Dahlia sat quietly in the kitchen corner, a soft smile on her face as she observed Harry, Remus and Sirius interact. A number of Order members had arrived since she left on her self-appointed mission to retrieve Harry from Dursley hell, and their glances in her direction were not subtle in the least. Except Moody; he was absolutely inconspicuous as he attempted to peel the flesh from her bones with his intense stare.
Dahlia glanced at him and chuckled quietly to herself, only smirking wider when his real eye narrowed and he leaned further in her direction. She was actually enjoying herself as she observed all the occupants of the house, deceased and living alike. It was almost like she'd stepped into a dream, and sitting back from them all allowed her to slip into an almost trance-like state as her mind wandered in all directions.
Moody was still alive, and he'd stay that way. It was also more fun than she could remember messing with him, although that was probably because she'd been so young and intimidated by him the first time around. Now, as Head Auror, she'd faced things much scarier than Alastor Moody could ever hope to be. The missing body parts and only partly intact nose still unnerved her a little, though, but she still preferred his mad eye on his face than in the toad's door.
Tonks had returned with her and was sitting beside her grizzled mentor, laughing with Emmeline Vance across the table, both who would live too. Dahlia recalled the blow that Vance's death had been to the Order, and how it had made such public news in both the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Watching Tonks laugh, though, Dahlia was struck by how very young she was. Younger than her, certainly. She could barely be older than twenty-one right now. Dahlia began to feel sick at the thought, her playful mood retreating, and turned to the next person she was determined to save.
Severus Snape. There he was, standing stiffly in the corner opposite her, looking as pleased to be there as he ever had (which was to say, not at all). Dahlia scarcely knew where to begin when it came to Severus Snape. All she could do was stare, a deeply thoughtful look on her face. He glanced at her then, their eyes clashing, and she wondered if he was using Legilimency as he glared. Maybe, maybe not, but there was one clear thought in her head that was louder than any had been so far; Thank you. He made no outward expression but he glanced away, transferring his glare to Dumbledore, who stood with Professor McGonagall nearby. Dahlia lifted her lips in a faint smile at his behaviour. It was so refreshingly predictable.
Harry disentangling himself from the Marauders caught her attention, and she watched as he made his way to Dumbledore. Dahlia frowned when she saw the headmaster turn away from him before he could get close, and effectively ignore him. She remembered that treatment very well, and how destructive it had been. Harry could potentially handle it differently than she had – for all their similarities they were still different people – but Dahlia didn't doubt it would still hurt him just as much as it had hurt her. Well, this was something she could nip in the bud right now.
Dahlia jumped up from her seat and strode towards the headmaster. She would have laughed at the way Moody jumped to his foot-and-stump and drew his wand on her if she hadn't been so determined.
"Harry!" she called, smiling as she reached him. Hesitating only a moment, Dahlia wrapped her arm around his upper back and steered him back towards Dumbledore. "Come with me," she murmured, eyes narrowed determinedly. "Professor Dumbledore," she addressed, smiling charmingly as he turned around, "that tactic you're thinking of is a bad idea, trust me. Been there, done that; it didn't work," she advised, tilting her head down and eyeing him seriously. "Harry wanted to speak with you. Didn't you, Harry?" Dahlia smiled down at her befuddled counterpart and was struck by the sudden desire to pinch his cheeks. She refrained, but only just.
"Er, yeah," the boy coughed, and glanced towards Dahlia before turning away. "I was just wondering what we were going to do about that Ministry Howler," he began, fidgeting with his hands. "I didn't do any magic, sir, I swear. They can't expel me for that, can they?"
Dumbledore hadn't looked away from Dahlia, studying her neutrally before finally turning to Harry with an almost relieved smile that, in turn, relieved Dahlia. Much of some fifth year angst had been averted. Hallelujah.
"Not at all, my dear boy," he promised, patting Harry's shoulder. "If I'm not mistaken, it was Dahlia who initially tripped the Ministry underage magic sensors when she apparated. It won't be a problem to get this sorted out and have you ready to return to Hogwarts in no time."
Dahlia felt Harry's shoulders slump in relief beneath her arm and smiled fondly at the teenager. He really was endearing himself to her with very little effort. Dahlia wondered if there was a deeper reason for that but dismissed it. There was nothing wrong with being fond of the boy. He was essentially her family now, and she'd always unequivocally loved and been unwaveringly loyal to her family.
"I'll get everything sorted out tomorrow before the trial," she reassured, squeezing his arm.
Harry turned to her, shocked. "What trial?!" he yelped, green eyes wide.
Dahlia's eyes imitated his. "Um…" she began, "Professor Dumbledore appealed it, I think…?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I had intended to tell Harry in a more delicate way, but yes, I organised your immediate ruling to be suspended pending trial. Should all go well between Dahlia and the Ministry tomorrow, you won't need to attend a trial whatsoever."
Harry relaxed again and smiled at the old man. Soon dismissing himself, Harry left Dahlia and Dumbledore alone.
She kept her eyes on the boy as he sat with Ron and Hermione, but spoke in low tones to the headmaster. "It won't be so easy tomorrow, no matter what proof I give them," she confessed. "They're out for his blood this year, and yours," she added, swivelling to face him again.
Dumbledore hummed and nodded in understanding. "I imagine that will be the way of it, which is why I'll be accompanying you tomorrow," he informed her, smiling reassuringly. "While Cornelius has been doing his upmost to discredit me, I still carry a bit of weight, if I do say so myself," he chuckled, rubbing his thin stomach.
