Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be a lot of fun. I get to expand on Jess' character and her acceptance of her gender change, but I am also going to be able to expand on other things, including two things I feel bad that I didn't expand on the last time I wrote this chapter. And for those of you wondering what those two are, just either read the last AN or this chapter.
Whichever you desire,
Venquine1990
Chapter 44
Family And Friends
30th of January 1996
Destiny's Haven
Jessica's POV
"Sweetie, you look so beautiful right now, you should share it with everyone who cares for you as well as all those who care for your betrothed. And Lea, you know they deserve to share the good news of your new status as a fiancé with you." The voice of Lady Destiny actually breaks through the sense of bliss that I feel like floating on.
The searing kiss that Lea gave me when he realized what I was wearing and why made me feel as if my whole body shut down on itself as it was just unable to process how much love, passion and adoration the slightly older teen was overwhelming me with and yet at the same time trying to make me feel it with all that I am.
After the kiss Lea pulls me close against his form, the way that his arms wrap around my form proving that he doesn't want to let go of me anytime soon and I feel the same as I have been wanting to be with him ever since the last time that he left and even more the few times I saw Sora and Riku share a romantic moment together. And I even felt as if something, some part of me, merged with Lea while we just kept holding onto each other.
And while part of me doesn't want to share my time with anyone other than Lea, while my inner Kitsune mewls at the thought of sharing this hunk with anyone else, do I also feel really curious on how Ron, Hermione and the others will react when they see me, not to mention that I would really like to meet Donald and Goofy face to face, if only to get a little more reassurance that Sora had the right back-up during his journeys.
Yet I only let out a sigh as a response and Lea smiles down at me, his smile full of love and care before he says: "Very well, milady. Whenever you're ready." And several more bright lights are his answer, from which one duck, one dog, one mouse and several humans appear, all but one of them being part of my own friend group and me recognizing the one not being part of my friend group as Kairi thanks to the movie.
"Uhm Lea?" The Mouse asks while the rest look shocked upon seeing me in, what I hope will be, my wedding dress and the caring smile turns into a self-confident smirk as Lea says: "Mickey my good friend, allow me to introduce to you, my one true love and new fiancé, Jessica Artemis Potter as well as her lovely little family.
You, of course, know Sora and Riku, who are also bonded to each other through Sora's heritage from his father's side, and these are his father, Sirius Orion Black and his mother, James Christian Potter. And yes, in that other Universe, males can bond together and can produce offspring. Sora and my Firefly are evidence of that."
"Oh, Great Founders!" Hermione then suddenly gasps and I realize that Lea probably hasn't told her about Walt Disney and his actual ability. "Long story." I mutter, the tone of my voice apparently enough to make Ron, Neville, Ginny and Hermione turn my way and for some reason, do their eyes widen as they see me.
"Wow, that picture does not do you justice, mate." Ron then says and I realize he is shocked to see my new looks in more than just a picture. This and the way that Lea growls at him and snarls: "My mate." Makes me turn even more red, yet also makes the other girls giggle and makes me kirr in delight in his robe. I then notice Goofy and Donald share a look and Goofy says:
"Like Axel with Roxas." And Donald nods as Lea smirks and says: "He is my Nobody, remember?" Making the two nod, while I wonder in fright what could have happened to my beloved mate to make him accept the Darkness like that. "So, Jessica, why are you – wait, is that the wedding dress from Aladdin and the King of Thieves?"
Hermione asks and Donald in return asks her: "You know Aladdin?" Making her look shocked before Aunt Lily says: "Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Hermione and anyone else who is Muggleborn, allow me to explain it." And she does as said, explaining about Walt Disney, his ability, what he did with it and how it made him famous.
Yet just like always do I notice Hermione turning derisive once the topic of Divinations comes up and Aunt Lily looks curious at this as Ron says: "She dropped out of Divinations in our Third. Thinks it all one big scam because our teacher isn't really – well – a Seer." At this mum nods, but then she turns to Hermione and asks:
"But surely you're not going to base a class that has existed since Ancient Greece on just one teacher, right?" Shocking the girl before she turns red and mutters: "I – I guess I did." Making Aunt Lily smile and say: "Then you're just like Sirius. He tried doing the same for History, because he got sick of learning of only Goblin stuff."
