CHAPTER TWO

This Is When You Get Up

Soundtrack: Where It All Begins – Hunter Hayes (Featuring Lady Antebellum)

Author's Note: First off, I want to thank you all for kudos and subscribes and comments. I never dreamed that this fic would be so popular and I want to thank you for taking the time to not only reading this very unconventional fic but also for taking time out of your day to show your support. *hugs* I also want to thank my awesome friend bigkoalaheaven for doing a last minute beta! And as always, all the multimedia and other extras associated with this chapter is up on this series's Tumblr blog.

ETA: Sorry about the typos. This was all on me and not my beta bigkoalaheaven, who was awesome. I did some last minute tweaking and forgot to clear up the typos. I also want to mention that Teddy Lupin doesn't exist in this universe. I feel that Harry or rather Aster wouldn't have left the Wizarding World if she had Teddy to look after.

"So was everything a lie?" Ginny asked, softly. The woman in front of me looked broken and so small right then. Nothing remained of Ginny's usual fiery personality, and it broke my heart to see it. I wanted her to scream at me, to hex me, and tell me that she hated me. I would rather have any of that, than this mere shell of the woman I loved standing before me.

"No, everything wasn't a lie, "I sighed. "I just didn't tell you everything."

She looked up at me then, her beautiful blue eyes shining with unshed tears. I did this to her, to the woman I've loved since I was 16 years old, and there was no easy way to fix it. No way to take my words back.

"You just been keeping this from me since we met."

I looked away from her then, "It took me a long time to figure out that I was..." I paused as I trying to force the words passed my lips. I closed my eyes, as I tried to spit out the words I have always terrified to say. "I was a woman."

"How long was that?"

I closed my eyes and winced. "Three years."

"Three years, and you never told me." Her voice sounded sad and resigned. "I can't do this."

I snapped my eyes open and spun around to see tears trailing down across her face. "W-What?"

She squared her shoulders and looked me right in the eye. "I can't do this, Harry." She whipped away her tears. "You're a woman, and maybe I could get passed that." Ginny shrugged, "But I can't get passed that you lied to my face for three years.

"I thought that you trusted me and that I could trust you in return," Ginny shook her head. "But you couldn't trust me enough to tell me about the most important part of yourself."

"Ginny, please," I said stepped forward, as I tried to reach out for her. "I'm sorry, I promise to be truthful with you for here on out just, please-" I pleaded, choking back tears. "Just please give me another chance."

She shook her head and slid off her engagement ring. The ring had been my mother's. I had been so proud to give her a year ago. My own tears began to fall now as she placed the ring in my hand. "I'm sorry, Harry."

I just stood there as the love of my life just turned around and walked right out of my life.

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself not in the sitting room at Grimmauld Place, but in a hotel room instead. I looked around the hotel room confused, as I tried to remember how I got there. Just then everything started to come back to me. I recalled the flight to Gotham, arriving at the airport, and the earlier incident with my magic.

I shuttered, as I wiped a hand over my face. I realized that my face was wet with my tears. I wiped my face, then flopped back down onto the bed. I found myself curling into a fetal position. The memory replayed themselves over and over in my head. 'How many times was I going to have this nightmare?' Ginny wasn't coming back. Ron and Hermione were never going to talk to me again. I got fired from my job as Auror the moment that it outed in 'The Daily Prophet'. I ran a hand over my face. Shit! I should be able to get over this. It had been five months since my whole life went to hell. Besides, If Ginny had been able to move on, then so should I.

Having enough of my pity party, I forced myself to get out of bed, and head towards my suitcases. I rummaged through my shrunken belongings hoping that I would have one normal sized piece of clothing to wear. Unfortunately, I found nothing to wear and I gave a long sigh of resignation. There was nothing for it, shopping had moved up further up on my long to-do list. I picked up yesterday's dress, and my toiletry bag and headed into the bathroom.

I grimaced as I stepped into the shower; the hot water stinging my now sensitive skin. I adjusted the tapes to something milder before I started to wash my body, then my hair. I thought about all the things I still had to do. I would spend this day, shopping for new clothes, and doing some sight-seeing. Then, first thing tomorrow I had to start looking for a job and a flat.

After rinsing off, I grabbed a towel and got out of the shower. I quickly dried off, and walked over to the mirror and wiped away the condensation. As I looked at myself in the mirror. I was still amazed at finally seeing the woman that was reflected back at me.

I grinned to myself, as I examined my much rounder and softer face. I was fortunate that I was almost virtually unrecognizable after I started to transition. My smile faded, as I opened my towel and looked down to examine my body. Where my body had been once broad, thin, and angular; it was now a bit curvy. I also started to develop actual breasts as well! My breasts were barely an A cup. To my chagrin, I still had to use gel inserts in my bra. Yet, I still saw it as a positive change. My body was so close to matching what I have always been on the inside.

I took out my makeup bag and pulled out a slim rectangular case. Unzipping, I saw that there were five thin bottles no wider than a muggle pencil. Inside of the bottles were a bright neon green potion. I drank down the 'Mutatio' potion with one gulp. and grimaced at the taste. Four months of taking it, and it still tasted like old gym socks.

