"Gross and sickening?" Goyle-Harry ventured slipping his glasses into his pocket. "Come on guys. Let's not waste any time."
Venturing down into the dungeons Goyle-Harry led his friends into the section of corridor housing the Slytherin dormitory. He couldn't help a slight nod of approval as they let themselves in. The people might leave something to be desired for the most part but the rooms themselves seemed nice enough. They tapestries were nice and the sunken pit in the middle gave it a bit more character than the Gryffindor Common Room. The trio plopped down on a couch near Malfoy with Goyle-Harry grunting at him.
"Ah there you three are!" Malfoy said rolling his eyes at Goyle-Harry and Crabbe-Neville. "You sure took your time getting back. Pansy, why are you sitting way over there?"
"Uh, I um…" Pansy-Hermione stuttered. She shot a quick glance and Goyle-Harry before shifting closer to Malfoy. Goyle-Harry barely managed to stop his snarl as Malfoy draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her into his side. Pansy-Hermione stiffened but gave no other sign of discomfort.
Sitting at one of the desks against the opposite wall, Daphne narrowed her eyes at the newcomers and nudged Tracey. Her friend didn't look up from her paperwork or her little book until Daphne elbowed her again and subtly nodded towards the couches.
"So, where were you?" Malfoy asked not even bothering to look at his bodyguards.
"We heard something new about Potter being the Heir of Slytherin," Crabbe-Neville said.
"I can't believe people actually believe that tripe," Malfoy snorted. "I mean really, that idiot as the Heir of a Founder?"
Pansy-Hermione's lips curled up in a snarl but Malfoy didn't notice before she schooled her features again. Daphne and Tracey however raised their eyebrows at the girl. Goyle-Harry leaned forward and stared at Malfoy. "You really don't know anything about who it actually is? You aren't holding out on us are you?"
"My father had mentioned something about it ages ago but he's never elaborated. I wish I could find out who is doing this though. Then I could send them after the best targets!" Malfoy's face seemed to light up as the trio of infiltrators' darkened. "I mean really, Creevy was annoying and all but they could've gone after Potter's posse with Granger first. Or those foreigners the Patil twins. Or even the Li girl. She may be pretty but she's never going to be worth anything beyond a mistress."
Pansy-Hermione's eyes had been squeezed closed and both Goyle-Harry and Crabbe-Neville's hands were clenched so tight, their knuckles were white. "Still, Draco, you've got to have heard whispers," Pansy-Hermione let out, her voice strained.
"I've told you time and again I don't know," Malfoy laughed and stood to stretch before shaking his head at the girl. "Honestly Pansy you're supposed to be smarter than these two. I'm going to turn in. See you three in the morning."
The trio looked at each other. Goyle-Harry checked his watch and then nodded towards the door. All three calmly got up, made an excuse about going to check on something with Snape and stalked out of the Dungeons. They turned into an unused classroom a few corridors down and waited a minute for the polyjuice to wear off. Once the transformation was finished all three pulled off their Slytherin uniforms and swapped back into the Gryffindor ones.
"I never want to do that again," Neville said shuddering. "I wanted to floor him so bad!"
"You and me both, Nev," Harry muttered darkly.
"At least now we know for sure that Malfoy is just a blustering fool," Hermione said though her frown spoke of badly she wanted to use far stronger language.
"Come on guys." Harry moved to the door but as he opened it he was greeted by two smiling faces.
"Hello, gentlemen. Lady," Daphne said as she swept past Harry followed by Tracey. Tracey casually pushed the door closed and leaned against it while Daphne looked at the Gryffindors.
"Greengrass," Neville said nodding to her warily.
"Mind if I put a few privacy spells up?" The Gryffindors turned to one another at this question before Harry hesitantly nodded his okay. Daphne's smile widened before flicking her wand and throwing up several different silencing and anti-listening spells.
"Where did you learn those?" Hermione asked, her curiosity winning out.
"It's standard for my family to be taught disarming, stunning and anti-eavesdropping spells before we attend school. Better to be safe than sorry after all," Daphne said with a shrug. "Now to business."
"Business?" Harry asked as he stepped in front of the Hermione and Neville.
"Yes. Business. Well, I suppose that might be too strong a word as I don't really expect money to change hands. It's not like we're blackmailing you or anything."
"Blackmail?" Harry's eyebrows rose.
"Well you did just illegally obtain or brew polyjuice potion and use it to infiltrate a rival dorm after all. I could blackmail you if I wanted to." Harry started to reach for his wand before Daphne waved him away and Tracey quietly laughed. "I said I'm not going to do that. Really, Potter, listen better. Actually I'm rather impressed. I wouldn't have thought any of you had it in you. Almost downright Slytherin of you actually!"
Harry snorted at the irony inherent in that statement but relaxed. These girls weren't part of Malfoy's group, they had already spoken with them a few times throughout the year after the library comment about Lockhart…and Tracey was not looking very well anyway. She hid it well with makeup and laughs but he'd seen the signs of lack of sleep in the mirror enough to recognize how exhausted the girl was.
"So you three were looking for information on whoever is performing these attacks?" Daphne asked.
Harry nodded wondering idly when the two had become the spokesmen for either side in this…arrangement? "Yeah. We had kinda hoped it would end up being Malfoy but didn't really expect it. He's too arrogant to not be boasting about it."
"Agreed." Daphne sighed. "I don't suppose there are any candidates in Gryffindor?"
"Not that we've noticed." Harry shook his head. "I'd almost be tempted to say Ron Weasley, but since no Slytherins have been hit…"
"Yes, we really would be his first target wouldn't we. Well do you have any contacts in Hufflepuff?"
"Yes, actually, I do. They haven't heard anything and most of them are pretty well convinced it's me."
"Yes, well I never really expected it from the Puffs anyway. They aren't exactly known for their deviousness. I don't have anyone in Ravenclaw yet myself, and I doubt you do either."
"No," Harry shook his head. "But I don't think it's them."
"Neither do I," Daphne shrugged. "I don't suppose you think any of the staff could be at fault?"
"I'd believe Snape personally but I'm not exactly unbiased there." Harry's face darkened thinking of the hateful man.
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