A/N: Blah blah blah about I don't own HP! Hmm. the things I could do if I
did though. *laughs very evilly* (And yes, it is a very evil laugh, I have
perfected the evil laugh) Please forgive the slowness of posts, my life is
really sucky right now.
Now back sitting on my bed, clothed, washed, and fed, I must admit I felt noticeably better. Performing mundane everyday tasks such as using the restroom and dressing were interesting to say the least. Hermione was an angel, tactfully helping me figure everything out and answering any questions I had.
"Well, are you ready to go shopping?" she asked, her eyes aglow with excitement. I sighed dejectedly and heaved myself to my feet.
"I suppose we should get this over with." I trailed off, rolling my eyes. Hermione grabbed my arm and tugged on it to hasten my admittedly slow pace.
"Come one, it's not that bad! You might actually learn to enjoy it!" she said with a knowing smile on her face. I raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously. She merely shrugged and kept on with her attempts to drag me all the way to Hogsmeade.
Once we were in the not-so -crowded streets of Hogsmeade (it was Tuesday), Hermione preceded to pull me into shop after shop, urging me to try on many different styles of both wizard and muggle clothing. Several hours later we found my preference: dark, rich colors, nothing frilly, very punk and military influenced. Most of the clothes we bought were unisex so I didn't feel too awkward in them. Hermione did however, force me to buy some makeup, bras, a few skirts, and a killer pair of knee boots (leather bottoms with nylon canvas legging and buckled up and zipper front), which even I admitted were awesome, although a little flamboyant for me. As much as I hate to admit it, I liked it today, especially finding those boots. I also felt a new freedom to express myself without boundaries. It was perfectly all right for me to dress semi-dark like this, because I wasn't the famed Boy-Wonder anymore. I was your average teenage girl. Go figure. Oh well, I suppose you have to take the good with the bad.
Anyways, several shopping bags and Galleons later, we trudged back to the castle (the carriages weren't hooked up 'til term started) and almost collapsed right onto the common room floor. Since earlier in the morning, Pomfrey had given me the go-ahead to go to my new dorm, I decided to settle in up there. Just as I was heading up the stairs, a very large something attacked me from behind. Instinctually, I whipped my wand out, elbowed my attacker, and spun around.
"Si-Sirius! Oh my God, don't DO that to me! You scared the crap out of me!" I shouted at the dark-haired charismatic someone (A/N: Yes, I've read the 5th book, I'm just ignoring it. That, and if you've read the Dune books, Duncan is Sirius! He is!) pulled himself off the ground and stared suspiciously at me.
"Who are you, and how do you know who I am?" Sirius asked, puzzled. I noticed then he had his wand at the ready.
"It's me, Harry!" I exclaimed, realizing instantly I could have handled that better. Sirius growled low in his throat and shook his head.
"Don't play games with me, whoever you are! Don't think I'll hesitate to defend myself against you!" Sirius snapped at me, his eyes glinting dangerously.
Slowly, I dropped my wand and held out my hand to him.
"Siri, surely you recognize some small trace of me? Don't I smell the same? Can't you see my mother's eyes staring back at you? My father's raven hair on my head?" I asked, pleading with him with my eyes to recognize me. If Sirius didn't recognize me anymore, I, the real me, was lost forever.
Cautiously, he bent over and sniffed my hand, using his Animagi heightened senses to catch my scent. Then he looked me over from toe to head, stopping last on my eyes. He stared right down into the depths of my soul, and maybe even past that, when he suddenly softened his gaze and embraced me in a hug. Holding me at arms length again, he whispered, "What happened?"
I smiled and said, " Voldemort cast some sort of curse on me just before he died. I'm now going to be a girl for the rest of my life most likely."
". I'm sorry?" he said hesitantly, a small grin fighting to get out. We both burst out laughing at the same time, then he turned me around abruptly in a circle, examining my new appearance.
"Hmmm. you're still a short little runt, but you're kinda cute for a girl. I suppose I'll keep ya, my goddaughter." he smirked. I grinned back at him, thankful for his acceptance.
