The Right Thing…
Harry walked along the corridor, putting thoughts through his mind about Snape's petty-mindedness when he heard a soft crying coming from a corridor that nobody seemed to use. He paused, wondering if it was a ghost and then decided to investigate and wound up finding a young girl sobbing and sporting some nasty bruises on her faces and arms – Harry's mood instantly darkened.
"Hey" he said softly, bending down to see she was a first year Slytherin. "Who did this to you?"
"Some older people… And the rest of my year as well! They beat me up because they said I was a Mudblood" the girl sniffed. "That and I said I didn't like boys"
"Well it's a little bit early for you to think about having a boyfriend, isn't it…?" Harry frowned, setting himself down beside the girl who buried herself into his side.
"I mean I like girls" she sobbed and held him. "People say its wrong, but it isn't is it…?"
"You mean you are a…"
"Lesbian, yeah" she whispered.
"Oh" Harry wished Hermione was there as she would know what to say or do. "I don't know what it is like in the magical world, but its normal enough in the Muggle world. Look, if you are going to cry into my shoulder, can you tell me your name?"
"Brenna… Brenna Roth"
"Harry Potter"
"Why are you being nice to me? Everybody knows Gryffindors hate my House" Brenna said.
"That's silly, I have one or two friends in that place… Though I have to keep them secret. Now, as much as I hate him, have you reported this to Professor Snape?" and Brenna nodded.
"I told him about the bullying, but he didn't seem to do anything" the girl shrugged. "Is there a spell to make me normal?" and Harry's heart broke into pieces.
"No" he shook his head, "No there isn't a spell for that. Look, why don't I take you to see Madam Pomfrey and she can get you sorted out. While you are there, I can get Snape to come and talk to you"
"Will…" Brenna hesitated, "Will you stay with me?"
"We ought to go to the Hospital Wing" Harry started, but then he looked down into the sad eyes of the first year, "But I guess a few more minutes won't hurt" and he let Brenna gently cry into his shoulder until she had cried herself to sleep. Standing up, he levitated her into his arms and walked off towards the Hospital Wing, wondering what the school was coming to for hurting somebody because they liked their own gender. He knew he was straight, but Hermione was bisexual and he wondered how many people in the school hid their feelings to stay under the radar.
# # # # #
"We need to talk, Professor, and we need to do it right now" Harry said that evening. Snape was about to fire off some sneering comment when he saw the look of pure fury burning in the teen's eyes.
"Follow me" he said simply and they entered the small chamber Harry had been sent to after his name had come out of the Goblet of Fire. "What is the problem?" he demanded.
"I was walking around, trying to clear my head, when I found one of your first year kids crying her eyes out. I asked what was wrong and apparently they beat her up because of her beliefs"
"Is that all…?" Snape sneered at him. "I have more important things than some first year crying over nothing important"
"Snivelius, it's not just her beliefs about Muggleborns, but she happens to like girls more than boys"
"Why should I care about freakish thoughts?" Snape sneered again. "She will soon settle down and believe in the pureblood way" and, after taking points off Harry, he pushed the boy aside and stalked out. After getting his temper under control, Harry went back to the Hospital Wing and found Brenna tucked up in the bed asleep.
"How is she?" he asked Pomfrey.
"I have healed her cuts and bruises, Mr Potter, but there isn't much I can do for her about her mental state. I can speak to some Mind Healers about making her like boys again…"
"Sometimes I wish I had never heard of the magical world" Harry muttered. "Madam Pomfrey, what is the problem if girls like girls? Why is me liking girls such a difference?"
"Because it just is" Pomfrey shrugged.
"Hmm… Well I swore an oath to protect her and I really don't want her changed"
"That is not for you to decide" Pomfrey told him, "But her parents. Now, unless you are injured, I suggest you leave"
"Nope" Harry conjured a chair next to the bed Brenna was lying in and sat down with a determined look. "I have had just about enough of the prejudice of the magical world, perhaps it is time I took a stand" and Pomfrey glared at him before going to her office and calling McGonagall.
