Written In The Body
Poetheather
A/N: Here we go. Oh, hey did everyone see that Emma Watson wished Hermione a happy birthday. Then some idjit said that by now she should be Hermione Weasley now. Emma smacked them down, stating that Hermione would have kept her maiden name. I'll have to think on that as can you really argue with the point? But how BAMF was that? I so love her.
Still not JKR.
Forty-Four
After the fun and frivolity of Christmas it always took everyone a few days to get back into the swing of classes, including the Professors. Because of this there was always one thing or another that kept distracting her from focusing on her work at the moment and one of the major ones right now was people congratulating her on her engagement. She had been pleasantly surprised when Cameron had done it on the Express but since they worked together and he had manners she figured that it made sense that he had mentioned it. What had surprised her was how excited a lot of the girls in Gryffindor had gotten over the whole thing as well as the entire Quidditch team. Other players from other House teams came up and talked to her about it as well. All these students seemed thrilled about her and Ginny getting married. She had been told that same sex relationships were not taboo in the wizarding world and this was certainly driving that point home.
And then there were the teachers who were no better. Professor Flitwick spotted the rings on their hands and fell over in surprise, a move remarkably akin to her first day of class with him in first year. Of course on that instance he had been shocked over Harry and not so excited about the fact that he misstepped but the end result was the same. None of the others had been quite that exuberant in their response but had to admit that she was quite flabbergasted when Miss Pince came up to her and offered her congratulations all while she was in the stacks looking for some books for her Charms essay. It left her gobsmacked for nearly ten minutes afterwards. Compared to the others, having tea with Professor Cottington and chatting was relatively mild. There was even the pretense of needing to get together with them for the purposes of planning for the Spring. Thankfully, with everything being so calm overall, the two girls were able to handle the fuss easily and move on.
A few days later, while Hermione was heading back from her Potions class, one of the first year Gryffindor girls ran up to her looking a touch… something. She didn't seem to be frightened or anything, just a bit concerned was the best she could figure out. Not really knowing the girl meant it was a lot more difficult reading her face. As she stood next to the Head Girl panting a little, Hermione asked worriedly, "Is everything alright?"
The girl shook her head, her blond braids dancing along with the movement. Her breathing slowed as she found her breath and she finally got out, "Miss Granger, me and the other girls are worried about Simon. Something is going on with him and we're wondering if you knew what was bothering him?"
"It's Artemis, right? What makes you think that there is something wrong with Simon?" This observation had Hermione concerned. She had thought Simon was doing okay with everything but there had been enough homework and Head Girl duties going on that she had not been able to really talk with him longer than daily greetings and the time when she explained the medical situation. If anything was wrong one of his friends would know more than she would. She should have realized that and taken it into consideration when she was figuring out what to do. It would have certainly helped out in the long run.
"Yes, Artemis. And Simon has been acting kind of funny lately. All of us have noticed it and we can't figure out why. We know he's usually a bit quiet when he isn't with us but since we came back from holiday he's been almost withdrawn. We've asked him to talk to us about what's bothering him and that's only made him withdraw more. He hasn't hung out with us at all today and we've barely seen him any other day. Please help. We're getting a bit scared for him as we don't know what's going on." Artemis fidgeted some, her hands wringing slightly in front of her. She looked poised to run off and search for Simon right then.
Hermione was a bit frustrated with this development as she was unsure how to deal with this in an effective manner. She was sure she knew why Simon was acting this way, given what he had been told about his magical core and gender issues, but telling Artemis any of that would be a huge betrayal of trust. She couldn't do that even though she thought that the girls should know if this was what Simon was going to do. With his desires and this potential issue there was every chance that he would be changing. These were his friends and it wasn't like he would be able to avoid seeing them after it was all over as they would be his roommates as well. There were too many options and variables running around this whole thing and that put her in an awkward position. If she changed things the delicate façade they had built to protect Simon might just shatter. She hated this bloody situation for how terrible it was making things for everyone. Why couldn't life ever be calm and boring for a bit? "I'll go talk to him, Artemis, never fear. Once I know what's wrong, I'll help him deal with it and everything will be better. Trust me."
