The Exchange
'Stupid Malfoy. Stupid, stupid Malfoy. It's not his business who I'm friends with. What's the problem with Ethan anyway? He doesn't seem like such a bad guy. Just quiet.' At the sound of Ron and Hermione's voices calling her, Haley came to a halt and looked behind her at her approaching friends.
"Geez, Harry, we've been calling you for ages now, since you hurried past. What's on your mind?" Ron asked.
"Sorry about that. Stupid Malfoy was being a jerk again." Haley said with a wave of her hand.
"Really? I thought you guys seemed kind of friendly with each other during Care of Magical Creatures. What happened?"
"I don't know. He just started yelling at me to stay away from some guy."
"Harry, mate, you're not liking boys now that you're in that body are you?" Ron asked, somewhat worried and partly joking.
"It wasn't like that at all, Ron, and you know it. I was just sitting near the guy when Draco burst in and yelled at me."
"First name basis, now are we?" The red head grinned.
"Oh, you!" Haley glared at her best friend.
"Stop it, both of you." Hermione rolled her eyes at them. "Harry, calm down. Ron, grow up."
"Hey!" Ron pouted.
Hermione simply dismissed him and returned her attention to Haley. "Malfoy probably has a good reason why he doesn't want you around that guy. Did you ask him?"
"Yeah, but he avoided it. Just said that it's not my concern which I find is stupid since it is my concern if he doesn't want me to befriend him." Haley shrugged and headed outside with her two friends following closely behind her. "Whatever. I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want to get out onto the Quidditch Pitch and fly."
Ron paused. "On what?"
Haley stopped in her tracks and turned to face Ron. "What?"
"I mean, I'd be a little curious as to why Haley Jones is flying on Harry Potter's broom. Right 'Mione?"
"He does have a point, Harry."
"Well then I'll just say that the Firebolt is mine. I brought it from America with me and Harry's Firebolt is with him."
The couple exchanged skeptical glances at one another before looking back at the raven-haired girl.
"Well, that brings up another question I've been wondering for a bit." Ron said, slowly. "What about the Quidditch game coming up against the Slytherins? Harry can't play and Haley, being a Slytherin can't take Harry's place."
Haley's face literally fell. She completely forgot about that upcoming game. And Ron was right. Haley couldn't play and unless Professor Snape found the antidote, neither could Harry. Haley's legs gave way, causing the girl to sit on the cold cobblestone below her. "Awww. But Quidditch is probably the only thing that'll keep me sane, except for you two."
Ron sat down beside her and placed an arm around the girl's shoulders. "Aw, thanks mate. Good to know I'm good for something."
Hermione sat down on Haley's other side. "Don't worry about it, Harry. I'm sure Professor Snape will figure out the antidote by then. He's probably the best Potions Master of our time."
"I hope you're right, Hermione. I don't know how long I can stand this. I wanna get back to being a guy. No more skirts, no more long hair getting all over the place, and no more bras. I honestly don't understand how girls do it everyday."
"Geez Harry, it's been less than two days and you're already complaining." Ron laughed.
"Oh, sod off. You try being a girl sometime, Ron. See how much you laugh then."
"You know I'm just teasing you. I'm here for support one hundred and ten percent."
"Then support me and quit making fun of me."
Ron just blew a raspberry at the girl, earning a raspberry in return.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, you two. Will you ever grow up?"
"I highly doubt that." Ron grinned.
"Oy!"
The three friends looked over their shoulders to see a grinning Seamus with a slightly irritated Dean hooked on one arm and a nervous-looking Neville hooked on the other.
"Hello Ron, Hermione. And how's my favorite Slytherin? Wow. I never thought favorite and Slytherin would ever come in the same sentence out of my mouth."
Haley giggled. "I'm fine. And how are you three?"
"Couldn't be better!" Seamus smiled.
"Speak for yourself." Neville gulped. "Professor Snape pulled me aside after class and ordered me to recite the ingredients to the Transpartium potion. And be the looks of it, I failed." Neville shook his head. "My gran's not gonna like this one bit."
"Cheer up, Neville. You're probably worrying over nothing." Hermione tried to comfort the boy. He just offered her a tiny smile.
