Title: Heaven Forbid

Author: XiaoLang - Kaz

Rating: PG13

Summary: I hate him; I wish he was dead. He wants me dead and I couldn't care less. Let him sneer; let him glare; let him express his hatred for me. Let him ignore me, and yet keep all his attention on me. I don't care. …I think I'm in love with him.

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own anything, so this will be the last time I say the obvious.

Chapter VI

I shook my head. As I lay on my back, staring up at the canopy of my four-poster bed, touching my lips, my thoughts were dominated by his face. His face. I didn't understand. Was I supposed to punch him, scream at him? Was I supposed to kiss him back? How could I have summoned the courage to do so even if I decided to?

I felt so strange... I mean— I'm a guy stuck in a girl's body. How the bloody hell do I react when another guy kisses me? Is this bad or good...?

...What the hell am I saying! Good?! Pfft! Gah, heaven help me from liking this bit... I'd rather die than bind our that I... No, it would never happen.

I turned over to my side and faced the wall. Closing my eyes I tried to think of something else. But it was impossible. He clouded my thoughts, refusing to let me sleep, strengthening my paranoia.

...What would happen the next day? What will I do tomorrow, knowing he kissed me and I actually tolerated (I will NOT say I enjoyed it!) his company tonight? Will he even say anything about what he did to his House-mates? Who am I kidding? Of course he would talk about he how he kissed some girl - though I doubt he would mention who. I would step in that Hall and immediately be known as he bitch. I just know it...

Great. Not only will I know he kissed me, when/if I turn back I'll live the rest of my life in shame and utter embarrassment. ...I almost hope Voldemort would kill me now. But no, I will endure it. Endure... must endure....

Wait— ! When/If I turn back, I can say that he did kiss me and land the joke on him!

I almost whooped in joy over the idea. sitting up quickly. But I sank down just seconds later as I realized something: Instead of getting my fun and making him the laughingstock of the year, the whole thing would probably humiliate me even more. Ulgh... Curse him... Curse that boy...

Eventually, I gave up in trying to figure out a way to save myself from inevitable shame and forced myself to close me eyes again, and fall asleep, the sounds of waking girls and the rustling of clothing waking me what seemed only minutes after I fell asleep.

I tried to go back asleep, but gave in to the noise and got up, getting ready as well. Hermione accompanied me and helped me slip into my clothes. I was lucky she was around because my lack of sleep caused me to be uncoordinated. I tripped myself nearly four times! I felt so stupid...

"It's all right, Harle," said Hermione as she patted me on the shoulder, sensing my misery.

I thanked her and we both descended the spiral staircase, finding Joan by the fireplace. She was writing on a long piece of parchment. When I called out to her, she waved a hand in acknowledgment, not bothering to look up from her paper, her quill working vigorously. She was so hard at work she declined my offer to go to the Hall together. Though I didn't want to go to the Grand Hall myself, I left with Hermione and worked on calming myself. (So much for that.)

I stopped before the double doors, shifting my bad and swallowing. Hermione paused in front oft he doors as well, but only because I had.

"Is it bigger than your school?" she asked suddenly.

I blinked at her for a moment, not comprehending what she just said. "Um, o-oh, er, sorta...?"

Hermione didn't seem to suspect my stutter and nodded, and pushed open one of the doors. "You get used to it quickly, " she assured. She looked over her shoulder at me and asked, "What's your school like?"

I swallowed again. "Er, well, it's not that different, really. Just smaller."

Hermione smiled and led the way inside, opening a seat for me right across from her. I took it, but wished I wasn't facing the Slytherin table. I glanced in that direction and saw Malfoy reading the "Daily Prophet". I immediately looked away and tried to focus on the meal set in front of me. It didn't work too well, because I managed to pour syrup on my breakfast sausage, ketchup o my toast, and jam on my eggs. It was only when Hermione called out to me in a yelp did I stop and realized what I had done.