"Oh! Um, well, in case you wanted to know, my new name is Jamie Evans." I stuttered, suddenly very embarrassed and any other number of emotions.
"Oh, well, that's pretty creative. So you're just going to disappear? I mean, the real you?" he asked, sitting down on a couch by the fire.
"Well, what other choice do I really have? So far as we know, this is permanent, and I have a chance for a new life now." I trailed off as I sat down too, uncomfortable under my godfather's questioning gaze. Suddenly I felt his arm pull me into a loving embrace. I finally let down the careful wall of indifference I had built and let my despairing sobs rack my newly feminine body until exhaustion overtook me and sleep became my refuge, not for the first time in my life, either.
I awoke to find myself tucked safely away in my bed with an anxious looking Hermione sitting in a chair by my bed, knitting, and a warm big black dog keeping my feet warm at the foot of my bed. Sirius's ears perked up at the small rustling of the sheets as I shifted, causing him to pad over and start covering my face with slimy dog kisses.\
"Ugh! Sirius! Your breath stinks!" I exclaimed, trying to ward him away in vain, as he would not be deterred. Hermione caught sight of this and started giggling, understandably.
Suddenly, the dog jumped off the bed and my godfather stood in his place, smiling gently at me. I tried to scowl at him but ended up laughing along with both of them.
"Sirius, why don't you go tell Ron that H-Jamie's awake and we'll be down in about half an hour, okay?" Hermione suggested.
"Sure, don't be too long now thought!" he teased, winking at me in jest while I just glared at him.
"Alright, I'm going to go hop in the shower really quick, okay?" I asked as I gathered up a set of clothes and my toiletries to take into the bathroom with me.
"Sure, I'll blow-dry your hair for you when you're done, too, if you want," Hermione offered. "It won't air-dry nearly as quickly anymore, so you'll need it."
"Um, sure, I suppose." I said. After I was free of all oil, dried tears, dog saliva, and any other dirt or grime, I dressed and Hermione helped me to dry my hair, which took about ten minutes. I pulled it into a low, loose ponytail, and we headed out of the dorm.
Ron and Sirius were waiting at the foot of the stairs and Sirius pulled me into another loving hug. Ron rather awkwardly patted my shoulder, causing us all to laugh.
"So. um. Jamie. what'cha wanna do today? It's only Wednesday, so we have until Sunday to enjoy our summer," Ron stated, looking at me.
"Well, breakfast sounds good, then maybe we could practice Quidditch," I suggested. "How long are you staying Siri?"
"Oh, I'm going to be here until term starts, then I'll go back into hiding until they clear my name via Peter. Dumbledore's got some trusted Aurors searching the wreckage of the last attack for him." Sirius trailed off with everyone giving an involuntary shudder. I suddenly felt tears stinging my eyes and acid burning my throat.
"Oh H-Jamie, don't feel bad for them! They deserved what they got for being in league with him!" Hermione said, wrapping an arm around me. I sighed and laughed weakly in embarrassment.
One hearty (if quiet) breakfast later, Ron and I trooped down to the pitch with 'Snuffles' nipping at our heels and pouncing on us the whole way. Hermione had gone back to the tower to finish Snape's abominable Potions essay, which I had finished at the beginning of the summer, taking initiative for once in my life and doing my homework early.
Ron and I swapped off being Chaser and Keeper, then racing each other around the pitch. The air was perfect, just starting to crisp with winter chill. Just being in the air again was the highlight of my day.
"Well, you sure haven't lost your Seeker reflexes!" Ron informed me after I had intercepted yet another clever feint to the left then a shot to the right hoop. I flashed a blinding grin to him, which caused him to double over laughing.
"What?" I asked, unconsciously putting my hands on my hips, only causing him to laugh harder.
"Oh. my. God. you looked. so. GIRLY!!! BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!!! Oh. wow." he gasped, almost falling off his broom. In response I chucked the Quaffle at him, causing him to really fall off his broom. I swooped down and caught him on the back of my broom after slowing his descent with my wand.