Dahlia raised an eyebrow at him and couldn't help but smile in amusement. "The most of anyone I know," she grinned, then nodded her head. "Besides me, of course, though I don't imagine I have the same clout as I did back home," she mused, feeling sad for a moment before forcing it away. "I figure I'll need some kind of cover story, too," she added, mouth twisting in equal thought and distaste.
Dumbledore chuckled and pat her shoulder in reassurance.
"Leave that to me, my dear."
I hope you don't feel cheated by the lateness of this update. I was away from home for a week, then I started art school, then I got sick, then it was my 21st birthday (got the Cursed Child, yesss~), and then I had assessment, but I'm clearly back! For how long? I won't make promises this time; I've learned my lesson. (Also, art school is intensive, holy crap). I do hope you enjoyed this chapter, though! You and me both hope the next one will be up soon, touch wood (hits Oliver Wood). Fingers crossed!
Let's answer some guest reviewer questions (and leading comments)!
Unknown guest reviewer: [This is good but why doesn't she tell them personal details i.e. Ariana or under the cupboard so they believe her more?]
She doesn't quite need to, though there will be some conversations to that effect coming up. Let me justify: Tonks trusts Dumbledore, implicitly, so when his patronus told her to trust Dahlia, she did. Now, Harry (at this point in time) has been confined to Privet Drive and barely left the premises all summer. He's had no contact with the wizarding world except for the Daily Prophet (which tells him all sorts of nothing), Voldemort's just come back so he's in a constant state of restless agitation and wanting to get out there and do something and know anything, and he's been disturbed almost every night by nightmares (watching Cedric die and Voldemort come back)—he's desperate. So, when Dahlia comes in (with Tonks, an auror) and tells him to pack up so she can take him to Sirius, he's going to jump on that like a lifeline (especially right after that Ministry Howler telling him he'll never go back to Hogwarts, and her casual namedrop of Sirius—still a psychopath to the general public). Does that explain it well enough? Also, regarding the trust she gets at Grimmauld Place (if you also meant that), Dumbledore wouldn't be above using Legilimency on a strange woman who turns up without an invitation to the house he Secret-Keeps for during the "shadow war" going on right now. So he wouldn't need her to info-dump her knowledge on him (though she does mention the prophecy—something only certain members of the Order and Voldemort himself are aware of). And Sirius and Molly trust Dumbledore. Thanks for the question!
Loves to read books on chapter 7: [Great story. I can picture Harry and the others being confused about how Harry is a girl in another dimension and finally she saying "think if it like this; we are both the first born children of James and Lily Potter. Other than that we are different people at different points in our lives". They should just look at the two as if they are siblings. This way a relationship between Sirius and his 'female god son from another dimension ' isn't as creepy. Update soon, and keep up the great work.]
First of all, I completely agree with you about how creepy it is. Honestly, I do. It was a surprise even to me when I decided to pair my fem!Harry with Sirius (there was a lot of internal debate, trust me, but I eventually decided I liked the personal challenge of writing something I found otherwise distasteful). So for that alone, I can assure you that I will be making it as not-creepy as possible. Dahlia will also react in a similar way (Sirius too) before they can rationalise what they're each feeling. And Remus will find it hilarious. Because I love the image of Remus teasing Sirius about his girl troubles and just making it worse for his friend (later getting his comeuppance when Tonks starts to pursue him with Dahlia's full support).
Mel: [I love female Harry and Rhaegar Targaryen pairing stories. If you consider writing one, that would be amazing.]
I love that idea so much. It is definitely not off the table. If you're patient enough to keep a lookout (and interested enough), I do have two other Rhaegar pairings planned in the (near...?) future. I haven't thought of any fem!Harry/Rhaegar ones before, but now that you've put the idea in my head it'll be swimming around there for months! Who knows what I'll come up with?
Danika: [I completely agree with you...seriously, haha. Sirius would probably be obsessively infatuated with female James the same way male James was with Lily, eccept that female James and Sirius would still be best friends and Marauders, lol. Thanks for your note!]
YES. Enough said, I'm going to write it. Maybe a one-shot, maybe a short series, but I'll be writing it. Ugh, it's all I want now~! Whispers The feels... :O
Quick note that might be of interest to some of you!
There will be no Dumbledore-bashing in this fic. I know that it's so easy to cast him as the manipulative old bastard that controlled Harry's life and sent him to slaughter, but that's not how JKR intended him, nor how I remember him. Plus, in canon, Harry forgave Dumbledore for the omissions and the 'preparations' (you could call them) when they met up at King's Cross (in his head). This story, while clearly now off-canon, will still stay true to as much canon as it can. Besides, Harry is not just the Boy-Who-Lived but the Boy-Who-Loved. He's mature enough to recognise what Dumbledore did and why, and he is, more than anything, the boy with the biggest heart and Dumbledore is one of the people he truly loved (which is why he took Dumbledore's lack of sharing his personal history so hard in canon). I wouldn't dream of tarnishing that. (Maybe one day I'll cast an evil Dumbledore, but I think I only ever would if he was a main antagonist, and I'm just not there yet—I love the guy).
These responses were really long. I hope that never happens again, but I also hope you found some of it interesting. Let me know! I love answering questions about what I write, but I also know I write too much (in response). Ah, to find a balance…
One last question. I was initially going to go the canon pairing route for everyone, but a couple of you lovely people have mentioned Harry with people other than Ginny. Ginny isn't a harpy in this story (she's actually going to be awesome), but if you have an opinion on the pairing I'd be happy to hear it (and maybe take it into account).
