, my hair shrank and turned a bright, unnatural blonde, and my skin paled dramatically. I could see the changes happening in the cracked mirror above the sink. I continued to grow taller, the transformation in full swing.
Hannah emerged from one of the stalls, now looking exactly like Padma Patil. Her new voice, however, was unmistakably hers. "Bloody hell," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Our voices haven't changed."
"Voices are not a component of the Polyjuice Potion," Justin—who now resembled Roger Davis—explained matter-of-factly. "You have no idea how much I want to smack your face right now."
I couldn't help but laugh at his frustration. "You have no idea how much I want to smack my face right now," he replied, frowning as he examined himself in the mirror.
"Where's Ernie?" I asked, my voice tinged with urgency as I looked around the cramped bathroom.
"Right here," Ernie said, his voice coming from a round-faced figure that looked nothing like his usual self. He was peering into the mirror, clearly dismayed. "I have a round face. I do not want a round face."
"It's not like you're going to stick with it forever," I said, rolling my eyes. "Now shut up. We're running out of time."
With a determined stride, I headed for the bathroom door, the echo of my footsteps mingling with the muffled conversations from the hallway outside. Hannah, now Padma Patil, followed closely behind, her newfound appearance adding an air of authenticity to our mission. Justin and Ernie trailed after us, their own transformations complete, albeit less convincing to their personal satisfaction.
