I Refuse

It was Halloween, and the Great Hall was bustling.

Candles floated beneath the enchanted ceiling, jack-o'-lanterns grinned from the corners, and golden plates covered the long tables, piled high with Pumpkin Pasties, roast potatoes, and apple tarts drizzled with caramel sauce.

The warm scent of cinnamon and cloves filled the air. The whole hall smelled like a holiday pudding fresh from the oven.

Before the Halloween Feast began, Dumbledore tapped the rim of his glass.

The noise in the Great Hall gradually died down.

"Before everyone tackles the Pumpkin Pasties, I have some good news to announce."

Fred pulled his hand back from a pasty.

"It had better actually be good news."

"And if it isn't?" George played along.

"Then I'll consider it an abuse of the headmaster's authority."

At the High Table, Dumbledore turned to Snape with a smile.

"Professor Snape has successfully improved a potion that reverses the effects of Polyjuice Potion. It allows the drinker to return to their original appearance early and prevents further transformation for a short time. The Ministry of Magic has decided to purchase the formula."

Applause broke out across the Great Hall.

The Slytherins applauded especially enthusiastically.

But a few students who had shown an excessive interest in Polyjuice Potion lately clapped rather hesitantly.

Among them were Hermione, Cordelia, and Gavin.

Gavin was a little surprised. He didn't remember an anti-Polyjuice Potion like this existing in the original story.

Had the plot changed again?

Had something he'd done caused it?

As far as Polyjuice Potion went, all he had done was discuss it with Snape at the start of term.

Back then, he had casually floated a theory that the base potion might, to some extent, reverse a Polyjuice transformation.

Could Snape have—?

"Professor Snape also made a point of mentioning," Dumbledore