Chapter twelve
Even though Ron didn't like the fact Harry was lusting after Snape, he wanted to help make his sister understand that Harry was gay but he also wanted her to understand that even if Harry wasn't gay he was not interested in her. Yet nothing Ron or Hermione said or did could make Ginny believe Harry was gay, so he decided to help by keeping his sister occupied with Hermione while McGonagall searched her belongings even if he wasn't sure what she was looking for. He trusted McGonagall and she did say they would know why she asked this and they would know soon.
Hermione looked at Ron, raising her eyebrows, 'Since we've got some time, Hermione and I are going to spend some time alone. We'll talk to you later Ginny,' Ron grabbed Hermione's hand but they didn't go off alone they went up to the headmistress office. Hermione explaining that her coin was warm, which was the signal from McGonagall that she had finished her search.
'I found this,' Minerva held up a large glass vial of potion, 'I can have professor Snape test it to see if it is polyjuice potion but we cannot find out who she changed into without having someone actually drink it.'
'I could, just so we know for sure who it is. But I would like Harry to say it's okay first,' Hermione said.
'Give me a minute,' Minerva went to her fireplace and quietly spoke with Severus. When Minerva pulled her head out she looked at her two students, 'Severus wants you two to come down to his rooms with me. We need to find out if she is the one turning into Lily Potter.'
Minerva, Hermione and Ron waited at a large painting of a doe grazing in a field until Severus opened it and they stepped inside.
'I spoke with Harry; he said you can change after I have tested it. He does not want to take the chance that you could be harmed in anyway Miss Granger.'
'So you spoke with him?' Ron asked.
'He is here; staying here so your sister could not upset him again. It took me a long time to get Harry to calm down which I did, but she caused a problem that needed the matron to take care of. Can I have the potion Minerva?' Severus held out his hand then uncorked it, swirled it, sniffed it before pouring a small amount into a dish, 'It's definitely polyjuice potion.'
'I want to see, let them in Severus,' Harry yelled from the other room.
'Then I will make sure you're covered,' Severus called back.
'Professor,' Hermione blushed as her eyes widened.
'It is not what you think Miss Granger, but that is up to Harry to explain. Give me a minute,' Severus went into his room and placed the covers over Harry, from his waist down, 'You can come in.'
Hermione practically ran into the room but stopped when she saw Harry's hand up, 'Oh Harry, what happened?'
'Just don't touch me, please,' Harry said softly, but he looked up at Severus and nodded before turning his head away.
'Harry and I worked on a plan to find out who was changing into Lily, he would arrive here under his cloak and remain under his cloak. We had his map enchanted so no one could see it was Harry's map, it looked like a students work sheet. Harry left me the map in case he was late. But a few days ago I came in after classes when I happen to glance at the map. I saw Harry's name down near the dungeons rooms the Carrow's used. I was not sure what Harry was doing, so I just watched his name, for more than half an hour it never moved, I went to find out why,' Severus sat on the side of his bed taking Harry's hand, 'I found him petrified, naked and bleeding badly. Do you want me to continue Harry?'
'Yes,' Harry whispered but his head was still turned the other way.
'Apart from being beaten, Harry was raped. Three people were placed under the imperius curse deliberately to hurt Harry this way, we believe it was your sister Mr. Weasley.'
'Harry,' Hermione knelt down next to the bed, 'I'm so sorry.'
'How would…doing that to Harry help my sister, I don't get why she would?'
'We believe, if it was her that her motive was if Harry was traumatised by this he would not want to go near a man again and would return to her. Naturally we do not know if it was her or her reasons,' Minerva said, 'When Poppy found Miss Weasley in with Harry, she had her arms around him, but Harry was yelling, screaming for her to stop touching him, she refused, until Poppy made her leave. That is why we moved Harry down here, no one can get into professor Snape's rooms without his permission,' Minerva explained.
'Then how is she getting in as Lily Potter?' Hermione asked.
'Ron, do you know if your sister learnt to become an animagi?' Minerva asked.
'I know she talked about it a lot over the last few years and does have a few books about it. She asked Harry a few questions about Sirius when he changed. But I have no idea if she did, why?'
'An animagi would get past my wards, a human cannot. So let's find out if that potion does contain a hair of Lily's.'
'How would Ginny get hold of one of Harry's mother's hairs?' Ron asked, 'Sorry, I know it all points to her, but I still can't believe she would go this far.'
'The day Hermione asked me to meet her parents. I just finished taking all my parents clothes out of their bedroom to store it another room. Ginny touched my shoulder and asked what red headed girl I have been seeing,' Harry said softly as he turned his head, 'I would have had hair from my parents all over me, but I didn't think anything of it until Severus explain about his visitor. My mother had long red hair, easy to see.'
'Are you going to be okay if I change into your mother Harry?'
Harry nodded, 'Yes, we need to know and I will get to see her, in a way.'
'Alright,' Severus handed Hermione the vial and they all waited.
'She was beautiful,' Harry whispered as he stared up at his mother's image, 'Say something Hermione.'
'What would you like me to say Harry?' Lily Potter's smiling face glanced down at Harry.
'She even sounds like Lily, but notice the shape of the eyes Harry, same as yours,' Severus said wistfully as he sighed.
'We have the proof that Ginny has been the one tormenting Severus. I am not sure what the minister can do about this though,' Minerva said.
'If it's alright with Harry, maybe we can give my sister a scare for doing this. I can't believe she would use your dead mother Harry. She might be my sister but this is going too far, she's being a spiteful bitch, sorry professor,' Ron said as he stared at the image of Harry's mother, 'She was beautiful though mate and doesn't look much older than we are. Hey, if she was still around I might even ask her for a date if Hermione never took me up on the offer,' Ron smirked making Harry and Severus grimace where Hermione and Minerva chuckled, but they knew what Ron was doing, trying to get Harry's mind off what had happened to him.
'Please refrain from ever saying that again Mr. Weasley. Now what did you mean about giving your sister a scare?'
'Well, it's not really against the law to change into someone. I mean if she changed into me yeah I could have a charge brought against her for impersonating me without my permission, but Lily Potter is dead, sorry mate. So she can't bring any sort of charge against Ginny for impersonating her, even if Harry is her son he can't either.'
'I'm proud of you Ron, you've been studying those books on law,' Hermione said but with Lily's face.
'Well, yeah, I still want to be an auror, so I need to know the law. Anyway, maybe if you were up to in soon, not yet, we know you're not, but you could walk into the great hall arm in arm with Lily. Imagine if Ginny saw that, two things could happen, she might believe your mother somehow is alive, or she might believe you finally saw sense but met a girl, one that looks exactly like Lily Potter.'
'That is a very Slytherin idea Mr. Weasley,' Severus smirked at Ron making Harry chuckle.
'It is and if you're fine with us doing that to your sister Ron, then I'm in. I'm just not sure when I'll be up to facing everyone.'
'Sorry to put a damper on your plans, but she might even know by now that her potion is missing. She would know it was not the real Lily Potter or even someone that resembles her, but someone that changed into Lily using her potion. But I might leave you four to discuss other ideas while I inform the minister,' Minerva smiled as she left the room. She was pleased that Harry's friends were supporting him in this even Ron when it involves his sister. She hoped now that Harry could talk to his friends they would help him through his emotional distress. They also seem to have accepted Harry's relationship with Severus, again something she was pleased about.
