I'm no-one special…
Harry Potter made his way to the dungeon, Dumbledore had summoned him to meet there the day before very oddly, it was very unlike Dumbledore, tense & looking around;
"Harry, meet me in the dungeon at 6, there's something I need to show you" then he literally rushed away; being here brought back horrible memories for Harry, and his battle with the Basilisk, but he knew Dumbledore wouldn't summon him here for no reason, however it left him on edge, as he came into the clearing, he saw no-one, it had just gone 6 and Harry knew Dumbledore wouldn't be late, he began to panic.
'This is something else...' he thought, realising he should get out.
Right then he felt a searing pain in his back and he was flown across the room like a rag-doll "Harry Potter" said a voiced laced with amusement and snideness, "a pleasure, I'm sure."
Harry tried to turn around but he felt himself almost glued to the floor, the pain spreading through his body like wildfire.
"Well Harry" he now realised it was a female voice, and felt a kick in his side causing him to cry out in pain.
She kicked him again causing him to roll over and see her in the eye. Bellatrix Lestrange. He groaned and tried to cry out again but her wand had paralyzed him.
"Harry...my dear Harry, why haven't you kept in touch? I was worried you wouldn't want to see me..."she chuckled, "luckily, you're about as gullible as a 5 year old child when you think you can be a hero" smirking.
"I'm going to change you Harry... don't worry, I won't kill you..." she trailed off, "I know better than that..." Harry detected a slight note of fear in her voice but he was in no position to fight her, what killed him most was the fact that if it was a single duel he knew he could defeat her, but like this, he was powerless. Something else puzzled him;
'Why doesn't she want to kill me? I'm hardly going to join her...' however another bout of pain erupted when she kick him with her high heels again.
"I'm going to change you Harry..." she whispered, bending down and speaking into his ear. "Harry Potter will no longer exist."
This last sentence sent chills into his spine.
Suddenly then Harry heard a sound from down the corridor. Both their ears pricked towards the sound.
Some hope formed in Harry's chest, and he heard Snape's feint voiced, followed by Dumbledore shouting.
"Don't worry" said Bellatrix gleefully tugged his cheek. "It's only one spell. One, irreversible spell." Harry's heart stopped, an irreversible spell was serious, only a handful were actually known, and all of them were completely banned.
"Transfemmaprisco!" She roared pointing at Harry, he felt nothing.
She stood for a moment, looking as though she might collapse from the effort, a cold chuckle formed in her mouth and emanated, clearly Snape and Dumbledore were close enough and began sprinting towards them, wands at the ready.
She took one last look at Harry with an unforgettable smirk which imprinted itself on Harry's mind. She then pointed the one towards herself and chanted;
"Appratritus!" She vanished instantly, with no trace.
The second she had disappeared Harry clutched his chest and rolled up into a ball, the pain he felt was unbearable, he looked up for one last time to see Snape desperately trying to cast a reversal spell Harry himself had used before, Dumbledore watched on in sadness. He fainted.
Harry awoke and realised there was no pain, just tiredness and a ravishing hunger, when he gathered the strength and adjusted to the light, he first looked up at the ceiling, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't in the hospital wing, the colour of the ceiling was a rich red, not the pure white that adorned the hospital block, he also noticed that he was in a bed much nicer than that of the hospital wing.
'Where am I?' he pondered, after a minute or two of his mind racing, trying (and failing) to find a reason for this bizarre turn of events, his memory completely gone to him. He tried to look up, he managed to edge his head up a few centimetres before dropping back down, in those few seconds he saw both Snape & Dumbledore in the room, Dumbledore was asleep on a chair facing the bed, meanwhile Snape was rapidly going through a rather large book with a look of intense concentration on his face.
Harry moaned, it could of been his hearing not quite adjusted, but it sounded strange, as though his voice was much higher & stressed. He heard movement and within 10 seconds Dumbledore & Snape together come over and peered at Harry.
"Harry, you're ...awake" said Dumbledore, this was very much unlike Dumbledore as well, he was usually a steady and calm man, but this voice stressed more, sorrow, and reluctance. Snape remained quiet but a look of anguish and perhaps deep down repressed, grim amusement was on his face.