"How 'bout we practice a round of Quidditch, Ron?" Seamus suggested. "I need to work on my aim." He threw his arm around Haley's shoulders. "I am a Chaser you know. Do you play Quidditch back at your school, Haley?"
"Um, yeah."
"Really? What position?"
"Seeker."
"Seeker, eh? You any good?"
"I'm the best seeker at my school." Haley smirked.
"Well, well, well! Just wait until you meet Harry Potter! That would be a match I'd pay to see. You know, Harry's our seeker and the best one at Hogwarts." Seamus grinned. "Don't feel so bad if you can't match up to 'im."
"Oh, I don't think I'd have much difficulty."
"Come on, then, Seamus. Let's get going." Ron dased off to the broom shack, preparing to black any throws the Irish boy may attempt as Gryffindor's Keeper.
"Right then!" Seamus grabbed his broom and the Quaffle and followed after the red head.
Haley, longing to fly in the air, was just about to follow her friends when Hermione took hold of her wrist. "What?"
The brunette pulled her friend in close to whisper to the girl. "I don't think it'd be wise for you to go flying right now, Harry."
"Why not? I'll just explain to them that the Firebolt-"
"It's not that...it's just..."
"What?"
"I don't think you're wearing the proper attire to go flying right at this moment."
Haley looked down and remembered all too suddenly that she was still wearing a skirt. "But...I'm wearing boxers..."
Hermione blushed. "Harry! That's not the point!" She looked around to see anyone heard her. Neville and Dean were talking amongst themselves while watching the other two boys in the air. "The fact of the matter is, if you go up there in that, people will look up...there!"
Haley's shoulders slumped as she let out a huge sigh. "It's not fair. Girls shouldn't have to wear skirts if they don't want to."
"Hmph. You're telling me about it. But, if you're so desperate to fly, you could always chan..." She trailed off.
Haley cocked an eyebrow. "What now?"
"Do you have any attire other than your school robes?"
"Well of course I do!"
"I mean, something for a girl." Haley opened her mouth to respond but realized she didn't have a thing. Hermione added, "It would be rather odd to see Haley Jones in Harry Potter's clothes..."
"Ugh! Bloody hell!" Haley screamed.
All four boys paused in their activities and looked at the girl.
Hermione offered all of them a nervous smile. "Uh, don't mind her. We've got some things that we need to talk about. Excuse us." Hermione took hold of Haley's wrist once more and lead her towards the Gryffindor Tower.
Upon entering the common room, Hermione, with Haley still trailing behind her, made a beeline for her room. She began rummaging through her trunk and pulled out a pair of jeans. She tossed it at Haley who just stared at it in confusion. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Try them on, silly."
"What?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're going to need something to wear aren't you?"
"But they're your clothes."
"I can loan you some for a bit. Then, on the weekend, we can buy you some more clothes. We can't have you running around in your school robes everyday, now can we?"
Haley sighed. "Fine. May I use your washroom?"
"By all means, go ahead."
Haley ducked into the restroom and closed the door behind her. 'The gender-switching thing is being more and more of a hassle every minute...' She kicked her shoes off to the side and sighed. 'Okay...here we go...' She slipped out of her skirt and pulled up the jeans that Hermione let her borrow. The jeans, although clingy, were rather comfortable to Haley. She slipped off her robe to get a better view in Hermione's full-length mirror. 'Hmmm...not bad...'
"Harry, are you finished yet?"
"Yes, yes..." The girl slipped her shoes back on and picked up her skirt and robe before stepping out.
"How do they fit?"
"They're not bad, actually."
"Right. I knew our sizes would be similar. You can just slip on a sweater over it, for now."
"So, Hermione, if I buy some girl clothes and then Professor Snape finds the antidote, what do I do with the clothes?"
"I don't know. Give them to a charity of something."
"What if I just gave them to you. You did say that we're of similar sizes."
"Well, we'll see. But for now..." the Head Girl reached into her trunk once more before tossing something else at Haley. "Go on and fly."
Haley held up the bundle of fabric to see that it was a sweater. The Slytherin smiled. "Thanks 'Mione."
