Note: 1/1/2016, minor editorial and misspelling corrections update.
21. Dear Diary
Saturday, December 19th, 1992
I am so worried about Harri. She always appears ever so cheerful and eccentric — but I know that's a façade. She's really a deeply disturbed and fragile girl. That she considers "normal" what she went through as a child is horrifying! And the things that have happened in the last few days, I fear, might break that façade.
I know I've said it before, but maybe by putting it all down will help. I would have written on Thursday or Friday, but with all that was going on I couldn't find the peace of mind to sit still long enough to record what had happened.
I'll start with last year, maybe reviewing it will trigger a memory or association I missed previously.
When we first met her, the boys and I thought it was, you know, just — just! — yelling and maybe an occasional smack. But by the end of last year we knew there was something very wrong with her. Mum sent me a couple of books on child abuse when I mentioned my suspicions in November. The books were eye opening, to say the least! Based on her reactions to others I warned the boys that Harri's past was much, much darker than we had ever suspected. Her actions with Ron over the Christmas holidays, and the rest of the year with both boys, showed me just how dark that past might be. Between her conversation with Madam Pomfrey last year first week and her inadvertent slip at Neville's party? Oh my God, is all I can say! Verbal and physical abuse? A frying pan? RAPE? What is wrong with the Dursleys?
My reading over the summer was a definite help, even if I did throw-up a few times in the library loo when I realized what I was reading meant about Harri. Little things she does that I never noticed, like her habit of always walking beside me, with me, Ron and Nev between her and other boys. And she always sits in a chair in the common room — with its back to a wall — instead of on a couch (unless the boys and I are also sitting on the couch). Or if she is stretched out over the couch and someone else wants to sit there, too, she moves to a chair. Or what it really means when she gets so stiff when Ron or Nev or I hug her without warning. I had never really noticed how she almost hyperventilates when surprised like that.
Between what Harri out-right told us, what she unintentionally let slip, and her reactions, I have a fairly complete picture of her life before Hogwarts. She's been viciously beaten, starved, and repeatedly raped by her Uncle and cousin. For years. Just writing that makes me want to throw up. And to kill her so-called relatives.
Like all abusers, they've must have constantly told her she was worthless. And threatened her with dire results should she tell anyone or anyone discover what they did. That, combined with frequent verbal/physical/sexual abuse, demonstrated she had no control over her fate. That, in turn, has destroyed her self-esteem and any sense of self-worth. I think she literally doesn't care if she dies!
She's convinced we will leave her at the slightest provocation — just look at her reactions to the few times we dragged her to the Clubroom for a talk! Each time she's acted as if the world were about to collapse. According to the books, it's because she has this idea that we will abandon her in disgust if we ever "found out" what her past was really like. She doesn't understand that we like her for how she is right now, not whatever happened to her in the past. It's like expecting people to decide not to be my friends because I got a 94 on a math test in Primary Three instead of 100!
Unfortunately, her coping mechanisms for dealing with the trauma of her past are . . . less than optimal. Her semi-sexual game of having the boys, and me, play with her . . . knickers . . . while "chasing" the creatures on them is a bizarre control issue, according to the books, as is letting the boys fondle her bare breasts. Her inappropriate nudity is another such issue. It's all tied up in establishing that Harri has control over what others do to her body and not the other way around. But if anyone finds out what she lets the boys do, I'm afraid she'll see a much bigger, and worse, reaction than if she simply told everyone about her past.
Fortunately, I managed to convince Neville and Ron never to do anything that Harri didn't initiate or readily agree to do. I know the boys heard from Ron's older brothers and other boys in the dorms that girls that say "no" mean "maybe" and that those that say "maybe" mean "yes," — but when Harri says "no" it means no! I also warned them that they had better do the same for any girl they dated — or they might find their family jewels stored in a box in my trunk!