"The Wizarding world has more to its history than just battles with one species. There are various conflicts that are way more interesting and events that changed the way the Wizarding World worked way more than just these few battles. Binns is making a vital class, both for proud Purebloods and new Muggleborns, into a running joke. He's furthering the conflict between Purebloods and Muggleborns by widening the gap of knowledge."
Dad grumbles, his arms crossed over his chest and a pouting frown on his face that slightly astonishes me. I turn to my friends, who also notice it before turning to me and we all hold back on snorts and snickering, me again hiding mine in Lea's robe before Neville asks: "So Jessica, what does it feel like? You know, being a girl and all?" To which, while I really hope that he will get a chance to get to know Riku while here, do I happily answer:
"There are definitely a few things I need to get used to, such as things that have to do with personal hygiene, certain kinds of cloths, the height and weight differences and a few other things like that, but otherwise –." I squeal in glee here, shocking the ones that are in front of me and making the ones behind and to the sides of me smile at me before I say: "It's everything I always envisioned it would be and then some.
I feel more confident, stronger in knowing what's right and wrong, as if my tastes have become more refined, calmer, yet happier and – I don't know why – but it feels so much easier to enjoy things. You know, other than Quidditch and flying. I enjoy different kinds of food now, love things that, well, make me a typical girl and –."
Here I look down, not entirely sure my friends will accept what I have to say next as I say: "I – I feel like – like I pulled off this robe that is big, heavy and hiding everything I actually am, both on the inside and outside. I feel like I am finally – who I should have been born as. I feel – me." And at this point, my voice is almost a whisper.
Not because I don't believe in what I have to say, but because I am just unsure of how my friends feel about what I just said, because I fear that they might feel as if I have been lying to them for all the years that we've been friends. Yet then I feel Lea's hand underneath my chin and he whispers: "Your concerns are unneeded, my Firefly. Look up and see it for yourself." And he gently lifts my head up, making me look at my friends.
They are all smiling at me, tears of joy and pride showing in their eyes and Mickey even sniffles before he says: "You're Sora's sister, alright." And Donald and Goofy nod at this in agreement, at which Sora happily walks over and wraps a strong, loving arm around my shoulder. And while my inner Kitsune wants to tell him not to pull me away from my precious, powerful mate, do I happily cuddle into his side.
"So, what's with the wedding dress?" Ron asks and Aunt Lily says: "Some Pureblood Families, like the Potters and the Blacks, dress members of their families that are betrothed to someone else in a wedding outfit to help them prepare. And no, Hermione, the whole 24 hour and seeing the dress thing is purely Muggle superstition."
At this my best Muggleborn smiles and nods at her before I turn to Lea and whisper: "I'll be right back. I'm going to change into something more – traditional." And I wink at him as a hint to what I mean before rushing up the staircase, hearing Angelina ask the others: "Want to come and help her change, girls?"
And a few minutes after I come into my room, do Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Hermione and Kairi join me, Hermione's eyes widening when she sees my vanity table as well as all of the make-up stuff that is put in various chests and boxes on the tabletop as well as, I know, hidden within all of the drawers build into it. She then turns to the one girl she doesn't recognize and Kairi says: "I'm Kairi. Sora, Riku and I have been friends since we were kids."
"Like I said, I'm your typical girl. I never really cared for my looks as Harry, other than looking like my parents to honor them, but as – well, me – I want to look my best, not just for myself, but to make dad proud and Lea happy. And if you saw how he responded when he heard that me wearing this was my idea – you'd agree with me, trust me."
"How did he respond?" Kairi asks and yet I can't answer her as the memory of the wondrous, glorious, heart-throbbing kiss takes my breath away and makes me feel as if I am re-experiencing it all over again. "Wow, that must have been some reaction." Katie mutters and Angelina giggles: "He kissed her lights out, literally almost."
Which makes me let out a slight giggle as I again feel his warm, rough lips upon my own, his love surging through me and making my inner Kitsune shiver in delight and a desire for more. I let out another sigh before I shake my head, not wanting to keep Lea waiting, wanting to spend as much time with him as possible and wanting to show the other girls my fabulous new cloths, both the ones that Lea bought and the ones Angelina did.
