Chapter 3: Patented
Hermione lay back in her chair and listened to what their therapist had to say. She was glad that this session progressed much smoother than the ones before. Nonetheless, she still considered asking Mister Harris for separate girls' and boys' sessions. There were things she felt too awkward to talk about with the "girls" around. Besides, Hermione was sure they had some awkward subjects of discussion of their own. How could they not? They all gender-swapped!
"I've been told by your headmistress that your parents have been informed about your condition and have been invited to Hogwarts. They are set to arrive here tomorrow afternoon. You will all be excused from classes that day," Mister Harris explained, but was interrupted by one of his moody patients.
"Wait, what? Our parents have been invited to Hogwarts? They are going to see us like this?"
"Yes, Mister Hopkins."
"But I don't want them to see me like this!" the student exclaimed, his voice laced with panic (or irritation, Hermione couldn't quite decipher). A few students nodded in agreement with Wayne. Actually, if Hermione thought about it, no one looked too happy about the news - herself included.
"Mister Hopkins, you have nothing to be ashamed about," Mister Harris reasoned.
"I'm not ashamed," Wayne immediately denied.
"Well then, where's the problem?" the therapist asked patiently. Instead of answering the question, Wayne proceeded to just ask another question.
"Why have they been informed? This is... ugh; I don't know... all I know is that I don't like it."
Hermione agreed to this sentiment. She didn't like it at all.
"Well, whilst all of you are of age, it's still school policy to inform the parents when their children are involved in bigger accidents. And this - although none of you is injured - is a very unique situation after all. We still don't know when an antidote is going to be found."
Yes, she had heard the rumour that it could take some time. Apparently, the search for the antidote turned out to be much trickier than the experts had initially expected. However, that wasn't really the problem. Okay, it was big part of the problem, but Hermione was sure that another circumstance was more of an issue here. She decided to share this thought with their therapist.
"Mister Harris, I think the thing that most of us are concerned about is how our parents will react. What actions they might take.
"I imagine some would do something drastic and take their children out of school. I'm definitely more than concerned about this. My parents are less likely to be indulgent towards what happened. They're Muggles and although they do support me and my education here, they're still sceptical when it comes to magic," Hermione explained seriously. Their therapist nodded understandingly.
"I understand, but I don't want you to worry too much about it. Your headmistress and I will talk to each of your parents. I think we'll be able to convince them not take any of you out of Hogwarts," the therapist replied diplomatically.
Hermione felt nervous as she made her way to the Great Hall where they would be meeting the parents. She cast a look at Ron who, unlike her, seemed relaxed. He saw her watching him and gave her a small smile.
"Don't worry, Hermione. Things are going to be fine. I'll even have mum and dad talk to your parents if you want to. Your parents won't just take you out of school," he tried to reassure her. Hermione nodded, although she still felt ill at ease. Nevertheless, she still appreciated Ron's attempt in trying to make her feel better. He was a great friend.
"You're taking this whole thing really well, Ron. I wish I could say the same thing about myself."
"Oh, I'm definitely looking forward to have things go back to normal, but I also have to say that this is not so uninteresting. You know, Hermione, I even wrote a letter to the patent office at the Ministry to take out a patent for my potion," Ron explained nonchalantly, however the spring in his step suggested that he was quite excited about this. Hermione stopped walking abruptly.
"You did what?" she asked incredulously.
"I patented my potion," he repeated slowly. "I'm sure there's a market for my potion and lots of money to be made. George also thought this was a good idea. Sent him an owl about it yesterday."
"Ron, have you completely lost your mind? We don't even know if there are any long term side effects and you're already talking business!" Hermione still couldn't believe she was hearing right, whereas Ron grew a little irritated with Hermione's reaction.
"Well, Hermione… I have to protect my interests. One's got to take precautions when money is involved. Do you really think that no one else will see the opportunity?"
Hermione ran a hand over her face. She couldn't deal with this right now. She had bigger things to worry about than Ron's future potions empire or whatever he was planning.
Hermione didn't know what to say to them as they gaped at her. Her parents had been staring at her in disbelief for a good minute now and it was getting more than uncomfortable. It made her feel like a freak (which in a way she kind of was). She stole glances at them and shuffled her feet, willing her parents to say, well, anything. They were not making this situation easier for her.
Hermione soon realised that she would have to be the one to break the ice. However, she barely even managed to get out a "Hi mum and dad", when her mother suddenly flung herself at her.
"Oh my poor baby!" she exclaimed as she hugged Hermione tightly. Her father awkwardly stepped towards them and joined their group hug.
"Headmistress McGonagall told us what happened. This is so horrible!" her mother continued whereas Hermione frowned deeply. Sure, this wasn't a great situation, but her being a boy couldn't be that terrible? Hermione's father seemed to have read her mind and decided to intervene and interrupt his wife's monologue.
"Darling, that's a bit harsh, wouldn't you say? She's still our Hermione; no matter how she looks like now. I dare say you make a rather dashing fella. Beautiful as a girl and handsome as boy."
Hermione gave her father a small smile and scratched her head, feeling rather self-conscious. "Thanks, dad."
"Oh, you know I didn't mean it like that. It's just that my little girl…I-," Mrs Granger began to explain herself, but couldn't really find the words. She looked at her husband helplessly.
"It's alright. I know you didn't mean it like that," Hermione decided to say diplomatically despite feeling a bit hurt. The family then sat down and talked about Hermione and about how she was coping. It was probably one of the most intense discussions she ever had with her parents, although her father couldn't help but laugh heartily, when Hermione brought up her concern about them possibly taking her out of Hogwarts.
"Hermione, this is so very you to worry about school even when you find yourself in a situation like this one. Even though I have to admit that I'm very upset with your school, we wouldn't think of ever doing that."