Artemis hugged her quickly, which surprised Hermione to no end, and took off running down the hall. What exactly had Simon been telling the girls if any of them were comfortable with hugging her like that, out of the blue? Not that she was against hugging but it was certainly unexpected. Hermione just stood there and tried to figure out what needed to be done now. Perhaps it would be helpful if she knew where her brother was? When she was alone she pulled out the map, tapped it with her wand and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The lines of the castle filled in the parchment and she searched through the moving tags for Simon's. It took her a bit of scanning through the several floors but she figured out how to make it easier. Narrowing her search down to places away from everyone else had sped up the process considerably. After going through things she noticed he was in the first floor girl's bathroom. That made her cock her head to the side and sort of stare at the map. Why would he be in with Moaning Myrtle? No one went there unless they were desperate to go or needed to brew Polyjuice. Part of her understood the idea of him going there to hide as it was rather isolated and it was a girl's bathroom as well. That fact alone might make him feel better in some way she could not truly understand. She was so glad she didn't have gender issues herself. The issues he had in just making it through the day or looking at himself in the mirror. Realizing that she was a lesbian had been hard enough to deal with and she kept trying to picture Harry and Ron dealing with what Simon was dealing with when she was a first year. That thought just made her shudder. "Mischief Managed."
She headed up that way, trying to hustle in order to assure herself that he would still be there when she arrived. Granted he had not been moving when she had looked at the map, but there was no reason to assume he would continue to stay put. After a short jog, she pushed open the door slowly, and said questioningly, worry filling her voice, "Simon?"
Myrtle flew up in front of Hermione, glowering at her as she entered, and said, "Have you come here to tease someone else?"
She stared at the ghost and realized that here was another person she had failed to make amends with for the way she treated them before her realization. Thinking over the past it became clear about what she should do. "Myrtle, I am sorry about what I said before. I didn't mean to tease you. You have been very helpful through all the years Harry, Ron and I have been going to school here. Thank you for that. And have you been helping Simon?" asked Hermione, not pushing her way in but waiting to resolve this with the ghost trapped here thanks to Voldemort's malice.
Myrtle looked at her suspiciously, expecting some sort of trick from her, before finally answering, "Yes."
"Well, thank you for helping my little brother. He needed help and you were there for him. Now, I just want to make sure he's okay." Hermione let a little of her emotion out so that the truth she felt would shine through her words.
Myrtle was clearly rather skeptical of what she was saying thanks to their history but in the end drifted back, so she was not keeping Hermione from completely entering. True Hermione could have simply walked through her to continue into the room but that was a bit rude and the sensation was unpleasant. This way might take longer but in the end it would be for the best. She looked around the familiar room and spotted him. In the back of the room by the toilets, sat Simon, his face wasn't blotchy so he hadn't been crying; he just sat there, knees bent and arms wrapped around them looking forward expressionlessly. His face was somewhat blank and this worried her. Maybe Artemis did have a point. Something was going on with him. "Hey Simon, are you okay?"
"No. I can't stop thinking about all of this. It just keeps going round and round in my head and is making me crazy. I haven't been able to sleep well for days. What happens if I take the test and it says yes? What happens if I take the test and it says no? How could I deal with either answer? I know what I know about me and that makes things worse. I don't know what to do Hermione," wailed Simon there at the end, dropping his head to his arms.
She came over and sat down next to him, noting that the floor was actually fairly clean, and she put an arm around his shoulders. He had been suffering and she hadn't been there for him. Well, she would make amends for that right now. "Look, if the test says yes, then we deal with it. It can be that easy Simon if you let it be. There is no way Mum and Dad will want you to get sick even remotely because your core has issues. So you become a girl? I don't think that they will care. And besides, won't it make you happier to become the better sex?"
He nodded slightly, loosening up some as she spoke and responded a little to her joke.
"And if the test says no, well, we'll think of something. At that point we need to look at other options if this is who you are. I don't doubt you but all it does is make the situation more complex not insurmountable. Remember Ginny, Luna and I are here for you and you and you alone are the only one who can say who you are. No one is allowed to tell you your identity." Hermione looked down at her left forearm. That had been a hard learned lesson cut into her very flesh, indelible. She would do anything in her power to keep Simon from having to face that issue. It may have been the nicest thing Bellatrix had ever done in her life, helping Hermione learn that lesson and find her happiness. "Also, besides us, your friends are worried about you. Just before I came to look for you, Artemis stopped me in the hall and told me they were all worried about you. They told me about things I should have noticed as your big sister and I'm sorry for not paying enough attention. So, right now we need to do something to make you feel better, even if only a little, until this is all over and done with, so your friends are less worried. Okay?"
"Okay." He looked up at her, a faint smile played across his lips.