Harry tried to speak again, but it came out as another moan, this moan was definitely different, it sounded more like Hermione bristling at one of Ron's terrible jokes or statements that women were unable to do certain things. Harry however didn't think much of it and tried to concentrate on the two men.
Dumbledore lifted his hand quickly in a clear gesture meaning 'Stop, and we'll explain'.
"Do you remember anything that happened Harry? Before you feinted?" He said slowly before adding, "nod or shake your head."
Harry immediately shook his head.
After a moment of uncertainty, "You do know who we and you are..." there was a deadly silence in Harry's confusion before he nodded rapidly.
'What happened? Of course i know who I am...' Dumbledore spoke again.
"Harry..." then paused, as if, for the first time ever, unsure what to say. "I will be honest with you, are you ready to hear what i'm about to say?"
Harry nodded, still bewildered.
"2 days ago," began Dumbledore, causing a pit to form in Harry's stomach.
'Two days?!' but he remained silent.
"You were convinced by Bellatrix Lestrange, who was using a polyjuice potion in order to appear as me, to go down to the deepest dungeon, where you once fought the basilisk."He paused. Harry still didn't understand, but tried to take it in.
"When you arrived there, you were ambushed by her, who paralyzed you, leaving you unable to fight back at all. Before we arrived, she cast a spell on you..." Dumbledore paused again, not wanting to explain it himself. "Do you now remember?" he tried almost begging for Harry to remember himself.
For a moment he did realise, he remembered lying on the floor, helpless with a woman over him, it must have been her, he began to nod and with strength coming to him he said "I think I..." he stopped, and Dumbledore had put his hand up again with desperation, but it was too late, the voice Harry heard, was not his.
'My voice...´ he thought, he knew immediately what it sounded like but almost refused to believe it. His voice was not a male voice, but high and unmistakably female.
In a word, Harry said, ignoring Dumbledore & Snape's anguised looks "Trans..something...oh my god what's happened?!?!" He clapped his hand over his own mouth, his muscled ached for the effort but he needed to, as if to try and stop it anyway he could and make it better.
This time it was Snape who spoke, "Harry, i'm so...so...sorry" he almost choked out, but for the first time, it sounded genuine, this troubled and scared Harry more than anything else, it must be serious. He decided to try and wake up, and failing this, listen to them. Still with one hand clapped over his mouth he motioned for either of them to please explain what happened.
"Harry, I said she casted a spell." Dumbledore spoke first. "It was an irreversible spell." He said simply, this caused another flashback of memories from Harry remembering Bellatrix saying this herself. "This spell, is very old, ancient even, to use it..." he paused again, clearly pained, "is dangerous. This is the spell that was used on you..." Harry felt paralyzed again but waited. "This spell, changes people. And there are two parts to it."
Now it was Snape who continued.
"After consulting this book" he said flicking his hand towards where he was sitting "the two main parts are..." Harry felt like screaming at this man's incompetence but again, was too scared of what he might hear, so he waited desperately. However this might've come across to Snape who momentarily flashed with annoyance followed by guilt. He hurried after that.
"There are two main effects to the spell...she...cast" he paused clearing his throat. "The first...sorry...this may distress you Potter, but is a temporary loss of identity. But it will last up to 4 or 5 months, you may remember us, and the school, but i doubt you shall remember who many of your friends are, or anything about them." Harry's fists clenched and he was about to speak before he clapped his hand over his mouth again, then, completely surprising to him, he felt the urge to cry, he was feeling more pains in his stomach and he clenched up in a ball, still staring at the professor. Snape looked very uneasy for a moment.
"Potter...the other effect, which is not temporary...well, Harry, you're...not what you used to be" is all he could say, "you're female Harry."
Silence ensued, Harry felt wheezy and with a huge effort looked beneath the blankets. He tried to take in what he could but feinted again, too weak.
When Harry woke again this time it wasn't all fuzzy it came back to him straight away, and still not wanting to check anything, or do anything, Harry Potter began to cry, he knew Snape was right, she knew Snape was right. She cried, unable to stop herself, and Dumbledore came over to comfort her. Harry Potter had never been like this, even in the face of death itself he never cried, but Harry now found himself unable to do anything to stop herself.
