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batsutousaiTitle: To Be A Woman
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
batsutousai
Beta:magickmaker17
Pairings: Hermione/Ginevra and Tom/Draco/Harry
Warnings: AU, Transsexualism, Slash, Fem-slash, Child Abuse(mild), Cross-dressing
Summary: Harry's known his whole life that he is different from his male cousin, but his relatives, who take cake of him, did everything to hide it. When given a chance do live as he wishes, what will Harry do?
Disclaim Her: Mmmmmm…. Homemade fudge. I rock. *smirks*
Feedback: Lovely, as long as you’ve read the author’s notes and don’t ask stupid questions. *glares at readers pointedly*
A/N: Doin' a bit of a time jump here. I've run out of things for them to do during September that aren't routine. *sweatdrop* We're in mid-November now, in answer to the questions that I know will come otherwise. XP
Chapter Seven: Luna Lovegood
With the end of autumn came the threat of snow and the Christmas shopping season. Unperturbed by warnings of snow-fall when faced with a Hogsmeade trip, the student body of Hogwarts bundled up and got in line for the old-fashioned carriages that would save them a walk down to the town.
Up in Gryffindor Tower, three Gryffindors and four Slytherins met up, each dressed in their warmest, excited about a day away from the school.
Tom walked into the common room last and was met with a worried look from Harry, who she'd learned since the beginning of school was annoyingly maternal, despite being male. "Yes, Harry?" she inquired, shooting Draco, who was sniggering, a sharp look.
"Don't you have any hats?" Harry asked.
Tom let out a sigh. How did she know Harry would ask about her lack of warm attire? "No, I don't. I'll be fine with just a sweatshirt, though."
Harry spun around and dashed back up the stairs to his dorm, earning laughter from Hermione, Gin, Pansy, and Blaise. Tom looked startled while Draco was shaking his head. "I don't know why he's always wasting his energy on you..."
"Say that to my face, Parkinson," Tom snarled, turning on the blonde.
"Stop that," Harry ordered, stepping back into the common room with a green hat and a red scarf, both of which he held out to Tom. "Put those on."
"It's really not necessary..."
"If you don't put them on yourself, I'm putting them on for you," Harry threatened, shaking the garments in Tom's face.
Tom put the hat and scarf on.
Draco sniggered. "Ha-ha."
"I've got another scarf upstairs, Draco, if you think you need one too," Harry suggested lightly.
"Oh, Har, let them be," Pansy laughed.
Harry turned on the blue-eyed girl. "You need a ha-"
Pansy leaned over and pulled a set of earmuffs out of Draco's bag. "I'm all set."
Harry pursed his lips, but let it go. "Are we ready to go, then?"
"Yup!" Gin turned to Draco as they started from the common room. "So, looking forward to seeing Ron again?"
"What are you on about, Gin?" Draco grumbled.
"St Anthogals has a Hogsmeade trip today too," Gin replied.
"They do?!" Harry gasped, then ran back up the stairs to his dorm.
"What's gotten into her this time?" Hermione muttered, looking after her friend. The others all shrugged.
Harry hurried back down the stairs, a pair of tan earmuffs in one hand. "Okay! Ready now!" he called cheerfully.
As they set out again, Hermione frowned at Harry. "What are those for?"
"Dudley," Harry chirped, ignoring the growl from Tom at his cousin's name.
"Har, why are you bringing along a pair of earmuffs for Dudley?" Gin sighed.
"Because he'll be needing them and I know he won't bring his own pair," Harry explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"So? Let his ears freeze off," Tom grumbled.
Harry decided to ignore that comment and instead turned to talk with Blaise about their Crafts class - Trelawney had paired them together - and their latest project. Draco allowed himself to be dragged into an argument with Pansy over whether or not Professor Flitwick was 'adorable' – Pansy’s views - or just a 'punk' – Draco’s views. Gin, Hermione, and Tom talked History, since Gin wasn't able to stay awake in the class - Hermione, Tom, Blaise, and Harry were the only ones who could other than a few Ravenclaws - and they had a quiz coming up on Tuesday.
Bypassing the line, the seven first years took off across the lawn. Their various conversations carried them through almost the entire walk, giving out just before they stepped into the town. Once in Hogsmeade, they all paused to take in the early Christmas decorations on a number of the houses and shops. They all laughed over one shop - it had little elves in the windows and just outside the door - and oohed over a house - it was covered almost entirely in lights that blinked on and off in a mesmerizing pattern.
"There's Ron," Gin said, then raised her voice, "Ron! Roooooon!"
Ronald Weasley grinned and jogged over to them, his smile faltering when he saw the three Slytherins he'd known from their previous school. "Hey Gin, 'Mione."
"Ron!" Harry waved happily from behind Draco and Tom.
Ron's eyes widened, then he smiled again. "Har! How're you doing, mate?"
Harry slipped around his friends and gave Ron a hug. "Thanks for helping Gin get me a place here."
Ron's face pinked a touch. "No problem, mate. I just didn't want you going to any sort of hell-hole."