"You girls have to see this. It's the first dress that Lea bought for me. He got these dreams send by Lady Destiny to warn him of my inner secret desire and decided to act up on them. And it's just so utterly gorgeous." I squeal and move over to the doors that are next to my vanity table, the girls squealing when they realize the double doors lead to a huge indoor closet. I instantly turn right as that is where I keep the gorgeous dress.
And when I show it off to them, do all of their eyes widen and Hermione proves me that, underneath that crazy studious bookworm side of her, she really has a girly side that can enjoy pretty girly things, as she whispers: "You're right, Jessica, that – that really is gorgeous." I smile at her and then Angelina smiles even wider and says:
"And when Lady Potter and I were shopping, I made sure to buy her underwear that fits any and every kind of cloths. She just needs some help picking out the right ones and securing bras at the right setting and all. Lady Potter and I helped her the last few times – yes, we did a bit of a fashion show – who wants to help her this time?"
And instantly Kairi asks: "Can I?" Beating Katie and Hermione to the punch by only a bit. And because the girl has always been besides my older brother and seems like such a nice girl – even if I wonder what happened to her at the start of Sora's first journey – do I happily wave her in as I say: "Live yourself out."
The girl smiles at me, but I notice Hermione looking down and I say: "Kairi is Sora's best friend. I just want to spend some time with my brother's best friend. That's okay, right Hermione?" At which the girl gives me a nod and a smile that shows she both understands my point and appreciates the fact that I explain this to her.
I then remember how great she made her hair look during the Yule Ball event and decide to throw her a bone as I wave my hair around a bit and ask: "Want to help put my hair in one of those pretty medieval hairstyles?" Which really cheers the girl up and she and Kairi and the others happily guide me over to the seat in front of the vanity table before, giggling as they do, they help me with everything I need, hair, bra and make-up.
A little while later
Lea's POV
"I gotta admit, Lea. When you're with Jessica, you look happier than Axel does when he's with Roxas and Isa." Mickey says and Goofy comments: "Yeah, and Sora looks the same way. Is it because he's with Riku now?" To which Donald shrugs and looks between the two as he says: "It's strange, though. I always thought Sora would end up with Kairi, especially when they shared that Paopu fruit before the Keyblade war."
At which Sora rolls his eyes and says: "Join the club. That was only because Kairi was afraid something would pull us apart again – which it did – and that's also the whole reason this delicious knucklehead kept his feelings a secret from me.""Delicious knucklehead, Sora?" Riku asks and yet Sora just shrugs and says: "I say it how I see it. I love you, but you're as stubborn as you are passionate from time to time."
And to the shock of our three friends, does Riku state: "I'll show you passionate." And he pulls Sora close, kissing the brunette with the same passion I kissed Jess with when I heard just why she was wearing that utterly gorgeous and angelic-looking wedding dress. Then suddenly I hear footsteps approaching and I turn.
And just like every other time that she enters my line of sight, does my Firefly make my heart skip a beat as she looks more ethereally gorgeous than I sometimes wonder is good for me or my health. Her hair has been combed to the back and has several bits of it braided, a single thick braid in the back that I see upon her twirling on the spot.
All of the smaller braids are combed to end at several points all over the top of the main braid as well as one single, thin braid that ties a bit of hair from the left of her head to a bit of hair from the right. And the medieval dress that she wore just before her gender change looks even more gorgeous on her now that her gender fits the dress.
"My little baby has become a real princess." Sirius whispers, him and James showing how emotional they are at the sight of their gorgeous daughter by having tears shining in their eyes and James and everyone else nods in agreement to this, Neville and Ron's eyes as wide as I am sure my own are, Ron even being slack-jawed.
I then notice the twins looking at me and they growl: "You better keep that promise." Which reminds me of the first time we met when we read of my Firefly's first match. "She is my fiancé." I retort and the two nod, their eyes proving they got the message I didn't speak out loud. "I plan to see her live by my side for as long as possible."