With a wry grin I said, "Sorry, but you deserved that." He only smiled in reply. I flew back up and we transferred Ron to his own broom, then went back to the locker rooms to shower and change.
Now back sitting on my bed, clothed, washed, and fed, I must admit I felt noticeably better. Performing mundane everyday tasks such as using the restroom and dressing were interesting to say the least. Hermione was an angel, tactfully helping me figure everything out and answering any questions I had.
"Well, are you ready to go shopping?" she asked, her eyes aglow with excitement. I sighed dejectedly and heaved myself to my feet.
"I suppose we should get this over with." I trailed off, rolling my eyes. Hermione grabbed my arm and tugged on it to hasten my admittedly slow pace.
"Come one, it's not that bad! You might actually learn to enjoy it!" she said with a knowing smile on her face. I raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously. She merely shrugged and kept on with her attempts to drag me all the way to Hogsmeade.
Once we were in the not-so -crowded streets of Hogsmeade (it was Tuesday), Hermione preceded to pull me into shop after shop, urging me to try on many different styles of both wizard and muggle clothing. Several hours later we found my preference: dark, rich colors, nothing frilly, very punk and military influenced. Most of the clothes we bought were unisex so I didn't feel too awkward in them. Hermione did however, force me to buy some makeup, bras, a few skirts, and a killer pair of knee boots (leather bottoms with nylon canvas legging and buckled up and zipper front), which even I admitted were awesome, although a little flamboyant for me. As much as I hate to admit it, I liked it today, especially finding those boots. I also felt a new freedom to express myself without boundaries. It was perfectly all right for me to dress semi-dark like this, because I wasn't the famed Boy-Wonder anymore. I was your average teenage girl. Go figure. Oh well, I suppose you have to take the good with the bad.
Anyways, several shopping bags and Galleons later, we trudged back to the castle (the carriages weren't hooked up 'til term started) and almost collapsed right onto the common room floor. Since earlier in the morning, Pomfrey had given me the go-ahead to go to my new dorm, I decided to settle in up there. Just as I was heading up the stairs, a very large something attacked me from behind. Instinctually, I whipped my wand out, elbowed my attacker, and spun around.
"Si-Sirius! Oh my God, don't DO that to me! You scared the crap out of me!" I shouted at the dark-haired charismatic someone (A/N: Yes, I've read the 5th book, I'm just ignoring it. That, and if you've read the Dune books, Duncan is Sirius! He is!) pulled himself off the ground and stared suspiciously at me.
"Who are you, and how do you know who I am?" Sirius asked, puzzled. I noticed then he had his wand at the ready.
"It's me, Harry!" I exclaimed, realizing instantly I could have handled that better. Sirius growled low in his throat and shook his head.
"Don't play games with me, whoever you are! Don't think I'll hesitate to defend myself against you!" Sirius snapped at me, his eyes glinting dangerously.
Slowly, I dropped my wand and held out my hand to him.
"Siri, surely you recognize some small trace of me? Don't I smell the same? Can't you see my mother's eyes staring back at you? My father's raven hair on my head?" I asked, pleading with him with my eyes to recognize me. If Sirius didn't recognize me anymore, I, the real me, was lost forever.
Cautiously, he bent over and sniffed my hand, using his Animagi heightened senses to catch my scent. Then he looked me over from toe to head, stopping last on my eyes. He stared right down into the depths of my soul, and maybe even past that, when he suddenly softened his gaze and embraced me in a hug. Holding me at arms length again, he whispered, "What happened?"
I smiled and said, " Voldemort cast some sort of curse on me just before he died. I'm now going to be a girl for the rest of my life most likely."
". I'm sorry?" he said hesitantly, a small grin fighting to get out. We both burst out laughing at the same time, then he turned me around abruptly in a circle, examining my new appearance.
"Hmmm. you're still a short little runt, but you're kinda cute for a girl. I suppose I'll keep ya, my goddaughter." he smirked. I grinned back at him, thankful for his acceptance.
"Oh! Um, well, in case you wanted to know, my new name is Jamie Evans." I stuttered, suddenly very embarrassed and any other number of emotions.
