A/N: So rather than trying to describe every single day in detail, I think now is a good time to do a time jump. Let's doooo the time warrrp agaaaaaain! ... Oh nevermind, you're probably too young to know what I'm talking about anyway.

Halloween

The warm breezes and cool rains of late summer morphed into the chill of autumn before Lily could even begin to truly enjoy the wonders of a British summer. Now the weather was rainy more often than not, which made it a bit of a struggle for her to get out of bed. Luckily, it seemed that Rachel had learned from her mistake of not getting up to shower, and had now become Lily's personal alarm clock.

On Halloween, it was no exception. After Rachel hopped out of the shower and changed, she yanked open the curtains on Lily's four-poster and grabbed the girl's free pillow.

"Come on now, sleeping beauty... time to wake up..."

Lily groaned and muttered in her sleep. "Mrrrgh, five more minutes!"

Rachel promptly thwacked the girl across the head with her pillow. Lily tried to grab at it and clutch it to her face, but Rachel slid it out. It was at that moment that Lily felt herself go rigid with the freezing cold sensation that could only mean one thing.

"TONKS! I swear to God, do that one more time and you're not coming with me to the Halloween feast tonight!"

A pouting Tonks glided over to one of the chairs in the dormitory and made herself quite at home. "You know, Lil', you've been saying that for the past three days now and it hasn't come true. Maybe you should mean it next time?"

"Ugh, what time is it?"

Megan looked down at her watch. "Looks like you've got 20 minutes if you want to make it to breakfast."

Lily sighed and threw the covers off her body and then quickly disrobed. In the process of pulling on her bathrobe she heard the catcalls and whistles of her friends.

"Yeah girl, shake that thing!"

"Nice lookin' butt there!"

"Back it up, Lily!"

The girl huffed and pulled the robe tighter around her, to more erupting laughter. In the past months, she had grown to be a little more secure with her body. While she most certainly wouldn't be showing off any naughty parts, she was in too much of a hurry to worry about modesty.

Nothing had really changed in her body aside from her hair, which went from closely cut to modestly untidy. Lily had started to part her hair to each side to get her bangs out of her eyebrows and used a little dab of Cynthia Castlebeck's Just Swell Hair Gel to get her bangs to cooperate.

After a quick shower and an even quicker ruffle of the gel through her hair, Lily ran back out into the bedroom and dressed in splendidly rapid fashion, somehow finding a pair of matched socks.

One hasty breakfast later, which found her holding a piece of toast in her mouth as she bolted to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, she had successfully made it to her seat. Sitting in the desk next to her was Tonks, who quickly motioned to her own face, trying to hint at crumbs.

Lily took the hint and wiped her face as Lupin called the roll.

"Andrews?"

"Huurmf!"

"What was that?"

Lily swallowed the last bit of toast. "Here, professor."

After Lupin finished the roll, he made his way over to a locked wardrobe, which was rattling quite violently. "Now, the last time I taught this class, I saved this for second years, but I think that with this group, we're safe to take on a boggart! We were lucky enough to have one wandering around the staff room. Nearly gave Professor Slughorn a great fright, as he saw one of his young charges publicly decry him as a 'lazy, washed up old codger.'

Now, once I open the door to the wardrobe, the boggart will assume the shape of your worst fear. In Professor Slughorn's case, it seemed to be a lack of payoff on playing favorites. The boggart will morph to anyone's greatest fear, but you simply need to swish your wand and in a firm, confident voice, say the incantation, 'Riddikulus!'"

After making sure the students had the proper technique and phrasing, he opened up the wardrobe for the first student, who just happened to be Megan. Quickly, the figure morphed into a ghost, but not a ghost like Lupin or Tonks. This ghost looked particularly mean, with a bald head, fangs for teeth, and a long, thin body. It looked a bit like the horrendous face of the world's most evil wizard, but then...

"Riddikulus!"

The ghost quickly gasped and choked for breath as its robe tightened around its neck, until its head began to inflate like a balloon. After a few seconds, the head popped into a load of confetti.

It was then Lily's turn. She watched as the boggart began to take form, but it wasn't of a ghost... or a spider... or a vampire. The figure she was looking at had long, hairy legs, wearing leggings and a short skirt, and a clearly masculine figure, but with a stuffed bra and a wig. The man blew Lily a kiss through bearded lips and gave a wink before tossing the hair of a blonde wig back over his shoulder.

Frowning, Lily called out, "Riddikulus!"