She felt well enough to speak now and began to talk between bouts of tears, even Snape offered a hankerchief.
"...how could this happen..." she began to no-one in particular.
Finally she said, "I'm like this...fore.....for...forever?" Finally, a note of defeat in her voice.
In reply Dumbledore came over again and embraced her.
"I've sent for Sirius at once, he should arrive within the hour...please...this is so hard for you, and I believe both of us owe you an apology..." at this Harry slowed crying and looked at them.
"Why." Simply, a mixture of sorrow, confusion, frustration & curiosity.
"Severus & I were discussing the potions department and such when an alarm was sounded on my wall which I have to alert my person as to when people enter the forbidden dungeon...Harry, when I heard it, I ignored it, if I had of acted we could of saved you from this..." at this point Harry had gone beyond caring and just began to cry, endlessly again, still in bouts of pain, this time lower in her body she buried herself under the covers, Dumbledore sighed, and both of them exited.
Sirius arrived soon and came in alone to see Harry.
"Harry..." he cautiously said, clearly having been warned about the situation, no reply. Harry was awake, but didn't respond, she hadn't even seen herself yet, she didn't want anyone else to see or do anything, and for a moment, she felt as though she didn't want to exist, and she wished Bellatrix had indeed finished her off.
"Harry, please..." a long pause, "can i help?" Then, without knowing why, Harry snapped at him.
"CAN YOU PLEASE BE QUIET?!" screamed Harry although it came out as more of a loud squeal, causing Harry to turn face down again in shame.
"Don't try that with me Harry, c'mon..." still unsure but trying to get through to him. This voice struck a chord with Harry and he burst out in tears again, Sirius came over to comfort him, slightly scared and worried about it, for the first time, Sirius saw her, she was absolutely stunning however he didn't have time to admire her for long as she buried her face in his chest crying.
"Why!? Why why why why!?" between sobs, "why me?! Always me?! Always fucking me!" she finished with a huff. Harry hated to swear, but at this point she didn't care.
"C'mon lad...i mean...i'm sorry" fumbled Sirius, and to his surprise Harry chuckled through sobs,
'Jesus, he really is a girl' he thought trying to keep track of the stream of emotions.
After this ended and Harry had seemed to calm down, Sirius began.
"Look...Harry" he said after not knowing what to say. "I've spoken with Dumbledore...this is terrible, and i'm so, so, sorry, you're right. It's unfair..." he said. "This always happens to you, but listen, i'm going to try and do everything I can for you."
Harry began to try and think clearly, accepting with thanks his words.
"I spoke with Dumbledore and Snap" he began. Causing Harry to giggle at the mispronunciation of Snape's name, in horror Harry clapped his hand over his mouth and squirmed, Sirius was ready for another bout of tears but Harry seemed ok with it. "And he's agreed for you to come home for a few weeks and ugh...sort this out, after that well, we'll do everything we can...but...argh, can they come in?" Harry nodded using the handkerchief to wipe the bloodshot eyes and tears away.
Snape nodded and Dumbledore said "Harry...how are you feeling?"
"Mmm better...I guess" said Harry still playing with the words in his mouth, scared at what he was hearing, a strangers voice.
Dumbledore smiled and looked between Sirius & Harry.
"If I may speak to you clearly Harry, Sirius. He began looking between them." He said "You have many options to consider." He then began again looking at Harry, "Harry." "What can I say? Severus and I are eternally sorry, we have...caused you pain, and what you must undergo, the guilt lays on our shoulders, I assure you, we shall try everything we can to make amends." Harry nodded, knowing the truth in Dumbledore's words, but seemed scarily close to tears again.
"You may of course spend as long as you need recovering with Sirius, that's your right. However after that, it is up to you. Have you thought at all of the primary effect of the potion?" He inquired looking sorrowful again.
Harry shook his head, realising with panic and shock that he had completely forgotten even who his friends were, or anything about them, he remembered that he was in Gryfinndor, but with faces, his mind was lost. At this he did begin to cry again, but calmed down with the help of Sirius soon.
