Title: To Be A Woman
Author: Batsutousai(duh!)
Beta: magick_maker17
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: I hate these things. It’s why I renamed it.
Feedback: Lovely, as long as you’ve read the author’s notes and
don’t ask stupid questions. -glares at readers pointedly-
A/N: This is such a weird chapter…
“Swimming?”
“Yes…” Pansy settled back
against her bed’s headboard. “Don’t you want to come with?”
“Not really.”
“I’m sure Harry will come if you
ask her.”
“Pan, shut it.”
“I have a bathing suit you can
wear.”
“Pan!” Draco finally looked up
to glare, eyes softening as so as their gazes met. “Oh, please, not the puppy
eyes… Pan, no. You know I hate swimming.”
“I never said you had to swim,
just come with us.”
“Yeah, wimp.” Tom slipped into
the room, smirking. She had a couple books held under one arm, which she
expertly kept from Pansy’s view.
“Are you coming then?”
Draco growled.
Tom shrugged. “I don’t have a
bathing suit.”
“Blaise has one that should fit
you.” Pansy decided with a firm nod.
Tom sighed. “Very well, but only
if Draco has to come too.”
“Wha-?!”
“Wonderful! It’s settled then!”
Pansy hopped from her bed. “I’ll go tell the other girls. You two can try and
talk Harry into coming!” She hurried from the room.
Tom and Draco traded scowled.
“What the hell’d you do that for?” Draco asked as politely as he could.
“Because it would seem odd for a
Malfoy to be afraid of the water.”
“I’m not afraid! And quit
calling me that!”
Tom cocked an eyebrow at the boy
on the bed as she hid her books under her mattress. “Uh huh. Come on.”
“Where are we going now?” Draco
asked suspiciously.
“To talk Harry into coming with.
It’s no fun without her.”
“You know she won’t swim.” Draco
pointed out, standing.
“If she did, I’d worry.” The
raven-haired girl shot back before sliding out the door.
Draco followed with a snort.
-~*~-
“Come in.” Harry called in reply
to the knock. He sat his book down and smiled at the two Slytherins who entered
the room. “Draco, Tom, what can I do for you?”
Tom elbowed Draco and the blonde
started. “Oh, well, you see…”
“The others planned this trip
down to the lake for tomorrow and sent us to see if you’d come.” Tom slid in
when Draco faltered.
“Please?” Draco agreed.
Harry shook his head. “I don’t
swim.”
“Neither do I!” Draco smiled.
“We can sit and watch the idiots splash each other.”
“I think I’d rather read where
it’s dry.”
“Oh, come on, Harry.” Draco
pleaded.
“You need more sunlight,
anyway.” Tom murmured. “You’re getting pale.”
Harry shrugged. “I’ve always
been pale.”
“Don’t make me get down on my
knees and beg?” Draco whispered, giving the other boy puppy dog eyes. Tom
snorted and got an elbow in her side.
Tom rolled her eyes. “Come on,
Harry. It won’t be fun without you.”
Harry glanced back and forth
between the two, biting his bottom lip. “I…suppose…”
“Brilliant!” Tom smiled brightly
before turning to Draco. “You called me an idiot a moment ago.”
“Did not.”
“You insinuated I was.”
“I called all of you, as a
group, idiots.”
Harry shook his head at the two.
“Oh, stop. Everyone’s an idiot to someone else.”
“Hey, Tom, guess what.”
“What, Draco?”
“Harry just called you an
idiot.”
“THAT’S IT!”
Harry giggled as Tom chased
Draco from the room.
-~*~-
“I have no bathing suit.” Harry
grumbled when faced with Hermione and Gin. Both girls were begging him to wear
something cooler than his cousin’s hand-me-down jeans and long-sleeved shirt.
“I’m sure I can find you
something to wear.” Hermione tried.
“Something that won’t show I’m a
boy?” Harry bit out.
“I have something.” Gin
stood and opened her wardrobe. She pulled out a white tank top with a rainbow
across the front and a red sarong with a flowered pattern. “Here. Wear that
pair of shorts you like so much under the sarong, if you want. It will cover
that gash on your leg.”
“It’ll slip.” The boy muttered
darkly even as he pulled out his favourite pair of shorts, which were a faded
blue and fraying at the bottom.
“Then don’t come.” Hermione shot
back, obviously fed up with his excuses. Harry winced, recalling Draco’s puppy
eyes and Tom’s quiet worry.
“ ‘Mione, enough.” Gin
reprimanded gently as she set the tank top and sarong on Harry’s bed.
Harry smiled gratefully and took
all of his clothing into the bathroom to change.