How that will hold up when she hits puberty is something we'll have to tackle later. Harri will either turn into a recluse, avoiding anything that might hint of sex and sexuality, or she'll turn into a succubus — sex anytime, anywhere, with anyone, and dressing as sexually provocative as possible. After all, the reason most girls refuse intercourse is because they are "saving themselves for their husband" or "that special someone," which in Harri's case isn't an issue, there's nothing to "save" for a future. I sincerely hope she chooses a middle ground between those two extremes. Her casual nudity in the girls' dorm is bad enough, but watching her do the same in the Common Room? I shudder to think of the reactions she'd get.
In the meantime, Harri keeps my hands full trying to keep her respectable in public and somewhat restrained in private with the boys, which now includes the Twins! Why, oh, why did she tell them so much? I understand how the map gave away her being Harry Potter, but she didn't have to tell them about the Clubroom, did she? I worry that the older boys, in ignorance and not knowing just how bad the abuse was, will push a bit too much and break Harri's fragile façade.
I am so glad I made the Twins retake that vow to hide Harri's secrets. Dumping four of my child abuse books into their laps and refusing to let them leave until they had read at least one of them was a big help. When I pointed out what I had noticed about her reactions, without telling them about any of the games she plays with Ron and Nev, I think they got the point.
The Twins had looked quite shaken up and had readily agreed to be extra careful around Harri, as well as keep an eye on her from a distance. They had even taken a vow to have their magic prevent them from doing anything with Harri that she did not want them to do. That was a load off my mind, but still I worry that being older they might push into activities she isn't ready for yet – there is a huge mental difference between 'well, if you really want to do that' and 'oh, yes, that sounds like a great idea! Let's do it!'
And then that stupid Dueling Club on Thursday last — PARSELTONGUE!
And in front of virtually the entire school! At first, I didn't think anything about it, just another strange thing that Harri did. But Neville and Ron's reactions, as well as the Twins, showed me my error. And the school's reaction the next morning! It couldn't have been worse for her. People pointing and whispering, people avoiding her and calling her names, people isolating her.
It had to reinforce her nightmares about how people would react if they found out about her past! I shudder to think what she might have done if we hadn't been there to back her up and defend her. At least she could see that we supported her!
Up to now, there have been only a few rumours drifting around about her. Last year the rumour that The-Boy-Who-Lived was her brother or cousin quickly died after the first few days. It revived briefly this year when the new group of Firsties arrived, but dropped when the older students talked to them. How everyone's going to react when they discover that she really is Harry Potter gives me nightmares! She must know she can't keep it a secret forever. And the blow back when it comes out gives me nightmares. I know what it's like to be ostracized by your peers, but it won't be anything like she'll get here!
The troll incident had brought a brief spurt of attention, but, honestly, her Seeker success on the Quidditch field garnered more. Nobody knew the story of the dragon, thank God, and again there were only rumours about the Philosopher's Stone — and most students outside of Gryffindor have put that off as nonsense. Almost everyone dismissed Neville's stories as the wild exaggerations of a Firstie. (I don't know whether to be relieved about that or upset that we don't get credit for such great spell work!) What usually gets her the most attention are the points she earns and loses, and those were no worse or better than some other students. All-in-all, she's treated fairly normally by the students. Only the Hogwarts staff and we four knew any different. But now the Twins know! The secret is spreading!
I thought we were getting things under control — the three of us providing backup and the Twins doing their comedy routines and making people laugh. Honestly though, so she's a Parselmouth, so what? How could she be the Heir of Slytherin? As far as the school knows, she's a Muggle-born! And even though she's a really a half-blood, I'm pretty sure that the Potters aren't related to Slytherin except perhaps in the most tenuous manner possible. So it's all a tempest in a teacup, no matter how distasteful the situation right now.
But then, Friday afternoon, an hour or so before dinner, Harri stumbled into the dorm with the most devastated look imaginable on her face. She'd clearly been crying. She had a white-knuckled grip on her wand. Fearing the worst, I hustled right over and dragged her upstairs. With the silencing spells up, I tried to get her to tell me what had happened to her.
