Chapter 1

Inside every boy there is a girl

Minerva McGonagall was born to be a teacher. She possessed a tall, threatening build that intimidated the bravest of Marauders. If not, her dark eyes the colour of bitter coffee could obtain an honest answer from a rock. One twitch of her perfectly raised eyebrow was sometimes equal to veritaserum for the students of Hogwarts. From her bun that was tightly pulled back without one hair out of place to those long, long robes she wore; everything about her screamed 'no nonsense'.

Right now, those dark intimidating eyes were settled on a boy, no older than sixteen, and were making him squirm.

"So, you are sixteen?" she asked, in a tone that commanded an honest answer. The boy's head shot up and startling amber eyes met her gaze for a second then immediately settled on the paperweight on the desk between them.

"Y..yes, Madame. It says so...on the papers too…"

McGonagall felt a swirl of sympathy in her heart. She had been headmistress from the past decade or so and a teacher even longer. She had seen several students pass through these halls and while many of them came from wealthy, happy home's. Some of them stood out with their thin frames, unsure eyes and an aura around them that indicated they didn't come from a well off family. She could always recognise those. This boy was one of them but he was also sporting an air of importance around him which confused her. He was thin, too thin for sixteen and too shy to be moved so suddenly from country to country.

"Yes, yes. It is here, Mr Burke. I was wondering if you had any sort of relations...to Mr Burke of Borgain and Burke's," McGonagall looked carefully at the boy in front of her. Trying to pick up a sign, any sign of a lie.

"Uh, no."

While nothing seemed out of the ordinary, McGonagall could sense it. There was something off about this boy. She couldn't place it. His clothes were clean, his hair stayed in place and his eyes held fear but also respect.

The headmistress cleared her throat, "alright, Mr Burke. Let me give you an overview of Hogwarts. From what I know, Beauxbatons had an entirely different curriculum than us and you must need a bit of help getting settled in especially as you are joining us two months into the NEWT year..."

"Y..yes, that'd be... helpful."

"By the end of this time next year, you will take your NEWT's - which are very important if you want a traditional career," McGonagall impressed upon the dark-haired boy sitting in front of her who looked entirely too uncomfortable under her gaze. She tried to soften her voice," I will give you a day or two to choose the subjects for your NEWT's but I expect you to deliver a list by the end of this week."

Burke nodded hesitantly.

"The Sorting is a very important ceremony at Hogwarts. Because while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. But given the special circumstances of your admission we won't be able to do a traditional sorting," McGonagall curtly explained and enchanted a grubby old hat to fly at her desk from the cupboard.

Taylor Burke stared at the old grubby hat with a frown. Hufflepuff, McGonagall thought, this boy would do well in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw given his excellent credentials. She couldn't see him in Gryffindor at all and Slytherin would just crush her.

"Mr Burke you have to put that hat on your head and it'll sort you."

"This...hat?" Burke's amber eyes looked at her incredulously.

"Yes."

The dark-haired boy straightened a little in his chair and grabbed the hat gently. Even his hands were delicate, small and round. McGonagall thought of the raucous culture most of the boys had at this school and she thought let this boy go to Hufflepuff.

She wouldn't be caught dead saying this about her old house but Gryffindors had produced the most chaotic students she had ever seen in her years and she didn't think this boy would last there.

But then again, Nymphadora and Edward Lupin both were in Hufflepuff and they left some Gryffindors in the dust behind them.

As soon as the boy put the hat on his head, the hat came to life and he jumped toppling the hat off his head.

McGonagall pressed her lips in a thin line,"relax, Mr. Burke. It is supposed to do that."

"It-it..is?"

Then he gingerly picked the hat up again, looked at McGonagall, and put it back on his head. The hat nearly swallowed his head. It took a second—and even McGonagall doubted her ears—but it took a second for the hat to announce 'Gryffindor'.

This boy? Gryffindor?

"Am...I done?" the boy asked hesitantly and McGonagall controlled her expression.