"I suggest, if you ever want to feel normal again Harry, you do come back to Hogwarts, we have put you in this situation, indirectly maybe, but we have, and I suggest you come back here as soon as you can and try to recover what you've lost...your friends, your teachers, your studies..." Harry's gut clenched, he knew he would not enjoy that at all, but for the moment appeased himself with the thought of leaving school for a bit and recovering. He understood the truth in Dumbledore's words.
After this, Harry fell asleep and woke up in Sirius' house. He stayed in bed for that day, the aching had gone in the most part but Harry was still scared to "explore" what the transformation had truly done.
Sirius had left a note beside his bed saying that he had gone out, however he had left a drink and some food which Harry readily ate. After an hour or so, she plucked up the courage to lift up the blankets.
What she saw were two large lumps on her chest. She groaned but looked again and tried desperately not to go into a fit again, and just accept what had happened. What was increasingly was worrying her was her loss of memory, all of her friends...she couldn't remember a single name or face, is was as though they'd been extracted one by one, leaving all other memories intact, the only people she really remembered were the three she had seen, clearly keeping the memories of those intact. She was effectively a new person.
'She said that she'd change me...' trying to hold back some tears, 'I'm not really ever Harry Potter.'
After coming to terms with her new position, she relaxed, trying to clear her thoughts and think of the next step.
'I don't want to stay here feeling sorry for myself, Dumbledore said that the sooner I get back to school, the sooner i'll begin to remember. But...what will people say?! Harry Potter...' she decided to drop that thought, finding it too much to deal with right at that moment, and Sirius arriving back distracted her.
"Harry!" he said "how are you feeling?" seeming in a good mood, bags in both hands.
Harry trying to smile sweetly.
'My god, if that's not a pretty smile.' Thought Sirius but tried to concentrate.
"Sirius..." she began, her voice sounding almost musical, but dampened "don't tell me...in those bags you have...y'know..." looked petrified.
Sirius looked guilty for a second but then broke out into hearty laughter, and after a moment Harry began to laugh as well, it was a much needed comical break, and Harry felt much better for it. After this though Sirius looked at Harry, trying not to sway down from her face, it was a hard temptation to resist, even in boy's pyjamas it was clear how beautiful Harry was as a girl, and Sirius found himself again trying not to look down, he blushed, but Harry didn't seem to notice.
"Have you...ugh...looked at...ugh..." Harry giggled then checked, before continuing;
"Ya..." started Harry turning red before saying, "just a bit...i still havn't looked in a mirror yet though." With this Sirius guided Harry, who seemed reluctant towards the bathroom's big mirror, he mumbled an excuse and left Harry alone to look.
'My god.' Was all she could think, the girl he was looking at was absolutely stunning, she found herself checking herself out but felt too weird so stopped.
'Jesus, i'm much better looking than even Cho' she thought, not sure whether to feel sick or happy or anything, so she remained for the most part confused. In a perverse way she felt really good but chided herself.
That aside, there was no denying the fact that the girl was beautiful, the untamed hair still had an element of wildness in them but now it covered half of her face with raven locks, her eyes glinted as Harry's had done, but now they were a deep emerald green, the scar imprint was there, but for the first time he realised it had basically gone, this pleased her and saddened her at the same time, the scar was part of him, and he'd lost it;
'Maybe that'll come back with the memories...' she foolishly thought.
She wasn't too skinny but was perfect, her arms and legs had retained the muscles that she had had in her boy form but they only served to make her look...more perfect. After a minute of just starting she couldn't bare it any longer and left the room with a grimace.
Sirius was waiting outside expectantly, "Well?" no reply, Harry continued to walk towards the bags, unsure of what he might see, "Harry, you're firkin beau-" but before he could finish Harry said.
"Don't! Please!" with a frown, "don't creep me out..." Sirius nodded slowly and tried to intercept Harry before he saw in the bags, too late.
"Oh my god!" Squealed Harry before turning away disgusted and ashamed, having seen the skirts, pants and other girl accessories. "I can't believe what i'm seeing..." trailed off Harry just looking out the window.
"Harry...i'm just doing what Dumbledore advised me to do, i'm sorry la....i mean..." blushing, "i'm sorry Harry but you have to accept it, it must be hard. I know that. But you have to accept it, you can't continue to wear your old clothes..." silence again, before she knew it she was in tears again.
