Board, board, boardy boardy board. Board, board. Board, board, boardy, boardy, board. Board, board. Gah I am so board why the hell did I agree to help these idiots out. Something bad is going to happen I know it is. If anyone would happen to pass by the unused classroom at this time they would have been amused to see a very board looking Draco Malfoy muttering under his breath while staring blankly at the far wall. Upon further inspection there would see the everyday occurrence of Crabbe and Goyle sitting at a table staring confusedly at their charms homework looking as if they were trying to figure out the answer to life.
"Draco?"
"Yes, Goyle."
"I'm finished reading the pages."
Draco almost jumped for joy. He had asked them to read the two pages explaining the spell 45 minutes ago.
"Fine, we'll start while Crabbe finishes reading."
Rising out of the chair he had flopped into he directed Goyle over to the other side of the classroom.
"We're going to start with the simple cheering charm before we actually try its' more advanced form."
Taking out his wand he shot the spell at Goyle who immediately broke out into a wide grin. Once again the saying you learn something new everyday stands true. Goyle should never ever smile. In fact the very act for him should be made illegal.
Knowing that somehow, in someway he was going to regret his next action he directed Goyle to cast the charm on him.
"Now I want you to cast the charm on me. But speak clearly, loudly and slowly. I really don't want to pay for your mistakes."
Goyle nodded and raised his wand at Draco who had to stamp down on all his instincts that were screaming at him to run as fast as he could and as far as he could. Of course Goyle ignored his instructions to speak clearly and, as always, mumbled something that could never pass as English in a million years. As a result an odd colored spell that was defiantly not the cheering charm slamming into him sending him flying backward right into the wall behind him.
Draco slowly rolled onto his stomach. Something was defiantly wrong with him. It felt as if the top layers of his skin were slowly dissolving and peeling away. It wasn't painful it was just a really creepy feeling that he was in no rush to experience again. Groaning softly he pushed himself up so that he was sitting with his legs bent on either side of him. Something was defiantly different with his body but he couldn't identify what it was. All he knew was that it was a familiar feeling and that something was defiantly not as it had been.
"Hey girl who are you and what have you done with Draco?" Goyle questioned not grasping the fact that it would be impossible for a girl to get in the room with them.
"Yah." Crabbe spoke up. "Your not supposed to be in here Draco said so."
"What the hell are you two idiots talking about." Draco spat out. His eyes widened in shock when he heard his voice. It was defiantly higher than it had been. Ignoring the other two in the room he rushed over to where his wand lay and conjured a floor length mirror.
"Oh God" he, who was actually a she, whispered. "It's finally gone."
Raising a hand to the mirror to touch his reflection as if that would make the situation any more real for she could not truly believe that the spell her father had cast on her was gone.
"I don't believe it."
Spotting Goyle and Crabbe staring blankly in the mirror she whipped around erased both their memories and stunned them to avoid notice and annoying questions. Slipping her wand through the belt that was now keeping her jeans up instead of just being there as an accessory. She dashed to the classroom doors and made her way to the headmasters' office without slowing down. Thankfully she was able to avoid all students on her way to the office but it would seem that luck was not on her side for as she slid around a corner she crashed straight into a hard yet soft surface that wasn't supposed to be there surface.
---------- Harry and Co. POV----------
It was only about a month into the semester and it was already clear that this would not be a normal year, as always. Like all wizards and witches who on their 17th birthday all three of them had gone through their maturation this summer. On a wizards or witches 17th birthday they are recognized as full adults, at least by the law, and their powers evolve on this day. And if by chance your powers are strong enough before your 16th birthday this evolution causes them to become magical creatures. It doesn't matter if they are pureblood, half-blood or muggle born only that you are a witch or wizard. Both Harry and Hermione had become magical immortal creatures. Hermione had become a fairy or as they were properly called Tuatha De Danaan. Harry change was odd considering the personality he showed the entire school including Ron but Hermione knew better. Harry had spent the summer at her house and she had gotten to know her best friend even better than she had and she knew that what he showed the school was an image that they expected of him so that was what he gave them. He had become a Yami or a Shadow Master as they were more commonly know as, but don't let their name fool you he could do way more than just control shadows, not that he was telling anyone but Hermione of course. Ron hadn't been strong enough in his childhood to change but his raw wizarding power had risen a very noticeable amount. A fact he was always quick to point out to Malfoy. His power had defiantly increased but for what had been happing for other students' maturations it wasn't all that impressive. That thought kinda depressed Harry for some reason. He and Hermione were sure that he would be one of the students to undergo the change so when they saw him after the break he was disappointed to say the least.