"Harle, are you all right? We can send you straight back to bed if you need some more rest." Hermione frowned and added, "Or if you need it, some medical attention from Madam Pomfrey [1] in the Hospital Wing?"

I poked at my eggs and took a bite, and grimaced at the taste, washing it down with the juice in my goblet. To Hermione, I said, "I think I'll go to the Hospital Wing," and stood up, walking out of the Grand Hall. Descending the stairs I started for the Gryffindor tower. I had no intention in going to the Hospital Wing - too man people went there for useless reasons. I needed time to think, and quiet, something I couldn't find outside by the lake until dusk, and even then I didn't think I would've been able to find any peace since Malfoy knew of it and my being there. There was a big chance he wouldn't come near it again, but also a big chance he would. I didn't want to meet with him when he did.

Sighing, I walked through the maze of pathways to the Gryffindor tower, pausing when I passed by a painting I hadn't noticed in all my years at Hogwarts. In it was a man siting under an oak tree by the lake. As I studied the image, I noticed that the man's surroundings were of the same lake and tree I sat under when I came out to think. Fascinated, I stepped closer, craning my neck to look up at it. A snake, I saw, was coiled around him, the tail hooking around his left ankle. The man didn't budge as the snake moved - it was a premature python, I'm sure. I frowned; was this man asleep?

It seemed so, for when another man came and knelt by him, lightly shaking his shoulder, he jerked like someone waking, and greeted the other man at his side. They were speaking softly to each other, so I didn't catch what was said. However, as the second man stood up, taking the python, I caught a name that made my eyes widen.

"Godric...?"

"Ah, so you have discovered one of the few paintings with the four founders of Hogwarts in them."

I turned sharply to see Dumbledore walk down the hall coming from the Grand Hall. He smiled at me, eyes twinkling as he looked up at me over his half moon glasses. When he neared me he looked up at the picture as well, his smile widening.

"Professor..." I started, my sentence trailing.

"Yes, Harle?" he replied.

I frowned slightly once more. "What is this painting of?"

The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes seemed to brighten at the question. "You mean the men?" When I nodded, he said, "I think you know who's in there already."

I looked back up at the painting. "Godric, I know is the one under the tree. But who was the other man?"

"Doesn't he looked familiar, Harle?"

I glanced at Dumbledore, unused to being called Harle when I knew he knew of my accident and transformation. "W-well, yes, I suppose. But I thought they hated each other."

"You mean in how Gryffindors and Slytherins are supposed mortal enemies? No, that's not entirely true. There's more to it than that, especially with the founders."

I threw Dumbledore a questioning look. "What do you mean, Professor?"

Dumbledore laughed at my question, causing my expression to turn into confusion. When I asked him what made him laugh, he only said, "Come with me," and started to walk away. I looked up at the painting, finding Godric still sleeping under the tree, no sign of the other man at all. I frowned at the picture and quickly turned away, following Dumbledore down the halls until we reached a door that I didn't recognize. It wasn't surprising since it was very easy to miss certain details when you weren't looking for it. But once you knew what you were looking for, and where it was, it was easy to find. Same here. I stopped beside him and looked up in question. He gestured for me to open the door and I did so hesitantly.

It was dark at first, but as soon as Dumbledore stepped through the door behind me and muttered a spell, pointing his wand up at the ceiling of the room, light filled from corner to corner, revealing large portraits, all empty of persons except for one large painting that nearly filled the entire wall from top to bottom, four persons (two males and two females) sitting around a table. As the light went on, all four faces turned to greet Dumbledore, smiling and waving at him (with the exception of one man in black and green).

"Good morning, Professor!" called a tall woman in a sapphire dress, standing to meet Dumbledore as he approached the canvas.

"Good morning, Rowena," Dumbledore returned with a smile.

I blinked and stared at the man. That woman was Rowena Ravenclaw?! I looked at the other three in the painting and realized that the men were the same two I saw in the painting in the hall.