"Yes, yes. Put that down over on the shelf," she muttered and raised her hand sending a patronus flying out of her wand. The boy watched with interest. McGonagall turned her attention back on him," you will have classes with the rest of your house—Gryffindor in your case, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. We expect excellence, resilience and a healthy dose of respect for authority from all of our students. I hope you'd do well in your house."

The boy nodded furiously, his ears slightly red. McGonagall made a mental note to check on him periodically just in case. "Can you tell me the reason why your parents couldn't make it?" If anything Taylor Burke now looked even more panicked," surely the admission of their only child was of great priority." Yes, Minerva tell him that you think less of his parents. That'll put this child at ease. But really, she couldn't help the curiosity that arose in her. What kind of parents shifted their only child from a whole country to another and then didn't make it to see how he settled in?

"It was a very important meeting, Professor," Taylor's deep voice came out in a squeaky manner," they tried to but…"

McGonagall decided to let go of him now. God knows if she kept him in here another second he might cry... What else could she interrogate about anyway? All his papers were here. All of them were correct and even ministry sanctioned. She had already talked to his parents on the floo and that was as far as she could push.

"Alright, Mr. Burke. You can pick up your rucksack now. A student shall be waiting at the end of the staircase. They will show you to your dormitory. You are exempted from classes today but from tomorrow I hope to see you early and present."

"Yes, Professor."

The boy bowed his head and looked to be contemplating something but then he shook his head and squared his shoulders. "Good evening, Professor."

Taylor Burke sighed as he or rather she descended the staircase. One might think she had just left some sort of battle ground with the way she was sweating into her shirt. That headmistress would have her head, she thought. I should have told her when I had the chance.

But then, Taylor Burke had never been too brave. Unknown to McGonagall, she had even tried to ask the hat to put her somewhere inconspicuous but no... it had just declared Gryffindor. It's like the hat wanted drama. She was well aware of Gryffindor. Considering her father had been in Slytherin which is where she had primarily requested to not be in.

His father or rather her father had been the reason she was currently pretending to have a penis. She could recall the screaming matches she had with him not two days ago. She could only hope they hadn't noticed she wasn't where she was supposed to be.

Taylor let out another heavy sigh as she reached landing and something startled her.

"Well, you don't seem very happy."

She jumped two feet in air at the sudden interruption. Her hands automatically pointed her wand in front of her. It was a learned habit. Her rucksack clattered on the floor now free of magic. The dark haired boy in front her raised his hands in a surrender sort of motion. "Merlin! Calm down!"

"S...Sorry...you..just...startled me," Burke lowered her wand and thought this must be the person McGonagall had said would be waiting for her. She chided herself, of course, it was. She needed to stop jumping two feet at every turn. It was getting suspicious. Yes because her current existence wasn't suspicious at all. She cleared her throat, the potion was supposed to last her a month," uh, I am Taylor Burke—"

"Like Borgain and Burke's?" the other boy asked incredulously.

"What?"

"Oh, well. Nothing," the dark-haired boy dismissively waved his hand and then put his hand forward, "hi, I am Albus. Albus Potter."

Like Harry potter?...Burke extended her own to Albus' and realized his were very warm, "are you going to—"

Albus cut her off again, "no. My brother will. He is kind of stuck at something so he sent me just in case McGonagall got anymore ideas for murder."

"Murder?..."

"She is kind of pissed at me," Albus said nonchalantly and started walking beckoning her forward. Taylor charmed her rucksack to trail behind her.

"Then shouldn't your brother receive me…?"

"It's kind of a long story," Albus narrowed his green eyes at something in the air then turned back to her, "so you got into Gryffindor? Assuming that's why James—my brother— was called?"

"Yeah," short and precise. That should do it. She should talk less, make lesser friends. That'd keep her under the radar.

"Mhmm," Albus murmured noncommittally and gave her a once over. Taylor felt extremely exposed as the other boy's gaze lingered on her chest for an extra second. Good lord, had she forgotten something?