Currently Harry and Hermione were on their way to their common room to meet up with Ron before they headed to Dumbledore's office. They went there every Saturday morning for Harry and Hermione had to learn how to control their new powers and abilities. What Dumbledore didn't know was that they both practiced extensively behind his back learning things about their new selves that they had been told would be impossible or hadn't been told to them at all. Because of this and the amount of time they spent in the library doing school work, Harry was determined to do the best he could in all his courses, (he even had Hermione tutor him over the summer so they were both taking the same classes as each other), they didn't see Ron as much. For even though he was now recognized as an adult he still acted like a little kid. This was one of the few times Ron hung out with them on the weekend when he tagged along to watch their lessons with Albus.
Currently it was a rather nice day if not a little cloudy, and they were just returning to the common room after a rather successful training period in a room hidden close to the library. Ron hadn't ask too many questions he just complained about the amount of work they were doing now, so all in all it was a perfectly normal day for them at Hogwarts. So because of this relaxed atmosphere and appearance of normalcy it was no wonder that even with Harry's and Hermione's enhanced senses and abilities they didn't realize the danger coming right at them. Therefor Harry was sent crashing to the ground when someone came flying around the corner slamming right into him. Together they fell in a tangle of limbs and shouts of pain.
"Oh my!" Hermione exclaimed glad she was only a bystander in this collision. "Are you both alright." Crouching she helped pull the smaller, unidentified, girl off of Harry and on her feet. Looking the girl over for any injury Hermione realized that she didn't recognize her and that was odd because she was the kind of person you would remember seeing even if you just caught a glimpse of her.
Because of what he now was Harry recovered from the collision instantly so he used the time that the girl was using to regain her bearings to gape at her. She wasn't tall around 5'5, 5'6 at the most and that was pushing it. Her long silvery hair was pulled back into a loose, thick braid that reached her hips, with a few wispy bangs framing her face. Her skin was a beautiful ivory color all her facial features were soft and fitting with her small dancer like frame. Thick dark eyelashes framed molten silver eyes. Lips the color of pink rose petals were pulled back into a slight grimace as she gingerly mover her right wrist. She had a small chest, but again that fit perfectly with her overall physique. She looked like a living porcelain doll. And there was something about this delicate looking girl that was calling to him. Shaking his head slightly he gracefully stood and spoke to her.
"Are you alright?" Her head shot up at his question and she looked back and fourth between him and Hermione for a few seconds.
"Yes I'm fine." Came her soft musical voice. She studied her surroundings closer eyes widening when she realized that she must have taken a wrong turn somewhere and gotten lost. Se didn't recognize anything around her.
"And lost." she whispered. But Harry and Hermione heard her just fine.
"Where were you headed?" Hermione asked curious as to who this girl was.
"The headmasters' office." Came the distracted reply as she turned to study the area she now found herself.
"What a coincidence" Harry smiled. "We were just going to meet a friend then head there our selves. Do you want to join us?"
At her apprehensive look Hermione encourage her brightly to accept.
"Alright. But where am I?"
"Your close to Gryffindor common room." Harry answered
"Hey ummmm... what's your name."
"Oh... it's Zoë. Zoë Morrison."
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Hermione Granger, and this is Harry Potter."
Harry tried to mentally prepare himself for the usual questions and remarks about his scar and the quiet whispers that he really didn't believe that You- Know-Who was back. Or even worse he was praying that she wouldn't be like all other girls and instantly start swooning, blushing, and only liking him because of his name. But when all they got was a distracted nod and a "It's nice to meet you." all his fears were instantly gone and replaced by something he couldn't quite name.
"So if you'll follow us we'll just pick up our friend then take you to the headmasters office." Hermione said kindly and they started walking to Gryffindor tower.
"So where are you transferring from and why did you decide to come to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked trying to bring the quite girl into a conversation and guessing that she was transferring here.
There was a small pause before she spoke, "I used to go to a small school in France. And when my family moved to England I got transferred here." she tried to give them both a smile but the could both see the unease she was trying to cover up.
"Do you know anyone else here."
"You two are the first ones I talked to since I got here, but I do know that a childhood friend of mine go here."