The boggart didn't disappear though. It seemed that the image really bugged the girl and she wasn't able to dispel it properly. The man called to her. "What's wrong? You don't like the way you're going to look in a few years? Aren't we pretty?"

With a growl, Lily grabbed her wand. "Screw you, pal. You'll never be as fabulous as me. Riddikulus!"

The boggart slammed back into the wardrobe and clattered around before woozily recovering and morphing to the fear of the next student.

After class, Lily and her friends waited back with Professor Lupin.

"Damn, Lily," exclaimed Rachel. "That American temper of yours is pretty awesome. Knocked that boggart for a loop!"

Lily smiled triumphantly. "Well, there's no way in hell I'd ever let myself look like that."

Theresa looked up at the girl. "So, that's your biggest fear? To look like a man?"

"No, it's not that," explained the trans* girl. "I guess my fear is not looking how I want to. I want to be able to have control over how I present myself, and to look like... well... that, it's just one of those things that I worry about."

Megan gave Lily a hug. "Don't worry. If you start growing a beard, we'll be sure to shave it for you if you don't get to it yourself."

Tonks, who was observing the whole situation from her new favorite perch atop the ceiling, swooped down to throw in her opinion. "You know, even if they were hairy, he did have some great legs. And a nice tight butt!"

Remus looked up to his wife. "Okay, darling, enough fantasizing about very poor effort on behalf of the cross dresser. We've gotta get ready for our next class, and if I'm not mistaken, you girls need to be on your way to Transfiguration!"

The girls quickly made their exit, walking across the castle to Transfiguration. The classroom was in a part of the castle that had been badly damaged in the battle that took place in the last year, so they all had to mind their steps so they didn't fall through the staircase. Granted, if you did fall, a spell made it so that you'd just bounce back up onto the balcony of the floor above. Rachel particularly enjoyed taking this route.

"So," asked Megan as the girls walked to class. "What's the difference between a cross dresser and a transgender person?"

Lily paused for a moment, having to think. It was the first time she had been exposed to that word, but figured it must mean someone that just dressed as a woman.

"I guess a cross dresser is just a man who wants to be a man but dresses up as a woman whereas I know I'm a woman?"

Theresa cleared her throat. "I... um... actually read a little bit about that. You're mostly right, Lily. You're someone who believes yourself to be female and you wish for your body to match how you feel inside.

A cross dresser does this because it's something that they enjoy, but they don't typically associate themselves as a woman. Cross dressing and looking beautiful is just something they do for the creative expression of it all. But Lily wants the boobs and the feeling of being a girl all the time. Right?"

Lily blushed and gave a slight nod before entering into transfiguration. The class was still taught by Professor McGonagall only because of the fact that there just hadn't been enough time during the recovery of Hogwarts to appoint a wholly new staff. And so, for at least this first year, McGonagall was doing double duty.

Transfiguration was slowly becoming Lily's favorite subject. On her first day, McGonagall actually celebrated that Lily's first attempt to change a match into a needle had gone completely perfect on her first try. It appeared that Mr. Ollivander was right – her wand was perfect for transfiguration! Lily also found herself to have a very easy time at Charms, but hearing the praise from her Headmistress had helped make Transfiguring an easy favorite.

After successfully transfiguring a beetle into a button, Lily displayed her handiwork on her desk as McGonagall walked past. "Excellent again, Miss Andrews. Five points to Hufflepuff for a particularly House-friendly button."

Indeed, Lily had been able to not only transfigure the beetle into a button, but also shifted the color so that it was a Hufflepuff yellow. She then looked over to Theresa's button, which was wriggling away on its little legs.

"It's more of a dramatic swish and then a quick flick," muttered Lily after McGonagall had passed. Theresa tried once more and the button not only hopped, but flew to the front of the classroom and cracked on the blackboard.

"Okay... let's not do that again. Good try though," Lily smiled to her friend.

After a relaxing lunch where Rachel proudly exclaimed that she only made her beetle into a button after she successfully scared Megan by getting it to hop onto her robes, the girls walked down to the dungeons, where they would meet with the Slytherins for Potions.

After the History of Magic incident where Lily had shown that she wouldn't put up with any non-sense, the Slytherins resorted to talking about her behind her back, just like any normal teenager would do, really. They all giggled as she walked into the dungeon classroom and sat down beside Rachel.

Unfortunately for Lily, Rachel seemed more intent on creating her own concoctions, which most of the time were a danger to Rachel and to others and were immediately flushed clean by an annoyed Professor Slughorn. Rachel wasn't Lily's first choice as a Potions partner, but seeing that Megan had to put up with her in Transfiguration and Theresa was forced to pair with her in Charms, it was only fair that Lily had the honour in Potions.