"Now onto something more interesting, have you thought of a name, just in case the test is positive? You know Madam Pomfrey said that had to be done. I can help you if you need any." Hermione was curious about that. Choosing a name was a pretty powerful act from everything she knew. The only people she had known who had done so had been the Marauders and Voldemort and they were all pretty impressive people. Voldemort had done terrible things but there was no denying his power. Choosing your identity like that was huge.
Simon smiled a little, looking up at her and meeting her eyes, the topic seeming to help him feel less glum, "Yeah, I have."
"Care to share?" She nudged him as she asked, making something so serious as lighthearted as she could manage. He needed to know that it was perfectly okay to talk about this.
"Well… I thought of a lot of names before I came to this one. I never had a name I used the few times I put on my Mum's clothes or daydreamed about this." He blushed some, looking down at the floor before glancing back up. "Most of the names I thought about came from books, as I couldn't really think of anything on my own. So, I thought about what I was going to do and how it was going to take all the Gryffindor courage I had to go through with it and change my life, so I thought that I should name myself after the bravest Gryffindor I know of, Lucy Pevensie. I figured if she wasn't afraid even though she was in a new world that was so different, with fauns and talking animals, and walked right up to Aslan when she saw him, than you can't really get more Gryffindor than that."
Hermione just stared at Simon for a moment, her mind processing what she had just heard, and then beamed at him so much her cheeks hurt. She did enjoy that series and that had never really occurred to. She had been too focused on more practical things. "That is fabulous Simon, it really is. Lucy Granger is a wonderful name. I like it and it is as literary as mine. I really love it."
"Do… do you think Mum and Dad will like it?" asked Simon nervously, biting his lower lip in his nervousness. She had noticed that this was something he was doing more of lately, as if it were a new habit.
"I believe they will. You know, a good middle name won't hurt either," teased Hermione softly.
"I was thinking about using my second choice of brave Gryffindors, Alice." That drew even more of a smile.
"Lucy Alice Granger? Well, those names should help give you lots of courage to face this." She hugged him and said, "Now should I send a letter to them explaining this decision of yours and arranging for them to come up this weekend so we can test you? I won't tell them your name until then as there is no need to jinx it." She made the offer and waited, not wanting to push. This had to be his choice even if he was young.
Simon bit his lip again and looked up at her with wide, nervous eyes. Hermione smiled comfortingly at him, in the hopes that it would help him be able to answer her. Instead of speaking, he nodded, a bit sheepish. She rolled her eyes, as this was pretty much what she had expected to happen, and said, "Very well. Now that this is decided you go let your friends know you're okay. They were a bit scared for you. I think you can stop dwelling on this until the weekend."
Simon got to his feet, helped Hermione up and then took off without so much as a backwards glance at his sister. Chuckling out loud at how funny Simon could be sometimes, she walked off and took the long uphill route towards her room, trying to figure out exactly what to say to her parents about the whole issue. Simon better be aware that he was going to owe her for this and looking cute was not going to cut it for payment. It took her a while to compose something that covered everything that needed to be discussed and wasn't too bulky. The last thing she wanted to do was weigh down her owl as it flew home. This wasn't an easy topic to cover in just a few short words.
She walked over to the Owlery Tower and convinced Perdita that heading down to her parent's house where it was warmer was a better idea than sleeping where she was and then she needed to wait for a return letter. There was a little bit of peering at her sideways, weighing her argument before Perdita stuck her leg out for the letter. Once she was winging her way south with the explanation, Hermione headed to the Hospital Wing in order to make arrangements with Madam Pomfrey for the testing that weekend. She did not even seem surprised when Hermione informed the school nurse about who it was that needed to be tested, which was rather surprising. Madam Pomfrey just nodded, made a few notes in her planner, and that was that. Perhaps after having Harry as a patient nothing less than a Harry level emergency would rattle her.
For the remainder of the week Simon was still a bit twitchy and nervous, alternating between excitement and dread. Hermione could understand as this was a huge event and could literally change his life forever. She wanted to do something for him, something to help him relax until it was time, but there really wasn't anything that she could do for him at the moment, except sit there and try to keep him calm. That was only working so well. As for a present if things went well, it would perhaps be better to wait until she knew what was happening.
Saturday morning, Hermione woke early and headed downstairs to the Common Room with a book in hand so she would be there when Simon came down from his dorms. When she stepped off the stairs she spotted him on the couch by the fire, sitting there with his legs pulled up, so very like the first day she had met him that it gave her a strong sense of Déjà vu. That feeling passed and worry replaced it. Simon had not been in the best of places that first day and she had been drawn to it. His position now was doing the same. Her reaction was enough to make her wonder if she too had developed a 'saving people thing' like Harry. She really hoped not as she did not need the borrowed grief. She walked over and sat on the couch next to him, noting that he was still awake or at least awake at the moment. "Morning Simon."