"Are you in Gryffindor too?"

This time Albus grinned, "Slytherin."

"Oh, well... that's nice."

"It is."

"O-kay."

From there on they walked in silence. Taylor wondered how long she could last here with this identity. This garb. She would need to start planning. Quick exists, dark curses. Leave this country altogether. An unbidden image of her father's angry face popped in her head and she wondered if she looked like that when she was angry.

She glanced sideways at Albus. The boy seemed at ease as he walked but there was a reserved sort of aura around him. He was a bit taller than her. She guessed 5'9. She was 5'5. Unlike Taylor, the boy she was pretending to be, he wasn't spindly. He was thin but not strung up like Burke herself was. His hair looked like a bird's nest and it didn't help that he had put his hand through it at least five times by now. His tie was loose and the first button on his shirt was open exposing clear pale skin.

Taylor thought this was what Harry potter must look like but she would need to confirm first if this was potter's son or some sort of relative...how many Potter's were there in wizarding Britain anyway?

Taylor was jolted out of her thoughts by Albus telling someone to shove off and realized Albus was five steps behind her. She turned around to find Albus sneering at some girl with dark hair who was also glaring back at him with an expression akin to dislike.

"You were in my way."

"I was walking straight. There was plenty of room for you to pass on."

"I didn't want to pass by your hairy armpits."

Albus sprang to his full height to the short girl in front of him who also had dark hair, "you need to stop throwing yourself at me, Hargreaves. I have said it once and I will say it again—I don't date bitches."

Burke winced for the dark-haired girl—also called Hargreaves— who didn't even blink before replying, "really? You don't date your own kind?"

Albus looked to be readying himself for a scathing retort when another voice jumped in from behind Taylor and told them to stop it. For a moment, Taylor thought, Albus looked as if he would do anything but that but then he took a step back. The ebony haired girl —Hargreaves— was already smiling at the owner of the said voice.

Burke turned around to find another dark haired guy walking towards her and heavens…this one took her breath away. He had to be somewhere around six feet. He was taller than Albus. His hair was ruffled in a strategic way instead of the bird's nest that the guy near her supported. There was a dusting of freckles on his nose and his brown eyes were entirely too soulful. It reminded her of her grandmother's favourite milk tea though she speculated there were flecks of honey in there...and she had known it in such detail because she was staring at the guy open mouthed as the said guy snapped his fingers on her face. Taylor flushed.

"Oi, you okay?" the guy was now waving a hand in her face. Do boys stare at other boy's like this?

"I-I...I'm sorry," great her voice was getting squeaky kier now. Was it manly to squeak?

The other boy gave her a curious look and turned his attention back to Albus Potter who was now glaring at no one in particular.

"Hargreaves, go away," he told the girl as he turned towards Albus Potter," and you should not be picking fights up in corridor's."

"She ran into me!"

"I did not! He's lying!"

"Albus. Alex," the dark haired boy shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. The other two stiffened at the gruff and tired tone then the girl flipped her hair off her shoulders and continued on her way.

Albus walked back towards them not looking very pleased by the situation,"I hate her."

The other boy rolled his eyes and passed Albus a look who turned towards Burke," this is James," he gestured at the other boy and then turned back to James and gestured at her," your charge—Taylor Burke."

James extended a hand in greeting and Taylor tried not to sweat it too much. Oh, what must he think of her…

What must he? Taylor, you dumbass. He is thinking 'what is wrong with this boy?' of course, he is. Gone were the days when boys looked at her and tried to kiss her hand—sweaty or otherwise. James Potter wasn't in her prospects, will never be even if she was in her prettiest dress right now. He was a Potter for Agrippa's sake!

James nodded at her and turned back towards his brother,"don't you have a class?"

Albus rolled his eyes,"you are too much," and nodded at Burke then heaved the shoulder strap of his bag and walked off.

"So, what happened?" James suddenly asked her, his eyebrows quirked up.

"What?"