"Godric and Salazar....?"

The two seemed to hear my whisper and turned sharply toward me, Salazar Slytherin looking me up and down with a judging look. Godric, however, turned to Dumbledore after glancing at me and quipped, "This young lady here, Dumbledore, who is she...?"

Dumbledore turned to me and called me forward. "This, Godric, is young Harry Potter."

Salazar wrinkled his nose at that. "That's a boy's name. She's obviously a girl, Dumbledore, and you just bloody insulted her."

Rowena turned toward me, and I felt very much like I was under a microscope. I had a feeling that she was one of those people who knew more than they let on, and had a kind of knowledge that was better kept secret. I swallowed as she turned her eyes toward me and smiled knowingly.

"No," Rowena said softly, "this is a boy. What happened, Albus?" She turned to Dumbledore and lifted a fine brow.

"It is not certain, but he is under a spell of some sort. We have not been able to figure out how it happened, but you are welcome to ask young Harry for the answers."

At that, Rowena turned back toward me and tilted her head as she asked, "How did it happen, Harry?"

I blinked and swallowed again. "Um, well, I don't know how, exactly, but I think it was something I had eaten for this transvestite thing to happen."

Rowena frowned. "A potion, perhaps?" She turned to Salazar and beckoned him forward. "You know potions, Salazar, so do you know anything about it?"

Salazar sniffed in distaste, looking down at me and crossing his arms. He was silent for a while before shaking his head. "Knowledge expands over time. There's a possibility that it was created after my time."

"Ah, I bet you know about it and don't want to help the boy," Godric said over the rim of his teacup, a slight narrow of his eyes.

Salazar turned toward to the obsidian haired man sharply, narrowing his eyes as well. But before a word ever came out of his mouth, Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Now isn't the time for any quarrel. I've brought young Harry here for a different matter. For the moment, his different appearance isn't something needing immediate attention, though I'm sure he would like to know how he got this way, so please listen before I get on my way." After a moment's pause and reassurance that he had the attention of all four founders, he continued. "Harry has found one of the paintings of Godric sleeping by the lake. Salazar, you came to take back Idelia, but your actions have caused question to rise in Harry." I snorted inwardly as Dumbledore talked as if I wasn't there. "I would be greatly appreciated it if you answered his questions directly."

When Dumbledore stopped, apparently down giving his orders, I turned toward him, his last few words catching my attention. "Directly, sir? How so? I mean, now that I'm actually thinking about it, how is it that this room is full of paintings for the founders of Hogwarts? How did they get here?"

Dumbledore smiled at my curiosity. "These paintings of the founders of Hogwarts are a little different. Unlike most of the paintings in the school, this room carries what we can call the very spirit of these people."

I narrowed my eyes in wonder. "So in other words, you're saying that here, it's like the founders were stuck in these paintings? ...Almost?"

A nod met my conclusion. "In a way, yes."

"And what about the paintings outside this room?"

"It is the same concept. The main difference would be that here, in this room, the power is strongest. You can feel it, can't you?"

I nodded. "I feel comfortable here, Professor."

Dumbledore smiled. "That's good to hear."

"Thank you for showing me this place, Professor."

The Headmaster smiled, the sparkles in his eyes seeming to glow. He then excused himself, giving me full permission to come here whenever I needed. I thanked him once more, feeling better than before, watching him leave before looking around the room. I was awed, to say in the least, and even more awed at the people in the painting before me. As Rowena Ravenclaw cleared her throat, I gave her my full attention, more amazed than frightened or anything else.

"Harry, dear?"

"Yes?"

Rowena smiled a bit before saying, "Have a seat, would you?"

I looked around and saw a stool in the far corner and retrieved it, sitting in front of the large portrait and facing Rowena. She nodded in approval as I crossed my ankles and looked me over a bit.