While Lily excelled in Transfiguration and Charms, she was only "pretty good" in Potions. She could follow the directions with no problem, but it was just the time consuming nature of the art of potion making and Lily's miserable patience that made her a questionable potioner.

However, the absolute worst part of the class was Professor Slughorn. He was nice enough, but like many men of his age, he didn't quite comprehend how to properly address Lily.

"Hmm, think you'll be able to keep your partner in line today, Andr- err, Lil – that is, Andrews? We're counting on you here m'boy..."

The words slipped out of Slughorn's mouth, and he immediately blushed and turned his attention to another table. Lily gave an exasperated chuckle. She knew that Slughorn tried, but in his efforts to be politically correct, he failed more often than not.

"Today, class, we will be making a cure for boils. You'll find all of the ingredients in the stock cupboards. And today, there will be a special prize for the winner. It will be my pleasure to sit for a delightful tea with yours truly after classes. I just received the most wonderful, freshly cut tea leaves from one of my prized pupils and I would look forward to sharing it with a very lucky one of you!"

The thought of spending any more time with Professor Slughorn than she had to was something that made Lily cringe, but rather than risking a failing grade, she decided to follow her instructions and do her best.

"So Lily, what do you think of creating an explosive potion? One that could blow up an entire hideout of bad guys? Pretty awesome, right?"

Lily groaned and took her attention off her potion to glare at Rachel. "Look, if you create an explosive potion, who do you think it's going to explode on? Us. And last time I checked, I'm quite happy being alive."

Rachel frowned and turned back to her potion. Lily suddenly realized that she lost count of the number of times that she stirred. At least she had remembered to take the cauldron off the fire before adding the porcupine quills...

She shrugged and set her potion down on the table and then waved her wand. Rachel's seemed to look the color and consistency of bean soup. Lily's potion, however, had a pleasant pink smoke puffing from it. That meant... oh, no.

"Yes, very nice work Mist- Miss Andrews! Very well done indeed! It seems that we have two perfect brews here, both from Hufflepuff house! I think twenty points would be a nice award to the house for such fine potion brewing!"

Lily looked around and spotted Megan waving from her chair, more cheerful pink smoke puffing from her cauldron. The Slytherins, meanwhile, were scowling. Though they had no shortage of seeing Professor Slughorn and indulging in his gifts of various treats, the mere idea of being bested by a Hufflepuff didn't set well with the Slytherin first years.

"Now, I think that's all. Your potions will be graded by the next we meet. If Miss Abbott and Miss Andrews would kindly stay back, you two have earned your reward."

As the class shuffled out, Rachel stuck her tongue out at the two girls and Theresa waved to them, assuring them that she'd save them a seat at the Halloween feast.

"So," began Slughorn as the three of them sat down in the plush armchairs of his cozy office. "I know all about your family, Miss Abbott. It seems that I had the pleasure of teaching your older sister in her last couple of years here. It seems that she and Mister Longbottom are getting on quite well?"

"Oh, um, yes sir," nodded Megan.

"Ah, good. I always knew that Longbottom fellow would make something of himself. Was quite the hero, slaying the snake last year, as it were. But enough about that unpleasant history. Are there wedding bells in the future?"

Megan tried to stifle a laugh, knowing full well that Slughorn hardly looked at Neville until his heroic feat. "Oh, well I can't be sure, but it seems to be headed that way. You'd have to ask the two of them. But my dad is hopeful."

"Ah, very good," smiled Slughorn. "And as for you, Miss Andrews. I'd love to hear more about you..."

Lily blushed. It was never good when she was the center of attention in a Slughorn class, as she found out when she asked to be called by her preferred name.

"Well, professor, there's really not much for me to say, I suppose."

"Oh nonsense! A person as unique as yourself must think the whole world is a candy store!"

Lily blushed even more. "Oh, that's... really not the case, professor. I just work hard at my classes and try to live my life as normally as possible. Though my entire life is seen through the eyes of a female, my body doesn't quite match. But it doesn't define me. My personality does. Sure I'm transgender, but I'm just me at the same time, you know?"

Slughorn paused for a moment as he turned that over in his mind. "Yes, I suppose you're right. We all want to just live our lives and experience as much joy as possible, isn't that right?"

"Yes, sir. After all, I don't define you by the gifts you get or by the fact that you're a man. I define you as a professor with a good heart that likes to live in comfort. It's the same way with me. I'm a transgender girl, but I prefer to be defined as a hard working student who is lucky enough to have a group of close friends that get into many fun adventures together."