"Sirius..." she said finally, "I want to go back to school" she said this with finalilty. "The classes, the people...the clothes" she said after a pause causing Sirius to smile but still looked concerned.
"Harry, you can relax and recover here, be my guest..."
"Thanks...really" she said with a smile that lit up her face, "but I think I need to get back into it, or i'll never be the same, can you speak with Dumbledore?" She asked.
"Of course." He said, patting her on the head, "you're a brave laa—ss" to his relieve Harry just smiled followed by a grimice as he looked back at the bag.
"So...i'll have to wear one of...these?" he said, taking a skirt similar to one worn by Hermione out of the bag?"
"Well...it's your choice...you know...you can always go back the same...maybe-" he said before being interrupted as Harry snapped.
"It's not the same! DAMNIT" she shouted, "i'm sorry..." rubbing her temple, "i feel crazy at the moment..." after another pause, "it's not the same..." this time gently, "it's different and you know it, you know Sirius, i don't remember anyone." Allowing this statement to sink in, she added with emphasis, "Anyone. Damnit! Anyone at all! What makes me Harry Potter?! I look different, i bloody sound different, I don't remember who I was, I don't even know who I am..." she trailed off.
"But, you are! You are Harry, you are my godson, you remember that don't you?" Harry nodded weakly, "and your parents? You remember them don't you?" Strangely she found that he did not only remember them, but even now he could see their faces in his head, she nodded slowly.
"Well then!" Smiled Sirius.
"Thanks...I really needed that" smiled Harry, hugging him.
"Well, try and...ugh..." pointed towards the bags "think? And look i guess, i'll speak with Dumbledore now." Before Harry walked of he said "Harry?" she turned around and nodded, "you're sure that you're ready?"
"As ready as i'll ever be..." she sighed, continuing her way.
Sirius looked after her for a moment before turning around.
After speaking with Dumbledore by the muggle phone for use in emergencies he sat down on the couch by Harry who was seemingly in a trance twirling a lock of her hair around her fingers, when she noticed Sirius she dropped the hair looking embarrassed and looked at him expectantly.
"You can go back tonight if you like." He finally said, sounding sad.
After a pause she replied, "Thanks..." they hugged then, "it's something that I have to do."
"I know." He replied. "You know Harry, what do you mean to do? Go back as Harry or..."
"No." Came the firm reply that shocked Sirius, "i've thought about it, and I wouldn't mind starting a fresh, at least until I remember who I really am. Which means that I guess i'd need a new name..." looking embarrassed again she looked away.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, "You're brave kiddo, you're damn brave, how about Hailey?" She nodded slowly then looked at Sirius.
"It's perfect." She said, "thank you so much."
After the packing was finished, they hugged again and Sirius said, "any problems kiddo, and you tell me, ok? I love you."
This made her feel a bit uncomfortable but she waved back tearfully;
'I feel like crying at everything now' she thought attributing it down to the shock.
She appeared in the fireplace of Dumbledore's office who was waiting, when she arrived he smiled greeting her warmly. She had the armful of bags.
"Harry, I admire your braveness in coming back here so soon, I can't possibly imagine what it's like for you." She just smiled and tried to be polite.
"Have you given any thought to your situation, I feel you must make your own choice now".
She gulped, "Professor, I want to start afresh, until I really remember who I am..." he smiled slowly in admiration.
"I know that is a hard path to take, you have my admiration, have you decided upon a name?"
"Hailey..." she said with another gulp.
"Ok, well, I know you won't like this, but until you've come to terms with this, i'd like to put you in the Slytherin house, so that Severus can deal with any issues you have, and of course, my office is always open to you...Hailey." he said, trying, and succeeding in comforting her.
"Another problem, i fear." Said Dumbledore, still sadly, "the rumour of your disappearance has gone through the school, i'm afraid in desperation over the last week i've told everyone that you've had to leave the country, but nothing else, I've said that you won't be returning in the foreseeable future, i hope you don't have a problem with this."
"No professor" trying not to get emotional again, "I...mmm, how will you explain how i've arrived?"