"Professor Dumbledore said that you questioned one of our paintings outside these walls... What did you want to ask us, dear?"

A little disturbed at how Rowena addressed me as 'dear', but not entirely so, I turned to the two males who stood near each other, gaze trained on the other. A glare passed between them, but I sensed something a little different. I didn't want to comment on it, so I continued to stare. It was only when Godric turned toward me and lifted a brow, did I look away, reminded of something.

"What's with you?"

I turned back toward the males to see that Salazar had spoken. He settled me with a narrowed stare and I only stared back. I didn't know whether to be frightened or angry because I had never met the man before, and he did have an intimidating image. He opened his mouth to say something — to comment on my behavior, I'm sure — but stopped as (to my surprise) Godric laid a hand over his just long enough to catch his attention.

"Just ignore them, Harry, if you don't feel like you can talk to them," Rowena interrupted before anything (whatever that might be) started.

"I... Well, first off, it's new and rather strange for me to be talking to a painting—not to mention one with the four founders in it, looking like could jump out at me."

"I'm sure you'd love for use to be standing in front of you," Salazar said only partially in a whisper.

I glanced back at him and blinked a few times before continuing, "And secondly......"

As I trailed I turned my attention back toward the two males, a question at the tip of my tongue, but too bold to ask right now. After a moment, I shook my head.

"Never mind..."

Salazar snorted. "Tch. 'Never mind'? Dumbledore takes you here to talk to us, and you just back out? What happened to 'I'm comfortable here'?"

"Salazar!" Godric hissed, standing up.

I frowned as I watched Salazar turn around to meet Godric gaze and held it, something definitely passing between them. I knew then that I wouldn't have the chance to ask them properly, especially when I felt so uncomfortable on this first visit. I stood up quickly and returned the stool to where it was and addressed the woman in the sapphire dress.

"Ms. Ravenclaw?"

"Call me Rowena, dear," she interjected.

"R...Rowena? May I come back another time?" I was still hesitant to use her first name.

Rowena smiled understandingly. It was like she knew exactly what I was avoiding, and why I felt suddenly uncomfortable. She nodded to me in a reassuring way before speaking. "Of course. As Dumbledore said, you can come here any time you like. You will eventually become used to the others," she added with a wink and small, almost unnoticeable gesture to her right.

I smiled and dipped my head, glancing again to the others before leaving, quickly getting away from the room. As much as I had wanted to stay, I couldn't. I sighed and turned a corner, turning my attention to the floor. When I got to a flight of stairs, I didn't pay attention and look up before ascending, running into someone halfway up.

As they caught my by the arm, I immediately apologized and looked up, stopping short as I noticed how close our faces were. ...Again.

AN: Huaa! I hate being so late from updating! wails And with such a crappy chapter too! Short, a filler, and utterly stupid! Oh, you readers must be so mad at me! Please, I apologize, I don't mean to give you such a horrible thing to read! And Dumbledore is such an OOC character right now! sobs in shame Ah, going on vacation from my stories (except for CO which I worked ahead on) makes this so mixed up and screwy! My A:/ drive broke on my laptop and I had to wait several weeks to finally order another one (it's separate from the LT) and get it delivered. And I've actually started to work on it toward the end of the school year, all the while trying to take care of some family problems that left me utterly frustrated, not to mention going to another school....

Anyway, I'm back on track and I'm sure that this summer will promise more work! I just need to work on my other stories and in time I'll finish it all! I just have to control my thoughts and make sure I don't start another project without finishing what I have already started, y'know? Ooh, geez, I'm babbling...

Well, please send me your rant/comment/praise/whatever through email (whitedemonwingshotmail) or the review box! Review Button: Rawr! Feed me! Rawr!

Thanks a bunch you all! I'll be soo glad if you're still with me!

DoD

[1] Is that how you spell the darn fawn-ish woman's name? Or Pomfery? Or Pomphrey? Or what? Please tell me, I rarely ask for things like this...