I turn back to my gorgeous angel, who has actually come to stand before me as she whispers: "If I'm a princess, will you be my Knight in Shining Armor?" To which, loving this playful side of hers, I retort: "That depends. Does the Knight get to marry the princess in the end?" Yet at this my Firefly shares a playful smirk with the other girls before they chorus:
"He will if he can get the princess a ring worthy of their future together." And everyone looks at the shrieking, giggling group of girls with shocked looks and slack-jaws, Ron looking as if he's never seen Hermione before now or something before I growl: "You better keep that memorized, my gorgeous princess. I plan to make you mine and mine alone, now and forever." And I seal these words with another kiss.
Jessica's POV
I knew Lea wouldn't disappoint while I discussed this little scheme with the other girls and while it actually further helped Hermione bring out her own inner girl, making her giggle and shriek like the rest of us, do I feel like I got rewarded for the little prank I pulled on my mate. And the reward is utterly divine and super-enjoyable.
Lea has shared many different kinds of kisses with me, but the one he presses upon my lips right now exceeds all of the kisses we have shared so far. This one doesn't just prove me how happy Lea is with me as his mate, but it is also filled with the burning determination to see the promise he just made me become a reality, my inner Kitsune rearing up within me with a strength I have never felt before as it feels as if it merges with my desire for this.
And because I only just wore a wedding dress and because of everything else that happened in the last ten minutes, do I moan as I envision it. The island upon which Riku, Sora and Kairi were watching the sunset, Professor Dumbledore standing at the tree Sora was on, Lea on his right with Sora behind him and me approaching them.
I am walking across the wooden bridge attaching it to the Play Island, dad on my side and guiding me down the aisle with tears of pride and love shining in his eyes and I am wearing a slightly altered version of the wedding dress I just wore, this one looking more like one that fits a beach-themed wedding, and actually have bits of dried-up Paopu fruit in my hair, which looks to be braided in the same way it is now.
This vision makes me moan, desire to see it become reality warming me up from within and filling me all over, my Kitsune purring in content agreement. Yet while this, for some reason, makes my scar twitch and sting with a bit of burning pain, do I not care for this as I am too busy enjoying both the wonderful way that Lea is letting his hands cherish my body, the way that the power of my Kitsune fills me up with glee and love and my fantasy.
And because of this, is it also easy for me to ignore how the pain seems to spike to a level that would have changed my next moan from determined and enjoying to painful before the pain recedes all together. I ignore it, the pain and the tingling I felt the whole time before coming here, in favor of kissing Lea back, returning his promise.
Ron's POV
I have seen a lot in my young life. I saw a girl who later became one of my best friends threatened by something as big as Hagrid. I saw my best friend, who is now also a girl, dangling off his broom about to fall hundreds of feet, I saw my best friend being brought into the Hospital wing looking near dead. I saw my sister being saved by him.
I saw my best friend being treated like a prisoner in the people's need to keep him safe from someone who has now been revealed to be his father. I saw him struggle through a dangerous tournament and return with the dead body of someone I thought was his competition. I saw him struggle to make people believe him over the truth.
I saw people turn on him and then worship him as quickly as one lights up their wand with a Lumos charm and I saw him work his hardest to keep holding onto his beliefs, his morals and his rights. I saw him grow more and more angered, spiteful, hurt and downtrodden as the last few years passed by. I saw people breaking apart the youth and soul within him, all the while fooling themselves that they only wanted what was best for him. But I never saw something like this.
Jessica, I won't deny, looks like everything I would ever want in a potential girlfriend, looks better than I have ever seen any girl look, even Fleur and the girls that attended the Yule Ball last year, yet the happiness that she radiates when around Lea is on a much higher level than I ever saw in Harry, even when he won the Quidditch finals in his Third year. But it's not even the level of happiness I can almost feel coming off of her.
She told us all herself just now that she feels more like herself now that she has changed gender, but I didn't really need her to tell me this. Just looking at her, now that she has been here for a few days, makes me see a side of her that I never saw before, not when she was in the dorm, around her friends or anywhere else.
Peace, tranquility, contentment, youthful joy and a sense of personal accomplishment just seems to have encompassed the girl, as if it has become an aura that is stuck to her every pore, yet radiates off its positive fibe at the same time. It just looks as if, everything that has been bothering my best friend, evaporated upon him changing into her, as if she has become the person that she would have been had James and Sirius gotten the chance to raise her.
