The Exchange – And Now You Know

Haley yawned. She had forgotten how messy it had been learning the levitation charm in Professor Flitwick's class. She was suddenly reminded when detention with the small teacher forced her to try to sweep up scatter feathers and scrape off whatever gunk was splattered around or on the students' desks. As soon as she was finished, she was glad to be back in the Slytherin common room.

"Miss Jones, a word."

Haley turned in hearing Snape's voice. She followed her professor into his office.

"I thought you might like to know that some progress has been made in finding your antidote."

"What? Really?" All tiredness forgotten, Haley perked up.

"I have successfully identified the ingredients and procedure it takes to create the gender-switching potion. Now before you ask what good this does, I'll tell you now. Only by knowing what ingredients you've used can you know what ingredients to counter with. Likewise with procedure."

"But professor, if the potion is meant for gender-switching, can't I just take it again so that it can switch me back?"

"If you want to try that method, Mister Potter, by all means, go right ahead."

At this, Haley did not move. She eyed her professor suspiciously. "You've already tried that, haven't you?"

Snape sneered. "As if I would need to. The components of the potion would clearly show any competent witch or wizard that such a trivial solution would not work."

Haley shrank back. "Well you don't have to be so mean about it…" She muttered.

"I'll ignore your tone and assume you mean to thank me for all my hard work."

"Errr… right. Thank you, Professor Snape."

"Hm. You may go now."

"Wait. How soon do you think you can figure out an antidote now that you know what's in the potion?"

"With the holidays coming up, maybe a month."

"A month?!"

Another sneer directed at the Slytherin girl reflected the professor's annoyance. "I'm sorry that this doesn't fit your schedule, Mister Potter. I'm sure I can just skip preparing lesson plans for the spring, reviewing the scrolls from all of my classes, and enjoying the holidays for myself just so I can suit your needs."

"Oh good. We see eye to eye then." Haley feinted relief.

"Out. Now."

Haley obeyed. But before closing the door, she poked her head back in and looked at her professor. "You know, we almost has a civil conversation there. I really must be growing on you."

"OUT!"

The girl smiled as she closed the door behind her. It was easier to irritate Professor Snape since she knew that he wouldn't dare take points away from his own house.

Her tiredness overwhelming her once more, Haley returned to her room and readied herself for bed. 'If Snape does find the antidote… what happens to Haley? I mean, I've made friends as Haley. Good friends. And I've gotten closer to some friends that I already have. This gender-switching things just got a whole lot more complicated…' And with that, Haley let sleep overcome her.

---

The next day, Haley found herself in Divination class with Blaise and Ethan.

"My poor, poor girl. Tread softly around the em… err… skunk! Yes, yes. It is a skunk!" Trelawny removed her hand from Haley's head and swept across the classroom to an unsuspecting Ravenclaw.

"A skunk?" Blaise looked at Haley questioningly.

"Is she implying that I smell? Do I smell?" Haley joked, grabbing her hair and sniffing it, causing Blaise to laugh quietly as to not attract their professor.

"She probably meant 'badger.'"

Both Blaise and Haley looked over at Ethan who hardly ever spoke in classes.

"A badger? Why a badger?" The girl looked at him questioningly.

"Well… the house animal for Hufflepuff is a badger. Maybe she meant to be wary of a Hufflepuff."

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Ethan, you're not still on about that Valex guy all touchy-feely with Haley, are you?" Haley just rolled her eyes.

"Hey. I just call 'em like I see 'em." Ethan retorted.

"Or maybe she meant a moose! One that'll tackle me if I ever befriend another person of the opposite sex." Haley mocked.

"Or! Or maybe she meant an alligator that would bite her leg off if she snogged Crabbe or Goyle!" Blaise added.

"Ugh! I would rather take the alligator bite than snog either of them."

"I hate both of you." The hazel-eyed boy slumped in his seat as his friends continued to laugh at his expense.

With class over, the three Slytherins made their way back to their common room and crashed down into their usual spot.

"Oh!" Ethan sat back up. "I'm supposed to meet Creeves in the lab. I'll catch you two later."

"Did you know he was a photographer?" Haley asked.

"Course I do. I guess he finally showed you his portfolio?"

"Yeah. You knew about it?"

"Well, Ethan is one of my best friends. Our friendship wouldn't be much if I didn't know what his interests were." He winked at the girl.

Haley scoffed. "For a moment there, his interest seemed like it was borderline obsession."

"I suppose you're right. Speaking of interests, what interests me most is your growing fondness for my other best friend."