I came to the realization there could be dire consequences if I attempted to use my magic right now. Which meant, that I had no possible way to brew my next month's supply of the 'Mutatio' potion. I had to take the potion for a year and a day without missing one dose. If I didn't not only the transition process will stop, but all the changes the potion caused would be instantly reverted.

I would have to find alternate means to get my potion. It was a foregone conclusion that I would eventually have to contact a wizard or a witch to make the potion for me. It was a huge risk on my part, but I had no other choice.

There was one little problem with my plans to find Gotham's Wizarding Community. I had no idea where to find it. I couldn't follow the trail to the largest amount of magic in Gotham like most magic users could do in most cities. Gotham's inherit magical aura made that impossible.

I had to find the city's Wizarding district the muggle way. So after breakfast, I made my way on the subway down to the Gotham's Central Library. I looked through the old newspaper articles and search through the old issues of The Gazette. I looked for any sign of strange happenings in Gotham. I tried to find and narrow down all the strange occurrences that might be magical in origin amongst the city's usual brand of costumed insanity.

Frustrated and hungry, I decided to finally call it quits. After a quick lunch, I finally was able to squeeze in a little sightseeing. Gotham City was, noisy, and was just as filthy as the thick gritty smog that enveloped the city. Even right then at midday, Gotham seemed to have more shadows than not.

Yet to me, Gotham felt more savage and untamed than London. Even, the city's skyline seems to reflect that. The buildings in Gotham were an amalgam of twisted Gothic spires and arches alongside the narrow art-deco style structures. The buildings almost appeared to be looming menacing over the city like a visible threat to its apathetic citizens.

I spent the rest of the day like any tourist. I took several pictures on my phone as I visited Gotham Square, Robison Park and wandered down Main Street then pass City Hall and The Courthouse. Even at one point, I actually broke down and bought some souvenirs even though I didn't have anyone to send them to. As I walked down the busy sidewalk, I could even spot Wayne Tower despite it being all the way in Midtown. The glass and chrome tower seemed to stand almost majestically over the rest of the city.

Yet, although I had fun sightseeing. The earlier episode at the Airport was still in the back of my mind. I worried that going out had been the right thing or if I should have stayed in the hotel room instead. I didn't want to hurt anyone if it came to the worse and my magic decided to rebel again.

Luckily by dinner time, I didn't have any further incidents. So I decided to stroll a bit further before I went back to the hotel. I wandered past West Addison Street and on to Quentin Avenue into the Fashion District.

Walking into the Fashion District made me homesick for the familiar shops in Camden Town. The neighborhood had bright flamboyant buildings with weird and arty shop windows and signs. I could spot more than a few elaborate murals on the walls as I wandered past the shops. The whole place, in fact, looked like a mad mash-up of Camden and Bond Street. Mixed in with the colorful shops was the opulent white stone and glass buildings that housed all the major designers. Yet, despite the exterior differences of each shop, every one of them carried a high price tag.

In the one shop, I actually walked into they had a freaking t-shirt for sale for $100! No matter how much I was itching to use my brand spanking new credit card, I was still leery using it-especially in that neighborhood. I knew I should have just taken a detour to Lacey's Department Store instead of coming down to the expensive shops in the district. My stomach rumbled, and I sighed as I figured I might as just cut my window shopping short and go eat dinner. I was just pulling out my mobile to look up the nearest affordable restaurant when I spotted it:

Sitting in the window of a bright pink shop (that reminded me uncomfortably of Umbridge's office) was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. It was a sleeveless baby blue dress that had a heart-shaped bodice that flared and fell all the way to the ground.

I abruptly found myself hurrying across the street, dodging cars and angry drivers alike. As I got closer, I blanched at the price tag of the dress. I was so torn, on one hand, I REALLY wanted the dress, but I was uncomfortable with spending all that money. I gave a long resigned sigh. I knew that I should have just headed back to the hotel but, it couldn't hurt if I would to try it on?

With some trepidation, I walked inside the shop and it was just as sickening pink as it was on the outside. The walls were darted with large posters in elegant frames hanging on the walls. I walked over to the glass and chrome counter, where I noticed there was an Asian man was sitting behind it. He didn't even look up as I walked in, the man's whole attention was on his sketchpad. His fingers practically flew around the paper as he drew with fast and frantic strokes of his pencil.

"Excuse me?"

The man was startled so much that he almost fell off the stool that he was sitting on. "Uh, sorry!" He said as he scrambled on to his feet. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"It's fine." I gave him a shy smile. I pointed to the dress in the window. "I was wondering if I could try that dress on."

The man looked me up and down and I squirmed under his piercing gaze. "No."

"What?" I asked, thinking that maybe I misheard him.

The man grinned at me and said, "No, I don't think so."

I shook my head as I stared back at his excited face. My disbelief swiftly grew into annoyance. "Why is—"

I cried out as a wave of sharp agonizing pain hit me. I thought that maybe I had been exaggerating about the pain, but once again I felt an intense stabbing pain through my whole body. It felt as if a thousand tiny knives that pierced my skin over and over again.

"Oh my god!" I heard the man shout, and started to run towards me.

I screamed and doubled over as another wave of pain hit me. I swayed dangerously on my feet, and all sudden I found myself falling onto the ground as the world around me rapidly fading away into darkness.