After the sudden stop of the raging magic Dobby wanted to storm into the room, looking for his master. His actions are interrupted by the portrait of his masters mother, Lily Potter.
"Wait, Dobby! Before walking in there, tell me what you see! Are the runes on the ground still glowing?" peaking in Dobby still sees a low pulsing of runes "The runes still pulsing mistress. Strange. Once the glow lessens master is glowing. What shall Dobby do?" The pulsing does not look like it will end soon. With each pulse it seems his masters face changes a little bit. And does his hair become longer? His skin color definitely becomes healthier.
"Oh my. These changes are more than what it should be. Tell me what ingredients did you acquire when I asked you for a poison and a healing agent?" "Dobby took some acromantula poison and its assigned healing agent, like instructed." "Hmm, this should be fine then. You see, the strength of the poison and its healing agent is responsible for the degree of changes that occur in Harry. The danger is, if the poison and the counter isn't balanced, it can lead to death. Acromantula poison should bring forth little changes. Something like coloration of skin, eyes, hair and so on. But changes in his skeletal structure are worrisome, for it is a sign that somehow there is a stronger poison at work. If the healing agent cannot compare, Harry will die and we cannot change a thing. And worst of all, now is too late to change things." At hearing this Dobby again starts yanking his ears and Lilys eyes soften a bit. Her son truly has found a very loyal elf. "Pulling your ears will not change a thing, Dobby. Go fast into a good apothecary and buy the best nutrient potions available. Get some calming potions, dreamless sleep potion and some easy to swallow food. Be fast, don't worry about haggling. Just be quickly back. Once Harry awakens, he will need you more than ever!" with straitened shoulders Dobby vanishes.
After countless number of floo calls Molly finally found the right address to get Professor Dumbledore in between two sessions of the ICW, her back already hurting at the beginning of the call does nothing to improve her mood. "Slow down, Molly. Slow down! I don't get what you are talking about. What are you saying about Harry? He found something from his mother and ran away? You know there is nothing left of his parents! We checked the leftovers in their house in Godrics Hollow together! And the wards in his home let me choose what is send to him and what not." "I know that Albus! But I think Lily did send some sort of message to her sister even before you prepped the house and Harry found it!" "Then we will catch Harry, look at the problem and do what is necessary. You know the drill." "Of course, I do. But currently I cannot leave. You got to organize some of the old Order. I just wanted to inform you as fast as possible." "You did well. Thank you, Molly. I will."
Throwing some more floo poweder into the fireplace he called for Arabella Figg. "Hello Arabella. Have you seen Harry recently?" "No Albus. But rumor says he is paying them to do less gardening. Their son runs through the streets and tells everybody who wants to hear it he's got a new computer because the useless boy finally started paying rent" Albus grimaces, he never would have thought Harry would make such a deal "Molly just called me and told me a story about Harry leaving the Dursleys and stopping Hogwarts. Please check that out and get in contact with Alastor and Dedalus if you need to find the boy. They should still have their trackers for the boy. If need be, they shall obliviate the boy. It is paramount that he stays with his family. It is too dangerous for him to just do what he wants. I currently cannot leave until the conference is over."
And with that, Albus thought, should the problem be solved soon.
Somewhere else the Granger family is visiting a magical hospital to getting checked. "We are so glad to find some English-speaking people here in Spain. As far as my experience goes, people often do not bother with a second language and I myself chose to learn French. What isn't helpful currently. But…" a cough from her husband interrupted Emmas rambling. "As my wife said. We didn't expect the need to visit a hospital and not a magical one at that. We are grateful you have found the time for us on such short notice. The thing is only our daughter is magical. A friend of hers send us a warning through letter that worries us. He said some unknown people in Britain are using magic on muggleborn children to arrange a wife of their choosing for their kids. Something about to counter the inbreeding. His words, not mine. Apparently talented witches are the main target of who ever does that and our daughter appears to be magically strong and talented. He told us we should check regularly on potions and spells that alter feelings and such. Hm and actually consider changing schools." He pauses and thinks of what to add. "You see, for someone without magic it sounds incredible disturbing and unbelievable, but just as frightening. So, we thought we would take our time to check on this warning. Can you help us?"
"Certainly, sir. And may I add, that in some parts pf the world such things are not uncommon. In some families are such things common occurrences. If things like compulsions are kept active long enough this magically enforced behavior will become natural and the affected person will usually act in this specific way until a big reason to change this behavior appears. Some families go that far and use such things instead of what a muggle would call parenting and nurturing. With the right equipment it is rather easy to find out. Add few drops of blood on this prept parchment. It will show all potions currently within the system and I can check on spells like compulsions and such. Somethings are impossible for a medic to detect." Not knowing if they should be horrified of the behavior of some people or relaxed for it is easily checked.