“You have to be more gentle with
him, ‘Mione. I know you’re on edge, but yelling at him will only make it
worse.” Gin whispered to her friend, stepping over to slip an errant lock of
brown hair behind the taller girl’s ear.
“I’m sorry. I try, but it’s so hard
sometimes, what with the new school and Malfoy.” Hermione replied sadly, voice
low. “And I’m worried about Har. He spends more time with his nose in a book
than I do these days.”
“Maybe because he’s not used to
so many people. I mean, the most he’s used to at one time is you, Ron, Fred,
George, and me, occasionally Dudley, if the bastard can find us. He’s not a
social person.” Gin sighed, eyeing the bathroom door. “Damned Dursleys.”
Hermione nodded. “Slow and
painful torture for them.”
Gin stared at Hermione for a
long moment before breaking out into laughter.
Harry stepped from the bathroom
and frowned at Gin, who was still laughing, and Hermione, who was smiling
sheepishly at the red-head. “Do I want to know?”
“Oh, Har.” Hermione smiled at
him lightly. “No, I just said something stupid without thinking. Let us have a
look at you.”
Harry sighed helplessly and
twirled slowly to give them a good look. “Well?”
Hermione was frowning. “It’s
missing something…”
“Necklace, I think…” Gin agreed.
“I’ve got one that should work…”
Hermione turned to her dresser while Gin fiddled with the sarong some to help
hide the gash on Harry’s leg.
“Why do I have to look good? I’m
just going down to watch you ladies, as Draco so aptly put it, ‘splash each
other like idiots’.” The green-eyed boy complained.
“Because we said so.” Gin
replied as Hermione clipped on the necklace. The two girls stepped away from
their work and gave Harry one more critical look-over, ignoring his scowl.
“Perfect. Now come on. We’re
meeting the other four at the main entrance.” Hermione decided, grabbing her
orange sunglasses from where she’d hung them between her breasts from her
bathing suit’s blue flowered top.
Gin tied her golden-orange
sarong over her golden-orange two-piece with a nod. “No books.” She added,
seeing Harry pick up the book he’d been reading earlier.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
Harry growled, setting the book back down.
“Talk to Draco. Pansy says she
doesn’t swim.” Hermione answered for Gin, taking one of Harry’s arms firmly
while Gin took the other. “Are we dragging you, or are you coming peacefully?”
“Peacefully.” Harry pulled his
arms from their grip and stalked from the room.
Sharing a high-five, the two
followed him.
-~*~-
“Are you actually going to be
swimming, Tom?” Gin asked as they stepped from the school and headed towards
the glittering lake.
Tom jingled the bracelets on her
arm with a grin. “No clue. I was thinking that I might sit with Harry and
Draco, so Harry has someone intelligent to talk to.”
Draco shot the girl a cold look.
“And you were hoping your presence would change that how?”
“Well, as I’m more intelligent
than you, I thought that would be obvious, though perhaps your brain can’t
grasp such a difficult concept.” Tom shot back.
“What’s crawled up your asses this
time?” Gin groaned, ignoring Hermione’s incensed shout.
“Nothing.” The two Slytherins
chorused. Pansy and Blaise offered shrugs.
“Well, I think you’re both
plenty smart, so stop arguing.” Harry intervened.
“Well, there you go.” Tom gave
Draco a look that dared the boy to contradict Harry. Draco scowled.
“You two are hopeless.” Harry
rolled his eyes and stepped ahead of the group, watching his steps on the
uneven ground carefully.
The group of Gryffindors and
Slytherins called out too late as Harry ran into an older Ravenclaw. The two
fell to the ground in a heap.
The elder girl pulled away
first, glaring at Harry as his friends ran towards them. “You complete an utter
twit! Watch where you’re going!”
“I’m sorry.” Harry whispered,
pulling himself to his feet slowly.
“You’re sorry?! Look at
this! My hair is tangled now!” The girl screamed, bringing a hand up to slap
Harry.
Tom grabbed the hand furiously
as Draco pulled Harry into a hug, which the smaller boy desperately needed.
“Fuck off, bitch.” Tom hissed. “You’re just as much at fault as Harry and,
since it was an accident, that makes it no one’s fault. Apologize
to her or I’ll break your hand.”
“Tom, stop it!” Harry pulled
from Draco’s embrace to glare at the red-eyed girl as the rest of their group
caught up.
Tom scowled, but let the older
girl go. “Fine.”
“Watch where you’re going next
time.” The girl spat before turning and walking away coolly.