"I know." Harry poked his friend. "And be nice to everyone, silly. We're all friends here."
"But, Har, it's Mal-"
Harry gave Ron a stern look that shut him up. "Draco's my friend. You'll be nice or I won't talk to you again for a whole month!"
"Gah."
"I guess you told him, didn't you, Harry," Draco teased, smirking at Ron.
Harry turned on the blonde. "You'll behave too or I'll set Tom on you."
Tom smirked and cracked her knuckles. "You could just set me on him now."
"Tom, behave," Harry ordered in response, then his eyes brightened. "There's Dudley, I'll be right back."
Ron groaned. "Hide me..."
"What's Dudley done to you?" Draco asked in a strained nice tone.
"He's Dudley Dursley. What do you think he's done to me, genius?" Ron shot back.
The girls just sighed.
-~/\~-
"Dudley!"
Dudley turned around with a happy greeting, which died on his lips when he saw Harry running towards him. "What do you want, you little shit?"
Harry reached up and snapped the earmuffs over Dudley's ears, earning him a surprised yelp. "Aunt Petunia sent those to me so she knew you were wearing them. If you take them off now, it's on your head."
"You gonna let her order you around like that, Duds?" one of Dudley's 'friends' asked.
Dudley cracked his knuckles, glaring down at his cousin. "Joe's got a point, shit. Better start running."
"If you beat me up here, you'll get it later and you know it," Harry pointed out evenly. "Save your threats for someone who's actually scared of them."
Dudley pulled back his fist and aimed it at Harry's face, but a voice from behind him made him freeze. "You really don't want to do that, mate."
Harry grinned. "Hi, Fred."
"Shit! It's the Weasley twins!" one of Dudley's followers reported, then they all fled, leaving Dudley to face Fred and George Weasley alone.
"Not so brave now, are you, Dursley?" Fred growled as his twin brother stepped up behind him. Neither boy looked at all pleased.
Harry rolled his eyes when he heard running feet behind him and turned to face his friends. "I'm fine, see?"
"Who're those two?" Tom asked, watching Fred and George threaten Dudley with no small amount of awe.
"Our elder brothers," Ron answered. "They've got quite a reputation at St Anthogals. Nobody with half a brain messes with them."
"They didn't used to have such a name..." Draco frowned.
"They made a friend when they got to St Anthogals who has a good financial background and they've started creating their own pranks," Gin explained.
"Fabulous," Draco replied sarcastically.
Red-red hair tickled either side of Harry's face as Fred and George leaned on his shoulders. "Hey there, mate."
"How're you doing at Hogwarts?"
"Brilliant," Harry replied, grinning. "Thanks, by the way."
"If we hadn't been there-" Fred started seriously.
"I wouldn't have been so rude if I didn't think I could get away with it, Fred," Harry replied seriously. "I saw you when we entered Hogsmeade."
"When did you learn to think things through?!" George exclaimed.
Harry nodded to Draco and Tom. "I was taught well."
The twins leered at the two Slytherins. "We should thank them, then."
"Not necessary!" Draco assured the two with a slightly panicked look. Tom looked a little ill next to him
Harry giggled. "Stop that. They're my friends."
"Ah, guess that means you're both safe," George sighed regretfully.
"But if you take one step out of line-"
Harry elbowed Fred in the stomach, then gave him a pointed look. "Are you through?"
"Yeah. I'm through," Fred replied, wincing. "Watch it. Your elbow's sharp, mate."
"It's because she's still not eating enough," Hermione reported, smirking.
" 'Mione!" Harry's eyes went wide.
"Not eating enough?" Fred gasped.
"We'll have to fix that right now!" George agreed, then picked Harry up and threw him over a shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"To The Three Broomsticks we go!" Fred called, then the two started marching towards a pub.
"Put me down, you prat!" Harry laughed, pounding on George's back.
"Feisty, isn't he?" Ron observed with a grin. "Come on. If we hurry, they might agree to pay for all of us."
"I don't need any handouts," Draco sniffed.
"You wanna pay for everyone instead?" Pansy inquired while Ron, Gin, and Hermione hurried after the twins and Harry.
"Oh, bury your pride and come along." Tom grabbed Draco's arm and proceeded to drag the boy behind him. Blaise grabbed Draco's other arm and helped drag the complaining Malfoy while Pansy followed behind them, laughing.
-~/\~-
"Well, how about some introductions?" George asked once they'd all sat around a table and had some food.
"You remember Draco, Pan, and Blaise from school, I'm sure," Gin spoke up.
"Oh, we remember them," Fred agreed, glaring at the three Slytherins.
Harry elbowed Fred's side. "Stop that, you prat."
George grinned at an annoyed-looking Fred. "You really need to stop abusing him, Har."
"I'll stop abusing him when he stops threatening my friends," Harry reported.
Hermione let out a loud cough to regain the attention of the twins. "This girl here is Tom Riddle. She and Harry hit it off when we first got to Hogwarts."
"Did they ever," Gin agreed softly, earning her dark looks from Harry, Tom, and Draco.