#
"I was told by Madam Pomfrey that you are refusing to leave" the Deputy Headmistress said as she walked into the Hospital Wing.
"Yeah… Kind of rebelling here" Harry shrugged. "I found Brenna sobbing because she was bullied for her likes and choices. I tried to tell Snape about it, but he said she was a freak and took points off me"
"Professor Snape, Mr Potter" McGonagall reminded him, "And he is quite correct in this case… Some witches feel attracted to other witches, but this is an illness of the mind and she can be dealt with"
"Its perfectly normal in the Muggle world"
"That's Muggles" and Harry was shocked at the racism coming from his Head of House. "Anyway, Miss Roth's parents have disowned her – I was going to tell her the news"
"Disowned her?" Harry frowned. He got the impression it meant more in the magical world then it did in the Muggle one.
"It means they have thrown her out of her family because of the shame she has brought them"
"Professor, I knew you were strict… I just never realised how much a bigot you are as well" Harry shook his head as an idea came to his head. "Take this…" he pulled off his robe and tossed it at her, "Consider this my resignation from Gryffindor. Dobby!" and the elf appeared. He started to wax lyically about Harry, but the angry teen cut him off. "Dobby, this is Brenna. I want you to protect her from anybody doing her harm until I get back"
"Yes, Sir!" Dobby turned to face the rest of the room and folded his little arms – there was no way he was going to fail his duty.
"Mr Potter!" McGonagall objected, "Where are you going?"
"To sort this out myself" he growled. He needed to find Hermione and ask if she knew a way out of this mess for both him and Brenna. As he walked along the corridors, he spotted a red headed girl in his year. "Susan…? Susan Bones?"
"Hi, Harry… We don't get to talk much, do we?"
"No… Um, look, I need your help – isn't your Aunt like the big cheese of police here?"
"Huh?"
"Well whatever it is you call the police here"
"Aurors"
"Yeah, them… Look, I need to speak to her right away. I know you have an enchanted bit of paper to send quick notes, can you let her know that Harry Potter needs to speak to her right away?"
"Sure… Why though?" the Hufflepuff blinked at the firmness in his voice.
"Because I am taking a stand for people's right to decide what they want and taking advantage of a loophole"
"You are out of character, Harry" Susan smiled, "But I kind of like it"
"Maybe, Susan, but I've decided to take a stand for what I believe is right" he looked at her carefully. "Will you help?"
"To make a change…? Sure! By the way" she grinned, "I don't believe you put your name in"
"Thanks… Look, send your message and tell your Aunt to see me in the Hospital Wing – I have to go see Hermione"
"Okay" and Susan blinked and added "Where are your robes?"
"I resigned from Gryffindor" and Susan was left stunned at the news.
# # # # #
"My niece said it was of great importance that you spoke to me" Amelia Bones said as she walked into the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts.
"I have two questions for you before I have my say" Harry watched as Brenna slept peacefully – attended to by Pomfrey under the careful gaze of Dobby. Madam Bones found it somewhat amusing the elf had equipped himself with sword and shield. "First, Hermione says that because I have been made to take part in this load of crap, I have been made some sort of free teenager – that true?"
"Emancipated Minor?" Madam Bones blinked in surprise for a moment before nodding. "Yes, it could be argued that is the case. The results of this are complicated, but you are essentially an adult in the eyes of the law"
"Good" Harry looked at Brenna and braced himself. "How do you feel about witches who prefer witches?"
"Well…" the question took the woman by surprise, "I'm not fond of them really, but I am not against them – I just haven't encountered any in this country. Why do you ask?"