"What are you talking about? I'm not fond of that one at all."

"Sure, sure."

Wanting a change of subject, Haley pulled out her Herbology notes. "I suppose I should get started on that essay for Herbology…" Haley frowned, digging through her things to find her quill.

"You haven't started yet? That's due in two days!" Blaise stared at her.

"Well with being sick and all those detentions, homework just seemed to pile up."

"Well why don't you just ask Draco for help? I'm sure he's more than willing." Blaise grinned.

"Oh, come off it."

"He will miss you when you change back, you know."

"Well it's inevita…" Haley froze. Slowly, she looked back up at the boy sitting across from her, words seemingly having escaped her.

"So it's true then?" Blaise stood and walked over to the girl, sitting on the coffee table in front of her. "You really are Harry Potter?"

"I-I… erm, no…"

Blaise brushed Haley's bangs off of her forehead, revealing the telltale scar. Another grin spread across his face.

Haley slapped his hand away and patted her hair back down over her head. Her heart was pounding a thousand beats per second. 'He knows, he knows, he knows! Shit!' The two said nothing as they stared at each other in wonder.

Finally, it was Blaise who broke the silence. "I've never been this close to a celebrity before." He chuckled.

"I'm not… I-um…"

Blaise put a hand on her shoulder and leaned to whisper in her ear. "Relax, Harry. I won't tell anyone your secret." He sat back upright, his voice returning to its regular volume. "I haven't so far, have I? Then again, I only just confirmed it. But I stand by it, none the less."

"How… How did you know?"

"I thought it was rather odd how the you-you disappeared out of the blue. No notice whatsoever. And the whole exchange student thing, I've never heard of them doing this before so why now? So I watched you for a little bit that first night. It was interesting to me how this 'Haley Jones,' who looked a tad like Harry Potter, gravitated towards all of Harry Potter's friends. And then after hearing Ethan's theory-"

"Wait! Ethan knows?"

"No… I don't think he does yet. Or if he does, he hasn't confirmed it. If you want to keep this a secret from him, you'd have to get rid of all of his pictures of you. That's where he first got the idea."

"What?"

"He said that he was developing a picture of you while Creevy was developing an old picture of, well, you. And when both images began to show, they briefly looked like it was a picture of the same person. And it doesn't help that Creevy has all those pictures. A lot of the pictures Ethan has mirrors pictures that Creevy has."

Haley dropped her head into her hands. This was not good.

"I said, 'relax.'" He eased the girl back into a sitting position so he could look her in the eye. "Your secret is safe with me." Blaise smiled softly, trying to reassure her. "I have nothing to gain from exposing you. I think I have more to gain by keeping this secret."

"You're going to blackmail me?"

Again, Blaise chuckled. "Despite you keeping this huge secret from me, that doesn't make you any less my friend. You're you. I'm friends with who you are and not what you look like. By keeping your secret, I keep my friend."

A small smile played on Haley's lips. "How are you in Slytherin? You're much too sappy for this house."

Blaise let out a hearty laugh. "Remember, you're my friend. You'd be in serious trouble if you weren't. Then again, you did fend off Voldemort. Maybe I'd be the one in trouble."

Haley let out a full smile. "Definitely. I'd hex you into oblivion."

"You know, I've had my share of threats, but this one I actually believe."

The two laughed once more.

"You two are a little cozy, aren't you?"

The two friends looked to see Draco watching them carefully. Haley blushed. She just remembered how close Blaise was sitting to her. It would look "cozy" from another's point of view.

"Jealous, Draco?" Blaise smiled.

Draco scoffed before collapsing into a seat. "Take her. She's all yours."

"As if I were yours to give!" Haley growled.

Blaise shrugged. "If you say so…"

And with that, Blaise took hold of Haley's chin and kissed her long and full on the lips. Draco quickly sat up, shock and a bit of anger exuding from his core. Haley, on the other hand, was too shocked to really do anything about the boy kissing her.

After he could take no more, which wasn't much to begin with, Draco stood up and walked over to the two. Pushing them apart, he growled, "that's quite enough!"

Blaise was still smiling his playful smile. "Just testing the waters. I don't think I'll ever have the chance to do that again." He winked at Haley.

"But you know I'm-" she started.

"Like I care," the boy replied with a wave of his hand, and a look at Haley telling her to shut up or blow her cover. "I just wanted to know what it was like. And you should know, Draco," he turned to his friend. "It's great. You should be careful, else you'll have to fight Ethan and me."