"That's great! It's good that you know someone here and I'm sure tat you'll make new friends quickly."
Zoë gave Hermione a small smile. And she couldn't help hoping that this time she could truly be herself without fear of retribution from her father and that maybe she could have friends.
Harry and Hermione stopped in front of the Fat lady's portrait and Zoë stopped also and looked at them confused.
"This is the entrance to the common room." Harry explained.
"I'll jut go in and grab Ron you two can wait out here for us." Hermione spoke up before whispering the password and dashing through the passageway to go find Ron and tell him about Zoë so he didn't make a fool of himself.
There was silence between Harry and Zoë for a few seconds before she spoke up, "I do know who you are."
"What?" was his intelligent reply.
"Harry Potter the-boy-who-lived, defeater of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named more commonly known as Voldemort. I do know who you are."
"You didn't act like any other when found out, and I have to thank you for it." He said after he got over the fact that she said his name. And he decided not to question her on it and just be thankful that he finally found another person besides himself and Hermione that would say his name.
Zoë gave a small shrug and said softly, "There's more to a person than their name."
Although Zoë didn't know it that single comment had earned her Harry's respect, trust and gratitude that someone who he just met could see past the boy-who-lived persona and just see him, Harry.
The silence that spread between them was a comfortable one despite what you may think and it gave each of them a moment to their thoughts. Despite all outward appearances of being calm Zoë's thoughts weren't as peaceful. She was standing outside the Gryffindor common room with HARRY POTTER. The guy she had a crush on for a long while. She may have looked like a guy but that was all she had been a girl all her life and no appearance spell was going to change the way she thought. It also didn't help that the summer had been really good to him. It was obvious that he had a summer birthday because some of the changes that had happened to him could only be explained by the change that sometimes happened during your maturation. He was a lot taller, but that could also be explained by her being so short, anyway he was a least 5 inches taller than her so that made him around 5' 10 or 5'11. Not the tallest person but the height suited him. He had the build of an acrobat. Slender, full of sleek lines and hard defined muscles that could never truly display his true strength. His hair had grown a little and the added length ad given it a controlled messy look and currently some of his hair had fallen in front of his eyes giving him a mysteriously dark look. But it was in his eyes that you could see the greatest change, especially without those God-awful glasses. One could clearly see his burning emerald eyes that seemed to be lit with an inner fire. He had this dark dangerous feel to him. But it wasn't bad dark just dark, dark.
Thankfully the portrait opened and out came the other two of the golden trio that was surprisingly starting to drift apart stepped out. At least that was what she saw happening.
----------------Hermione & Ron----------------
Entering the common room it took Hermione a few minutes spot Ron in the mass of students that were crowded in the room. When she finally did see Ron she had to fight to keep tears from coming and running back out of the room. There was Ron sprawled on the couch snogging Lavender as if his live depended on it. Fighting back tears and forging on she headed over to where the two of them were and tried to politely interrupt them. And when that didn't work she snapped at them.
"Excuse me." She snapped and was slightly satisfied when they jumped apart.
"What do you want Granger." Lavender questioned boardly
"From you nothing. From Ron I want him to get moving because if we don't get going were going to be late for Dumbledore's lessons." Hermione snapped back.
"What put you in a bad mood?" Lavender pouted.
Not responding she turned and headed to the portrait, Ron following only after he gave Lavender a goodbye kiss.
Turning to face Ron she told him about Zoë in a short clipped tone and after one warning not to make a fool of himself, she exited the common room. Unfortunately she didn't get very far before Ron grabbed her arm and hissed into her ear,
"Why didn't you tell me she was so hot."
Fortunately it was a this time that Harry and Zoë spotted them so she yanked her arm back and quietly snapped back,
"It shouldn't matter."
She turned to smile at the two who had come over to stand with them.
"Zoë the is Ron Weasley." She introduced, "Ron this is Zoë."
"It's really nice to meet you Zoë." Ron smiled.
She nodded her greeting to him before turning to Harry.
"Can we got the Headmasters now I'd like to get my rooms sorted out so that I can mail my mother to deliver my trunk."
Harry nodded smiling and gestured for her to walk beside him. When they started walking Ron scampered to Zoë's other side and Hermione walked beside Harry. There was silence for a few seconds before, surprisingly, Zoë spoke up.
"What are you two?" she asked looking at Harry and Hermione.
"What do you mean?"
"You not normal." At this Harry burst out laughing.
