Author's notes: Chapter 6 takes up right after Chapter 5 but covers a lot of territory in the book. Unfortunately, Harry won't have many more chances to be a girl this year due to the events that will happen, but it will set up next year, I hope. I did my best to adhere to the events of the book as best as possible but I might have messed up the order. If you notice any glaring mistakes, please let me know.

As always the ownership of Harry Potter and all its associated copyrights belongs to JK Rowling. As one of my favorite authors said, "It's her sandbox, I'm just playing it in"

Chapter 6:

Harry and Hermione were heading down to lunch in the Great Hall the next day when the rest of the school returned from the Christmas holidays. They found Ron already on his second helping at the Gryffindor table. Sitting down and waiting for him to swallow, they asked him how his holiday had been. The Weasley's had apparently gone to the home of Ron's Auntie Muriel, an experience that from the sound of it wasn't entirely pleasant. "She's an old bat, made each of us come over and hug her after we opened the present she got us." said Ron while describing Christmas morning. Harry and Hermione filled him in on Buckbeak's upcoming trial and Ron fervently agreed to help with the preparations.

Heading up to the common room after lunch, Ron wasn't surprised to see Hermione sit down and start working on school work. What he didn't expect was Harry to do the same.

"Blimey, term hasn't even started and you're doing homework?" he exclaimed sitting down next to Harry.
Hermione looked at him over her Ancient Runes textbook, "Well, I've got quite a few subjects to study for, it made sense to get a head start and Harry agreed."

Ron eyed Harry, who was starting to write an essay for Professor Lupin he'd forgotten about, and continued their conversation from lunch. Harry wasn't used to feeling uncomfortable around Ron, but not telling him about all that had happened over Christmas out of fear of his reaction was making him uneasy. When he told him about the Firebolt Ron's jaw hit the floor so hard Harry wouldn't have been surprised to find it somewhere in the dungeons. When Harry told him about turning it in to Professor McGonagall, Ron was dumbstruck.
"What'd you do that for?" he shouted, drawing the attention of three passing fifth years.

"There wasn't a note, and Sirius Black could go to any length to get to Harry" Hermione responded coolly, suddenly rejoining the conversation.

Ron turned to her, his face going red, "Black? So, you made him hand over one of the best brooms in the world? How could Black have sent it Hermione? He's on the run. He couldn't just go into Diagon Alley and but a broomstick!"

Harry, who didn't think this was entirely fair of him to blame it on Hermione, said "Ron, she's right. I didn't want to admit it either when I was looking at it, but it wasn't worth the risk of it being tampered with. Madam Hooch said that if it's safe then I'll get it back and never know they did anything with it."
That seemed to calm Ron down slightly, even though he kept sending astounded expressions at Hermione. Harry, sensing that a change in subject was needed, asked how Scabbers was after being at home. Ron told him that he had been fine until it was time to get back on the train, then he had spent the whole time cowering in Ron's shirt.

"He's hiding in our dormitory" he told Harry, doing a quick look around for Crookshanks.
"He isn't down here Ron" said Hermione in a slightly exasperated tone, "He's curled up on my bed"

"Good. Scabbers finally seemed to be doing better, can we please keep that cat away from him?"
Hermione didn't answer but just went back to her studying.

That night, with the dormitory full again, Harry felt very anxious. He and Hermione had tried their best to rid the room of the flowery scents but the smell still lingered. Unfortunately, the other boys noticed. Seamus asked Harry if he'd gotten a girl up here while they'd been gone, and Dean joined in suggesting names of girls, each more ludicrous than the next. It also didn't help that they noticed the renewed scents after Harry got out of the shower. Giving him arch looks from their beds, he quickly climbed into bed and pulled the curtains of his four-poster shut. He heard some laughing through the curtains but no one spoke to him anymore.

The next day was Sunday before term started, and Harry and Hermione spent most of it reading ahead for classes the next day while Ron read through their notes on Hippogriff rights. About halfway through he handed the paper to Harry and pointed at a line about halfway down.
"Blimey, I knew Hermione was a girl but I didn't think she'd put hearts over her letters" he whispered at Harry.
Harry's heart skipped a beat, he'd forgotten that he'd decided to try that out on the fair copy of the notes. He'd only done it a few times before stopping, and he was glad that Ron hadn't realized it had been him. Ron, expecting some reaction, was looking at Harry expectantly.

"Well, you never know with girls" he said lamely and buried his nose into his Defense Against the Dark Arts book, hiding the redness of his face.

Ron sat back and kept reading, but occasionally looked at Harry over the parchment when he wasn't looking, and slightly confused expression on his face. That night in the dorm the boys made more jokes about girly smells when Harry got back out of the shower, so he told them that he'd been sent these on accident and it was all he had to use. Neville said it smelled nice and that he liked it, but Seamus and Dean both kept grinning at Harry.

Next morning was Monday meaning classes, and their very busy schedules, resumed in full force. Wood had gotten back every bit of his mania for four night a week practices, and Harry, still flying on the Shooting Star until his Firebolt was returned, did his best to keep up. It wasn't easy over the next few weeks to be able to wear his girl's underwear as much as he wanted, so mostly it stayed hidden in the bottom of his trunk. Hermione, who seemed to be more tired than either Harry or Ron, was constantly working, and even when Harry had time to ask her if they could do anything, never had time. Harry, in an effort to continue the bridge he had built with her over the winter holidays, tried to do better about studying with her and actually saw improvement in his classes over the following weeks because of it.

