[It is Christmas, and students going home for the holidays are transported across the frozen lake in sleighs pulled by white horses. In the Great Hall, snow falls from the enchanted ceiling as Hermione walks over to join Mia and Ron at the Gryffindor table.]

"It really is beautiful," Sirius murmured, his voice softened by a sense of nostalgia and grief. Tears glistened in his eyes as he reminisced about the Christmases he and the other Marauders had spent within the castle, cherishing the memories of their youthful mischief and camaraderie.

As the memories of Lily and James filled his heart, Sirius couldn't help but feel their absence all the more keenly in that particular moment. His longing for his lost friends weighed heavily on him, casting a bittersweet shadow over the festive atmosphere.

Aware of Sirius' somber mood, Remus, ever perceptive, reached out and placed a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder, offering silent solace in the face of their shared sorrow.

Feeling the support and understanding of his friend, Sirius placed his hand on top of Remus', the silent gesture speaking volumes of the unspoken bond and solidarity between them. In that quiet exchange of empathy, their enduring friendship resonated in the air, a profound testament to the enduring strength that bound them together through joy and sorrow alike.

Hermione: Everything's set. We just need a bit of who you're changing into.

"You're actually going to do this?" McGonagall posed the question, her tone reflecting a mix of concern and uncertainty as she grappled with the challenge at hand. The weight of the situation was evident in the lines of her brow and the furrow of her brow.

It had been a few years since the infraction, yet the magnitude of their transgression weighed heavily in her mind. The delicate balance between past actions and the agreements made not to impose punishment for those prior deeds infused the air with a sense of unease.

"It was the only way, Professor. Trust me. If there had been another way, then we would have done that," Mia explained earnestly, her voice carrying a tinge of resolve borne from necessity.

"But there wasn't. So, this was our only plan," Hermione added, her words echoing Mia's sentiment with a note of conviction.

McGonagall sighed heavily, the weariness evident in her gesture as she rubbed her temples with her fingers. The conflicting emotions of understanding and responsibility etched across her features as she grappled with the weight of the decision before her. The gravity of the situation hung in the air, casting a solemn pall over the exchange as the weighty implications of their chosen course of action settled in the space between them.

Mia: Crabbe and Goyle.

"Wait a minute!" George interjected, his voice infused with surprise and a touch of disbelief at the revelation.

"You're gonna turn into a bloke?" Fred finished for him, the twins' synchronized response carrying a mix of astonishment and humor.

The others in the room turned their gaze toward Mia, their expressions a combination of confusion and a subtle hint of disgust, as they grappled with the unexpected turn of events.

In response, Mia sighed, a weary exhalation that conveyed a mix of resignation and a flicker of frustration at the bewildered reactions around her. The weight of their unspoken judgments and misconceptions hung heavy in the air, casting a palpable tension over the room as they struggled to come to terms with the truth that had been unveiled.

Hermione: We also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy.
Ron: How?
Hermione: I've got it all worked out. [takes out two small cakes] I filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught, simple but powerful. Now, once they're asleep, hide them in the broomstick cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs, and put on their uniforms.

Seeing the cupcakes, Crabbe and Goyle's memories stirred faintly, and the blush that spread across their faces painted a deep crimson hue on their cheeks. The sudden rush of embarrassment revealed their connection to the past events, drawing attention from their peers.

"You two didn't eat those, did you?" Pansy queried, her tone laced with disbelief as she fixed the two with a firm, probing gaze.

The duo blushed even deeper, their discomfort palpable as their furtive glances betrayed their unease. The collective sigh that rippled through the rest of Slytherin House echoed the undertones of frustration and resignation, as they watched the familiar pattern unfold once again.

Ron: Whose hair are you ripping out then?
Hermione: I've already got mine. [holds up a vial containing a hair] Millicent Bulstrode, Slytherin. I got this off her robes. I'm going to go check on the Polyjuice Potion. [holds up the small cakes] Make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find these.

"Why Crabbe and Goyle?" Sirius inquired.

"It has to be them. They were the closest people to Draco at that time," Mia explained, her voice carrying a hint of resolve as she conveyed the basis for her decision.

[In the Entrance Hall, Mia and Ron are lurking behind a large statue. Ron clears his throat as he raises his wand.]

"NO!" The exclamation reverberated through the room as the collective realization dawned on everyone, prompting a chorus of gasps and murmurs of dismay.

Mia: Ron, maybe I should do it.
Ron: [with a sad look at his broken wand] Yeah... right...

As the tension lifted, a wave of relieved sighs swept through the room.

Mia: Wingardium Leviosa. [The two small cakes float up into the air. Mia and Ron hide behind the statue as Crabbe and Goyle walk out of the Great Hall, their arms full of similar cakes.]

"Please tell me that you two idiots didn't eat those treats," Pansy implored, her tone bordering on desperation as she grappled with the concern of potential damage to Slytherin's reputation.

The two in question blushed, a visible display of their discomfort that elicited a collective groan of frustration from the Slytherins. The weight of their actions hung heavily in the air, a testament to the exasperation that accompanied their repeated missteps, overshadowing the room with a sense of resigned disappointment. Despite their pureblood status, Crabbe and Goyle's perceived shortcomings drew a collective reaction of frustration and weariness from their peers, reflecting the pervasive struggle to reconcile their expectations with the reality before them.