"Anytime."
The two hurried back to the Quidditch Pitch. With Hermione holding onto her friend's skirt and robes, Haley snatched her broom out of the shack and with a grin on her face, she took to the air and flew circles about the Gryffindor boys.
After dinner, rather than returning to the Slytherin common rooms, Haley spent the evening in the library to do her homework. She even convinced Ron and Hermione to stay with her.
"So what was it like having Trelawny by yourself?" Ron asked while in the middle of his Divination homework. "Did she say anything about...this?"
Haley looked up, taking a break in plotting her many times she'll break her wrist until the next full moon. "Actually, she claimed to have know that my presence would soon approach. And she also tome me to 'beware the number seven.' You know, the usual."
"Honestly, you two." Hermione looked up from her book. "Why continue to take that class when you know it's all a bunch of poppycock?"
"Cause them we'd be stuck in Arithmancy with you." Ron smirked.
Hermione tossed her boyfriend a mock-glare. "If you have such a problem being with me, Ronald, that can easily be fixed."
"I was just joking, 'Mione." Ron said apologetically.
"Mm-hmm..." was all she said in response.
Haley rolled her eyes. "We don't take Arithmancy because Divination is just easier."
"Arithmancy's not that much harder." Hermione rebuked. "Even Malfoy's taking it."
"If you do recall, Hermione, Malfoy is also Head Boy."
"You know...I don't think he was at dinner this evening..." Haley said more to herself than to the others. Her friends both looked at her with curiosity on their faces. Haley returned their glances. "What?"
Ron cleared his throat as another smirk grew on his face. "Were you looking for him, Haleykins?" The red head fluttered his eyelashes.
"No! Of course not!" Haley defended. Ron just laughed. The Slytherin rolled her eyes and turned to her other friend. "Honestly, Hermione, I don't know what you see in him." She jabbed her finger in Ron's shoulder. Hermione just giggled.
"Hey! I'm insulted." Ron pouted.
"You should be you smarmy git!" Haley retorted.
At this point all three friends broke into laughter.
"All right you three." Madame Pince said as she approached them with her hands on her hips. "Go on off to your dormitories, before you wake the dead."
"Yes, Madame Pince." They said in unison.
Haley sighed as she packed her things. "I suppose I'll just finish my chart in my room."
"How are things in the Slytherin rooms? Anyone attack you yet for being a Gryffindor lover?" Hermione asked as the three left the library.
"Surprisingly, no. Life in the Slytherin House isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I thought all Slytherins hated the other houses and that all they really cared about were themselves. But Blaise isn't-"
"Wait, wait. Who's Blaise?" Ron interrupted.
"Oh. Blaise Zabini. I met him Divination."
"Is he the one that Malfoy doesn't want you to be friends with?" Hermione asked.
"No that's Ethan-"
"Who's Ethan?" Ron looked confused.
"Ethan Maxwell. He's also in my Divination class."
"And he's the one that Malfoy doesn't like for some reason." Hermione added.
"So Blaise is a Slytherin that takes Divination with you and Ethan, the guy that Malfoy hates. So do we hate Malfoy or Maxwell?" Ron asked, still looking a little lost.
"Actually, we hate Pansy." Haley sneered at the name.
"Wait. Who's Pansy again?" Ron scrunched his nose.
"Pansy was the girl that Malfoy went to the Yule Ball with in our forth year." Hermione explained.
"I'd like to cast some hexes on her if I could..." Haley muttered.
"And she also, apparently, has a thing for Malfoy."
"Who? Her?" Ron asked, pointing at Haley.
"No!" Both Haley and Hermione growled at the red head.
"Pansy's the one that likes Malfoy." Haley said, punching Ron on the arm.
"Okay. So Blaise has Divination with Ethan who Malfoy hates but is also a Slytherin like Pansy who likes Malfoy and hates Gryffindors, and Crabbe and Goyle are Malfoy's lackies that aren't all too bright while Malfoy yells at," he looked at Haley. "Who are you again?"
"Harry Potter!"
"Right. Who yells at Harry to stay away from Ethan." Ron took a deep breath. "And I am?"