"We've just decided that we don't want to know," Fred declared after sharing a brief look with his twin.
"One of these days, I'm going to figure out how you two do that...." Hermione grumbled.
"Not bloody likely," Ron replied, leaning over the table to take a fry from his twin's plate.
"Ronald Weasley!" Gin gave her brother a furious look.
"You two act like such children sometimes," Hermione reported.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Tom asked softly.
Everyone looked over at Harry, who looked undecided about something. Instead of answering Tom, he stood and moved away from the table and over towards where Cho Chang was picking on another first year - this time from her own house.
Tom made to get up, but Pansy grabbed her arm. "Stop. I want to see what she's going to do."
"It's nice to see her confronting Chang about something," Draco grumbled to his fries. "I'd like Harry to confront the bitch about the way she's been treating her, though, not some other girl."
"That's Harry for you," Fred and George chorused sadly.
-~/\~-
Harry got over to Cho and the girl she was yelling at - for sitting in a seat that Cho wanted, of course - at the same moment as when Cho raised her hand against the girl. Using strength that few were aware he had - doing all the chores for his aunt had grown him muscles years ago - Harry grabbed Cho's hand and twisted it behind her back. "Don't even think about it, Chang."
Cho wrenched her arm out of Harry's grasp, then sneered at the green-eyed boy. "Wimpy Potter, have you learned nothing?"
"I've learned that you're a bully that deserves to be shot," Harry replied coolly, then turned his attention away from the gaping second year and towards the first year on the ground. "You okay?" he inquired, holding out a hand to help the girl up.
The girl, who had blonde hair the same colour as Draco's and innocent blue eyes, took the offered hand and smiled at Harry with an air of preoccupation. "Hello there, Harry Potter. You're one of the Gryffindors in my year. You're very kind for helping me out, but you might want to watch out, Cho Chang looks ready to kill you."
Harry smiled. He liked this girl. "I wouldn't try anything, if I were Chang. Professor Lupin's sitting at the bar, watching us."
Cho let out a growl, then dropped into the very seat she'd bullied the other girl out of. "This isn't over, Potter."
Harry shrugged. "I'm not scared of you, Chang," he pointed out, then motioned to the blonde. "Come on. You can sit with us."
"Why, thank you, Harry Potter."
Harry grinned, then led the girl over to their table. "Hey, guys."
"And who's your new friend?" Draco asked with a frown.
Harry blinked, then looked over at the girl. "I'm afraid I don't know your name."
The girl smiled in a distracted manner. "I am Luna Lovegood, but most people call me Loony Lovegood." She looked around the table. "Hello, Tom Riddle, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Draco Parkinson, Hermione Granger, and Ginevra Weasley." She cocked her head at the three Weasley boys while Harry's friends stared at the girl oddly. "I don't know you three."
"Ron, Fred, and George," Harry offered. "They're Gin's brothers and they go to St Anthogals."
"A pleasure to learn your names," Luna assured the three boys.
"Have a seat, Luna. Harry, could I have a word with you?" Tom suggested, standing.
Harry blinked at the raven-haired girl in confusion as Luna took a seat in an empty chair. "Yeah, sure."
Tom dragged Harry away from the table, then gave him a sharp look. "Don't do that again. I worry about you when you wander off like that."
Harry crossed his arms over his chest. "I can take care of myself, Tom."
"I can see that," Tom replied, obviously working hard to keep from yelling. "My concern is that you won't take care of yourself."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "You know what? I've about had it with you lot hovering over me all the time like I'm going to break." He shoved past Tom and stormed back over to the table. "I'm leaving. Would you like to come, Luna?"
"Sure..." Luna stood dreamily.
"Har, mate, what's wrong?" George asked, half standing.
Harry scowled. "Leave. Me. Alone." With that, he spun on his heels and stalked out of the pub, Luna following along behind like a lost puppy.
Everyone's eyes were on Tom when she slid back into her seat darkly.
"Okay, what happened?" Draco asked when it became clear that no one else was going to speak.
"I don't know. I told her I was worried about her and she blew up in my face about us being so careful with her," Tom reported sharply.
"I was afraid this was going to happen..." Hermione sighed.
Everyone looked at the brunette in confusion. "Explain, please?" Gin requested.
"Back when we were still children, around the time You-Know-Who disappeared, Harry threw this fit about people always worrying over her. Back then, you see, her aunt actually tried to care for her to some extent. She locked herself in her closet and refused food and water for two weeks. After that, her aunt only made things worse for her and she never threw another fit," Hermione explained sadly. "I'm still not quite sure why she did that."
"Maybe it has something to do with You-Know-Who?" Draco suggested with a thoughtful frown.
"That's an interesting thought..." Hermione murmured.
Tom slammed her fork into her sandwich. "Why does she have to be such a mystery?"
"What do you mean? Har's not a mystery," Ron said with a touch of laughter in his voice.
"No, Tom's right. Every time we learn something about her, four more questions pop up," Draco agreed.
"What sorts of questions?" Pansy inquired, looking slightly confused.
"Where'd she get that scar?" Tom asked, looking over at Hermione.