When he noticed Zoë staring at him, he smiled at her and explained.
"Sorry." He said. "But my entire life even before I was one hasn't been normal. It was just funny to hear some one say it so bluntly to me." Both Zoë and Hermione smiled his but it was Hermione who answered Zoë's question.
"We went through the change on our 17th birthdays."
"Mione became a fairy…" Harry started
"Tuatha De Danaan." Hermione interrupted sounding exasperated, as if they've had this conversation many times.
"Ya that," Harry smiled at Zoë when he heard her giggling.
"And what did you become." Zoë asked enjoying the friendly banter that was happening between the two.
"Me, I became a big bad Yami." Harry stated proudly.
There was a moments pause before Zoë's silvery velvet coated laughter rang out. All three of them stopped and started laughing also. When Zoë calmed down she looked at Harry, her silver eyes sparkling; she cocked her head to the side and questioned.
"Big? Bad? You?"
They started walking again with Harry trying to convince them that he was big and bad.
"All have you know that Yami means darkness and…"
"Who's your Hikara?" Zoë questioned effectively putting and end to Harry's explanations on how big and bad he was.
"My what?"
"Your Hikara. You know you light. You do know about them don't you."
"Yes, of course I do. You just startled me with the question. I didn't know that information about Yami's was that well know. It took us forever to find all that we know."
"I'm a pureblood I grew up with those stories. Although I don't know how much information in the stories is true. But I do know that in all the myths about Yami there was always Hikara by their side. Although most people now a day think that Yami and Hikara were just myth. I guess your living proof that all those stories were true."
"Wow, you'll have to tell me those stories sometime. And I don't have a Hikara. Haven't found her yet."
There was a small silence before Harry snapped his fingers
"I know a reason that I'm big and bad."
All that got has was two you've got to be kidding me looks ad one jealous one from Ron because of all the attention he was getting.
"No really this one is good. I can even give you physical proof." And with that he propped his arm up on the top of Zoë's head.
"See."
His reply was being shoved off. He gently bumped into Hermione who was laughing at him.
"Is he always like this?" Came Zoë voice. Hermione quickly smothered her laughter and gave Zoë the most serious and pained expression.
"I afraid so. No mater what I do to try to change him. I'm just about ready to give up and officially announce him a lost cause."
"Hey!" Came Harry's indigent reply.
Both girls burst out laughing and try as he might Harry wasn't able to stop a smile forming on his face.
"Were here." Snapped Ron's voice from behind them. The three of them turned to see the entranceway to Dumbledore's office behind them.
"Oops." Said Harry sheepishly.
"So how do we get in?"
"Oh right the password." Harry walked up to the statue and said clearly, "Skittles."
"Skittles?"
"A muggle candy." Hermione answered.
Zoë just nodded to show that she heard. All four of them went up the stairway and entered that door to the headmasters' office.
Dumbledore came to meet them at the door and when his blue eyes fell on Zoë they started twinkling even more.
"And who do we have here?" he said kindly
"Zoë Morrison, sir. I just transferred here."
"Ah yes. You'll forgive an old mans memory." He then turned to address the other three in the room. "Would you three please wait outside while I get Miss. Morrison settled."
They nodded and the three of them left the room leaving Zoë alone with the crazy headmaster.
"Now I'm sure that there is a very interesting story here Miss…"
Zoë turned to face the headmaster who had taken up residence at his desk again. She lifted her head and proudly replied to the unspoken prompt.
"Malfoy, Zoë Malfoy." She had the pleasure of seeing the pure shock come over Dumbledore's face. And his eyes were most defiantly not sparkling.
"And how did this happen." He asked referring to her now female state.
"I was born a girl, for your information. It wasn't until I got a letter the invited me to this school that my father took it upon himself to make my outward appearance that of a boy. You see he didn't like the fact that his only child was and girl."
"So how did you release the spell?"
Here Zoë gave an undignified snort. "I didn't. It was Goyle. I was trying to help them as per requested. But those two idiots can't do anything right. I don't know what I was hit with only that when the spell ended I was normal again. I don't even want to think about what my father is going to do to me once he finds out"
"Miss Morrison I don't think you needn't worry about your father doing any thing that you don't want to happen you're an adult now."
"That's just the problem." She almost shouted. "I'm still 16 my birthday is in November."