"Brenna is a lesbian, I found her crying and beaten up after she told her secret to some others in her house. I tried to tell Snape about what happened, but he called her a freak and Pomfrey here was pretty much the same way" Harry gestured at the Healer. "According to McGonagall, her family kicked her out and, as I understand it from Hermione, she'd become a ward of the Ministry and therefore have her mind altered"
"True – that is the way things are" Madam Bones said.
"I thought as much…" Harry grinned, "So how do you adopt a kid?"
"You go before a hearing before the courts, state why you want to make the adoption and prove that you have enough money to support the child or children. If they are old enough, the child can also appear in the hearing and say why they want to be adopted by the applicant"
"Then tell me where I file the paperwork"
"You are a student"
"Maybe, but I am also an emancipated teenager… Brenna was called a freak and people tried to change her mind and the way she acted because she brought supposed shame on them and to our world" Harry's magic started to sparkle as his anger started to rise.
"Does Professor Dumbledore know?" asked Madam Bones.
"No" shrugged Harry, "But he will in three… two… one… bingo!" and Dumbledore glided into the room.
"Harry, my boy! Professor McGonagall just told me you resigned from Gryffindor because of a girl. I'm sorry, but the law is the law and she must be changed to prefer boys over girls" and his eyes twinkled. Harry, already beginning to get a headache the size of Belgium, had just reached his limit.
"I have no care over what you think, Dumbledore! You have allowed the school to pick on me, allowed false stories to get around here, allowed an air of fear of not being believed by Snape if one of his Slytherins is the cause of trouble, you never looked into the Goblet that night and lets not talk about the physical assault by grabbing me and almost shaking me to bits!" he growled. "I tried to tell Snape, Pomfrey and McGonagall what had happened but none of them care about the injuries caused to a girl whose sole crime is to love girls instead of boys – even her family have thrown her out… Thankfully, Madam Bones here has helped me with a few questions, advised me on a matter and I am going to file for custody and adoption of little Miss Roth"
"I am afraid I can not allow you to do that, Harry" Dumbledore put on his trademark Grandfather appearance. "Quite apart from the fact you would have to leave the school which I forbid, you are an underaged pupil"
"Except, thanks to you neglecting your duties in protecting students from harm, I was emancipated when you agreed I was to compete" Harry calmed and smiled with an added smirk as a bonus. "Madam Bones, I believe that a child who has asked for my help might be accosted and forced to undergo something she doesn't want – can I ask for one of those Auror people Susan told me about to stand guard whilst Dobby has something else to do?"
"Of course"
"What does master Harry Potter Sir be wanting Dobby to do?"
"I want you to go to my dorm room in Gryffindor and pack up my stuff and bring it here. After that, well… I'll have to stay somewhere which means either a couple of rooms here or I find somewhere at Hogsmede"
"You can not do that, Harry" Dumbledore said. "You must stay on the grounds of the school"
"Why?"
"Because it is dangerous – whoever put your name in the Goblet might still be able to attack and hurt you"
"I think you are clutching at straws, Albus" Madam Bones smiled in amusement. "Mr Potter here is emancipated and you can not tell him what to do apart from when it is related to school work. If I understand the charter of the school correctly, you are obliged to give Harry a small suite as he has resigned from Gryffindor"
"I may be able to do that, but the girl must be cured of her pervasions and returned to Slytherin" Dumbledore started to raise his wand, but it was suddenly snapped by the click of Dobby's fingers.
"Go's ahead, punksies… be making Dobby's day" and Harry wondered where on earth Dobby had been watching Muggle films.
"Dumbledore, you have to put me somewhere else in this school – Brenna is going to stay with me" he said to the wandless Headmaster.
"Harry, if you stay in private rooms with a younger gi-"
"Don't even think of finishing that sentence…" Harry's magic crackled in the very air. "Now, Dobby has work to do, I will wait for the Auror to get here and then I am going to the Ministry and filing paperwork to look after Brenna"
"Mr Potter, why are you wanting to look after her?" Madam Bones asked.