Hermione's mother gave him a surprised look. "We wouldn't?"
"No, we wouldn't," her husband replied firmly. His wife huffed, but then her eyes suddenly brightened.
"Looks like someone just had an idea," Hermione thought in amusement.
"But you know that you can home anytime right, darling? We could have you home-schooled! It probably won't be cheap, but you're worth every penny!" her mother said hopefully, but Hermione shook her head.
"That's very thoughtful of you mum, but I'd rather stay," Hermione answered carefully as she watched her mother's happy mood deflate visibly. This made her feel guilty, but home-schooling? Not a chance in hell.
"I'm happy here, mum, and the group therapy sessions are definitely helping me."
"Okay; but remember: you can always come home!"
The Granger family continued talking until late in the night. Hermione and her father had both managed to convince Mrs. Granger that Hermione would be better off staying at Hogwarts in her condition since she would have peers going through the same things as her.
Although admittedly, Hermione almost changed her mind the next morning when it was time to say goodbye. She hadn't realised how much she had missed her parents until she'd seen them. It would have been great to have them close by, but Hermione knew this wasn't possible if she wanted to finish her education at Hogwarts.
"So, Hermione, I'll guess we'll be seeing you in a few weeks in the Easter holidays?" her mother asked, but Hermione knew that this was a rhetorical question only. Her parents were rather insistent that she come home and not stay at Hogwarts or at some friend's house during that time. Her parents had been rather short when it came to this lately, but she had to admit that she understood them. She saw her parents very little during the year and saw her friends all the time. She really needed to balance her time between friends and family better.
"Yes, I'm already looking forward to it," Hermione answered sincerely before turning to her father.
"Well, Hermione, keep your chin up. Maybe we could go fishing or golfing when you're home. Maybe even catch a match of the Reds. What do you think?"
Hermione's eyebrows shot up at her father's question. Fishing or golfing? A football match? Her father had never suggested those activities for father and daughter bonding time before. Not that she would describe herself as particularly girly, but still…
The longer Hermione mulled over this, the harder the conclusion eventually hit her at the end: Those weren't daughter and father bonding activities - no, those were father and son bonding activities! Hermione wanted to say no, but when she saw the hopeful look on her father's face, she couldn't do it.
Oh, to hell with it.
"Okay," she replied as her father beamed at her, looking very happy. If she actually thought about it, her father had seemed very content and laid back about her new situation… if not somewhat thrilled to have a son now.
A light fist bump against her shoulder by her father only confirmed her thoughts. Yeah, her father was so down with her being a boy.
Hermione strolled up the hill when she suddenly heard some commotion by the greenhouses. Whilst she wasn't really in the mood the deal with what seemed to like a rebellious teenager and would rather continue her relaxing walk, it was still her duty as Head girl to check the situation out.
"Probably some student trying to nick herbs," Hermione muttered to herself as she made her way towards the source of the noise. There was a particular herb that was currently very in fashion amongst the students. This particular herb had the characteristic, once consumed, of turning the consumer's irises icy blue. It was a herb that was very popular amongst the girls in Hogwarts. Not that Hermione really kept up with such things.
Once she arrived at the crime scene (a.k.a. Greenhouse 3), Hermione was surprised to find a dishevelled and angry-looking Draco Malfoy. Around him were broken pots and scattered Herbology equipment.
"MALFOY! What on earth do you think you're doing?" she hollered.
"Oh, fuck off, Granger," Draco replied snappily and kicked a pot nearby, breaking it, too.
"Malfoy, stop it right now," Hermione warned, her hand finding her wand. Draco scoffed, however stopped his crazy rampage.
"I don't know what your problem is, Malfoy, and frankly I don't care. However, I have to care about you destroying school property. I'll have to report you to your Head of the House so you'll receive the appropriate punishment for this. I'll also dock 15 points from Slytherin."
"Do whatever you want, Granger. I don't give a rat's arse."
"Aren't you well spoken? So, going to tell me what this is all about?"
Draco sent her a look full of disdain and flipped the long silvery hair out of his face. "Thought you don't care."
"I don't, but I'm asking anyway."
Draco rolled his eyes at her and plopped down on one of the seats. "Well, it seems like my parents have already begun the process of replacing me - since girls can't carry on the Malfoy legacy."
Hermione wasn't sure what to make of Draco's words and apparently, it showed, since he decided to elaborate.
"And they say you are smart... Granger, those traitors that I unfortunately have to call my parents are planning for another heir! A male heir."
"Oh." Now she could definitely understand why Malfoy wasn't too happy. They had been stuck in their new bodies for only three weeks, so this seemed like a very hasty (not to mention insensitive) decision. In the meanwhile Draco continued his rant.
"This is so insulting - not to mention disgusting! They're too old for stuff like this."
Hermione silently agreed. She liked telling herself that parents didn't have sex either and that she was brought to her parents by a stork.
"Malfoy, I get that this is upsetting, but it's still no reason to destroy school property. Try some other physical outlet like Quidditch or something," she suggested, trying to calm Draco, but he only watched her with narrowed eyes.
"I'm off the team. We have a no-girl-policy."
Hermione cringed. Well, way to put one's foot the in mouth.
"Um... that sucks," she replied lamely, not knowing what else to say.
"Please Granger, as if you care. My parents are going to pay for this," Draco snapped and shot out of his seat to stalk towards the door.
"Remember Malfoy, report to Slughorn later this afternoon because of detention," Hermione called after him.
"Yeah whatever, Gryffindork," came the snotty reply before the Slytherin stormed off, leaving an irritated Head girl behind.
Definitely need to add disrespectful behaviour towards the Head girl to the list of offense. What an arse!
