Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter. This was written for the June 2016 Just Write It over on Wattpad which had a LGBT theme. I ended up not finishing this one – I only got three chapters into the piece, as writing this put me in a rather dark mood. As such, I don't know how often this will be updated. Should the story put the reader into a dark mood as well, I don't blame them if they quit reading either.

I thought about writing another slash story for this challenge, but this idea has been in my noggin for some time, so I decided to go with transgender instead. The idea popped into my head because in canon Ron voices the idea that Molly kept having children until she got the girl she wanted The transition process is also very slow.

Red Nosed Reindeer
Ron: Not a 'He'

The summer heat beat down on the countryside of Catchpole, and the red heads of the Weasley family. Ron sat under the tree watching the other red haired children splash about in the pond near their family home. The eleven-year-old tucked their legs up, wrapping their arms around so they could rest their chins on the top of their knees. The abnormal heat created sweat on Ron's skin, an apt comparison to how the preteen felt in their own body, and yet the feeling didn't seem to describe the way the red-head felt enough. One arm loosened, and Ron stood up to head back into the kitchen to sit at the table while Molly busied about getting her child a drink.

"How come my letter hasn't come yet?" Ron's fingers drummed against the table, a pair of blue eyes unable to look the matriarch in the eye, lest she figures out the secret the eleven-year-old kept from the rest of the family. Once Ron mentioned something to George, the younger of the twins, and got a rather negative reaction. Thankfully the teen hadn't mentioned anything to Fred, or if he had, the two kept the secret, likely laughing, in Ron's opinion, behind his back. The word him, however, felt ever so wrong every time he heard the word, reminding him of the uncomfortable feeling.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it will come." The look on Molly's face made Ron feel like she'd lost hope someone, and thus the preteen felt hope was lost as well.

Ginny wandered in, freckles dotting her pretty face, making Ron swallow, the mind noting how lucky the youngest was. She was born a girl, the right gender to, not to mention the fact it was all too obvious Molly had wanted a girl. Ron fidgeted, blue eyes darting to the table, glad for the drink provided by the Weasley family matriarch. Ginny was so very lucky, and Ron's mouth opened to utter this fact, garnering a glare from Molly.

A knock came at the door, and Molly looked up to see Professor Houch from the school standing at the door, a smile on her face. "Hello, Molly Weasley."

"Ah, it is nice to see you, but it is a bit odd, isn't it?" Molly's smile beamed at the other woman.

Houch smiled. "There is a reason why I'm here, a rather important one really. I believe your husband should be arriving home from work soon."

As if on cue, Arthur popped out of the fireplace, and began to shake Houch's hand, excitement in his movements. Ron felt embarrassed, sinking down. "What do we have the pleasure of today, Madame Houch?"

"Could I possibly talk to the two of you with only Ron being here. It is rather important." Houch's eyes drifted over to Ginny, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity. Molly, however, called the others in from outside and sent Ginny upstairs with the boys.

Ron's sister opened her mouth, her eyes darting over to look at the second youngest. George, however, tugged at her shoulder roughly, the dirty look making Ron feel queasy. Everything felt like it would just blow up, and the eleven-year-old couldn't help but feel scared.

Madame Houch sat, allowing Molly to bring a tea to her. Arthur continued beaming at the professor but brought up the thought which pounded in Ron's mind. "It's not usual for Professors to make home visits. The only time is to deliver letters, and that is most of the time because the students are Muggleborn."

"It's because I'm not going to get a letter, isn't it?" Ron swallowed, two blue eyes refusing to look any of the adults in the eye.

"Why would you think that?"

The eleven-year-old couldn't say Fred and George enjoyed teasing the second youngest about the letter being late. Molly's face fell. "It's about that thing. I wouldn't have suspected, considering the fact - well, Ron's into male things."

Ron flinched, feeling as if the secret were out. Houch let out a sigh. "Well, then you are both aware of the ministries policy regarding youth like Ronald, and the options provided."

Arthur continued to beam at the woman. "I've heard about such individuals." The man turned to Ron. "What is it like being born as the wrong gender? How does it work?"

The eleven-year-old gagged, the way the Weasley patriarch treated the situation like one of his Muggle toys sending shivers down Ron's spine. A hot heat burned in Ron's cheeks, and the two blue eyes refused to look up from the table, the knuckles on the hand white due to how hard the preteen gripped the table. Houch's eyes widened, giving the man a rather disapproving look.

Molly took a deep breath. "We're aware of what goes on, but would you mind explaining things to Ron."

"Indeed."

"Explaining what?"

"Do you know how you've got this feeling that you were born the wrong gender? Well, there is a system in place that detects this, and the ministry has options for children like you."

"What kind of options?" Ron looked up, not liking the over exuberant look on Arthur's face or the look of worry on Molly's.

"There is the option to have your gender changed to the one you feel ou should have been born as. This change, should you ever change your mind, is reversible, but only up to the start of the term after you graduate Hogwarts. Then any change must come out of your own pocket. There is an exception to the rule, but we will not go into that."

"That sounds..." The preteen stopped short. "Wonderful, bloody wonderful."

"I'm not finished, though. The only people who know will be your family unless of course you or a family member mentions something to other people. You need to be careful, as not everyone is going to be understanding. On top of this, the transition isn't easy. People who go through the process go through dysphoria. Common reactions are feeling like one is now the right gender, but yet feeling like a stranger, almost like one is reborn. That's the way I've heard it described by the students I've mentored."

"So, you're not yourself..."

"No, no. I'm actually just super pro-feminist. The transition must be done soon, as the changes are restricted to between semesters at Hogwarts, so people are less likely to become aware of the gender change." Houch placed the letter in front of Ron, along with another piece of paper. "The network has been set up to take you, and your parents to Mungo's, where the procedure will be done. On top of this being your decision, your parents have the final say. I'll let you think about this.