"She was in trouble, I offered to help her and that is what I plan to do" Harry said simply. "I have had enough of being forced to do the bidding of others, now it is time to do what all teenagers do and rebel"
# # # # #
"… why we have to reject your application" a blonde haired witch said.
"So you would rather waste time and money dumping her into the care system?" Harry looked astonished. "I know what it is like to have no parents" he went on, "And I swore to make sure that I would do something about Brenna's situation. I know the reason you gave seems right on paper, but I am better than I look – took out Voldemort three times now, saved a girl's life at the risk of my own and lived in an abusive household most of my life and came through fine"
"What do you mean three times?" the witch frowned.
"The day my parents died, end of First Year and the end of Second Year. Look, I don't have all the answers, but what I do have is the willingness to learn and to help those in trouble" Harry sighed. "Even if you don't sign the papers to let me adopt her, I will file for guardianship – either way, I win"
"You care for her, don't you?" asked another member of the panel, "But you hardly know her"
"I know, but she has gone through much of the same things that I have done already. I know what you are really concerned about, but she won't be sleeping with me – she'll have her own room. I have already forced this point with Professor Dumbledore due to the fact that I was chosen to become a member of the Tri-Wizard Cup"
"I see" said the Chairman of the hearing. "Mr Potter, you must understand how difficult it is for us to grant custody to somebody who is a student themselves. I am afraid we must turn down your applications"
"Well, in that case…" Harry shrugged and rose to his feet, "I'm going to get Brenna and we're leaving"
"Ahem, ahem… That rather sounds like a threat"
"You are not deaf?"
"Brat!"
"You misunderstand, Madam, I was just wondering how you could hear over the loudness of that cardigan" Harry shook his head and started walking towards the Floo point for the Ministry.
"Mr Potter! A moment of your time?" Madam Bones came running up. "I heard you had been turned down in your application"
"Yeah, so I am getting Brenna and we're leaving"
"Actually" the witch put a hand on his shoulder to calm the teen down, "I have papers signed by Minister Fudge himself – seems he doesn't want his star turn leaving Hogwarts. He has also confirmed your emancipation too, so Gringotts will give you full access to your family's vaults meaning you have more than enough to look after Miss Roth"
"Thank you" Harry read quickly through the scrolls, "Thank you a lot" and he made a note to give Hermione and Susan presents each for helping him in an emergency. Once he had signed his parts, he became the legal guardian of Brenna pending a decision nearer to Christmas over adopting her. There was also a decree from Fudge for Dumbledore ordering him to provide living quarters for the pair. "How can I pay you back for this?" he asked.
"Just take care of her" and Harry simply nodded – grateful beyond words.
# # # # #
"Are you going to be alright, Harry?" Hermione asked as he read through a Potions text.
"I'm going to be in the same building, Mione, but yes… I'll be alright. I'm surprised you are here, Ron" Harry added.
"I don't get why girls just can't be with boys and be happy, but what I know is that I have been a bit of a git and that this is important for you" the red haired boy looked down at his feet, "So I'm with you" he added in a mumble.
"You know, I think that is the most intelligent thing he has ever said in his life" Hermione raised an amused eyebrow in his direction. Harry merely smirked and was about to say something when the trio heard a high pitched scream and they rushed to the Hospital Wing to see Brenna being dragged out of her bed by two cloaked figures whilst a third stood back and watched.
"Let her go!" Harry said, drawing his wand.
"We are dealing with a brain disease" said the watching one, turning to face them. "We are going to cure her of her freakishness and give her to a nice Pureblood to have children with"
"Not likely" Hermione said and, in conjunction with Ron, drew her wand the pair stunned the ones holding Brenna. Harry's own spell took out the third before he rushed over and gathered the girl into his arms. He held her as she sobbed into his shoulder and he whispered gentle reassurances and rubbed her back as Dumbledore, Pomfrey and McGonagall came in.
"What is going on in here?" demanded McGonagall.
