Once again, it was Saturday, and Iris was waiting for Hermione at their table in the study section of the Library. It was a bit out of the way of most of the shelves, sure, but they both mostly used their textbooks when they did work, and the study section had silencing wards around the tables so they could talk as loud as they wanted.

And Merlin, Iris thought, they definitely needed them! It felt like she just had this connection with Hermione, like she could just listen to her talk for hours and hours! It was one of Iris's favorite things in the world to just stare into Hermione's chocolate-brown eyes, and listen to her exposit about some subject or another. Merlin, Hermione was so… uh, such a good friend. Yes.

As if on cue, Hermione rounded the corner, storming up to the table with a dark scowl on her face.

Slamming her bookbag down on the table, she crashed down in her seat, and immediately began to rant.

"I can't believe that Kistler boy!"

"Hello to you too Hermione."

"Oh, sorry Iris, I didn't mean to be rude! But I'm just so angry!"

Iris was worried. She'd known Hermione for over a month now, and she'd never seen her this mad before. Annoyed? Sure. Irritated? Definitely. But furious? Never.

"Anyways, hello Iris, Good morning, now let me tell you about what that absolutely awful James Kistler did! Honestly, I'm not a bad person, but I just wish something terrible would happen to him! Maybe he could get caught bullying someone else, and get expelled!"

Iris shouldn't have been worried. Same old Hermione.

"So", Iris said, surprising a smile, "who is this person, and what on earth did they do to make you so angry?"

"Well, I've told you that the Gryffindor boys are horribly cruel, haven't I? They're always teasing me for something or other, calling me a bookworm and such."

"I know Hermione, and it's not right, you shouldn't have to take that kind of treatment! We can look up some pranking spells, and the next time they say things like that, you can teach them a lesson!"

"And as I've told you Iris, those types of pranks are forbidden for a reason! I went to Professor McGonagall, and she said she'd handle it, so everything's fine!"

"Well, if you're sure…"

"Of course I'm sure!"

Iris could only smile in the face of Hermione's flustered self-certainty.

"So, anyways, Kistler's one of those Gryffindor boys, and he's always calling me these awful things, telling me that I belong in Ravenclaw, and that I'm some sort of bookworm. He and some of the other boys have started saying those things in the common room now."

"The prefects have been breaking it up", she was quick to clarify, "but it was still very hurtful! And this morning was just the absolute worst!"

"When I walked into the common room this morning, I saw someone who looked exactly like me, picking up a book, and signing a love song to it. I was so humiliated, it was awful! They even pretended to French-kiss the book when they were done!"

Looked just like her… It couldn't be… Iris got a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"So apparently Kistler has this magical ability called metamorphism, that lets him look like anyone he wants!"

Oh no. Oh no. Not Hermione too.

"Isn't that horrible, just because he has this weird mutation, he could potentially do anything he wanted while he looked like me, and I'd get blamed for it! I swear, people like him should be regulated, and ability like that is incredibly dangerous!"

Oh god, her friends were right.

"Did you know that Y-You-Know-Who used Death Eaters with metamorphism during the last war to infiltrate the ministry? I can't believe people with that kind of power are allowed to run around unchecked, it's awful!"

She was just the same as James, and the muds, and all those other mudbloods.

"If there was some sort of registry, or controlling potion, or… I don't even know, something, then I'd feel a whole lot safer! I can only imagine what that vile Kistler boy could be getting up to using my skin right now, it's horrific!"

Iris felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.

But wait, wasn't this what she had talked to Blaise and the rest about, de-conditioning her from the Nic ideas that she'd learn in Gryffindor? Iris knew this was coming, so she had to stay strong!

Still hurt though.

"Um… Hermione. Y-You do know I'm a cha– er… I have metamorphism too, right?"

Hermione stopped cold, a look of horror passing over her face.

"Oh my god Iris, I am so sorry. I didn't even think about that, that you might be one of the good ones!."