"You-Know-Who’s attack on her home," Hermione replied.
"Why did You-Know-Who attack the Potters?" Draco threw out the next question.
"Other than their work for the Order?" Fred inquired seriously.
Draco and Tom both looked over at the twins. "Yes."
"They had something he needed," George supplied. "We don't know what that thing was-"
"-or whether he got it or not-"
"-we just know that was the reason."
"That twin thing is kinda creepy," Blaise reported, then looked over at Tom. "Next question?"
"Well, what did the Potters have that You-Know-Who wanted, of course," Tom murmured. "And, why is Harry alive if her parents were murdered and she remembers it happening?"
Everyone at the table stared at the scarlet-eyed girl. "Har remembers her parents' murders?" Hermione whispered.
"It's what her nightmares are about," Draco agreed.
"No wonder..." Hermione breathed.
"That is a lot of questions," Gin sighed. "I've known Har for six years now and I never even thought about any of that stuff..."
"She always has an answer," Hermione said. "I've never questioned her answers to my questions. When I asked about her scar, she said she got it the night her parents were murdered, but I didn't know that she was there when it happened."
"The only person who can answer our questions is Harry herself," Pansy pointed out. "And she wants us to stop hovering - I suppose I can understand why now, though. We've been getting too close to some secret or another."
"Wait." Gin looked over at Ron. "When I called Dumbledore about getting Har enrolled he knew who she was."
"What do you mean, he knew?" Tom asked sharply.
"When I said her name, he rolled off her address without pause," Gin replied. "I didn't think it was strange at the time, but now that I think about it, why would he have Har's address?"
"That's simple," Draco replied in a lofty voice.
"Oh, you mean you actually know something for once?" Tom said scathingly.
Draco ignored Tom. "Dumbledore's the head of the Order."
"Where'd you hear that from?" Ron demanded.
"My father," Draco replied, sneering at the red-head.
"That would make sense. Lucius is high enough in the Order to know who the head is." Fred nodded.
"And Mum and Dad aren't?!" Ron turned on his brother.
"It's not that," George murmured. "Mum and Dad go to great lengths to protect us from every last thing. They wouldn't have let the head slip around us, lest we go to him and offer to help out."
Hermione tapped on the table. "Well, now that we know who to question about all this, why don't we split up? Half of us can head back to Hogwarts to ask Headmaster Dumbledore what he knows while the other half keeps an eye out for Har without letting her know they're watching her."
"So, keep her out of trouble without letting her know it's us, basically," Tom muttered.
"Exactly."
"Well, I'm staying," Tom said. "There's no way you're getting me within a metre of Dumbles."
Gin rolled her eyes. "We know."
"I'll go back to Hogwarts, then," Draco decided. "If we split up, we'll get things done faster," he added, looking at Tom, who nodded in response.
"Well, we'll have to stay here," Ron reported, motioning towards his elder brothers.
"Right. I'll stay with the guys and Tom. Draco, Pan, Blaise, and 'Mione will all go back up to the school to see what they can learn from the Headmaster," Gin reported. "Meet back here in an hour with anything you've learned."
"Right." Hermione nodded, then stood. "Come on."
"Let's go, too," Gin ordered, motioning for her group to get up.
"Sure thing, boss," Fred agreed playfully.
Gin rolled her eyes at her brother, then led the way from the pub.
Up at the bar, Remus Lupin waved the bartender down. "Get me another drink, and make it strong." He pulled out another cigarette and lit it as the bartender did as he'd requested. “I get the feeling that this is going to turn into a long night."
-~/\~-
-~\/~-
A/N: Was playing with the doll maker and got this sudden idea to create a Luna doll, hence her existence. *grins* She'll play a bit of a bigger part next chapter, I think.
This chapter should answer a few questions, then ask you a few more. All will be answered in time, no worries. Our gang won't learn anything without telling you. *winks*
Visit my site for any basic questions.
~Bats ^.^x
Chapters:
First 5 chapters on website.
6 - Intruding Nightmares |||7 - Luna Lovegood ||| 8 - The Great Potter Mystery
9 - The Scrapbook's Curse ||| 10 - What it Means to Be Wanted ||| 11 - Iona Gates
12 - Dresses & Partners
Discontinued
Author:
batsutousaiBeta:
magickmaker17Pairings: Hermione/Ginevra and Tom/Draco/Harry
Warnings: AU, Transsexualism, Slash, Fem-slash, Child Abuse(mild), Cross-dressing
Summary: Harry's known his whole life that he is different from his male cousin, but his relatives, who take cake of him, did everything to hide it. When given a chance do live as he wishes, what will Harry do?
Disclaim Her: Mmmmmm…. Homemade fudge. I rock. *smirks*
Feedback: Lovely, as long as you’ve read the author’s notes and don’t ask stupid questions. *glares at readers pointedly*
A/N: Doin' a bit of a time jump here. I've run out of things for them to do during September that aren't routine. *sweatdrop* We're in mid-November now, in answer to the questions that I know will come otherwise. XP
With the end of autumn came the threat of snow and the Christmas shopping season. Unperturbed by warnings of snow-fall when faced with a Hogsmeade trip, the student body of Hogwarts bundled up and got in line for the old-fashioned carriages that would save them a walk down to the town.