“Why weren’t you looking where
you were going?” Pansy asked as Tom hugged Harry gently, discretely making sure
the raven-haired boy was okay.
“I was watching the ground for
rough patches.” Harry admitted, swatting at Tom. “I’m fine, so you can stop
that.”
“Hey, I’m just checking.” Tom
said defensively, ducking the hand aiming at her head.
“Well stop. It’s bloody
annoying.” Harry replied, smiling.
“Who was that girl, anyway?”
Draco grumbled, glaring after the girl, who appeared to be complaining to a
group of her friends.
“Cho Chang. She a year older
than us and in Ravenclaw.” Hermione supplied.
Tom and Draco traded looks.
“Well, I don’t know about the
rest of you, but I came here for swimming, and I’m not going to let some
Ravenclaw ruin it for me.” Pansy said coolly, bumping her pink blown-up
beach ball into the air gently and catching it again.
“Yeah. I’m sure Tom and Dray can
take care of Harry.” Blaise added teasingly before tossing her own pink beach
ball at Draco, who caught it deftly. “Play with that or something.” Then she
and Pansy herded Hermione and Gin towards the water.
“I think I might go back
inside.” Harry decided softly.
“I thought you were fine.” Tom
shot back.
“I am, I’ve just had enough
excitement for the day.” Harry replied calmly.
“Your standards are too low.”
Draco said firmly, resettling his blue sunglasses in his hair.
“You’re already out here.” Tom
added gently as Harry bit his lip. “You can sit under a tree while Draco and I
try and murder Blaise’s ball, if you’d prefer.”
Draco scowled. “No murdering
balls. I don’t want to have to call Father and tell him I owe Blaise Zabini two
pounds for a pink beach ball.”
Harry giggled. “Oh, all right.
I’ll go sit under that tree.” He pointed towards an oak and, at the two
Slytherins’ nods, headed towards it.
“Was she limping earlier?” Tom
frowned.
“…no…”
“Goddess damn her and her
pride.” Tom grabbed the ball from Draco’s hands and squeezed it angrily. “Come
on. Let’s play until she falls asleep or something.”
“Then what?” Draco asked,
pulling the ball from Tom’s hands to save it from its impending death.
“Then we go find Ms. Chang.”
Draco cocked an eyebrow at Tom.
“I’d call you over-protective, but I agree with you far too much.” He threw the
ball into Tom’s face, smirking when the girl glared at him. “Play ball.”
“How hard can you hit a beach
ball?” Tom inquired as they moved apart slightly.
“I dunno, but I have a feeling
we’re about to find out.” Draco replied.
“Bingo.” Tom threw the ball up
in the air and slammed it towards the blonde boy.
-~*~-
Harry watched curiously as the
two Slytherins walked over to where Cho and her friends were chatting. He’d
feigned sleep to see what the two were so worked up about. ‘Geeze. Aren’t
they over-protective.’ He thought blandly. It wasn’t like he minded. Draco
and Tom had made it clear during the past week that they considered him their
responsibility. It actually helped Harry some to know that the two cared enough
about him to go to such lengths to protect him from an open-handed slap.
‘I just hope they don’t
murder Cho or anything. It’s not like she’s a bad girl, just misled…’ Harry sighed and closed his eyes again to sleep.
-~*~-
Albus Dumbledore sighed at the
three students in his office. Miss Chang had come to him with a black eye and a
couple of bruises, complaining that Misses Riddle and Parkinson had attacked
her for no reason. Judging by the way the two Slytherins were glaring at the
Ravenclaw, Albus had to wonder if they didn’t have a reason.
“Misses Riddle and Parkinson,
Miss Chang came to me with accusations that you two had attacked her without
reason. I’d like your sides, please?” The Headmaster said at last.
Misses Parkinson and Riddle
traded looks. “Well, you see, sir, we had a reason, it was just a little delayed.”
Miss Riddle said sweetly.
Albus groaned mentally. He
really hated dealing with Slytherins sometimes. “And what was this reason?”
“Well, Headmaster,” Miss
Parkinson picked up the conversation in an aloof tone. “Miss Chang over there
had accidently had a collision with our friend Harry earlier and blamed it all
on her, going so far as to, not only call her names, but raise a hand as if to
strike Harry. We were merely showing Miss Chang why you don’t threaten Harry.”
Albus pulled off his glasses to
rub at his eyes warily. ‘Harry, of course. Why am I not surprised?’ He
looked over the two Slytherins with a frown. ‘Although, I do find it odd
that two from such different backgrounds would join together to protect another
who is so very different from the both of them.’ He pushed the questions
forming in his mind to the back and picked up the phone on his desk, dialing
Minerva McGonagall. “Minerva, this is Albus. Can you go and get Harry Potter
for me?”