Iris's heart leapt in joy. God, how was it possible that even when she was apologizing, Iris wanted to do nothing more than just sit and watch Hermione talk?

"I mean, you're fantastic Iris, you're not like all the others! You're smart, and pretty, and willing to listen to me when I rant! I didn't mean to offend you, honest!"

Hermione thought she was smart and pretty. Hermione thought she was– wait, what did she mean "not like the others"?

Iris must have asked her last question out loud, or Hermione had guessed it, because she kept on talking.

"Oh you know Iris, it's just that all those metamorphmagi are doing all those awful things, serving Y-You-Know-Who, pulling pranks using my appearance, and I just didn't think what words were coming out of my mouth. I didn't mean to imply that you were evil, or untrustworthy, you're an excellent, stellar example of a witch, even though you have metamorphism."

Even though…?

"Well I mean, not 'even though'! That was terribly rude! I just mean that you keep your mutation under control, and don't let yourself use it for evil! I'm terribly sorry, I don't mean to ramble on, it's just I feel so awfully bad for accidentally insulting you!"

"It's… It's not a problem Hermione, it's just…"

"What is it, Iris?"

"Well, first of all, it's 'changeling', not 'witch with metamorphism', or 'metamorphmagus'. Metamorphism makes it sound like its some disease, and it's not, it's a big part of who I am."

Hermione looked hesitant now: "wh-what… what do you mean, Iris?"

"Well I mean, expressing my emotions through changing my body is like second nature to me. It's like, what if someone told you that you weren't allowed to move your face into different expressions? You must have noticed that my skin and hair change colors all the, right?"

"Oh, yes, but I thought it was some sort of prank or something. I've been meaning to ask you about it actually…"

"Yeah, it's just… when you say stuff like that, that 'I'm not like the others', it really hurts, you know? My changeling nature isn't inherently good or evil Hermione, it's just another power, and I have to decide how to use it. Good mages use whatever powers they have responsibly, and bad ones use them irresponsibly."

"I guess… I suppose I can sympathize with that view. Thank you for talking to me so frankly Iris, I really didn't mean to offend you."

"But," she said, holding out a finger, "I don't necessarily agree. It may not be that metamorphism is inherently evil, but the advantages it grants people are inherently corrupting! You know that famous phrase, 'power corrupts'? It's like that: if you give someone power over others, they'll be tempted to use it for as long as they have it."

Iris tilted her head: "Well, I can understand that I guess, but I mean, wouldn't that also apply to magic? To the mu– muggles, magic is some fantastic, unnatural, horrible force, that can easily be used for evil. Wouldn't a m– muggle make the same arguments about mages usually 'going bad'?"

Hermione had scrunched up her nose and furrowed, thinking. Iris thought it was a testament to how involved in this argument she was that she only stared at Hermione's "concentration face" for a few seconds.

"Well, I guess I can see your point, Iris. I have a lot to think about, and a lot to research. I still don't know if I agree with you, but you certainly have a point."

Suddenly, a small chime rang from Hermione's wand.

"Oh I'm so sorry Iris, I don't mean to leave like this, but I have to go already! Professor McGonagall said he'd planned a special demonstration of more advanced transfiguration to anyone interested, so I have to head back to the Gryffindor common room!"

"Yeah…" Iris said, still reeling from her encounter, but feeling slightly optimistic. "I'll see you next Saturday, Hermione."

Plopping down in the common room next to Dante and Draco, Iris couldn't keep the smug smile off her face. She wished the rest of her friends were here, because she wanted to gloat, damnit!

"What's gotten you looking so smug, Iris?"

"I just had a meeting with Hermione, she was saying something rude about changelings…"

The two just looked at her with concern.

"And why does that have you looking smug, and not heartbroken?"

"Because I was RIGHT! I told you she could be convinced with some good, rational arguments, and she was!"

Draco looked incredulous, but Dante looked like he was actually considering what she'd said. Success!

"Are you sure, Iris? What exactly did she say?"