Up in Gryffindor Tower, three Gryffindors and four Slytherins met up, each dressed in their warmest, excited about a day away from the school.
Tom walked into the common room last and was met with a worried look from Harry, who she'd learned since the beginning of school was annoyingly maternal, despite being male. "Yes, Harry?" she inquired, shooting Draco, who was sniggering, a sharp look.
"Don't you have any hats?" Harry asked.
Tom let out a sigh. How did she know Harry would ask about her lack of warm attire? "No, I don't. I'll be fine with just a sweatshirt, though."
Harry spun around and dashed back up the stairs to his dorm, earning laughter from Hermione, Gin, Pansy, and Blaise. Tom looked startled while Draco was shaking his head. "I don't know why he's always wasting his energy on you..."
"Say that to my face, Parkinson," Tom snarled, turning on the blonde.
"Stop that," Harry ordered, stepping back into the common room with a green hat and a red scarf, both of which he held out to Tom. "Put those on."
"It's really not necessary..."
"If you don't put them on yourself, I'm putting them on for you," Harry threatened, shaking the garments in Tom's face.
Tom put the hat and scarf on.
Draco sniggered. "Ha-ha."
"I've got another scarf upstairs, Draco, if you think you need one too," Harry suggested lightly.
"Oh, Har, let them be," Pansy laughed.
Harry turned on the blue-eyed girl. "You need a ha-"
Pansy leaned over and pulled a set of earmuffs out of Draco's bag. "I'm all set."
Harry pursed his lips, but let it go. "Are we ready to go, then?"
"Yup!" Gin turned to Draco as they started from the common room. "So, looking forward to seeing Ron again?"
"What are you on about, Gin?" Draco grumbled.
"St Anthogals has a Hogsmeade trip today too," Gin replied.
"They do?!" Harry gasped, then ran back up the stairs to his dorm.
"What's gotten into her this time?" Hermione muttered, looking after her friend. The others all shrugged.
Harry hurried back down the stairs, a pair of tan earmuffs in one hand. "Okay! Ready now!" he called cheerfully.
As they set out again, Hermione frowned at Harry. "What are those for?"
"Dudley," Harry chirped, ignoring the growl from Tom at his cousin's name.
"Har, why are you bringing along a pair of earmuffs for Dudley?" Gin sighed.
"Because he'll be needing them and I know he won't bring his own pair," Harry explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"So? Let his ears freeze off," Tom grumbled.
Harry decided to ignore that comment and instead turned to talk with Blaise about their Crafts class - Trelawney had paired them together - and their latest project. Draco allowed himself to be dragged into an argument with Pansy over whether or not Professor Flitwick was 'adorable' – Pansy’s views - or just a 'punk' – Draco’s views. Gin, Hermione, and Tom talked History, since Gin wasn't able to stay awake in the class - Hermione, Tom, Blaise, and Harry were the only ones who could other than a few Ravenclaws - and they had a quiz coming up on Tuesday.
Bypassing the line, the seven first years took off across the lawn. Their various conversations carried them through almost the entire walk, giving out just before they stepped into the town. Once in Hogsmeade, they all paused to take in the early Christmas decorations on a number of the houses and shops. They all laughed over one shop - it had little elves in the windows and just outside the door - and oohed over a house - it was covered almost entirely in lights that blinked on and off in a mesmerizing pattern.
"There's Ron," Gin said, then raised her voice, "Ron! Roooooon!"
Ronald Weasley grinned and jogged over to them, his smile faltering when he saw the three Slytherins he'd known from their previous school. "Hey Gin, 'Mione."
"Ron!" Harry waved happily from behind Draco and Tom.
Ron's eyes widened, then he smiled again. "Har! How're you doing, mate?"
Harry slipped around his friends and gave Ron a hug. "Thanks for helping Gin get me a place here."
Ron's face pinked a touch. "No problem, mate. I just didn't want you going to any sort of hell-hole."
"I know." Harry poked his friend. "And be nice to everyone, silly. We're all friends here."
"But, Har, it's Mal-"
Harry gave Ron a stern look that shut him up. "Draco's my friend. You'll be nice or I won't talk to you again for a whole month!"
"Gah."
"I guess you told him, didn't you, Harry," Draco teased, smirking at Ron.
Harry turned on the blonde. "You'll behave too or I'll set Tom on you."
Tom smirked and cracked her knuckles. "You could just set me on him now."
"Tom, behave," Harry ordered in response, then his eyes brightened. "There's Dudley, I'll be right back."
Ron groaned. "Hide me..."
"What's Dudley done to you?" Draco asked in a strained nice tone.
"He's Dudley Dursley. What do you think he's done to me, genius?" Ron shot back.
The girls just sighed.
"Dudley!"
Dudley turned around with a happy greeting, which died on his lips when he saw Harry running towards him. "What do you want, you little shit?"