"Well you know how rarely we accept students from other schools? You'll be a student from Beuxbeuxton, is that alright?"
"Fine, professor..." but he sensed she was upset.
"You need some rest, Snape, take her to her quarters." Patting the girl on the back.
Snape picked up the bags and began to guide her towards the Slytherin common room. The Snape she had known as Harry was still there it was clear, but he seemed genuinely sorry for her.
"Potter...i mean Hailey." Amending himself, "I'll be your head of house, i'm sure you know, and i'll do everything I can to make it an easy ride for you. It's partially my fault" he said quickly and under his breath "That I admit, and I will try to help."
"Thank you..." she said, so surprised to be hearing this from him.
"You're clearly an attractive girl-" followed by a cough, and Snape looked straight ahead whilst saying it, "so I would suggest being wary of some of the rather...rowdy boys." She was almost laughing at this but she regained control.
'For Snape to say that.." she thought.
"However, lessons will continue as normal" returning to the Snape she knew, "and now you're in Slytherin." He said with a slight smirk, "So I expect you at least to ace potions" she grimaced at this but she appreciated Snape being honest and making an effort to talk to her.
"Slyder" said Snape clearly, "remember that password Hailey, i won't repeat it."
The common room was empty seeing as it was 1am so Snape made his way to an upper floor. The common room was very very cosy, much nicer than that he had come used to in Gryfinndor, there were 6 leather couches and a huge crackling fire. Eventually Snape stopped outside a lavish room headed with "Head Girl" on.
Snape smirked at the name "Don't get any ideas Pott...I mean Hailey. Unfortunately the Head Girl isn't in Slytherin this year, so this room is yours. If you need anything, my room is two doors down." He was about to leave when Hailey said;
"Thank you Professor." With a sweet smile, he looked back and nodded, surprised, before continuing."
She took a deep breath and opened the door, the first thing she noticed was that it was huge, more like a hotel suite than a dormitory, with a double four-posted bed and an en-suite bathroom. Again she felt unnerved, as though she was being treated specially.
She dropped all of the bags by the cupboard, wanting to get them out of her mind, but she realised the following day she'd have to wear a skirt, she groaned inwardly.
'What have I got myself in for...'
With that she fell back on the bed, and fell asleep surprisingly quickly.
She was woken up in the morning by a rap on the door, followed by Snape's voice piercing her head.
"Miss Hailey, wake up. I will not call again." With this she heard him leaving, and was tempted to fall back into bed, but decided to get up instead. She felt her hair being a mess and decided to sort it out before leaving.
Looking in the mirror she saw it was, and she was a bit of a mess, and after having a very awkward shower she finally got ready, choosing out one of the longest skirts Sirius had bought, which still only just came to the top of her knees.
'Idiot.' She thought, choosing a simple blouse and pulling her robes around her. It was just intime as Snape came again knocking at the door seeming as though he might break it down this time.
"Miss Hailey, if you're not dres-" she opened the door, "oh" he said, and couldn't stop himself staring at the girl almost mesmerised for a moment before he wrenched his eyes away from her, she heard him mumbling ;
"It's potter...it's argh" she locked the door thinking;
'Ok that's freaky, he was totally checking me out.' But she followed him quickly to the hall in time for the assembly, she came in by the back way and chose a seat by some of the new years trying to stay conspicuous however she felt practically the whole halls eyes on her, it was almost unbearable;
'Jesus, this is worse than when I was introduced as Harry Potter in my first year'.
Along with that she heard a wolf-whistle from a nearby table and everyone muttering nearby, she was scared out of her wits. She almost felt like she'd cry when someone from a nearby table said "Who's she?!"
Luckily it was at that moment Dumbledore began the assembly, it was a typical assembly with a number of notices, Hailey kept her eyes firmly down as whenever she lifted them she seemed to be being watched by at least a dozen people. After a while Dumbledore came to her;
"We also welcome two new students to Hogwarts this year, the first, Hailey Wiltshire, who is in the sixth year, Slytherin." A round of applause almost started then and everyone seemed to only have eyes for her but Dumbledore stared down the main offenders, "and Ricky Saunders, who has joined the fourth year, Hufflepuff." After this a suitable applause was made, with many Slytherin openly boasting already. The assembly quickly came to a close and Hailey made for the exit quickly, not quickly enough apparently as a group of boys blocked her path to the exit. They seemed also to be in the sixth year.
