People Watching.

Chapter Twelve.

"Come on, (Y/n), we'll explain things when we get there. For now, we're going to the library," Harry said, linking his arm with hers.

"Okay?" (Y/n) agreed.

"I don't believe it," Harry said as they looked at the signature on a note. "He didn't even look at the book we wanted."

"That's because he's a brainless git," said Ron. "But who cares, we've got what we needed—"

"He is not a brainless git," said Hermione shrilly as they half-ran toward the library.

"Just because he said you were the best student of the year—"
They dropped their voices as they entered the muffled stillness of the library. Madam Pince, the librarian, was a thin, irritable woman who looked like an underfed vulture.

"Moste Potente Potions?" she repeated suspiciously, trying to take the note from Hermione; but Hermione wouldn't let it go.

"I was wondering if I could keep it," she said breathlessly.

"Oh, come on," said Ron, wrenching it from her grasp and thrusting it at Madam Pince. "We'll get you another autograph. Lockhart'll sign anything if it stands still long enough."
Madam Pince held the note up to the light as though determined to detect a forgery, but it passed the test. She stalked away between the lofty shelves and returned several minutes later carrying a large and mouldy-looking book. Hermione put it carefully into her bag and they left, trying not to walk too quickly or look too guilty.

"Now will someone tell me what's going on?" (Y/n) asked.

"We're making a Polyjuice Potion," Hermione whispered as quietly as possible.

"Pol—" Harry's hand flew over her mouth.

"SHH!" they all hissed. (Y/n) held her hands up in mock surrender.

"Polyjuice Potion?" (Y/n) whispered. "I'm in. Who are we morphing into?"

"No one yet," Hermione mumbled. "We've gotta find what we need first."
Five minutes later, they were barricaded in Moaning Myrtle's out-of-order bathroom once again. Hermione had overridden Ron's objections by pointing out that it was the last place anyone in their right minds would go, so they were guaranteed some privacy. Moaning Myrtle was crying noisily in her stall, but they were ignoring her, and she them.
Hermione opened Moste Potente Potions carefully, and the four of them bent over the damp-spotted pages. It was clear from a glance why it belonged in the Restricted Section. Some of the potions had effects almost too gruesome to think about, and there were some very unpleasant illustrations, which included a man who seemed to have been turned inside out and a witch sprouting several extra pairs of arms out of her head.
"Here it is," said Hermione excitedly as she found the page headed The Polyjuice Potion. It was decorated with drawings of people halfway through transforming into other people. Harry sincerely hope that the arts had imagined the looks of intense pain on their faces.
"This is the most complicated potion I've ever seen," said Hermione as they scanned the recipe, "Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, and knotgrass," she murmured, reading the list out for (Y/n) to write. "Well, they're easy enough, they're in the student store-cupboard, we can help ourselves... Ooh, look, powdered horn of bicorn— don't know where we're going to get that— shredded skin of boomslang— that'll be tricky, too— and of course a bit of whoever we want to change into."

"I have two of those ingredients," (Y/n) informed. Hermione looked at her, not hiding her suspiciousness. "Yvette sends me random potions ingredients by the weekly. It's crazy how many things I've gotten. I don't think she realizes what she's sending, but I most certainly am not going to be the one to tell her if it's getting me things students aren't allowed to have."