Using the offered knife Hermione bled on the parchment. As the drops sinks into the parchment words in red spelled "Loyalty potion". Reading those two words a confused Hermione looked at the medic "What does that mean exactly, sir?" taking a look at the parchment the healer answers "A this is a rather often used potion. How to explain." He takes a breath "Those potions can be keyed to one or more persons. We cannot simply check on who it is keyed to. But we can revert the potion and afterwards you will most likely feel the change. If it comes to questions regarding people that potion is keyed to you will be more inclined to trust into the judgement of this person. As I said some families work with potions instead of true parenting. Those people use this so their kids do trust more into the judgement of their parents, although their heart does not truly trust into their parents. If you want to get rid of it, you can swallow a flushing potion and you will be rid of it rather easily. The only annoying thing is, that the flushing potion will force you to vomit the residue of the loyalty potion. Depending on strength this takes between half an hour up to a couple ones. Let me quickly check for spells"
Waving his wand in a complicated combination of swish and flicks, Hermione starts to glow in a soft yellow and a soft blue. "You see the blue? This is a tracking charm. The yellow one is a compulsion charm to do… wait a moment" waving his wand in an even more elaborate manner while speaking Latin he takes his time "it's a charm that compels you to read more? Asu madre! I never thought I would see a spell like that used? To your mind, do you read a lot and nag people if they don't keep up?" Confused Hermione answers "I do. I always did that. Even before my introduction to the magical world! I read an immense amount. Are you saying someone is reinforcing this habit? Why would someone want me to read a lot and nag people that don't?" "I am afraid I can't answer this, young lady. All I can do is take off the charms, so what should it be?" Her father answers in her stead. "People can notice if you take off a charm, especially this tracking charm?" "The tracking charm, yes definitely. Others not necessarily. If you come into contact with the caster there is a chance that it will be noticed. But it doesn't mean he will know it was done deliberately. Sometimes there are outside influences that end such charms as well." "Then please end the compulsion. We will take care of the rest. For the moment I don't believe the tracking charm is worrisome just yet."
In London the ritual chamber has stopped pulsing with magic. Dobby was immediately on Harrys side and placed his still conscienceless master in his bed. On his sideboard placed was a portrait of his mother and Hedwig too found a place in his room. All are waiting for Harry, or the one that used to be Harry, to awaken. All of them wonder, how he will react to the changes brought upon him by the ritual.
One day his hair began to lazily switch colors. His skeletal structure changed and he looked more feminine. With all the changes and the apparent introduction of the metamorph ability it is unclear how Harry will look later on. The only thing that is clear is, that he will never again be recognized by his scar, for it has entirely vanished.
Behind his closed eyelids you could spot his eyes still rapidly moving, sometimes accompanied be a low moan. It seems that the changes still weren't done.
Seeing no immediate change in his master Dobby decided to prepare some food, from chicken soup to treacle tart, so he could feed his master once he wakes up.
As days went on Harry came more or less to consciousness. At least enough so Dobby could feed him his soup that he swallowed by reflex. Almost a month with barely a change worried the group immensely. But luckily and curiously on his birthday his situation took a sharp turn for the better and Harry awoke completely.
Finally awake enough to register his surroundings Harry spoke up, voice raw from what ever happened to him "Ugh, I feel like…" and paused how to describe what he feels? Better than ever? Like he slept ages? Like his thoughts were faster than before? His voice sounded softer. He clears his throat and a very feminine voice speaks up "Mum? Dobby?" wow, was this his voice? "What happened? How long have I been out? Where am I? Is it with my voice? Does it sound feminine to you too?"
A little part of him is freaking out by the change of his voice and what it possibly means. Curiously an even bigger part of him is very accepting of the changes. "Hi my darling. Please don't freak out, it seemed there have been some sources that influenced the ritual. It seems there were an even stronger poison and a stronger healing agent at work during to ritual. Although how they came to be dazzles me. Dobby swears he didn't add something. See, those two components are the deciding factors on how deep the changes go. The acromantula poison was supposed to change about 15 to 20 percent of the old you. Something made the ritual more potent. We wondered the whole time, we don't understand it, for Dobby did bring the right ingredients".
At that Harry stilled. "Uh, could it have been that the basilisk poison residue in my blood made the ritual stronger?" "YOU HAVE HAD BASILISK POISON IN YOUR BLOOD?" Harry stilled and whispered a tender "Yes, mam" his answer comes instinctually and slowly realizing he is not speaking to aunt Petunia, he relaxes "As I told you, I almost died fighting a basilisk. I almost died because at the last moment it bit me. Madam Pomfrey told me those two agents would cancel each other out and everything would be fine. I thought it meant I wouldn't have to worry any longer about it." Thinking this would ease his mother's worry, he looks her in the eyes and saw he was wrong. "Have you any idea how close you came on dying? Again! You have to be open with me in such things! What do you think how I feel if I would have killed my own son?" ashamed he looked down "I am sorry, mam" "Don't you mam me, young man. I only want to see you grow up to a wonderful person and therefore I will work. Just tell me if something is wrong or special, so I can work with that." Relaxing Harry smiles the first time since waking up "I promise, mum".