[They take the cakes out of midair, chow down on them, and then promptly keel over.]
Ron: How thick could you get?
Mia: C'mon, let's get 'em.

"Idiots," echoed most of Slytherin house, their exasperation palpable as they voiced their shared frustration. The sentiment reverberated through the room, finding echoes among some of the other students and even Sirius, who couldn't help but express his disbelief and disappointment at the predicament.

[Back in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Hermione is dispensing the goopy potion into three separate glasses.]

The reaction was visceral, with cringes of disgust and even some audible gagging as the gravity of the situation sank in.

"We didn't exactly have a choice," Mia explained, her tone carrying a hint of resignation as she sought to convey the sense of compulsion that had weighed heavily on their decision.

"You could just not drink it," Oliver suggested, his tone carrying a note of concern for their well-being amidst the unfolding uncertainty.

"Not if we didn't want to find out the truth," Ron interjected with a half-sneer.

Hermione: We'll have exactly an hour before we change back into ourselves. [they each take a glass] Add the hairs. [they all do so]
Ron: Ugh, essence of Crabbe!

Despite the seriousness of the situation, a ripple of muted amusement swept through the group as they observed Ron's expression. Chuckles bubbled up amidst the tension, hinting at the shared relief and release that accompanied the brief interlude of lightheartedness. Ron's unwitting display of emotion provided a momentary respite, offering a fleeting sense of levity amidst the weight of the unfolding events.

Hermione: Cheers. [they all clink their glasses together and drink the potion]
Ron: I think I'm gonna be sick! [he drops his glass and runs into one of the bathroom stalls]

The Slytherins chuckled knowingly, their amusement underscored by a sense of superiority as they observed the unfolding scene. Meanwhile, the rest of the group looked on with a mix of fascination and lingering traces of disgust, their reactions reflecting the diverse spectrum of emotions elicited by the unfolding drama.

Severus Snape's steely gaze remained fixed on the screen, his expression inscrutable as he awaited the results of the potion. A flicker of doubt flitted across his features, a testament to the high standards he held for the young know-it-all. The complexity of the potion made it a formidable challenge for a second-year student, but Snape acknowledged Hermione's exceptional intelligence and capabilities.

"Time will tell," Snape mused quietly, his tone betraying a hint of resignation as he contemplated the outcome. His unwavering demeanor veiled the underlying uncertainty that lingered beneath the surface, hinting at the intrigue and anticipation that colored the unfolding events.

Hermione: Me too! [she also drops her glass and runs into a stall] [Mia drops her glass as well but remains in the main area of the bathroom. Leaning on a bathroom sink, she looks down to see her hands starting to change.]

Ron and Mia's families watched with concern as the events unfolded, their worry palpable in the furrowed brows and anxious glances they exchanged. The notion that Hermione may have erred in the potion's preparation sparked a flicker of apprehension, but an underlying sense of confidence tempered their fears. Their unwavering faith in Hermione's abilities served as a steadfast anchor, reassuring them that any misstep was unlikely.

[She then looks up at the mirror and sees her face transform into the face of Gregory Goyle. Mia turns around to see someone looking like Vincent Crabbe stepping out of Ron's stall.]

"Wow," escaped the lips of many in the group, disbelief coloring their tones as they processed the astounding success of Hermione's potion. The collective awe and amazement reverberated through the room, attesting to the sheer incredulity of the accomplishment.

Snape registered the remarkable outcome with a silent nod of acknowledgment, his inner thoughts echoing the sentiment shared by many in the room. Although his outward demeanor remained stoic and impassive, a flicker of satisfaction danced beneath the surface, a testament to the grudging admiration that stirred within him.

Ron as Crabbe: [still with his real voice] Mia?
Mia as Goyle: Ron?
Ron as Crabbe: Bloody hell!

"That's just weird." Charlie said.

Mia as Goyle: We still sound like ourselves. You need to sound more like Crabbe.
Ron as Crabbe: Uh... [deeper voice] bloody hell.
Mia as Goyle: Excellent.
Ron as Crabbe: You need to deepen your voice more. Also, where's Hermione?
Hermione: [still in her stall] I - I don't think I'm going. You go on without me.
Mia as Goyle: Hermione, are you okay?

"What happened and why she's not going?" Remus inquired cautiously, a note of stern concern evident in his voice, reflecting the unease etched across his features.

"Are you okay, dear?" Molly asked, her expression, her eyes filled with maternal worry.

Caught in a brief moment of unease, the trio exchanged meaningful glances, silently deliberating on how much to divulge while contemplating the best approach. It quickly became apparent that perhaps the best course of action would be to allow the adults to witness the events as they unfolded.

"If it doesn't show up, we'll tell you later," Mia offered, her tone echoing her unwavering resolve as she made the decision, her expression conveying a mix of determination and a hint of apprehension.

The adults, along with Sirius, cast reproachful glares at Mia before turning their attention back to the movie, the atmosphere tinged with a palpable sense of curiosity and underlying tension.

Hermione: Just go! You're wasting time!
Mia as Goyle: Come on! [Mia and Ron run out of the bathroom]