But she was almost incoherent. While I was relieved to hear that nothing had physically happened to her — no one had attacked her — the story I finally got from her has unsettling implications that will take some time to figure out. Somehow, she overheard several upper-year Slytherins discussing her — they concluded she was really Harry Potter, the so-called Boy-Who-Lived! I'm not clear how they came to that conclusion, but, apparently, the smarter Slytherins have been paying far more attention to her than we ever expected. And she mentioned something about them thinking she might really bethe Heir of the Slytherin House — by Right of Conquest! How messed up is that?
And what was worse, after hearing all that from the Slytherins, on her way back to the dorm to tell us what had happened, she stumbled across Justin Finch-Fletchey. And I mean literally stumbled across because he was on the floor, petrified! Floating above him was Nearly Headless Nick, also petrified. I have never heard or read of a ghost being petrified, and neither has anyone else.
Naturally, seconds after this horrifying discovery, she's straightaway found by other students who immediately jump to the conclusion that she petrified them! Unbelievable. What twits. Professor McGonagall does nothing to help, just drags Harri off to see the Headmaster. Now, everyone thinks the Headmaster believes Harri is somehow responsible for what happened to Justin and Nick!
And I'm not sure what, if anything, the Headmaster thought he could learn from Harri. He already knows where the entrance to the Chamber is, we told Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall what we found in Myrtle's bathroom weeks ago! Is it just coincidence this stuff happens on the first floor near Moaning Myrtle's toilets?
Having Harri brought to him solved nothing, and in fact just fanned the flames of the Hogwarts' rumour mill. Unless he expected to read her mind to learn if we are up to something we shouldn't be doing or planning. With the state of her mind the last few days, I'm sure the only thing he got from Harri was a headache. Serves him right, the old goat.
When I finally got her calmed down she practically fell asleep immediately and slept through until Saturday breakfast, missing dinner. It must be the stress, poor kid.
But how will we deal with the Slytherins? What can we do to make them change their minds? Do we want to? Based on what she told me, having the Slytherins think she's the Heir, or Lady, might actually be good for us in the short term. If the upper-years are warning the lower ones to tone down the hostility, the whole school will benefit. I think Ron and Neville will have the best ideas on what it all means if the Slytherins truly believe Harri is the Lady of Slytherin, especially if it's by Right of Conquest.
Unfortunately, I didn't see any of that neutrality when the boys and I went to Friday dinner. Several Gryffindors commented on Harri's absence, relieved that she wasn't there to threaten them with her mere presence. I almost hexed them! And the Hufflepuffs were even worse. Thank goodness the Ravenclaws are even a little bit logical: why would a Muggle-born proclaim pure-blood ideals and attack other Muggle-born and half-bloods? She'd be signing her own death note!
It hasn't started yet, but it's bound to occur to someone, eventually, to suggest that Harri is actually a pure-blood who is merely pretending to be a Muggle-born. How they'll explain why she would want to do that, and betray her "pure-blood" ideals, will be pure idiocy, I'm sure.
Loudly, I declared them all idiots to think that Harri, a MUGGLE-BORN could be the Heir of Slytherin! I got a lot of glares, but several others agreed with me. Neville pointed out that she couldn't be the Heir because she was a GIRL. I almost hexed him, too, but I knew what he was trying to do. Slytherin House is an old House and only allows males to inherit the title. Harri is clearly a girl and ineligible. And, as I explained to several brain-dead students, I know for a fact she is girl. And that the other Gryffindor Second Years — Lavender, Fay, Lilly, Parvati, and Kellah all nodded at this — could easily back me up having seen her naked in the showers, not to mention some of the other year students who happened to be around when she walked to or from the showers sans clothes.
I noticed a large number of the upper-year Slytherins nodding in agreement at my logic while a rare few simply stared at me without an obvious reaction. I wondered if any of them had been in that classroom meeting Harri inadvertently overheard — in which case they were thinking 'Yes, she could be the Lady of Slytherin, by Right of Conquest, and holding it for her second-born male child.'
