Finally updating this again, and I think I had a good idea here (this was not pre-planned lmao)

"Get in, boy."

Heather grit her teeth, internally seething at her uncle.

Oh, she wasn't planning on staying with them. There's a reason she had shrunk her trunk and put it in her pocket, sending Hedwig out to stay with Luna and her father.

She was, effectively, planning to run away.

She just didn't want Dumbledore or any of his Order of the Phoenix to know her plan.

As soon as she got back to Privet Drive, she intended to sprint to the nearby playground, and call the Knight Bus. From there, she would be going to the Leaky Cauldron, where Luna and her father would be waiting for her (and how lucky it was Mr. Lovegood agreed to this). Afterwards, she would be staying at their house for the remainder of the summer.

She just hoped Dumbledore or anyone else wouldn't be able to find her.

Save for Ginny of course. Ginny knew all about this plan, and had even been the one to suggest the conjured decoy trunk now sitting in the trunk of her uncle's car. Ginny would also be coming over to spend time with Luna and Heather (although her parents and brothers wouldn't know about Heather being there) as often as she could.

Heather was in a bit of a weird situation involving her friends.

For one, Luna had made it no secret that she was very much interested in Ginny romantically. However, Ginny seemed oblivious, and had also confessed to Heather during the train ride that she also possessed feelings for the girl.

This left Heather feeling rather amused.

She had also been having yet another sexuality crisis (the first having happened when she'd first come out, and had lasted until she properly determined that she did, in fact, have a complete disinterest in boys, while often had thoughts about girls; thoughts about kissing them, cuddling with them (including specific girls, and not just Ginny).

She was very aware of just how gay she actually was.

This crisis was different. For one, it turned out she'd only figured out her romantic orientation. Apparently, her own sexuality was a bit more up in the air than she had realized.

Asexuality. It all came down to that.

Was she asexual?

She figured, had she asked herself from before, and she had answered honestly and with enough thought, she would have said yes.

But that wasn't the entire story.

But that had been when she still thought of herself as a boy. The idea of herself having sex as a boy quite honestly put her off of the concept entirely.

But as a girl… that she figured she might be able to get on board with.

Heather was pulled from her thoughts when she heard her aunt screech, "what on earth happened to your hair?"

Holly looked up to see her aunt looking back at her in the mirror.

"It grew," Heather said simply, "I like how it looks."

"It looks girly."

Heather bit back her retort. That's the point! Instead she said, "lots of boys have long hair."

"Hooligans," her uncle muttered.

Heather scowled.

"Whatever, I like it."

"Like it or not, you are getting it cut the instant we get home, do you understand?"

Heather grimaced. Hair cut? Fuck no!

She didn't respond.

Not like she would give them the chance; all of her stuff was on her, and she could run.

Outrun the Dursleys, at least. Which was good enough.

Hopefully the stupid Order didn't have someone waiting at Privet Drive already. That could really screw with her plans.

Ah well, she'll figure it out. She always did.

Before long, the car pulled into the driveway of Number 4 Privet Drive.

"Get your trunk, boy."

Damn, uncle. No need to rub it in.

She casually strolled to the back of the car.

A mischievous grin passed over her features.

She figured she might… annoy her aunt and uncle. Just a little bit.

She popped open the boot, and…

She bolted. One moment, she was standing by the boot, as if preparing to take out her trunk. The next, she was sprinting down the street, running for the nearby playground.

She heard her uncle yell something, but she couldn't make it out.

She heard footsteps behind her. She swore.

Time for a shortcut.

She took a hard left, running up the driveway of Number 8. Running between the backyards of the evens side of Privet Drive, and the odds of the next street over, was a small, underused footpath.

She shoved the back gate open, sprinting right down the path, shoving a low-hanging branch out of her way.

"Harry, stop!" a voice called.

Heather risked a quick glance over her shoulder. Her pursuer had yet to reach the path.

Then she burst out onto the road. Just across, she spotted the playground. She sprinted across, pulling her want out of her pocket. As soon as she reached the curb, she held it out.

BANG!

The large, triple-decker Knight Bus exploded into existence in front of Heather. She pulled back so as not to get run over.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency trans-"

"Yeah, I know, I've ridden before. Kinda in a hurry."

"Well get on then!"

Heather leapt onto the bus. Just before it started moving again, she spotted, through the window, the person who must have been sent to wait for her.

She didn't recognize them, but they watched as the bus exploded away, taking Heather with it.

"Where to, Miss?"

Heather turned to look at Stan. She was surprised he didn't recognize her, and also a little happy he had gendered her correctly.

"Leaky Cauldron."

"That'll be 11 Sickles. 13 if-"

Heather interrupted by handing Stan the money. "Just the fare, Stan."

Heather sat down in one of the chairs sliding about the bus.