The subtle changes he had affected also didn't go unnoticed by the rest of his year. Lavender and Pavarti, who sat behind Harry in Charms, both told him that they liked how he smelled, and even complimented him on his posture. Lavender whispered in his ear as she walked back from handing in her essay that she thought his hair was much cuter lying down. After a few days the boys got used to the new smell of the dormitory, and even admitted that it was preferable over the smell of dirty socks. Malfoy of course never missed an opportunity to call Harry out, and yelled loudly across the Entrance Hall one morning that Harry was walking like a dandy. Harry knew better to acknowledge him and just ignored it.

Before he could tell January had given way to February. The third years were definitely noticing a rise in the amount of homework that was being given by all the teachers. Between Quidditch practice and Anti-Dementor lessons Harry had only one night a week for doing homework. He spent most of those nights with Hermione, either at a table in the common room or in the library. He was finding that being around her was easier and, in many ways, more comfortable than being around Ron. While Hermione was often short and snappish at interruptions, Harry was constantly wondering if Ron would react as well as she did if he found out Harry's secret.

The Anti-dementor lessons were going well enough. While Harry felt like he should have accomplished more than a week shield by now, Professor Lupin was constantly reassuring him.
"Relax, Harry," Lupin said during a lesson. Harry had just managed to hold off the dementor for a full minute before it was banished. "You're doing far better than I would've ever expected of a third year. I've told you this is incredibly complex magic."
"I know sir, but I thought a patronus would drive away a dementor, not just hold it off." Harry said.
"A full one will," Replied Lupin, handing him some chocolate. "At least you seem to have found a memory that works well for you. Do you mind me asking what it is?"
Harry hesitated for a moment. "It's the day I learned that I was a wizard" he lied. In truth that memory had worked well at first but he'd found a better one. During his last few lessons, he'd been concentrating on how he'd felt the first time he'd seen himself as a girl after Hermione had done his makeup.
"Well, it seems to be working very well for you. I think that'd enough for tonight. I'll see you next week Harry.

Harry still hadn't gotten any word from Madam Hooch or Professor McGonagall about his Firebolt, despite Harry badgering her at the end of every Transfiguration lesson. Gryffindor's next game against Ravenclaw was getting closer, and Harry was wondering if he'd better just go ahead and order another broom.

All in all, Harry had little time to think about "His other life" as he and Hermione had called it. He always kept his trunk locked now and did his best to hide the clothes but he was always afraid someone would open it and rifle through it. He had taken out a subscription to Witch Weekly in Hermione's name, and when they came in he would enjoy reading them in the privacy of his bed. He also continued to practice his feminine handwriting, at least whenever Ron wasn't around. It also didn't help that Crookshanks was still trying to get at Scabbers whenever he could, which was causing some tension between Ron and Hermione. Harry was trying to keep the peace but it wasn't easy. Hermione was still defending Crookshanks and Ron still hadn't quite forgiven Hermione for the Firebolt, no matter what Harry said in her defense.

Finally, the week before the Quidditch match, just as he was ready to give up on ever getting his Firebolt back, Professor McGonagall returned it to him. Not entirely able to believe it he raced back to the common room with it, finding Ron sitting at a table playing chess with Fred. When he saw it he jumped up and ran over to Harry.
"She gave it back?" he cried, and jumped a little for joy. "Listen, can I get a turn on it?"

"Sure Ron, but listen, make up with Hermione. The Firebolt is fine, and it was better to be safe than sorry."

Ron's grin faded slightly, but he nodded. "Ok, but she needs to admit that her cat has it out for Scabbers."

Harry shook his head at him and turned to see where Hermione was. As usual she was almost hidden behind a pile of books and parchment in a far corner. Both of them walked over, Harry holding out the Firebolt for her to see.

"Professor McGonagall gave it back. Guess it was ok after all" He said.

"Oh Harry," she said her eyes not quite focusing on him. "That's great, im really glad to hear it."
"I'm going to go up and put this in my trunk, but then Ron and I want to talk to you, ok?" He said
"Harry, I'll take it upstairs for you. I need to give Scabbers his tonic anyway." Ron cut in, anxious to hold the broomstick.
A small alarm went off in Harry's head with the thought of Ron going into his trunk, but he quieted it remembering how well things were hidden. He handed over the broom and watched as Ron crossed the room and practically ran up the stairs. Harry sat down looking closely at Hermione.

"Are you ok? You look done in"
Despite her clear exhaustion she still managed a small smile, "Harry, you don't ever tell a girl she looks tired, a girl should know that."
Harry, who hadn't heard her talk about him as a girl in weeks, smiled and blushed. "Sorry, Hermione"

"It's ok, you're still new at this. Now, I've really got to get back to this translation."
"Hermione, how are you getting to so many classes?" Harry asked

"I don't know what you mean Harry" She tried and failed to be casual

Just before Harry could respond they heard a muffled cry from upstairs and then Ron emerged from the staircase. Crossing the room in fewer steps than Harry thought possible, he came up to the table holding what looked like the sheet from his bed.

"LOOK!" he shouted brandishing the sheet at Hermione.

"What?" she stammered

Harry saw it first, a red stain at one corner, that looks suspiciously like,

"BLOOD!" Ron yelled, even louder, "Scabbers is missing and there's blood on my sheets!"

Then he threw down something on the table in front of Hermione,
"And those were right next to my bed.
No one spoke as Hermione looked at what Ron had thrown down. Three ginger cat hairs laid there on the table.