The lower-year Slytherins merely made derogatory comments, laughing or scowling as their particular mood required. Good Lord, it was going to be a mess when it came out that Harri was indeed capable of inheriting a Lord's position in a House, and, in fact, was already Lord of Potter House.
I cannot believe that the staff are doing nothing to rein in the rumours and ill-will flying around Hogwarts about Harri. After the taunts of the previous six weeks and now the new petrifications, I'm surprised it hasn't erupted into open spell-wars between the Slytherins and the other Houses, and Harri in particular.
The Headmaster could easily stop most of the rumours by simply making a few factual statements, and plainly saying Harri neither was at fault nor involved in any way with what was happening. It's almost as if he wants Harri feeling lonely and isolated, and hated by the rest of the school.
Saturday morning when we went to breakfast — I had to practically drag a protesting Harri into the Great Hall — the Slytherins didn't seem any different than on the previous few days. Malfoy was a loud-mouthed git haranguing the non-pure-blood students about how soon they would all have to leave the school or die, Parkinson was a bitch, and most of the rest were dumbly following Malfoy's lead in taunting the Muggle-borns and half-bloods. I did notice that a number of the upper-year students were quietly watching Harri and any comments they made were to close neighbors only. There did seem to be a few more of them Saturday than Friday.
I didn't see much taunting or baiting by Slytherins during the day because there were no classes and most students stayed in their dorms – especially Harri. She almost didn't stir from her bed! Those who did leave their dorms traveled in packs that studiously avoided the other Houses. Lunch was the same as breakfast, except I did notice the number of Slytherin students taunting the other Houses had decreased. At dinner it was clear the Slytherin House was divided, most of the upper-year students had shut up and only observed. Many were scowling at their lower-years. Most of the lower-year students were still taunting the other Houses, but there were some looking back and forth between the groups, clearly unsure of what to make of the upper-years sudden attitude change.
The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, for the most part, were just as obnoxious as they had been earlier.
One thing is for sure, we know Harri didn't leave that message, nor petrify Colin or Justin. The question is who is giving that beast the commands? And why hasn't the Headmaster done anything about the entrance to the Chamber that we found? And on the subject of that beast, I can't find any beast that petrifies with a look, but the Basilisk is known for killing with only a look, as happened to Myrtle. In the absence of disqualifying information, I think it is a Basilisk. Perhaps they can also petrify as well as kill, but no one has survived either condition to relay that important fact.
I'm still convinced that Malfoy is in this up to his eyeballs and that the upper-years are simply ignoring what he says as the normal drivel he always spouts. I checked with the twins and they hadn't seen anything on their map. They were taking turns watching it during the day and at the time Justin had been petrified neither Harri nor Draco were anywhere near the spot. What did scare them though was to realize that they had seen their sister Ginny walking away just around the corner from Justin while he was talking with Nearly Headless Nick. Their sister had narrowly avoided seeing the monster and becoming a victim herself when the others were petrified! The map hadn't given any indication of that event though, it had just appeared as if the student and ghost were in a long discussion. George had even seen Harri meeting up with the petrified duo, not realizing she was discovering a new set of victims.
So, Operation Polyjuice is still on. With any luck that will get us some firm answers. Wednesday, most of the students return home for the hols, leaving only a dozen or so here, including Malfoy and his two boyfriends, as Harri calls Goyle and Crabbe. In Gryffindor, all the Weasleys are staying plus Harri and myself. I'm going to miss my parents and everything we normally do something terrible, but this is way more important.