"Well," Iris said, unable to keep the joy out of her tone, "she said that I'd given her a lot to think about, and that she'd have to do a lot more research on changelings. I know it's not perfect, but it's a long way from being all furious and hateful like she was at the beginning!"

"Ugh, but that doesn't mean she agrees with you! Just watch Iris, she's gonna go back to her blood-traitor friends in Gryffindor, and they're gonna tell her that it's all lies, and you're a 'dark witch' for saying them!"

"What, a 'dark witch ' because I think of being a changeling as a race, not a talent?"

"Yes! You don't know them like I do Iris, my parent's on the Wizengamot with all their mothers and fathers, so I've seen them do all sorts of stuff like this before!"

Dante looked pensive: "I'm not so sure, Draco. I mean, have you ever seen something like this happen before? I'm not so sure that Iris is on the wrong track here."

Draco scoffed.

"I'm quite serious, I think this is a fantastic idea Iris, and I wish you the very best of luck in showing this mudblood the truth about our world. Just make sure to be careful, and know that we'll always be here for support."

Iris beamed.

"Oh, shit."

"What is it, Iris?" Draco said, barley managing to swallow their mouthful of food before they spoke.

Daphne rolled her eyes: "I thought Veela were supposed to be refined and sophisticated?"

"Hey!"

"Guys! I just remembered, I left my potions textbook at my study table in the library! What time does the study section close?"

"I believe it closes at 8:30, darling." Blaise said, bumping Iris's shoulder affectionately.

Flicking out her wand in a tempus spell, and cursing, Iris stood up, and quickly made her way out of the Great Hall.

Unseen by her, or the rest of the sixsome, Danny Potter and Ron Weasley quietly excused themselves from dinner a minute or so later, and followed her out of the hall, pulling out an invisibility cloak and an old piece of parchment.

Iris was relieved. She'd made it! She could see Madam Pince slowly drawing the shutters on the study section shut with her wand.

Strangely though, when Iris attempted to call out to her, she couldn't: no sound exited her mouth, even though she could clearly feel her throat vibrating. She knew what this was: the silencing charm!

In a panic, Iris attempted to draw out her wand to cast the General Counter-Spell, but to her horror, she found that she couldn't move. Her arms were locked in place at her sides, and her feet were stuck to ground.

Panicking, Iris tried to control her breath, and prevent the onset of a panic attack. She tried some of the calming exercises that both Hermione and Blaise had recommended, but it wasn't working!

She was trapped

Oh Merlin, she was trapped. Again.

Alone, in the dark, at the mercy of whoever found her, oh merlin no please, someone find her, anyone find her she didn't know who did–

Danny!

Her instinctive panic was transformed into a dark rage, as she realized the one person who both had a grudge against her, and could cast charms at a third-year level: her twin brother.

That absolute bastard, how dare he!

He really was just like his father, leaving her alone and helpless! She knew Blaise and Hermione both recommended a relaxed, peaceful state to counter her panic attacks, but she thought that rage was working just as well.

She was going to wring his little pompous neck.

Suddenly, after Madam Pince had rounded the corner, she saw him, whipping an invisibility cloak off himself and Ron Weasley.

"Hello Iris."

Hello little fucker.

"Mum and Dad are trying to get you to talk to them. They're being too kind, I think we need a better approach."

Iris glared. She was sustaining herself by imagining his face as he exposed her to some of James's "kindness". Belt or whip?

"I think the only way you'll turn away from those dark creatures is to learn exactly what happens to them."

Whip, definitely whip. She wanted him to scar.

"I'm gonna prank you until you crawl back to them on hands and knees, begging to come back to your rightful house."

Oh hell no, he was not going to use that transformation spell he tried on Professor Quirrell. She'd fucking kill him!

"Ready Ron?"

Ron just smirked evilly.

"Yeah mate, I'm always up for showing a snake their place: wiggling around in the dirt."

"Oh Merlin, Iris, what happened!"

The was Draco, immediately noticing her as she re-entered the Slytherin common room.

She gestured at her throat with one of her hoof-like hands.