"Now to the things we need to address. With the stronger poison, the changes are deeper. It appears to be you have been changed into a girl. How does it feel?" slowly a hand creeps into his crotch, finding not what he expected "I feel happy and comfortable with my new body. Actually, I feel better than ever. I feel healthier and stronger and smarter? If you can feel smarter. It feels like I have been living in a fog until I woke up. It is weird to explain, do you understand? My thoughts are somehow clearer." Lily smiled and Dobby exhales "That is wonderful Harry. Although I guess Harry is no longer appropriate. Dobby, can you bring us a mirror please?" Handing a mirror to him he sees his face for the first time. What caught his eye first were his color changing hair, as he stares Lily continues "As you see, you have awoken metamorph abilities. Similar to an Animagus you will be able to change the way you look to pretty much anything. I don't have much experience with metamorphs, but it seemed you have a base form, seeing as your face doesn't change, just your hair. I believe your hair shows a bit of your mood. I don't want to say it, but I believe it is vital for you to train this ability before leaving. I am so sorry for saying this, I really don't want this to be a prison for you, but I am afraid for you. I have heard terrible stories of people that want to steal and enslave metamorph girls for brothels and such, seeing as you theoretically could fulfill every phantasy of men. On one hand I am incredible happy for you to have this ability on the other hand I am deathly afraid. Please stay and train this to the utmost you are able. Buuuuuuuut" she smiles "I believe a metamorph can change into anything. So, if you want to be a guy, a girl, an old men or woman, everything should be possible. I really do think the training is worth it! Besides you could be the old Harry as well as the new you, anytime you want!" and at that Harry smiles. His eyes are almost glowing green, with high cheekbones and delicate features she is truly beautiful.
"Now to the last part of the ritual, the naming. Never forget, names do have power. The ritual helps you to accept the changes and not think of yourself as Harry, for you are not anymore. But you do need a new name. And as you are a girl now, maybe while dropping some blood on the prepared parchment, you want to think of a name of a flower doing so. My mother, your grandmother, always wanted to make it a tradition, that the girls are named after a flower." Taking the offered ritual knife and the knife she let some blood drop and thinks of how happy she now is and what the future may hold and wishes for a name of an Evans girl. Unconsciously he vows to make everybody regret messing with him, if they ever mess with her.
Sinking into the parchment the blood slowly emerges again and forms the name Belladonna Lily Nightshade. Lily smiles "Oh that is a wonderful name my darling. Is it okay if I call you by the pet name Bella? In Italian it means beauty and I think it matches perfectly. Besides Belladonna is a poisonous plant, also known as deadly nightshade. Its berries are extremely poisonous and cause hallucinations. Seeing you are a metamorph and you will be able to show people only what you want it fits nicely!" Lily gushes. Bella's face reddens as does her hair. It is a truly adorable picture and Lily whispers to Dobby to take a picture. With a flash Bella is woken up out of her embarrassment. "Yes I would like that pet name. It makes me feel loved" she answers shyly while Lily gushes "I wish you the very best for your new life my baby girl. I told Dobby to take some pictures so you have something to remember as times go by. But for your life to become the very best, as sad as it is, you need training. And with your new found metamorph ability it saddens me to say, but you need a lot of training first, before you can leave the house and meet new people. It would very conspicuous if you change your appearance and people would see it. The Black family was famous for metamorphs and they were feared purebloods. People would ask a lot of questions." With that a smile forms on Bellas face "I don't mind, mum. I am rather looking forward to learning more. And besides, we had barely time together so far. Why would I want to leave immediately?" Bella answers with a mischievous smile and Lily smiles "Then let us begin with meditation. It helps with concentration and processing of all the changes you have been through. But it also helps to control your emotions, most likely to control your metamorph ability as well as your ability to remember and recall things you have learned. Personally I believe they don't teach this at Hogwarts so the muggleborn are at an disadvantage compared to purebloods, for purebloods learn this often already at home. This way your magic empowers your mind. It is also known as occlumency. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, listen to my voice and do as I say." She gives Bella a few moments and continues "breath in, hold… and breath out. Only think of your breathing…"
And so, Bellas training begun.
What no one knew and for a long time will never realize, is that Lilys ritual successfully empowered Bellas trinity of body, mind and soul.
The original ritual only affected the body and had a chance to improve it. With the sacrifice of Lilys essence she empowered the ritual not only to improve the body stronger, but also the essence of Harry/Bella.
The addition of Voldemorts horcrux through Harry's scar is unknown to all. But it was sacrificed as well and empowered his soul. Bringing him to the next level.