Albus was quite for several moments absorbing this new information. Of course he had felt the increase in power that Mr…Miss Malfoy had gone through over the summer but he, like everyone else, had just assumed that it was from her maturation. And not and increase in power form study, practice and hard work. But if she was still 16, and he could believe that she was telling the truth because she was worried what her father might do since he still had legal guardianship over her, then she might be almost as powerful as Harry after her maturation. How had he miscalculated him…. her so badly? And all the years she had spent here he was watching Harry and his group not her because he didn't think she would ever have enough power to be a major player in the game. But now he was left with an unknown variable that could affect all his plans. Also she didn't trust him. She didn't rely on him the way the other three did so manipulating her to his advantage would be a lot more difficult. Well her could always try to gain her trust. This is why he hated dealing with Malfoy's they were great actors and hoarded useful knowledge.
"I will deal with your father Miss Malfoy if he should arrive before your birthday." He replied with a "kind" smile.
Standing he took the sorting hat down off the shelf and handed it to Zoë. Who wrinkled her nose at the ratty old thing before sighing and putting it on.
Well now what have we here. Ahhhh Miss Malfoy. Welcome back. I see you have managed to let go of most of your anger and hatred. Also it seems that you've gotten rid of that spell.
Yes, well as fun as it is talking to you again could you please get on with it? Zoë defiantly didn't like the slightly sinister feel she got form the hat but before she knew it the hat had shouted out
"Gryffindor."
Sighing she removed the hat. It wouldn't be so bad. She was really starting to like Hermione and was glad she got to spend time with Harry. Yes everything would be find as long as the weasel stayed away from her. She handed the hat back to Dumbledore ignoring the bloody twinkle in his eyes and requested to use his fire to contact her mother to tell her the news.
As suspected Zoë's mother, Narcissa, was over joyed to hear that she got has gotten her little girl back. They talked a while before Narcissa left with the promise of a whole new wardrobe by suppertime.
When she stood and turned she noticed Harry, Hermione and Ron behind her.
"Hey we heard the good news. You're in Gryffindor with us." Harry exclaimed.
"Who were you talking to?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"My mother, if you must know. She needed to know my house so she could get me some robes and send them to me with all my other clothes which should be here by supper."
"Don't mind him he's just being nosey. Harry and me usually practice here to control our new abilities until dinner. Would you like to stay?"
"Sure. I could never find my way back, anyway." If she was going to be in Gryffindor then this could be her chance to make all her past wrongs right or at least say that she was sorry for everything that she had done, if she ever got the courage to tell them the truth.
Walking over to one of the plush chairs around the edges of the room she curled up in the chair and looked at Harry and Hermione expectantly.
"Well what are you waiting for? WOW me." She dramatized playfully. Hermione smiled back at her and without warning a gentle twister of flower petals started circling around the chair that Zoë was sitting on. Harry added in his own tricks and soon an impromptu contest started up: who could out with the others magic. Zoë was almost on the floor laughing and Ron was sitting quietly in the corner seething with jealously. Even though they were careful not to do anything that was out of the range of what Dumbledore had been teaching them it was still an impressive display of magic and imagination. There display had left Dumbledore stunned at the ease at which they were calling up there magic and Ron had given up on glowering at Harry and took to staring at the laughing Zoë.
Before any of them knew it, it was time to go down for supper. So the four of the exited Dumbledore's office and made there way down to the great hall still laughing at the "class".
"That has got to be the best lesson that I've ever had there." Harry exclaimed. Spinning around so he was walking backwards and facing Zoë. "So who won?"
"Well." Zoë pondered regarding both Harry and Hermione "Harry, I'm sorry but I have to say Hermione won."
"What?" Harry gasped at the same time Hermione let out a tiny whoop of victory. "You wound me." He continued holding a hand to his heart.
Zoë responded by sticking her tong out at him. Harry huffed and turned around only to almost fall down the stairs that were directly behind him. The three of them burst out laughing with Ron the loudest.
They reached the great hall in no time and when they opened the door they were surprised to see Dumbledore rise from his position from the head table.
"How on Earth did he get here before us?" Zoë whispered. All she got in reply were three equally confused shrugs. As soon as they entered Dumbledore stood and the great hall went eerily quiet.
"Students I would like to introduce a new transfer student. Miss Zoë Morrison is joining our Gryffindor's and I trust you will all make her feel welcome here."
Zoë did her best to ignore all the people starting at her as she made her way to the Gryffindor table. Who would have ever though her a Gryffindor.