And the sight of this, of my best friend looking like everything I know any parent would want to see in their kid and that I know my mum wants for me and probably for Jessica as well if she were to see the girl, that I always want to see when I see Ginny be happy over something and that I know my brothers want for me as well now makes me smile at the sight of her as she finally breaks the kiss with her new fiancé and cuddles into her form.
And while I know that she has spent most of her time here with her father, brother and his mate, does it look as if Lea is just that final perfect piece that completes the puzzle that is my best friend's ultimate future. I turn from this to my brothers and whisper: "No one will ever ruin this for Jessica." And the two of them nod at me, a look of serious determination that I usually only see on their faces when they are on the pitch or training with the DA.
I then notice that Sirius actually isn't looking in happiness at his daughter anymore, his eyes are aimed my way. And the happy gratitude that is shown in his eyes as he looks at me makes me feel even better about my decision and even more determined into making it come true. "Jessica is the new female Prongs and I am the new Padfoot."
I think to myself, the memory of Wormtail having been my former pet not one that I am proud of knowing, but at the same time only further fueling my determination. And while I know that there are many different factors that might try, whether willingly or unknowingly, to ruin this for Jessica, do I not feel like giving them that chance.
And while I know that Voldemort is one of these factors, does this, for the first time since that monster came after my best friend as an eleven year old, not scare me. This only slightly startles me as Voldemort has always been something of a personal Boggart for me. But then again my sight catches what is right in front of me.
"I can't let my fears do that to her. I can't let the upcoming war or battle with that monster dedicate the rest of my or her life. She's finally everything she would have been if that attack hadn't happened, if they had been given the chance they deserved all those years ago. I can't let anyone take that from them, from her. Not again, never again." And suddenly the actual realization hits me like a stunner from Dumbledore.
Harry may have always been my best friend and someone my family more or less adopted, but his wealth, fame and the crap he always went through always held me back, being obstacles I couldn't beat in order to do the same myself. But Jessica, while looking like a dream girlfriend, has become something bigger to me.
"A little sister. Just – just looking at her makes me as protective of her as I am of Ginny. She's just like Ginny to me, a female Weasley. Female Weasleys, like mum and Ginny, have always been rare and seeing one as happy and content as Jessica – I can't bear the thought of someone wanting to ruin that, to destroy that.
Jessica isn't just my best friend, she's my sister. And I might have been blind to how people have been hurting and breaking my sibling, but I will die before I let anyone hurt my family." And just like when I moved the knight to check the king, when I held Lockhart at wand's end to save Ginny and when I stood between Sirius and Harry, do I feel my magic responding to this, feeling like my determination is increasing its strength.
This makes me smile as I know that that is actually a hidden talent of the Weasley family, but also a rare one as only one in every 47 Weasleys are born with this gift, while one in every 32 Weasleys can be born female. And the fact that I was blessed with such a rare gift both makes me feel proud of myself and even more determined. Determined not to use it for anyone but the one person who needs it the most; the young girl in front of me.
Good on you, Ron.
So at first I wanted to end this story on Jess and how she felt something strange but, to her, unimportant happen to her scar and elaborate on that. But the chapter felt too short and I didn't feel like I had focused enough on the friend part. I had definitely focused on the family part with the betrothal and all, but not the friend part.
And because Ron has barely had any scenes or chapters or anything significant this story, did I feel I needed to put a little emphasis on the fact that he is and always had been – bar a bit of Fourth – Harry's best friend. And for some reason I felt like making him one of Jess' new older brothers just fit the story nicely. I also wanted to elongate this chapter, but the ending felt TOO PERFECT, so I decied on a change of pace.
Of course this does mean that Ron is going to make the lives of people like Malfoy, Umbridge and others quite a bit harder, which will naturally make teachers like McGonagall want to tell him to "keep his head down" but I just never saw either Ron or Harry as people who could accept such pacifistic ideas, so that won't happen.
And next to that is the next chapter much better fitted for what I have planned – even if it's already bloody long – and it's not just going to focus on Ron and the others I mentioned earlier, it's also going to focus on the whole gang getting a pretty rare chance offered to them by Lady Destiny. Though to be honest, that is just because I want to keep this story fresh and constantly the same reactions can get boring.
You all agree?
Venquine1990