"We were going with Harry to speak to Brenna when we heard her screaming. When we got here, these three were dragging her out of her bed and going to change her mind to better suit their aims" Hermione explained.
"I see" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Mr Weasley, would you release them please?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Professor" Ron said. "I don't understand why girls like other girls for sex and stuff, but I do know that what Harry wants is important… If you want to release them, you will have to get through me" and the wizard faced Dumbledore with a glowing wand tip.
"Might I remind you this is a place of rest and recuperation?" Pomfrey pointed out. "That being said, the girl must be made to think correctly"
"And I forbid it" Harry pulled out the parchment and tossed it towards the three of them. "I am now her legal guardian and I forbid any supposed treatment that is not good for her or which she does not want. As soon as Healer Pomfrey here says she can leave, we're going there"
"What…?" Brenna asked softly.
"I've come back from a meeting at the Ministry about you, Brenna" Harry said as she stood with her in his arms, "And it seems that you have ended up with me as your guardian pending a full decision on your adoption before Christmas" and the young Slytherin tightened her grip on him and she burst into tears again. She knew that Harry was a kind person, despite what the rest of her House had said, but she had never thought of him going so far as to work towards adopting her.
"Thank you" she whispered.
"Not a problem" said Harry with a smile. "Now, this is Hermione and she's a friend of mine… This is Ron, he eats too much and is an idiot. Ron is going to help me take your things with me to the place we're going to be staying in while Hermione helps you get out of that stuff and dressed"
"But why?"
"Because you needed my help and I gave it"
"But I'm a Slytherin"
"Nobody's perfect" Harry shrugged. "And besides" he added with a mischievous whisper, "I can use you to get the password to the Slytherin dungeons in order to turn it all pink"
"Cool"
# # # # #
Months passed and the pair settled down into living together in shared quarters. Some people grumbled about it when letters were sent home, but Harry simply showed them the papers signed by Fudge and they quickly shut up. Although Harry still kept up his resignation from Gryffindor, Hermione and Ron often stopped by to visit along with one or two First Years that Brenna was friends with in other Houses – most of them Muggleborns. Brenna also became one of the few people not to be pranked by Fred and George as, the only time it had happened, they had been visited by a very angry Harry who wanted to know why they had embarrassed her by making the girl kiss boys. Of course, the fact Harry had come smashing through their dorm room door with magic crackling and holding the sword of Godric Gryffindor himself might have helped things too…
With Dobby's help, Harry made sure that Brenna was safe between classes because he'd had to defend her against one or two people that wanted to hurt her for simply being a lesbian. When it seemed that the staff either couldn't or wouldn't deal with the problems, he'd taken to filing official complaints with Susan's Aunt which made the physical stuff lessen, but there was nothing he could really do about verbal comments unless he heard them himself.
Just before the Christmas hearing, Harry was informed that there would be a Yule Ball and he was expected to attend for the sake of the school and, more importantly, for the sake of Gryffindor. Harry had replied he had better things to do with his time then pander to the whims of a House that had forced him to resign from it because few believed his version of the truth. McGonagall had been forced to give him detention because House Point removal did not work, but she was forced to give in and tell Harry that he was not forced to be there. What she didn't know was that Harry intended to go and had sneakily ordered a dress in Brenna's size so that she could attend as his date to the event – ordering it from Lavender under strict terms of a secrecy oath so it was a surprise for the girl later on. However, both of them rose early, showered, dressed and ate a light breakfast before walking to the outside edge of the Hogwarts grounds. After vanishing and then appearing in the Ministry, Brenna slipped her hand into Harry's as they got into the line to sign in, have their wands checked and then headed to Child Services.
"You know that they'll ask you stuff about why you like girls" Harry advised her, "So just ignore them and wait for a real question. If you get confused, just look at me and I will answer for you" and Brenna nodded. She was still wondering if this was all some great joke on his part because she couldn't believe Harry could be capable of so much love for someone he only met that year.