“Of course, Albus. Do you
know where he might be?”
Albus glanced up at Misses
Parkinson and Riddle. “Have you an idea where Miss Potter is?”
The two traded looks again
before answering as one, “Dorm.”
“Her dorm room, Minerva.” Albus
relayed.
“Right away. Is there
anything else you’d like me to do on the way?”
“Drop by Filius’ office and send
him down for me?”
“Of course. Sounds like you
have a fun case on your hands this time.”
Minerva laughed.
“You have no idea.” Albus
replied before hanging up.
“Sir, will I get into trouble?”
Miss Chang cut in before the Headmaster could pick up the phone again to dial
Severus Snape.
“That depends on the full story,
Miss Chang.” He replied firmly before picking up the phone again and dialing
Severus. “Severus, I need you to come up to my office.”
“What is it this time, Albus?”
Severus asked sharply.
“A couple of your girls got into
a fight with one of Filius’ girls.” Albus replied calmly, used to dealing with
the cold Science Master.
“Very well.” Severus grumbled
before hanging up.
Albus glanced over at the
Slytherins to see their reaction to have their Head of House around. Miss
Parkinson was whispering something urgently into Miss Riddle’s ear, who scowled
and hissed something back. Miss Parkinson froze for a brief moment before
sitting back up coldly, face emotionless. Miss Riddle smirked. ‘Not such a
perfect fit after all, it seems. They still have differences to wade through,
but Harry appears to be that one holding them together. Interesting.’
The door opened to admit Severus
and Filius, who appeared to have met out in the hall. “Minerva’s on her way.”
Filius offered while Severus stared in shock at Miss Parkinson before rubbing
at his eyes and shaking his head hopelessly.
“What have you two done?”
Severus asked his students as he glanced over at Miss Chang. “No, nevermind. I
think I can guess.”
“It’s not our fault
Ravenclaws don’t know where they belong.” Miss Riddle retorted as the door
opened again.
“Tom!” Harry scowled at the
scarlet-eyed girl, who dropped her head in shame. “And didn’t I tell you two to
drop this? I said I was fine!”
“You were limping.” Miss
Parkinson shot back. “Hardly fine.”
Harry scowled and walked over to
them, limping indeed, Albus noted, and stood in front of them. “You shouldn’t
be beating people up, at any rate. If I ran into a wall and landed on my arse,
would you beat up the wall for me?”
“Now that’s just stupid.” Miss
Riddle grumbled. “No sane person would beat up a wall.”
“So, yes, Tom would beat it up
for you.” Miss Parkinson smirked.
“Headmaster, could I go to the
Infirmary?” Miss Chang asked suddenly.
Harry turned on the Ravenclaw,
sarong poofing slightly at the sudden spin, glaring at her. “You need to stay
here, since you’re just as much of the problem as Tom and Draco. At any rate, a
black eye and, what, three bruises, are hardly worth a trip to see
Madame Pomfrey.”
“But-“ Miss Chang quelled under
the Gryffindor’s intense green eyes.
“It’s an all-girl’s school,
Chang. No one cares if your make-up is messed up!” Miss Parkinson called. Harry
lips quirked with a smile at the comment and Albus got the feeling that he
wasn’t as mad at the two Slytherins as he pretended he was. Miss Chang, on the
other hand, burst in to tears.
As Filius comforted his student,
Albus turned a stern look on Harry. “Miss Potter, I’d like your side of the
story.”
“Do you mind if I sit first,
Headmaster?” Harry inquired politely.
“Please, do. Minerva, Severus,
why don’t you two sit as well?” Albus offered, noting the glares sent Miss
Chang’s way by the two Slytherins as Harry pull up a seat between them. Severus
and Minerva sat in the middle of the room. Severus’s face was blank, though it
had showed surprise at Harry’s earlier actions. Minerva just looked worried for
her student. She, like Albus, was aware that Harry had not fully healed yet
from the abuse he’d suffered at the hands of his uncle and cousin.
“Stop that.” Harry ordered his
Slytherin friends firmly before turning back to the Headmaster as the two
scowled, but turned their gazes from the Ravenclaw. Albus nodded for the boy’s
tale, noting how Miss Chang had quieted to listen. “Gin, Pansy, ‘Mione, and
Blaise set up a little trip for all of us to go to the lake and swim today.
They talked Tom and Draco into getting me to come as well.