Harry reached up and snapped the earmuffs over Dudley's ears, earning him a surprised yelp. "Aunt Petunia sent those to me so she knew you were wearing them. If you take them off now, it's on your head."
"You gonna let her order you around like that, Duds?" one of Dudley's 'friends' asked.
Dudley cracked his knuckles, glaring down at his cousin. "Joe's got a point, shit. Better start running."
"If you beat me up here, you'll get it later and you know it," Harry pointed out evenly. "Save your threats for someone who's actually scared of them."
Dudley pulled back his fist and aimed it at Harry's face, but a voice from behind him made him freeze. "You really don't want to do that, mate."
Harry grinned. "Hi, Fred."
"Shit! It's the Weasley twins!" one of Dudley's followers reported, then they all fled, leaving Dudley to face Fred and George Weasley alone.
"Not so brave now, are you, Dursley?" Fred growled as his twin brother stepped up behind him. Neither boy looked at all pleased.
Harry rolled his eyes when he heard running feet behind him and turned to face his friends. "I'm fine, see?"
"Who're those two?" Tom asked, watching Fred and George threaten Dudley with no small amount of awe.
"Our elder brothers," Ron answered. "They've got quite a reputation at St Anthogals. Nobody with half a brain messes with them."
"They didn't used to have such a name..." Draco frowned.
"They made a friend when they got to St Anthogals who has a good financial background and they've started creating their own pranks," Gin explained.
"Fabulous," Draco replied sarcastically.
Red-red hair tickled either side of Harry's face as Fred and George leaned on his shoulders. "Hey there, mate."
"How're you doing at Hogwarts?"
"Brilliant," Harry replied, grinning. "Thanks, by the way."
"If we hadn't been there-" Fred started seriously.
"I wouldn't have been so rude if I didn't think I could get away with it, Fred," Harry replied seriously. "I saw you when we entered Hogsmeade."
"When did you learn to think things through?!" George exclaimed.
Harry nodded to Draco and Tom. "I was taught well."
The twins leered at the two Slytherins. "We should thank them, then."
"Not necessary!" Draco assured the two with a slightly panicked look. Tom looked a little ill next to him
Harry giggled. "Stop that. They're my friends."
"Ah, guess that means you're both safe," George sighed regretfully.
"But if you take one step out of line-"
Harry elbowed Fred in the stomach, then gave him a pointed look. "Are you through?"
"Yeah. I'm through," Fred replied, wincing. "Watch it. Your elbow's sharp, mate."
"It's because she's still not eating enough," Hermione reported, smirking.
" 'Mione!" Harry's eyes went wide.
"Not eating enough?" Fred gasped.
"We'll have to fix that right now!" George agreed, then picked Harry up and threw him over a shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"To The Three Broomsticks we go!" Fred called, then the two started marching towards a pub.
"Put me down, you prat!" Harry laughed, pounding on George's back.
"Feisty, isn't he?" Ron observed with a grin. "Come on. If we hurry, they might agree to pay for all of us."
"I don't need any handouts," Draco sniffed.
"You wanna pay for everyone instead?" Pansy inquired while Ron, Gin, and Hermione hurried after the twins and Harry.
"Oh, bury your pride and come along." Tom grabbed Draco's arm and proceeded to drag the boy behind him. Blaise grabbed Draco's other arm and helped drag the complaining Malfoy while Pansy followed behind them, laughing.
"Well, how about some introductions?" George asked once they'd all sat around a table and had some food.
"You remember Draco, Pan, and Blaise from school, I'm sure," Gin spoke up.
"Oh, we remember them," Fred agreed, glaring at the three Slytherins.
Harry elbowed Fred's side. "Stop that, you prat."
George grinned at an annoyed-looking Fred. "You really need to stop abusing him, Har."
"I'll stop abusing him when he stops threatening my friends," Harry reported.
Hermione let out a loud cough to regain the attention of the twins. "This girl here is Tom Riddle. She and Harry hit it off when we first got to Hogwarts."
"Did they ever," Gin agreed softly, earning her dark looks from Harry, Tom, and Draco.
"We've just decided that we don't want to know," Fred declared after sharing a brief look with his twin.
"One of these days, I'm going to figure out how you two do that...." Hermione grumbled.
"Not bloody likely," Ron replied, leaning over the table to take a fry from his twin's plate.
"Ronald Weasley!" Gin gave her brother a furious look.
"You two act like such children sometimes," Hermione reported.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Tom asked softly.
Everyone looked over at Harry, who looked undecided about something. Instead of answering Tom, he stood and moved away from the table and over towards where Cho Chang was picking on another first year - this time from her own house.
Tom made to get up, but Pansy grabbed her arm. "Stop. I want to see what she's going to do."
"It's nice to see her confronting Chang about something," Draco grumbled to his fries. "I'd like Harry to confront the bitch about the way she's been treating her, though, not some other girl."
"That's Harry for you," Fred and George chorused sadly.