"Hailey? I presume?" The leader with blond hair said.
She tried and miserably failed to smile, adjusting her hair which was covering her eyes.
"My name's-" he began
'I really don't have time for this right now' she thought.
"Sorry, I really am, but I urgently have to speak to professor Snape" she tried to smile then left the room, leaving the group of boys silently staring after her.
When she got to Snape's room she knocked once before hearing a curt "Enter."
She did so and he glanced up before saying "Miss....Wilkshire?" With a slight smirk, "what can I do for you?"
"Professor," she began, "I don't think I can handle this, may I be excused from lessons for a few days until I adjust?" hoping he'd agree, being in assembly was just like being in first year again.
"Very well, Wilkshire," he sighed to her relief, however you must catch up on the lessons that you will miss" handing her a timetable. "You do remember your lessons etcetera I hope?"
"Yes sir" she replied looking at the timetable. It seemed her timetable crossed almost without fail with Gryffindor pupils.
"You may stay in your room or go to the library to work, I presume you can find your way around?" Almost seeming bored of the conversation.
"Yes...I should be fine" she replied reluctantly.
Another knock was heard at the door, the blond boy from assembly strode in;
"Malfoy? What can I help you with?" He said glancing up at the boy,
"Sir, I noticed that we had a new pupil and I thought I could offer my assistance in showing her around." He said smugly to the professor.
"Very well, Hailey, I mean, Miss Wilkshire, this is Draco Malfoy." He stopped looking at the boy for a moment then said "If you need help I'm here, otherwise, dismissed."
Hailey looked at the blond boy, he reeked of arrogance and she wondered if she'd known him before, sighing she thought;
'I'm sure he's keen to know about me...'
"So Hailey, it's nice to meet you" he said looking at her expectantly.
"Likewise..." she forced out with a weak smile.
"So, I saw you have herbolagy first," motioning to her timetable, "Shall I lead the way?" She could even hear an edge of nervousness in his voice.
"No thank you, I've been given leave from lessons for the first week to settle in, but i guess I'll see you around?" Not waiting for him to answer she walked towards the library, the boy followed her with his eyes, she could feel his eyes on her;
'Typical.' She thought, taking the passage towards the library.
Entering the Library, she was pleased to see it was almost empty save from a few people, even they turned to look, but she headed towards a secluded corner and sighed when she saw someone else there;
'Oh well, I guess I have to start somewhere.' She thought.
She sat down and the bushy haired girl looked up from her work;
"Ah! Hailey? Isn't it? A pleasure to meet you." She said, greeting her warmly, seeming genuine enough.
"Likewise!" replied Hailey, smiling instinctively for the first time since she arrived.
"Sorry, what's your name?" asked Hailey.
"Hermione Granger, but you can just call me Hermione or Herm if you like" she put down her book.
"So which school did you transfer from?" she asked, looking genuinely interested.
"I've just from Beauxbaton" she replied, taking out a Herbolagy textbook.
"Oh wow, i've only ever met one girl from there, Fleur Decaleur, surely you know her?" she asked.
Hailey didn't have a clue but from how the girl asked she replied in the affirmative.
The next thing she said came as a shock;
"Are you...a...veela?" she asked sounding a bit embarrassed.
That made Hailey laugh , 'Am i really that good looking?'
"No!" she said before amending herself, "no not at all, but thanks I guess?" she said blushing. Both the girls laughed at this;
'This might actually be alright, at least I know someone."
"So why are you here?" asked Hermione.
"Well, to be honest I'm a bit nervous, so I asked permission to have the first week of lessons off. How about you, shouldn't you be in lessons?" she replied.
"Well, the current Herbolagy course for sixth-years, I completed last year, and the Herbolagy lessons for the 7th-years are at a different time, so I study for it alone." She answered. "Anyway, why are you nervous? You look...amazing," causing her to go more red "and I bet once you get settled in you'll be fine."
"Thanks..." followed by an awkward pause.
"Hermione?" she answered giggling.