At this, Slughorn cracked a wide smile. He seemed to enjoy the obvious kissing up that Lily did. When Slughorn looked away to pour another cup of tea, Megan gagged herself and Lily nodded in agreement. She didn't necessarily want those words to come out, but it was better than saying what she really wanted to say and tell Slughorn that he was a pompous blowhard.

After downing one last cup of tea, which Lily didn't have the heart to say she despised, the girls made their way back to the Hufflepuff common room to drop off their books and change into their robes for the Halloween feast. When they arrived, the common room was deserted, as it seemed everyone had gone to the feast.

"So that was a righteous bit of brown-nosing you did there, Miss Lily," laughed Megan.

"Hey, if I told the guy that he was nothing but a fat man with an overinflated ego, I think we both would have left without tea and biscuits, don't you think?"

Megan smirked. "I suppose you're right."

The girls dropped their books and rushed up to the Great Hall. It was decorated with floating candles, pumpkins as big as stage coaches, and live bats, which made Lily squirm uneasily. The two girls met their friends at the long Hufflepuff table and looked up at the front of the hall, where the choir was standing.

Professor Flitwick directed them in a rendition of "The Monster Mash", which was... well, it was just about as awkward as Lily could have imagined. Nevertheless, she applauded the effort with her fellow classmates, trying to keep a straight face.

Rachel, always eager to overreact when possible, whistled and cried for an encore which, fortunately, never came.

All through the feast, the school ghosts happily floated about. Even the Bloody Baron made a visit to the table. Though he called Lily "old boy", he was pleasant enough... for the Baron's standards.

The Grey Lady's visit was much less pleasant. Always being one for logic and very focused on things being "the way they should," the Lady was not too amused when Lily had explained her situation and had taken to just ignoring the trans* girl. However, at the Halloween feast, where it was expected that the ghosts interact with the students, she had no choice but to soar over to the girls, although she did with an air of superiority.

"Ah, hello girls. And hello to you, Andrew," she spoke his given name without remorse. "I see you're still pretending to be a girl. I do hope that you soon get your mind sorted and that you'll be able to properly see your place in the world."

Lily felt her fists clench. She couldn't really punch a ghost, so she just had to roll with the punches. "And I see that you're still a backwards thinking bitch, m'lady. I doooo hope that you're able to remove your head from your privileged ass at some point and you'll be able to properly see that I am who I was meant to be."

Without any sort of witty comeback, the Grey Lady spun around and began to float away in a huff. "Americans."

Tonks glided up from the table, laughing loudly and unashamedly, even as the Lady spun around to give her best glare.

"Girl, that was amazing. I haven't seen her shut up that fast since I solved one of her riddles!"

Remus swept in beside her. "And before that, she was shut up quite quickly when my friend Sirius asked if he could, and I quote, 'get into her ghostly knickers'. Charming fellow, really."

The girls all laughed and resumed enjoying their feast and the desserts that followed. Lily guzzled as much pumpkin juice as she could handle – anything to get the taste of the horrid tea from her mouth. With that combined with the pastries, Lily tried to remember back to the last time she actually had a vegetable. Though she wasn't one for much of the leafy, green stuff, one can only eat so many sweets before feeling the need to munch on a carrot or something.

"Ugh. Remind me to have a salad tomorrow, Theresa?"

"You got it, Lil'!"

Soon enough, it was that time of night where McGonagall wrapped up the night with a last speech about how mid-term exams were to take place in the coming month, and that all should be prepared.

The students were dismissed to their beds, and Lily eagerly obliged, feeling so full of sweets that she felt she could pop. After changing and muttering a quick goodnight to her friends, she quickly fell into a sugary sleep, where happy dreams bounced around her mind.

Postscript: I think I'm going to be doing the time warp again to fast forward things a bit. I realize I haven't done much with the Rachel character aside from comic relief, so I think that I'm going to have her and Lily get to know each other a little bit better in the coming chapter. I think it's because Rachel has had Megan as a friend for so long that she just automatically goes to Megan rather than Lily for most things.

Anyway, thank you time! A huge thank you to Vyren Rolar, Sarapha, khaos444, Reader, starfighter69, peaceandunity, and another guest for their reviews. It's awesome to know that you all are enjoying the story, and hopefully I continue to do you all proud!

If you want to get on the shoutout list for next chapter, click the review button and let me know what you think. Love it? Hate it? Want more of it? Tell me all about it and you'll get a free bit of publicity by having your name in the postscript. Everybody wins!