"What!" Haley and Draco yelled, simultaneously.

Blaise simply stood and took Haley's hand in his. "See you later, Mon Cherie!" He kissed her on the hand before walking away.

Haley wiped her hand and her lips on her robes. "This is getting ridiculous…"

Draco took a seat where Blaise had been sitting right in front of the girl. "You like Blaise?"

"Not in the way you're assuming I do," she said in a tone warning Draco not to start this again.

"What was that about then?"

"I think that's something you should ask him. He kissed me, remember?"

"Yes, but you clearly let him."

"No I didn't!"

"You weren't exactly fighting him off!"

"I was surprised!"

"For a good whole minute?!"

"It was not a minute! More like a two seconds!"

"Two seconds too long! If you really didn't like Blaise in that way, you wouldn't have even let him get close enough to do that and you two seemed more than just close when I walked in."

"Would you prefer it if he were Ethan instead?" Haley knew exactly which buttons to push when Draco was irritating her. And now, he was definitely irritating her.

Draco sneered. "You know how I feel about Maxwell."

"And apparently, you feel the same towards Blaise."

"No way. Blaise and Ethan are different."

"Then why are you so upset that he was sitting this close to me?" The girl emphasized her point by scooting closer towards Draco. "Nothing happened. Nothing's going to happen. I hate everyone," she said, placing a hand upon her friend's shoulder. "Including you."

At this, Draco let out a small laugh.

Haley smiled. "See?" she said softly. "Utter detest. You make me want to hurl. I'll probably live in a cave after school is over just so I don't have to see your disgusting face. Better?"

"Surprisingly, yes."

Haley scooted back into her seat, resting her arms lazily across her chest. "Good. Now help me with my Herbology essay. I haven't got the slightest idea where to start."

Draco looked at his friend incredulously. "You haven't even started? It was assigned a week ago!"

"Yes, yes. I'm a terrible student. Blah blah blah. Are you going to help me or not? I can always go to Hermione for help. Or even Neville."

The blonde scoffed. "Longbottom? You'd rather go to Longbottom for help?"

"Why not? He's an excellent Herbology student."

"Right. Quite the idiot savant."

Haley glared. "Just for that, I'm leaving. Maybe if you've removed the thumb from your bum in time, I'll see you at supper." She stood, prepared to walk away, but the hand around her wrist stopped her from going any farther.

"Jones, I was kidding. Despite his many… shortcomings… I will admit that Longbottom is no fool."

"That's very nice of you, Draco. There really is a person underneath all that ego."

Draco simply rolled his eyes. "Do you want my help or not?"

"You know… I think I will ask Neville for help."

"What?" Draco stared at her in disbelief.

"Seriously." Haley started packing up her things. "I'll see you at supper, then?"

"I suppose…"

"Aw. Cheer up, Malfoy. No Longbottom could ever take your place." In seeing the boy about to retort, she added, "Let's leave it at that before I find a reason to retract that statement."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine." He took one of Haley's hands and held it between his. "Just promise me one thing before you go."

"What?"

"Please, under all circumstances, don't kiss Longbottom. And don't let him kiss you either."

Haley blew a raspberry before snatching her hand back from the boy and walking away. "For all you know, Neville could be my soul mate," she called over her shoulder.

"If Longbottom's your soul mate, I'll personally fund your wedding before drowning myself in the English Channel."

"Put that in your Remembrall! I'll hold you to it!" And with that, Haley left the Slytherin common room to find her Gryffindor friend.

---

"Wait… was it? No, it was… no…oh, rubbish…"

"Hello, Neville!"

The Gryffindor looked up from his notes and gave Haley a sheepish grin. "Hello, Haley."

Haley had searched high and low for the boy, only to find out he was merely in the library. "I'm glad I found you. I was actually hoping that you would be able to help me with my Herbology essay."

"Oh. You want my help?"

"Of course! You're brilliant when it comes to Herbology."

The boy blushed at the compliment. "Okay… well… I've got to finish up some potions work and then I can help you, all right?"

"Potions? We don't have anything assigned, do we?"

"Well, no. But Professor Snape gave me some extra work."

"That git!"

"No, no! Not like that. It's actually really helpful. I've been able to successfully make that Transpartium potion with his help. He even showed me how to make a potion that gives a person warts on their bum. It's very similar, the two. I suppose that's why he showed me."

Haley had to sit. "So wait. Snape's been helping you with potions?"

