Chapter 12

Professor McGonagall escorts Harry to Dumbledore’s office. While waiting, Harry tries the Sorting Hat, which again insists he would have done well in Slytherin, unsettling him. He then witnesses Fawkes burst into flames and be reborn; Dumbledore explains phoenixes. Dumbledore gently asks if Harry has anything to confess, but Harry, fearing suspicion, says nothing. Hagrid bursts in to defend Harry’s innocence before leaving, and Dumbledore reiterates he does not believe Harry is the attacker.

News of Justin Finch-Fletchley and Nearly Headless Nick’s petrification sparks schoolwide panic, with many students departing for Christmas. Fred and George mock the rumors about Harry; Ginny is distressed; Malfoy grows sour. Hermione announces the Polyjuice Potion is nearly ready.

Over Christmas, with the castle quiet, Hermione finalizes the plan. She arms Harry and Ron with sleeping-draught-laced cakes to waylay Crabbe and Goyle and reveals she obtained a hair from Millicent Bulstrode. On Christmas night, they successfully drug Crabbe and Goyle, collect hairs, steal their shoes, and hurry to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, where they brew and drink the Polyjuice Potion.

Harry and Ron transform into Goyle and Crabbe, but Hermione refuses to emerge. With time limited, Harry and Ron search the dungeons, briefly encountering Percy, before Draco Malfoy finds them and brings them into the Slytherin common room. Malfoy gloats over a Daily Prophet clipping about Arthur Weasley’s fine and rails against Muggle-borns, but admits he doesn’t know the Heir’s identity and that last time a Muggle-born died. He mentions a Ministry raid on Malfoy Manor and a secret chamber under their drawing room.

As the potion wears off, Harry and Ron flee before Malfoy notices. They return to the bathroom to find Hermione sobbing; she accidentally used a cat hair and is partly transformed, forcing them to take her to the hospital wing. The mission reveals Malfoy is not the Heir, but leaves Hermione afflicted and the mystery unresolved.