"If they ask a little bit about it, I'll be alright" Brenna said and Harry smiled and nodded.
"Just be confident in this" he told her. They passed the time with small talk about lessons and things before they were called into the room for the hearing. A small wooden table with two chairs was provided for them whilst two witches and a wizard sat on a small raised platform behind a reasonably sized bench. An older wizard sat to one side with a few books on a table with lots of blank parchment and a hovering quill that reminded Harry of Rita's made up story about him.
"This hearing is convened to examine the reasons for the adoption of Brenna Roth by Harry James Potter" one of the two witches was serving as the Chair. "Let it be entered into the record that Mr Potter already has guardianship of Miss Roth. Now, Mr Potter, please tell me why you want to fully adopt her"
"Because I love her" Harry shrugged as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "She was sad, abused and lonely in her thoughts and beliefs" he added. "She was thrown out of her family, almost all of her legacy removed… Nobody seemed to want to help – only to change her"
"You do know that she is abnormally minded?" asked one of the panel.
"The same could be said, I have been told, for most of the Ministry" Harry retorted, earning a chuckle from the Scribe. "Yes, I am fully aware that Brenna has a different mindset to relationships, but I really don't give a damn about it" and he spent the next twenty minutes answering questions.
"Miss Roth, as you are old enough to understand the results of this panel" the Chair spoke softly, "Why would you agree for Mr Potter to adopt you?"
"Because I love him" she replied quickly and firmly. "He's smart, funny, loving, caring and doesn't care I like other girls. I trust him to do what is the best for me as he has done for a bit now. I know I am going to get things wrong and be a trouble for him, but he's all I have left… If you turn him down in adopting me, I'll run away" and the panel all nodded. They questioned her and Harry for over an hour before asking them to leave the room whilst they discussed everything and made their decision.
#
"How is it going?" Hermione asked in the Ministry café. She had managed to get permission to come down and support her friend from Professor McGonagall who realised how much she had screwed up with dealing with problems Harry had faced over the years.
"I think we have a chance" Harry said as Brenna demolished a plate of chips, "But with this lot who knows…?" he shrugged.
"I wish I could have got away sooner, but McGonagall forgot the time of the hearing"
"You are here – that's all that matters" Harry cradled a cup of tea. "I think we stated our case and all of the facts, but they seemed very interested in why Brenna prefers girls"
"Not much you can do about that, is there?" Hermione asked sadly.
"Not today" Harry muttered. "I spoke to Brenna while we waited to be called in and I've decided to try and get the best results possible for the rest of my time here"
"Not that it isn't a good thing, but why decide for an all out effort?"
"Because, if things get too bad for Brenna, I figured to pull her out of Hogwarts to teach her myself wherever we live" he finished the last of his tea. So long as I keep getting Outsanding and Exceeds Expectations in everything, I'll know what to do – besides, I have you to help me"
"You think I will have time to teach Brenna on my path to a University degree?" Hermione's eyebrows rose interestingly.
"Oh come you, you'd bloody love it" and the pair laughed. "Anyway" he added with a smile, "We can at least give her a Muggle based education too. I found some old Muggle textbooks in the library, so I have been spending an hour every night teaching Brenna basic History, Math, English and Science. Been using Hedwig to order in some KS1 and KS2 stuff from Gringotts"
"They provide that?"
"For a price"
"What did they demand?"
"Well they demanded a hundred galleons for the service, but in the end they ended up doing it for fifty"
"How did you manage that?" Hermione asked.
"We got into an argument and the Goblin said he had battled against a rogue dragon"
"What did you say?"
"I told him I got Snape to apologise to me" and they laughed.
"You really are taking this seriously" Hermione marvelled at the change in her best male friend.
"They had more chicken kiev" Brenna said as she came back from where she'd been served with another portion of chicken kiev and chips. Harry was beginning to wonder if there was something about the food item – he always seemed to eat it at some point. Putting it out of his mind for the time being, they finished eating and drinking just as an usher came and told them it was time to return to the hearing room for the decision.