"Ronald Weasley."
"Right. Good."
"Now that that's done with..." Hermione hooked her arm through Ron's and looked at Haley. "What were you saying?"
Haley sighed. "Blaise isn't like that at all. He has no problems with the other houses and plus, he doesn't like Crabbe, Goyle or Pansy."
"So we like Blaise?" Ron asked.
"Yes." Hermione patted Ron's hand.
"Right. Blaise and I were talking during and after Divination and he's actually a pretty good guy." Haley frowned. "Downside. He's Malfoy's best friend."
"Really?" Hermione asked. "I've never seen them together."
"That's what I said. But he told me that 'you don't need to be near someone all the time to be best friends.' And I s'pose he's right."
"Wait." Ron said again. "So Blaise is Malfoy's-" But he was silenced by Hermione's hand.
"Don't you start that again." She warned.
"Well, this is where I turn, anyway." Haley shrugged. "Night you two."
"Good night, Harry."
"Night, mate."
Hermione and Ron turned and began to walk down the corridor towards the Gryffindor Tower.
"But wait. I still don't get it." Haley heard Ron complain.
Hermione sighed and shook her head. "I'll explain it to you in the common room."
Haley smiled at her friends' retreating backs. She turned around and sighed. "Professor Snape, I hope you hurry with that antidote..."
When Haley entered the Slytherin common room, nearly everyone had retired to their rooms but a blonde head immediately caught her attention. Draco was sitting on one of the couches, staring intently at the flames dancing in the fireplace across from him.
Haley, not wanting to deal with him again, made a move towards her room. But the movement was enough to catch Draco's attention.
"Jones, wait." He hopped off the couch and blocked Haley's path.
The girl crossed her arms in front of her. "What?"
"I just..." Draco exhaled and licked his lips. "I wanted to apologize."
Haley blinked. She wasn't really expecting that.
"Look. I know I shouldn't have blown up at you. Again. And I know I don't have the right to tell you who you can and can't be friends with but...just...just be careful, all right?" Draco locked gazes with Haley. It was there Haley saw concern. Another thing she wasn't expecting.
The girl dropped her arms. "All right. I don't know why...but I'll be careful."
Draco sighed and stepped back. "Good."
The two just stood there, somewhat awkwardly.
Haley bit her lip. 'Say something, you git!' Haley chided herself. 'Say anything!' "I um...I didn't see you at dinner."
Draco shrugged. "That's because I didn't go."
"How come?"
"...I was waiting for you."
Draco was just full of surprises. Haley looked at Draco, curiously.
"Why?"
"I was out of line again, and I knew it. So, I wanted to apologize." Draco sighed again. "Thought it may not seem like it sometimes, I really do want to be your friend, Jones."
Haley smiled.
A smirk grew on the Head Boy's lips. "Plus, Blaise tells me you're not half bad when you're not arguing with me."
Haley's smile grew at this. "Well, you're not half bad yourself."
The two just stood there, smiles on their faces, grey eyes locked with green.
It was Draco who looked away first. "Well, it's getting late. You should get some sleep."
"Right..." Haley walked to her door. "Good night, Draco."
Draco turned with a faint smile on his face. "Good night, Haley."
Author's Notes/Disclaimer: The characters of Harry Potter do not belong to me. But all your teacake do. Haha. Kidding.
This one took a while, I know. But that's because I kinda had writer's block. Just a little one. And then I just sat down and began writing. Pen and paper style. Blue pen. Blue paper. Yeah. With many scratched out phrases and doodles, I finished this bit. Hoorah!
Ummmm...it's always nice to have your friends around when you're feeling down and out. Or when you're pissed off at certain blonde with hypnotic grey eyes. And the whole bit where Ron is trying to figure out who's who, that's supposed to go a bit fast but I can't really show that unless I say 'he said it fast'. But doesn't really matter, either way. I really don't know what Harry's gonna do with the clothes after he's done with them. But I'll figure it out. I always figure it out. Muahahahahaha!!
Oh yeah. I changed it. It was Millicent Bulstrode that fought Hermione not Pansy. Oh well.