Blushing again she said, "Right, Hermione! Sorry."
"Don't worry about it, although I doubt anyone will forget your name." At this she smiled meekly and carried on reading.
They made pleasant conversation between working and when the lesson came to an end Hermione went to go but Hailey stopped her saying;
"Thanks Hermione, I feel much better now" smiling.
"No problem" returned Hermione, "have a nice day". And walked off;
'This mightn't be that bad after all."
At that point she realised that she needed the toilet, cursing herself she made her way to the nearest girls toilet, she'd intended to use her private toilet as much as possible, but it was too far a walk from there.
She walked in nervously, there were a few other sixth year girls talking as well as some others, they all looked at her when she arrived;
"Hey..." said the main one without much enthusiasm, "my name's Pansy", each of the others greeted her and she replied;
"Nice to meet you all i'm-"
"Hailey," smiled Pansy weakly, "yeah I know" there was an awkward silence and Hailey went into a cubicle.
'That could've gone better.' She thought.
After finishing what was a slightly awkward procedure she left and headed back to the library. This time she sat in the corner alone and got on with work for the allotted hour. Beginning to get bored she decided to attend the next lesson to see what it was like. Which happened to be potions.
She arrived late to the lesson and entered;
"Thank you for joining us, Miss Wilkshire..." said Snape coldly as she entered. On any other occasion the Gryffindor's in the room would have protested at him not deducting house points however on this occasion there was just silence and a sea of eyes watching her. She headed towards the back and although there were some free spaces with hopeful faces she quietly chose a place near the back and took out her books.
"Luckily, since Miss Wilkshire has decided to join us, we now have an even number of people for a practical." This was met with mixed reactions, but it was agreed that it was better than normal work.
After everyone had paired off with the assigned pairs Hailey went up to check, seeing 'Neville Longbottom' by her name.
'Right..' she thought scanning the crowd, then an average sized boy looking down nervously came up to her, "Hailey?"
"Hey there...nice to meet you...Neville!" she said, trying to sound assured as the boy was clearly petrified.
"Ugh...yeah...yeah i mean and you...definitely" stuttered Neville hardly able to believe it.
After seeing this she decided to take the lead in the practical, however as the lesson progressed Neville became more at ease and they spoke freely;
"So Neville, do you play quidditch?" Hailey asked, brightening up.
"Umm, not really, but you should see Harry! He's our house's seeker, i bet you've heard of him? Harry Potter?"
"Yeah, Harry Potter, i've heard of him..." smiling meekly, she went on to try and change the subject but Neville said;
"You know it's a shame, a few weeks ago Harry had a battle with Voldemort himself, and has had to go into hiding in America, they said he might never come back"
"Is that what they say?" replied Hailey, trying not to puke. "You know Neville, i'm not feeling very well..." with that she tried to make for the door, but was only half way there when she dived for a sink and threw up. Snape saw the incident and came over with a look of distaste.
"Malfoy" he said pointing at the blond, "escort Miss Wilkshire to the hospital wing, i have a feeling she's unwell" however this didn't earn a laugh as too many people seemed concerned.
Malfoy took her hand and escorted her out of the room;
"How are you feeling?" sounding as though he genuinely did care.
"Guess." Replied Hailey bluntly holding the tissue to her mouth.
They arrived in silence and Madam Pomfrey took in the situation at a glance, ushering Hailey to a bed with a sink besides.
"Young Lady, have you eaten anything at all today?" asked Madam Pomfrey sternly.
Hailey looked as though she were getting a telling off in first year "No...I didn't make breakfast"
"What on earth do you expect?" sending Malfoy to fetch some soup, in 10 minutes he'd arrived back and given it to Hailey, he was making away when Hailey said;
"Wait..." followed by an uncomfortable silence.
"Draco...?" he scoffed, almost unable to believe she'd forgotten already.
"Draco! Damnit, yeah, thanks alot Draco, I appreciate it." Giving him a sweet smile, Draco smiled back before leaving;
'He has got one hell of a smile....Draco...' she thought before going back to her soup.
"Get some rest" said Madam Pomfrey said, "don't worry" Hailey smiled thankfully and obliged closing her eyes.