"Silencing charm? megumdi paldu!"

"…yes, it was. Thanks, Dante."

Every member of the sixsome looked furious.

"Iris…" Dante said, eyes literally glowing with his anger, "who did this."

Despite her half-transformed state, Iris cracked a brief smile.

"Potter and Weasley. They wanted to show me 'a snake's proper place', so I'd go claim my 'proper blace' as a little Gryffindor Princess."

"I'll fucking kill him!"

The rest of the sixsome, minus Dante and Daphne, turned to look at Blaise in shock.

"That little tiny-cocked blood-traitor! He fucking dares? I'll cut off his head and use it as a Dragon's enema! I'll grind him and his talentless red-headed imbecile to a meaty paste, and feed them to–"

Iris waved her hand-hooves: "Blaise, calm down. We can't do anything."

Blaise turned her: "Iris they hurt you, I'm going to fucking kill them!"

"Blaise", Dante said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Iris is right."

"I know that you want to go and use their eyeballs in a potion, Merlin knows I do too, but we have to think carefully about this. Embarrassing him in front of his housemates is one thing, but an attack?"

"Blaise, you know that even if we only did to them half of what they did to Iris, we'd be expelled. A bunch of 'dark creatures' attacking the Boy-Who-Lived? We'd be lucky if we don't end up in Azkaban."

The rest of the sixsome seemed to be grudgingly considering his words.

"And not only that", Iris added, "but he's also the heir to my house, and the favored child to the head. The Potters are trying to convince me to 'reform' now, but if I attacked their golden child? They might pull me out of Hogwarts!"

Blaise was taking slower breaths, her movements calming.

"Additionally" Dante said, muscles tensing, "you know how Dumbledore is about Gryffindor 'pranksters'. Daphne's parents still tell horror stories from when James Potter was in Hogwarts, and he barley even got detentions."

Blaise scowled, and sat down with a sigh.

"…Mother Magic damn that bastard! I don't know what the fates have planned for him, but I hope it's painful!"

Sighing, she grabbed Iris's arm with surprising gentleness, and led her out of the common room.

"Follow me darling, we'll take you up to Madam Pomfrey."

"Don't worry" she whispered, noticing Iris's sudden hitch in breathing, "this is just an average spell reversal. There's no reason for Dumbledore to get involved."

"B-but he might, he… h-he really seems to be interested in m-me."

Blaise's grip tightened, as she hissed.

"I m-mean, he tried to get me re-sorted, and k-kept saying I didn't belong in S-Slytherin, and that I c-could h-help… sorry, that I could help 'purify' the House."

"You're talking about Dumbledore?" Daphne said, catching up halfway through Iris's speech along with the rest of the sixsome.

Iris nodded.

Daphne frowned in thought: "have there ever been other occasions where he's taken an unusual interest in your life?"

"Um… James said that he was the one that determined I was a squib, remember? But other than that, no, just after the sorting. Why, what do you think is going on?"

"Nothing concrete, but it is quite suspicious. I'll have to contact my parents, see what they say. Is that alright with you, Iris?"

Thinking it over, Iris nodded.

"Well then," Blaise said, resuming their walk, "now that that's settled, let's get you up to the Hospital Wing, and undo what that damned blood-traitor menace has done to you."

Iris knew that Blaise was right, and she wasn't in any more danger, but she still huddled a little closer to her friend group, as Dante and Daphne unconsciously took up positions in front of her, eyes roving across the hallways for threats.

Despite the situation, Iris smiled; it was so very nice to have friends.

AN: Fic Rec is Core Threads by Theaceoffire. Semi similar-ish concept to Blindness, which I recommended a few chapters ago, but takes it in a very different direction. This is one of the only stories I've enjoyed where Harry is a super-powerful god with zero flaws. For some reason, the author just makes it work.

Before anyone gets angry at me for using 12-hour time instead of 24-hour, Ancient Roman timekeeping used a 12-hour day/night system. So did most of Europe until the 1800s.