Harry got over to Cho and the girl she was yelling at - for sitting in a seat that Cho wanted, of course - at the same moment as when Cho raised her hand against the girl. Using strength that few were aware he had - doing all the chores for his aunt had grown him muscles years ago - Harry grabbed Cho's hand and twisted it behind her back. "Don't even think about it, Chang."
Cho wrenched her arm out of Harry's grasp, then sneered at the green-eyed boy. "Wimpy Potter, have you learned nothing?"
"I've learned that you're a bully that deserves to be shot," Harry replied coolly, then turned his attention away from the gaping second year and towards the first year on the ground. "You okay?" he inquired, holding out a hand to help the girl up.
The girl, who had blonde hair the same colour as Draco's and innocent blue eyes, took the offered hand and smiled at Harry with an air of preoccupation. "Hello there, Harry Potter. You're one of the Gryffindors in my year. You're very kind for helping me out, but you might want to watch out, Cho Chang looks ready to kill you."
Harry smiled. He liked this girl. "I wouldn't try anything, if I were Chang. Professor Lupin's sitting at the bar, watching us."
Cho let out a growl, then dropped into the very seat she'd bullied the other girl out of. "This isn't over, Potter."
Harry shrugged. "I'm not scared of you, Chang," he pointed out, then motioned to the blonde. "Come on. You can sit with us."
"Why, thank you, Harry Potter."
Harry grinned, then led the girl over to their table. "Hey, guys."
"And who's your new friend?" Draco asked with a frown.
Harry blinked, then looked over at the girl. "I'm afraid I don't know your name."
The girl smiled in a distracted manner. "I am Luna Lovegood, but most people call me Loony Lovegood." She looked around the table. "Hello, Tom Riddle, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Draco Parkinson, Hermione Granger, and Ginevra Weasley." She cocked her head at the three Weasley boys while Harry's friends stared at the girl oddly. "I don't know you three."
"Ron, Fred, and George," Harry offered. "They're Gin's brothers and they go to St Anthogals."
"A pleasure to learn your names," Luna assured the three boys.
"Have a seat, Luna. Harry, could I have a word with you?" Tom suggested, standing.
Harry blinked at the raven-haired girl in confusion as Luna took a seat in an empty chair. "Yeah, sure."
Tom dragged Harry away from the table, then gave him a sharp look. "Don't do that again. I worry about you when you wander off like that."
Harry crossed his arms over his chest. "I can take care of myself, Tom."
"I can see that," Tom replied, obviously working hard to keep from yelling. "My concern is that you won't take care of yourself."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "You know what? I've about had it with you lot hovering over me all the time like I'm going to break." He shoved past Tom and stormed back over to the table. "I'm leaving. Would you like to come, Luna?"
"Sure..." Luna stood dreamily.
"Har, mate, what's wrong?" George asked, half standing.
Harry scowled. "Leave. Me. Alone." With that, he spun on his heels and stalked out of the pub, Luna following along behind like a lost puppy.
Everyone's eyes were on Tom when she slid back into her seat darkly.
"Okay, what happened?" Draco asked when it became clear that no one else was going to speak.
"I don't know. I told her I was worried about her and she blew up in my face about us being so careful with her," Tom reported sharply.
"I was afraid this was going to happen..." Hermione sighed.
Everyone looked at the brunette in confusion. "Explain, please?" Gin requested.
"Back when we were still children, around the time You-Know-Who disappeared, Harry threw this fit about people always worrying over her. Back then, you see, her aunt actually tried to care for her to some extent. She locked herself in her closet and refused food and water for two weeks. After that, her aunt only made things worse for her and she never threw another fit," Hermione explained sadly. "I'm still not quite sure why she did that."
"Maybe it has something to do with You-Know-Who?" Draco suggested with a thoughtful frown.
"That's an interesting thought..." Hermione murmured.
Tom slammed her fork into her sandwich. "Why does she have to be such a mystery?"
"What do you mean? Har's not a mystery," Ron said with a touch of laughter in his voice.
"No, Tom's right. Every time we learn something about her, four more questions pop up," Draco agreed.
"What sorts of questions?" Pansy inquired, looking slightly confused.
"Where'd she get that scar?" Tom asked, looking over at Hermione.
"You-Know-Who’s attack on her home," Hermione replied.
"Why did You-Know-Who attack the Potters?" Draco threw out the next question.
"Other than their work for the Order?" Fred inquired seriously.
Draco and Tom both looked over at the twins. "Yes."
"They had something he needed," George supplied. "We don't know what that thing was-"
"-or whether he got it or not-"
"-we just know that was the reason."
"That twin thing is kinda creepy," Blaise reported, then looked over at Tom. "Next question?"
"Well, what did the Potters have that You-Know-Who wanted, of course," Tom murmured. "And, why is Harry alive if her parents were murdered and she remembers it happening?"
Everyone at the table stared at the scarlet-eyed girl. "Har remembers her parents' murders?" Hermione whispered.
"It's what her nightmares are about," Draco agreed.
"No wonder..." Hermione breathed.
"That is a lot of questions," Gin sighed. "I've known Har for six years now and I never even thought about any of that stuff..."