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Monday, December 21st, 1992
Monday was like Friday, the students avoiding Harri as if she had the plague. The exceptions were the Slytherins. The lower-year students seemed to seek her out to taunt her on being a mud-blood and to mock the other Houses for thinking that she could be the Heir of Slytherin. Interestingly enough, I did see one or two upper-year students interrupt several of the confrontations and send the Slytherin lower-years on to their classes or back to their dorms. Once I head an upper-year student remark to the other Slytherins, "Do not presume you know more than those with more experience, or who have bothered to actually research the facts. Just because popular opinion says something does not mean it is either true or accurate. Always consider the source, and look for supporting evidence from other sources. Do not reveal your thoughts to enemies with obvious reactions." I noticed a nearby Ravenclaw look over, startled to hear such advice from a Slytherin instead of one of her upper-years.
Well! That was a surprise.
We spent several hours in the clubroom and managed to get a mostly complete story from Harri about what happened Friday afternoon. Neville and Ron both asked her to point out those upper-year Slytherins if she saw them again, the boys would try to identify their Houses — were they neutrals or followers of Grave-robber?
I think this was the first time that Harri had ever initiated a hug. We sat on the couch for a good fifteen minutes just holding her. At one point, tears were running down her cheeks. I think, I hope, she's beginning to understand that we won't just walk away and leave her alone.
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Wednesday, December 23rd, 1992
The train left early this morning and boy is it quiet! I never understood just how much background noise there was in the school until after the train left. Even when you think you are the only one in a corridor, you can always hear the faint sounds of other students in classrooms or from the other floors. Walking around is just plain eerie, you can hear your footsteps echoing down the corridors. You could almost believe you were the only one in the entire castle. I realized that if I stood still in the corridor for several minutes it was so quiet I could hear my heartbeat!
At lunch, I checked with Ginny to see if she was all right with having the entire First Year Dorm to herself. She said she didn't mind it in the slightest, after living with six brothers in a small house and then in a dorm with four other noisy, and nosey, girls, the silence of the large dorm room was quite pleasant. She said she didn't have to worry that someone would interrupt her in the middle of reading or doing her homework and ruining her concentration – and making her lose her train of thought.
I can certainly understand that! Ron seems especially good at picking the exact right moment to say something and totally derail my thoughts when I'm working on my homework.
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Thursday, December 24th, 1992
Finally, the potion should be done tomorrow morning! I can hardly wait! At last we'll get the answers we need about the Heir of Slytherin.
On another note, I've got all my presents ready to give out, and I have a small pile that my parents sent me. I'm not sure I can wait until tomorrow to open them!
Harri, Ron, and the Twins got a detention from Professor McGonagall for having broom races from the Great Hall entry to the top of the Astronomy Tower.
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Friday, December 25, 1992
Oh my god! I don't know how things could be worse!
The Polyjuice was finished early this morning, exactly on time. The three of us met in Myrtle's toilets where I carefully decanted the potion into three glasses and then saved the remainder in two other large potion bottles, carefully sealed and dated, thank you very much. I don't think I'll need them, but you can never be sure. According to the potion books, you can store Polyjuice for up to a year. Which is the least of my problems.
What an idiot I am! It never occurred to me that the hair I took from Millicent Bulstrode might not be her hair! She has a CAT! It was a CAT hair! A CAT hair!
My god it's been four months since school started and I know the house-elves cleaned her robes at least fifty times. The only thing I can think is that her cat must have climbed into her trunk and slept there several times over the summer. Whenever the house-elves put her robes back, the robes must have picked up a few hairs left over from then. And the house-elves would never clean someone's trunk unless they were specifically asked to do so. How could I be so stupid!
And now everyone is going to laugh at me. Ron didn't help matters any, I could tell from his expression that could barely contain himself. I'm sure that as soon as he and Harri got far enough away that he collapsed into laughter. Harri, at least, looked properly upset. Although she kept reaching up to feel my ears as we walked to the Hospital Wing. I didn't dare let Ron know that a tail wasn't the only "extra" I had — cats have more than two breasts! And now I have six! Three rows of two. Thank god I still have a small chest so they aren't obvious under the hospital gown. But I'm still keeping the bed sheet pulled up to my chin!