Neville nodded. "Yeah. Just a bit. Because, you know, Potions and Herbology sort of work hand in hand. He still scares me though."

Haley laughed. "Well, that hair is enough to scare anyone."

Neville chuckled. "I've been really worried though. You see, before you came we actually made the Transpartium potion in class. I made mine with Harry Potter. I don't think it came out too well. I've been hearing rumors."

"Rumors? Like what?"

Neville leaned in towards the girl. He whispered, "Well, I've heard the real reason Harry had to leave the school was because the potion poisoned him and now he's in Mungo's trying to get better. I've also heard that maybe he's sprouted a new limb or even a tail!"

"That's rubbish, Neville. I'm here so of course Harry's at the other school."

"But you can't know that for sure, can you? I mean, I've never even heard of the exchange program, you know? And I've never heard Harry talk about it and we've been mates for years now. Maybe they brought you in saying they're taking Harry out just to cover up the fact that I killed Harry Potter! They could've left you in the dark just as much as we are!"

"You did not kill Harry, Neville. I promise you that." This didn't seem to console her friend. Haley bit her lip.

'If I tell him the truth, then that's one more person who knows! And Blaise already knows and that was a shock on its own! I can't let anyone else find out!' But in seeing Neville's distressed demeanor, she sighed. 'But I know I can trust Neville. He deserves to know…'

"Neville, I can guarantee you that Harry Potter is not dead, nor does he have a tail or anything of the sort."

"How?"

Haley looked around. In seeing that the coast was clear, she brushed aside her bangs, showing off her scar. "Because, Neville. I'm Harry."

"WHAT?!" Neville's eyes were the size of saucers. Quickly, Haley threw her hands over Neville's lips. "Hmmrry? Issatcho?"

"Neville, hush! Please!" Haley looked around again, making sure that Neville's little outburst hadn't drawn any attention. Luckily, the coast was still clear. "It's me, Neville. That potion didn't kill me. It just… turned me into a girl."

Neville continued to stare with his mouth open.

"I'm trusting you, Neville. You can't say a word of this to anyone."

Without a word, the boy vigorously nodded. He leaned forward again, squinting at the girl as if it would clarify the situation for him. "That's really you then, Harry?"

"Yes, it's me. The whole Haley Jones bit was to cover up more unwanted attention towards me."

Suddenly, Neville gasped. "Then I did this to you! I did this-!"

Again, Haley covered Neville's mouth, effectively quieting her friend. "Neville! Please!" She slowly moved her hands away.

"Sorry…" he whispered. "So I did this to you, then?"

"You can't blame yourself, Neville. If Snape had made you drink the potion, you'd be in my place. And remember, we both made that potion. I'm at fault just as much as you."

Neville scoffed. "Yeah right… but thanks anyway."

Haley offered her friend a small smile.

"If it can help you some, I think it'd do you good if you were to steer clear of Dean and Seamus." Neville said rather timidly.

"What? Why?"

"That's where I heard the rumors from. I mean, I don't think they knew I was in the room with them, but over by Seamus' bed I could hear Dean talking about you-er, the girl you."

"Dean? He has been acting a little strange around me ever since I changed…"

"Yeah…I think he might know or he's really really suspecting something's up. And as for Seamus, well he's too dense for anything."

Haley laughed. "Thanks Neville. I'll keep all this in mind. And you won't say anything, right?"

"You can count on me," he grinned. "Now. About your essay… I can't believe you haven't even started!"

Haley rolled her eyes before pulling out a piece of parchment to begin work.

Author's Note/Disclaimer: I own naught Harry Potter and other related objects other than Ethan, Leir, and… well… this story. Muahahaha…

I know, I know. I take FOR-EV-ER to update!! Sorry! But I don't think I'll ever abandon this story. I like to finish things. This included. Half of this chapter has been sitting around on my computer and I just didn't know where to go with the rest of it. But then I figured why not shed a little light on Neville cause I finally read all the books and Neville is badass. And Neville deserves to know and he's a good, trustworthy friend of Harry's anyway. But please, this is no Harry/Neville ship. Look elsewhere for that. I always thought Blaise was brilliant in his own way. So… voila! Plus, I like Blaise. I want him and Harry to be friends after this and the only way they can be is if Blaise knows. Woo. But please. This is no Harry/Blaise ship either. Look elsewhere for that.

Thanks for reading and not killing me in my sleep!! Reviews are wonderful and make me realize that I'm not the only one reading this! I already know how this ends! Let me know that you want to know too!!