"She always has an answer," Hermione said. "I've never questioned her answers to my questions. When I asked about her scar, she said she got it the night her parents were murdered, but I didn't know that she was there when it happened."
"The only person who can answer our questions is Harry herself," Pansy pointed out. "And she wants us to stop hovering - I suppose I can understand why now, though. We've been getting too close to some secret or another."
"Wait." Gin looked over at Ron. "When I called Dumbledore about getting Har enrolled he knew who she was."
"What do you mean, he knew?" Tom asked sharply.
"When I said her name, he rolled off her address without pause," Gin replied. "I didn't think it was strange at the time, but now that I think about it, why would he have Har's address?"
"That's simple," Draco replied in a lofty voice.
"Oh, you mean you actually know something for once?" Tom said scathingly.
Draco ignored Tom. "Dumbledore's the head of the Order."
"Where'd you hear that from?" Ron demanded.
"My father," Draco replied, sneering at the red-head.
"That would make sense. Lucius is high enough in the Order to know who the head is." Fred nodded.
"And Mum and Dad aren't?!" Ron turned on his brother.
"It's not that," George murmured. "Mum and Dad go to great lengths to protect us from every last thing. They wouldn't have let the head slip around us, lest we go to him and offer to help out."
Hermione tapped on the table. "Well, now that we know who to question about all this, why don't we split up? Half of us can head back to Hogwarts to ask Headmaster Dumbledore what he knows while the other half keeps an eye out for Har without letting her know they're watching her."
"So, keep her out of trouble without letting her know it's us, basically," Tom muttered.
"Exactly."
"Well, I'm staying," Tom said. "There's no way you're getting me within a metre of Dumbles."
Gin rolled her eyes. "We know."
"I'll go back to Hogwarts, then," Draco decided. "If we split up, we'll get things done faster," he added, looking at Tom, who nodded in response.
"Well, we'll have to stay here," Ron reported, motioning towards his elder brothers.
"Right. I'll stay with the guys and Tom. Draco, Pan, Blaise, and 'Mione will all go back up to the school to see what they can learn from the Headmaster," Gin reported. "Meet back here in an hour with anything you've learned."
"Right." Hermione nodded, then stood. "Come on."
"Let's go, too," Gin ordered, motioning for her group to get up.
"Sure thing, boss," Fred agreed playfully.
Gin rolled her eyes at her brother, then led the way from the pub.
Up at the bar, Remus Lupin waved the bartender down. "Get me another drink, and make it strong." He pulled out another cigarette and lit it as the bartender did as he'd requested. “I get the feeling that this is going to turn into a long night."
-~\/~-
A/N: Was playing with the doll maker and got this sudden idea to create a Luna doll, hence her existence. *grins* She'll play a bit of a bigger part next chapter, I think.
This chapter should answer a few questions, then ask you a few more. All will be answered in time, no worries. Our gang won't learn anything without telling you. *winks*
Visit my site for any basic questions.
~Bats ^.^x
First 5 chapters on website.
6 - Intruding Nightmares |||
9 - The Scrapbook's Curse ||| 10 - What it Means to Be Wanted ||| 11 - Iona Gates
12 - Dresses & Partners
Discontinued
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no subject
Date: 9/12/05 15:42 (UTC)Luna is interesting. I wonder who the twin's "backer" is. Cho sounds like a bitch and it's snowing outside so nothing intelligent I'm sorry to say. And they don't know about what happened to "Harry" in this world -all the fine details?
no subject
Date: 9/12/05 16:25 (UTC)Well... you think, you could beta something for me again?! I wanna try to write a longer story ^.^
I mean I actually have written it on German but I think, that English would sound so much better o.o
no subject
Date: 9/12/05 16:52 (UTC)*reads*
YAYE FOR LUNA! ^.^
I hope Chang falls down the toilet, she sucks big time >.<
no subject
Date: 9/12/05 17:32 (UTC)Yay Luna!!
Grrr, stupid Chang
And what the deal with Harry? *is confused*
Nevermind...
Ooh, exams nasty... so here's a review, Is very good, I like etc...
Floss
no subject
Date: 9/12/05 20:13 (UTC)Poor Batty. Having to take exams. We just got the last two days off because of snow, and it wasn't even that bad.
Loony Loony Luna. Die Chang. I hate her. She's a Mary Sue put in by JKR.
I love this story, but I'm still eagerly awaiting Reclaim. :D I haven't updated any of my stories in almost a year, so I'm not even going poke you for the next chapter.
Sandra
no subject
Date: 9/12/05 23:09 (UTC)stupid cho. grrr. i want to bite her. viciously.
in would say update soon, but i don't want to annoy you. :b i know you write whenver you can so... lol. ^^
poor bats. having to take exams. -sniffles-
no subject
Date: 10/12/05 06:35 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12/12/05 17:26 (UTC)here you go ^^'
oh...and I was also thinking that Cho should wear things that were more Chinese...if you want I could also throw that together...I have too much time on my hands and enjoy making these dolls too much...^^' I guess we've got a common problem...