And thank god Madam Pomfrey took the excuse we gave her, that we had been exploring and found this potion bottle in the dungeon. I was carrying it back to give to Professor Snape when it suddenly foamed up, blew the top off the bottle, and gave me a faceful of stuff. Fortunately, Harri and Ron quickly responded with scourgify, but the result was I now looked like a cat. She didn't say anything although she did frown a lot. Then she ran a few diagnostic spells and ordered me to bed.
She said I was very lucky that the potion hadn't been something deadly, like a poison or acid, that it was only an old Polyjuice formula. And then gave me a long lecture about not handling unknown potion bottles or containers of any kind. One never knew what sort of nasty curses might be on them, that we should always use a levitation charm to move things like that safely.
I don't think she really believed us though. After the boys left for bed, she came over to my bed and studied me quite carefully. She even checked my chest and tail, again! Then, just before she went back to her office, she said, "You know, no one has ever done a study of a subject who took Polyjuice contaminated with an animal hair. A parchment written about such an accident would definitely get published in the Potioneers Journal. They would understand if the author submitted it several years after the fact to protect the identity of the subject.
"In fact," she added, "an enterprising student could possibly get their NEWT in potions just after passing their OWLS based simply on that one paper getting published, regardless of the fact that the ingestion of the cat hair was accidental. The paper would have to have a complete record of the entire brewing process, the resultant potion, and the effects on the test subject, how long the effects lasted, and the timing of the fading of those effects. Any other interesting facts, especially those effecting cognitive abilities would be invaluable. If a sample of the potion, if any was left, was submitted to St. Mungos it would add that much more to the parchment's bona fides. For research papers, St. Mungos is willing to keep testing secret until publication. The book St. Mungos — The Premier Hospital for Wizards and Witches gives all the pertinent information."
Well, knock me down with a feather! I'll have to give that some serious thought! I wonder what Professor Snape would say if he knew I had successfully brewed Polyjuice?
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Saturday, December 26th, 1992.
I didn't really think about it last night, but thank God the Polyjuice potion didn't give me cat's paws! While my fingernails turned into retractable claws, the rest of my fingers and hands retain their human functions, meaning I can still hold my quill and write! I would be soo in trouble if I couldn't do my class and homework because I couldn't hold a quill!
Harri snuck back into the Hospital Wing last night and into my bed. At first I was worried she would be put-off by my changes, but instead she was fascinated. And while she liked playing with my tail, I found it a bit irritating. The closest I can pick to explain is that it's like someone stroking lightly on your hair. Okay every once in a while, but a constant pull-pull-pull, not matter how lightly done, is still very annoying.
My extra chest accessories also fascinated her. It was really weird, but we discovered that the four extra are just as sensitive to stroking and licking as my regular breasts. It was soo embarrassing, but this was in the interest of preparing my paper — I couldn't mention the extra breasts in the paper and then not describe them and say how they compared to my normal breasts. Which means, I guess, that after the potion wears off, I'll have to let Harri play with them to establish a baseline of sorts. That's going to be embarrassing, too.
Then she spent most of the day with me. We found that I like being scratched just behind the ears and between them. I don't know why, but it is soothing. We also discovered I purr. It was most disconcerting having Harri give me a neck rub and suddenly this rumbling noise started!
I asked Madam Pomfrey if there were any glamour spells she knew that I could learn to hide my appearance. She didn't know of any right off hand that were within my capabilities, but she promised to ask the Headmaster if he had any thoughts on the matter. I asked Harri if she could do a little research in the clubroom and see if there were any spell books that the room could dredge up that might help. Failing that, we could always do what we did last year and use my blood on my wand to make the spell extra-powerful or long lasting. Heck, if all four of us cast the spell on me at the same time I think we could do it.
On another note, Madam Pomfrey dropped a camera off at my bed, saying, "I know you think it's horrible what happened to you, but I think that someday you might want a picture or two to prove to your Grandchildren you really do know how a cat feels." And pictures would certainly help any article I submit!