#
"We are now in session" the Chair witch said. "We have spent some time looking at both sides of what is best for Miss Roth, heard from both parties and consulted experts before this hearing in order to get an understanding of everything… Miss Roth's parents put in an emergency petition to have her returned to their care and custody, but this was rejected on the grounds they were unfit parents towards her. From testimony given by the pair of you, your friends and some of your teachers at Hogwarts it is clear Miss Roth is doing better living with Mr Potter. We do note, for the record, that Miss Roth has an abnormal preference in terms of relationships, but this her guardian is not bothered about – I hope her adoptive parent is of the same mindset"
"You mean…?" Brenna's face lit up with quick understanding and hope.
"Despite the issues with her abnormal preferences, it is the decision of the Panel that the petition of Harry James Potter to adopt Brenna Roth be granted and permanent custody be so awarded" and both Harry and Brenna squealed in delight and started a two person conga dance around the hearing room. Hermione looked at the two, then at the panel, shrugged and joined in.
# # # # #
"You know" McGonagall said as Harry, Brenna and Hermione came blasting into the Great Hall driving a magically powered dodgem car demanding everybody hail the conquering heroes, "I do believe that Harry has been awarded adoption rights"
"Damn" Dumbledore muttered – plans of having a willing pawn for what he suspected would happen at the end of the year going up in smoke before his very eyes.
# # # # #
"Thank you" Brenna whispered.
"What for?" asked Harry as he adjusted the fit of his jacket.
"For doing everything for me when you hardly knew me" Brenna sniffed.
"Hey – Susan spent ages doing your make up… She'll kill you if you ruin it"
"I will" replied the girl from the corner of the room where she was finishing Hermione's hair. Brenna wiped her eyes gently and then looked in the mirror for the final time – looking at a person she kept thinking wasn't her. She was dressed in a crushed green velvet dress which ended just above her ankles, wore a pair of charm enhanced ballerina slippers in silver and the dress's shoulder area trimmed with a silver tulle netting. Brenna had spent nearly an hour just looking at it in the box and trying to work out how much it cost Harry to buy it for her. They were going to the Yule Ball that evening as friends and Harry hoped that nobody would cause Brenna any difficulties from name calling… Although, if they did, he was wearing Gryffindor's sword on his hip – partly hidden under a black cape he wore over a Muggle style tuxedo. Dumbledore had originally tried to claim the sword belonged to the school, but Harry had simply walked away and came back twenty minutes with Snape agreeing that he should be given the sword for keeps. The pair had come to an agreement of sorts that was secret, and neither side was willing to talk much about.
"Oh gods… We're going to be late" Hermione started to panic. Susan stopped this dead in its tracks by grabbing the Gryffindor witch by shoulders and kissing her hotly – to jeers, cheers and whistles from Harry and Brenna. The pair had, over a few weeks, become very close and were secretly dating. This had the added benefit of helping Brenna understand she was not alone in liking other girls and also gave her two people to talk to when there was a girl issue she couldn't discuss with Harry. Doing last checks, Harry called for Dobby to appear and take them to the hall where Harry and Brenna stepped into the side room with the other Champions and their dates. Nobody said much until the door opened and they were called forward.
"You ready to go on?" asked Harry.
"I'm nervous, but I know that I will be already because I have my big brother to protect me" Brenna replied with a squeeze of his hand.
"And I have a little sister to look after and keep me sane" and, holding hands and walking into the bright light on the other side of the doorway, the pair walked into the future…
A/N:
Not my normal style, I admit, but this was something I had to get out of my system because it has been nagging me for some time – even as I have had all the world's problems dumped on me meaning I haven't been able to post updates.
As you will have read, basic premise is Harry finds Brenna after she's been bullied just because she's different and he's snapped and decided to rebel.