"I mean, why are you entering in the middle of the NEWT's...if you wanted to attend Hogwarts that much you could have waited till next year," James told her conversationally and started walking in the direction Albus had just walked off.

"Uh, my father didn't put much stock in Beauxbatons—my older school—," which was true to an extent,"and they had to shift to England for business so they saw the opportunity—"

"Bit drastic, though? Isn't it? In the middle of the NEWT year?"

Taylor admired his stride as he walked and thought...she shouldn't be thinking this,"I guess."

Like his brother, James looked sideways at her and she had a feeling he was trying to see into her head. Did they let sixth years learn legilimency? Taylor concentrated on thinking of something. Something nice, nonetheless. Like sheep. Sheep were nice.

"One of my cousin's went to Beuxbatons," James said,"he said it was good... considering he is teaching here at the moment, I'd agree—,"Gods, surely not someone she knew,"—he is way older though so you might not know him…"

"Oh...that's nice."

"So...are you excited about Gryffindor?"

"Sure, I guess," Taylor replied and thought she really wasn't,"it's a very... famous house."

"Yeah, they say Dumbledore was in it."

"Uh-huh."

Gods, she wanted to talk but she was scared that if she talked for one more second she might just burst out everything to him.

James licked his lips and the movement caused Taylor's eyes to temporary fixate on them. Maybe her brief endeavour here wouldn't be that bad…

"So...uh...do you like Quidditch?"

"Sure," Taylor said noncommittally and when James turned to give her a strange look she thought oh no, she had a penis, she had to like Quidditch now. "I mean, it's GREAT."

"Yeah?..."

"I think the brooms are...uhm... spectacular."

"They are?"

"Yeah and the whole...thing is so... exciting," yes, Taylor. That's the word, exciting. Summon a dictionary while you are at it.

"Is it?," James was now looking at her with furrowed eyebrows,"who's your favourite team?"

"Umm…" what was that team her cousin used to talk about,"the cannon's?"

"The cannon's?"

"The cannon's," she had even forgotten the full name for it.

"The chudley cannons are your favourites?," James grinned at her in an amused sort of way and Taylor wondered if she had said something wrong. Were the Chudley Cannons not manly enough? They sounded manly with cannon's and everything..."Do you play then?"

If she could, she would have outlawed the brooms by now,"no…"

"Oh."

"Do you?"

James smiled at her or rather smirked,"Captain here."

Damn, that's why he was so fit,"sweet."

Wait, blokes don't say sweet. She coughed quickly, hoping he hadn't heard it,"I mean, cool, cool."

James took a chance to look at the boy on his right one more time and thought he was rather thin for sixteen. He also looked as if he'd have a nervous breakdown the next minute. Well, he guessed, at least he wouldn't last too long.

"WAHHHHHH!"

"WHAT THE FUCK—"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING—WHAT. ARE YOU. DOING!!!"

"FOR AGRIPPA'S SAKE—"

Taylor closed her eyes and tried to move back out of the bathroom wondering what crimes she had committed to see this sort of thing. The naked boy in front of her looked scared out of his wits and was looking at her as if she had gone mad. James had just left her by the stairs with the room no. in hand and she had assumed the room would be empty not filled with half naked boys doing...things she'd rather not mention.

On the way back her bad luck acted up once more and she slipped on something hard. In a jerky sort of movement she tried to hug herself to cushion her fall but there was no need. Someone was holding her shoulders. She opened her eyes to find James Potter honey brown eyes looking at her with suppressed mirth and she found herself blushing,"you alright?"

When she nodded his eyes turned towards the blonde haired half naked guy who was now sporting shorts. She straightened herself up.

"I thought I'd get some extra sleep then this weirdo just came in started screaming for no reason—"

"It wasn't for no reason, he was…he was—" her face flamed.

Both the boys looked at her with confused expressions. Oh god. Oh god. Would she have to see this now...this.

James seemed to have gotten it a second later and he turned back towards his friend to give him a reproachful look who looked confused,"I was literally doing nothing."