I think Harri plans to sneak into my bed tonight. She seems to really like snuggling up to me. She said I was like a giant warm furry pillow that purred. Honestly, that girl!
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Thursday, December 31st, 1992.
Success! Harri managed to find an old charm used for Halloween celebrations. It's supposed to last for a day. Harri and Ron practiced for hours in the clubroom getting the spell down before bringing it to me. The first time Harri tried it on me, the Tuesday after Christmas, I looked like my old self for almost eight hours! When I tried it on myself I got only four hours, but when I tried the next morning with a little blood on my wand, it really worked! Harri took my wand and a small vial of my blood the night before and did the honors to the wand just before bringing it back to me. Ron distracted Madam Pomfrey by asking her a couple of questions that started her off on dangerous tricks in Quidditch so she didn't notice Harri sneaking me my wand. That time it easily lasted from breakfast all the way to dinner!
We did it again this morning and at noon she let me go! Hurrah!
Unfortunately, the glamour merely presents me as myself — I'm still furry. The problem with that is the showers! God, no wonder cats hate water, it takes FOREVER for that fur to dry out completely. I mean the surface fur dries first, but my skin stays damp and uncomfortable for hours. Drying charms help a lot, but I have to be careful I don't mess up the glamour charm. I guess I'm going to have to get used to taking late night showers. If anyone catches me as a furry, I'll just say I'm practicing a charm for next Halloween.
And just in time! Tomorrow the train brings back all the students. Nobody will be the wiser! I am soo happy! Plus, I've made very good progress recording my Polyjuice potion. When I told Harri and Ron what Madam Pomfrey had said that first night, both had encouraged me to do just that. Harri even offered to pay to have the potion checked out at St. Mungos so I wouldn't have to write my parents for the money. I can't believe it. Me, a published paper while still a student at Hogwarts! My parents will just die in shock, they'll be so proud. I'm having Harri take pictures of me every day, front and back, wearing a Muggle swimsuit so we can visually show how I'm changing as the effects fade. When my face starts to get recognizable, I'll wear a mask to hide my identity.
Well, tomorrow will be the proof in the pudding, as my mum would say. With a judicious use of Notice-Me-Not charms in the dorm rooms and showers, I should be able to pull this off. Here's hoping.
And Harri doesn't have to worry about being caught sneaking into my bed in the Hospital Wing anymore!
X – x – x – x – x – x – x – x – X
Friday, January 1, 1993.
So far so good, made it easily through the welcome back feast. We dragged Nev to the Clubroom where he told us that yes, he had checked the books in the Longbottom Library, and that Harri was the Lord of Slytherin by Right of Conquest. First, he said, assuming the story of how her parents had died protecting her, and that she had somehow then destroyed Grave-robbers physical body, was correct, then she had a claim to the Slytherin House. The fact that Grave-robber was a wraith complicated things quite a bit, but the second time she had beaten him when he attempted to kill her reinforced her claim. Twice he had tried to kill her, twice she had destroyed his physical body defending herself. But if she doesn't claim it, then he gets to keep it.
The only way to know for sure would be to visit Gringotts and have them use magic to determine if she was the new Lord of Slytherin.
Then we brought him up to date on what had happened over the hols. He begged to see me as a cat until I finally gave in and canceled the glamour. He was suitably impressed. The Twins had seen me in the Hospital Wing, and after I hexed them quite severely they stopped making jokes about how much fun it was "petting Hermione," and asking if Harri "liked petting her new kitty."
They were still impressed with the extent of my transformation. They guessed that I might have gained a few other extras besides my tail. I refused to answer but I think my blushing gave it away.
It was with some trepidation that I let them collect a few hairs. I made them promise to document every step they took using those hairs, with the warning that we didn't know if using those hairs in Polyjuice again might not result in permanently changing someone into a cat. While a prank turning someone into a cat for an hour might be funny, it wouldn't be funny if their victim never changed back!