"Hold up, you like some'at familia'. Have you ridden before?"

Heather didn't say anything.

"Hold up, I know."

Heather prayed he didn't say what she thought he was about to say. She glanced around the bus nervously.

Fortunately, the was only one other passenger, and he was asleep.

"You're Harry Potta'!"

Heather winced.

"Or… not?"

Heather looked up at the man. "Not?"

"Hey, no judgin' from us. We'll keep your secret. Won't we, Ern?"

"What secret?" She asked, trying (and failing) to bluff.

"Well, I'm guessin' maybe that you're trans?"

Heather nodded.

"But… why keep the secret?"

"'Why,' she askes," Stan Muttered. "Well 'cause you're the bloody Girl 'o Lived, ya know. The Chosen One. And most importantly, you're on o' us."

"Us?"

Stan nodded. "Yup! I'm gay meeself, and Ern here is a trans man."

"You sure you should be saying all that, Stan?" Ernie asked.

"Oh, don' worry. The old man's asleep. And… sorry, what name do you prefer?"

"Heather."

"And Heather here won't tell a soul."

Heather shook her head. "Your secret's safe with me."

"There we go then."

They continued in silence, Stan counting the Sickles she had handed him, then depositing them in a box at the front of the bus.

"Comin' up on the old man's stop, Stan."

"I'll wake 'im up." Stan quickly walked over to the other passenger, nudging him awake. "We're at your stop, Mr. Wilkins."

The old man stood up as the bus came to a stop. He strode out the door without giving Heather a second glance.

"We'll be at your stop soon, alright Heather?"

Heather nodded. "Great."

"Say, whatchoo doin' comin' right back into London same day the Express got in?"

Heather sighed. "Rather not say."

Stan shrugged. "'S'alright, none o' my business."

When they reached the pub, Heather got up to get off.

She was stopped by Stan. "Might wanna hide the scar, Heather."

Heather nodded, pulling her bangs over her forehead to hide the scar.

Almost immediately after she got off, the buss sped off, leaving Heather alone.

She walked into the pub.

"What can I do for you, young miss?" Tom asked.

Heather pushed down the happiness of being gendered correctly again. "Just a butterbeer, please."

Tom handed her a bottle. "5 Knuts."

Heather nodded and dropped the coins into Tom's hand, taking her drink and going to sit down at an empty table.

Her heart was pounding, and not from the bus ride.

She had run away. Again.

A small part of her imagined aurors bursting in to drag her back to the Dursleys, but she knew that was a ridiculous concept.

When she was about half-way through her bottle, the fire flaired green, and a tall man with dirty blonde hair stepped out, followed almost immediately by Luna, who quickly spotted Heather.

"Hi Heather!" she said, sitting next to the older girl.

Her father walked over, holding a pair of butterbeers, and handed one to his daughter.

"Hello Heather. It's great to finally meet you. Luna writes home about you a lot."

Heather blushed. "She does?"

Mr. Lovegood nodded. "Of course. She always talks about her friends."

Heather sipped her drink. "Oh."

When they had all finished their drinks, Mr. Lovegood stood and said. "Well, let's be off, I suppose."

Luna and Heather stood up to follow him to the fireplace.

Mr. Lovegood stepped in, tossing in some floo powder and announcing "The Rookery!"

Luna followed. Then Heather.

Fortunately for Heather, she ended up in the right place.

Unfortunately for her and Luna, she came flying out, knocking Luna over.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's ok, Heather. You just need practice."

Heather took her shrunken trunk put of her pocket, and Mr. Lovegood unshrunk it.

Heather reached in and pulled out Hedwig's cage, which Mr. Lovegood also unshrunk.

Heather closed her trunk back up.

"Welcome to our home, Heather," Luna said. "C'mon, you're staying in my room."

Luna grabbed Heather's hand, pulling up the spiral stairs in the middle of the bizarrely round room.

"Daddy's room is downstairs. Mine is all the way at the top. It has a very nice view."

They stopped at the final landing.

Luna led Heather over to the window.

Heather had to agree, it was a pretty view.

She turned back to look at the room. Luna's sheets were messy, as if she had forgotten to make them back in September. Sitting on the floor next to it were a pair of sleeping bags.

"Ginny and I usually use these when she stays the night. But right now, you can use one."

"Thanks, Luna."

"Ginny's going to be coming over tomorrow, by the way. Just thought I should probably tell you. There's a section of my closet I have setup for you, if you'd like to unpack."

Heather glanced at said closet, noting that half of Luna's clothes were on the floor of it rather than actually hanging up. She chose not to comment on that. "Thanks, Luna." She opened her trunk and started to unpack.

Well, I guess since on I'm an updating spree, To Save Heather and Ash Potter are next! So look forward to those soon TM!