The staring contest between them continues and the blonde boy once again frowned,"seriously."

James rolled his eyes and turned to Taylor,"haven't you lived in a dormitory before? You do realise you should knock."

"I—I..I," she supposed girls weren't very chaste alone too...

"Why don't you go and change and meet us downstairs for supper? We'll show you the hall..." James said and walked inside. The other boy was now looking at her crossly before jumping into his own bed.

She sighed and turned her face away from both of them. She had to learn to live with this. Her heart pounded in her chest that felt very uncomfortable all on its own. So what, she could take naked boys...better than old men and misogyny. A ridiculous picture of herself in a frilly pink gown with five kids came to mind and she shivered. With a firm new determination, Taylor squared her shoulders and turned back towards them.

Then, she saw James Potter's entirely naked backside….and blushed crimson to her roots.

James tapped his foot on the stone steps...there is something off about that boy...but what? He thought hard and an unbidden image of the boy's flushed face from earlier came to his mind. A smile erupted on his face... perhaps Burke was queer...that'll explain the shyness.

Then he heard footsteps coming up his way. A boy with ebony hair, dark skin and hazel eyes looking exhausted and weary was making his way towards him or rather the portrait hole he was standing in front of. James smiled, "oi! everything good over there, Fletchley?"

The boy nodded surly and yawned, "you are one to talk…"

James grinned, "careful...cheek might land you extra practice."

"Oh, sod off," Fletchley pushed James aside and proceeded to give the password to the Fat Lady. His quidditch robes askew, "I am gonna skip supper...can you bring me something later?"

"Will try to nick some sandwiches...hey we have a new roommate…"

That stopped Fletchley in the middle of the hole. He incredulously turned around," what?"

"New roommate. The fourth bunk is filled."

"Why?..how?..."

"McGonagall said so. I asked Professor Longbottom, he said, and I quote," been too long with our bullshit," James supposed it had been but then again he didn't expect Longbottom to understand all this.

"Really? Longbottom said so…?"

"Well, not in so many words but...Mate, we have a new roommate," James impressed the last few words rather forcefully.

For a minute, Fletchley looked as if he'd blow steam out of his ears and then his eyes shined menacingly towards James, "well...how is he?"

"Timid... probably won't last longer than a week…," James smiled indulgently, leaning against the door.

Fletchley smiled in a way that made James feel sorry for Burke but then...he shrugged...it's not like they are trying to push him off the astronomy tower…

"You reckon I could get him out of there faster?" Fletchley quirked an eyebrow at James, "would you place a bet?"

"Not against you," James scoffed," besides the boy is too nervous. He'd probably leave if we threw a rat at him...easy pickings."

Fletchley rolled his right shoulder in a shrug and muttered something like 'no fun' under his breath, "why are you standing at the hole anyway?"

"That's something I am wondering too, Mr Fletchley," the Fat Lady's irritated voice joined their conversation.

"Sorry," James muttered in a jaunty, charming voice then turned back towards Fletchley," waiting for the boy. I am to show him the hall."

"Ooh...are you going to poison his food?"

"That's Murder, Fletchley."

"Yeah, and?"

"How did they not sort you into Slytherin?"

"Believe it or not I was a nice little boy before I met you lot!"

James flipped him the bird and Fletchley turned around to walk in towards the hall. A strange thought jumped randomly in James head," Hey, listen! Hunter!" Fletchley turned around slightly towards him," go easy on the Kid, alright?"

Hunter passed him a strange look then nodded and jogged back towards the dormitories too tired to question why his Captain suddenly had so much sympathy for a new boy.

Albus ruffled his hair for the fifth time. There was something... something. His green eyes were now transfixed on the dark-haired, nervous-looking boy at the Gryffindor table near James. Burke seemed flushed, uncomfortable and his clothes were so big they bought attention towards his form and suddenly something occurred to Albus," hey Scorp...how easy is it to disguise yourself?"