"Oh, well, that's pretty creative. So you're just going to disappear? I mean, the real you?" he asked, sitting down on a couch by the fire.
"Well, what other choice do I really have? So far as we know, this is permanent, and I have a chance for a new life now." I trailed off as I sat down too, uncomfortable under my godfather's questioning gaze. Suddenly I felt his arm pull me into a loving embrace. I finally let down the careful wall of indifference I had built and let my despairing sobs rack my newly feminine body until exhaustion overtook me and sleep became my refuge, not for the first time in my life, either.
I awoke to find myself tucked safely away in my bed with an anxious looking Hermione sitting in a chair by my bed, knitting, and a warm big black dog keeping my feet warm at the foot of my bed. Sirius's ears perked up at the small rustling of the sheets as I shifted, causing him to pad over and start covering my face with slimy dog kisses.\
"Ugh! Sirius! Your breath stinks!" I exclaimed, trying to ward him away in vain, as he would not be deterred. Hermione caught sight of this and started giggling, understandably.
Suddenly, the dog jumped off the bed and my godfather stood in his place, smiling gently at me. I tried to scowl at him but ended up laughing along with both of them.
"Sirius, why don't you go tell Ron that H-Jamie's awake and we'll be down in about half an hour, okay?" Hermione suggested.
"Sure, don't be too long now thought!" he teased, winking at me in jest while I just glared at him.
"Alright, I'm going to go hop in the shower really quick, okay?" I asked as I gathered up a set of clothes and my toiletries to take into the bathroom with me.
"Sure, I'll blow-dry your hair for you when you're done, too, if you want," Hermione offered. "It won't air-dry nearly as quickly anymore, so you'll need it."
"Um, sure, I suppose." I said. After I was free of all oil, dried tears, dog saliva, and any other dirt or grime, I dressed and Hermione helped me to dry my hair, which took about ten minutes. I pulled it into a low, loose ponytail, and we headed out of the dorm.
Ron and Sirius were waiting at the foot of the stairs and Sirius pulled me into another loving hug. Ron rather awkwardly patted my shoulder, causing us all to laugh.
"So. um. Jamie. what'cha wanna do today? It's only Wednesday, so we have until Sunday to enjoy our summer," Ron stated, looking at me.
"Well, breakfast sounds good, then maybe we could practice Quidditch," I suggested. "How long are you staying Siri?"
"Oh, I'm going to be here until term starts, then I'll go back into hiding until they clear my name via Peter. Dumbledore's got some trusted Aurors searching the wreckage of the last attack for him." Sirius trailed off with everyone giving an involuntary shudder. I suddenly felt tears stinging my eyes and acid burning my throat.
"Oh H-Jamie, don't feel bad for them! They deserved what they got for being in league with him!" Hermione said, wrapping an arm around me. I sighed and laughed weakly in embarrassment.
One hearty (if quiet) breakfast later, Ron and I trooped down to the pitch with 'Snuffles' nipping at our heels and pouncing on us the whole way. Hermione had gone back to the tower to finish Snape's abominable Potions essay, which I had finished at the beginning of the summer, taking initiative for once in my life and doing my homework early.
Ron and I swapped off being Chaser and Keeper, then racing each other around the pitch. The air was perfect, just starting to crisp with winter chill. Just being in the air again was the highlight of my day.
"Well, you sure haven't lost your Seeker reflexes!" Ron informed me after I had intercepted yet another clever feint to the left then a shot to the right hoop. I flashed a blinding grin to him, which caused him to double over laughing.
"What?" I asked, unconsciously putting my hands on my hips, only causing him to laugh harder.
"Oh. my. God. you looked. so. GIRLY!!! BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!!! Oh. wow." he gasped, almost falling off his broom. In response I chucked the Quaffle at him, causing him to really fall off his broom. I swooped down and caught him on the back of my broom after slowing his descent with my wand.
With a wry grin I said, "Sorry, but you deserved that." He only smiled in reply. I flew back up and we transferred Ron to his own broom, then went back to the locker rooms to shower and change.