“On our way down to the lake,
I’d gotten ahead after another one of Tom and Draco’s stupid spats and was
watching the ground for uneven patches when Miss Chang and I ran into one
another. She called me a few names and I apologized for running into her. She
raised a hand to hit me, but Tom stopped her. Tom threatened her, but I told
her to stop, so she let go and Miss Chang left. After that, ‘Mione, Gin, Pansy,
and Blaise went into the water while Tom and Draco played with Blaise's beach
ball and I watched. They waited until they thought I was asleep and then they
gave the ball back to Blaise and walked over to where Miss Chang was talking to
her friends.” Harry finished softly.
“Prat.” Miss Parkinson muttered,
bringing a smile to Harry’s face.
“You two were murdering that
poor ball. I knew you were planning something.”
“But you didn’t stop them!” Miss
Chang exclaimed, pointing a finger wildly at the green-eyed boy.
Harry set his hands on his
friends’ arms, as the two started up. “You have to admit that you deserved it.”
Was his quiet reply.
Miss Chang gave an indignant
shriek and had to be held back by Filius while Misses Riddle and Parkinson
smirked and high-fived over Harry’s head. Minerva was staring at her student in
appalled shock while Severus shook his head again.
Albus stood slowly. “That is
enough.” He said firmly. “Miss Chang, you will calm yourself immediately. Miss
Potter, that was hardly proper.”
Harry shrugged. “My aunt and
uncle were always reminding me to tell the truth, sir.”
Albus sighed at the silent, “As
long as it didn’t get them into trouble”. “Be that as it may, it was still
improper.”
“Sorry, sir.” Harry replied, not
looking sorry in the slightest.
Albus nodded, not having the
heart to yell at him. “Severus, Filius, I leave the punishments of Misses
Riddle, Parkinson, and Chang in your hands. Miss Potter, go see Madame
Pomfrey.”
“But-“ Harry tried.
“Go see Madame Pomfrey.” Misses
Riddle and Parkinson chorused, both turning in their seat to glare at the
Gryffindor.
“I’ll go! I’ll go! Geeze…” Harry
scowled at the two Slytherins as they sat back in their seats, smirking
triumphantly.
Albus hid a smile. “Very well
dismissed.”
Miss Parkinson jumped up and ran
over to talk rapidly to Severus while Miss Riddle stayed to help Harry up.
“Stop that. I don’t need your help, Tom.” Harry grumbled, batting the helping
hand away. He tried to stand and promptly fell back into his chair, wincing.
Miss Riddle rolled her eyes and,
ignoring the Gryffindor’s complaints, swept Harry up into her arms and glanced
over at Miss Parkinson, who glanced at their Head of House.
Severus sighed helplessly. “If
you’re not in my office in an hour, I’m hunting for you both and dragging you
back down by your ears.” He threated, standing.
“Of course, sir.” The two
chorused.
“Oh, for the love of the
Goddess, Tom. Put me down.” Harry muttered, laying his head warily on Miss
Riddle’s shoulder.
Miss Riddle rolled her eyes as
she followed Miss Parkinson from the office. “Oh, save your breath, Harry, you
idiot.” She replied, tightening her grip on the boy.
The door closed behind the three
and Albus looked back at Severus and Minerva. “How long have they been that
close?” He inquired.
“Since school started, though
Miss Riddle and Mr. Potter have been friends since they met the day they both
arrived.” Minerva answered. “It’s such a surprise, seeing those three in the
halls. Of course they have their other friends, but those three in particular
are attention catching. I don’t really know why…”
“It’s their personalities, I
think.” Albus mumbled. He glanced up at Severus, who looked troubled. “Severus,
what is the matter?”
“I’m beginning to wonder if
Draco wasn’t right about Mr. Potter from the start.”
“Oh, is that why you’ve
lightened up your treatment to Mr. Potter?” Minerva scowled. “Because one of
your Slytherins asked you to?”
Severus scowled at the woman.
“You don’t know Draco like I do, Minerva. She gets what she wants.”
Albus tapped at his chin, eyes
twinkling brightly. “Ah, Severus, does this have something to do with Miss
Parkinson not being who she says she is?”
Severus startled while Minerva
looked between the two. “Who is she, Albus?” She asked suspiciously.
“Why, Draconis Malfoy, of
course.” Albus offered.
“You let Lucius Malofy’s son
into Hogwarts?!” Minerva hissed.
Albus nodded cheerfully and
pulled out his cnady dish. “Sherbert Lemon?”
Minerva looked like she’d rather
strangle him.
A/N: Good place to end it, I suppose. -grins- Poor Minerva.
Next Chapter: Draco and Tom want answers, and they want them now.
~Batsutousai