He made a non-committal noise, not even looking up from where his head rested on his arms.
"Did you get any sleep?" She asked, using the same tone she had used on the boys for years, the slight mothering, slight scolding sound that got things across without needed to be said directly.
"Some. My mind has been too busy to sleep. It was better for a few days but with this hanging over me…" He yawned wide and rubbed his eyes. Looking up at her blearily he asked, "Is it that time?"
"Almost. We get to go have breakfast first before we need to go to the Hospital Wing to see Madam Pomfrey. It'll be okay Simon." She hugged him to her. "You'll see."
He nodded, yawned again, looking down at his rumpled state. With a frown he said, "I should go and get cleaned up."
"That's good. Hurry back. Ginny was getting ready when I left the room. We can all head down together once you get back." Hermione informed him with a smile. Simon rushed up the stairs leaving her sitting in front of the fire and alone with her own thoughts.
Watching the dancing flames, she pondered things herself. Was this the right thing to do, supporting him in this? From what Madam Pomfrey said there was nothing to this, a simple test to check if his magical core was problematic or not. However the transformation, if he went through it, was supposed to be pretty intense. Given what had to occur, it would probably be painful and there was always the possibility that he wouldn't be able to cope with the change afterwards. There were a lot of dangers to this that she hadn't been able to let him know about. Even though Madam Pomfrey had told her all about this she was sure there were potential issues that hadn't been covered. With a ritual so strong how could there not be? However, she didn't see any value in scaring him before doing this, at least not any more than he already was.
Reminding herself that this procedure could make his life better was one of the few things that could help keep her relaxed about it all. Considering everything he had gone through in his short life he was totally entitled to this happiness if it could be there for him. She couldn't even imagine the immensity of what he had endured. His life wasn't quite as bad as Harry's but the similarities were just painful. No, no matter her own doubts and fears she had to do what was right and best for Simon in the long run and if that was letting him become Lucy than that was what had to happen. There was no way to argue with that point. He deserved happiness and she would give it to him if she could.
As Hermione was sitting there, gazing into the fire she could hear Ginny walking down the stairs. The question of just how she looked entered her head as Ginny rest a hand on her shoulder and asked, "You okay Kitten?"
"Kind of, just, you know, today." She shrugged, unable to better explain everything that was running through her even with her gestures. There was just so much going on and running through her mind, not just Simon but everything. It was almost overwhelming but she had gotten far better at coping. If it was this much for her she wasn't sure how Simon was still moving around.
With a fond look, Ginny came around and kissed her on the cheek, running a hand down the back of her head. "He'll be fine 'mione. I know you are worried Love and you are so cute when you start mothering him. It lets me know without a shadow of a doubt that you'll be so good at that with our own kids."
That comment elicited a pleased smile and a blush from Hermione. Ginny's eyes sparkled as she ran her fingers through her hair and continued, "So just try to stop fretting so much, it'll work out, honest."
Hermione chuckled at that and shook her head. Really? Maybe she and Simon weren't very different after all, not if comments like that were happening. Ginny quirked an eyebrow at her reaction and asked, "What's so funny?"
"Earlier, I said almost the same thing to Simon," she snickered.
"Well, I have to admit you Grangers do have a tendency to get lost in your head." Ginny grinned mischievously. "Ron did warn me."
"Hey now!" protested Hermione, looking a touch affronted. Had Ron really warned her about that? Oh, she was going to hurt him over that. It would have been worse if it had been Harry, as he knew her better than Ginny's brother.
"What? Am I wrong?" Ginny looked at her pointedly, almost daring her to contradict her words.
"I… I refuse to dignify that with a response," she huffed, a touch indignant, turning to look away from her.
"That's what I thought Kitten." Ginny snickered and winked at Hermione before leaning in to press a kiss against her forehead. "It'll be okay. Now are your parents going to be here for the test of after?"
"If we go to see Madam Pomfrey right after breakfast, as is the plan, then they are going to meet us there afterwards, since they can't get here that quickly. If not, then we can all go do this at the same time. Honestly they didn't indicate a preference one way or the other, at least for this test. It is all entirely up to Simon and we'll do whatever makes him comfortable. They did insist on being there for anything more however," explained Hermione, understanding her parents reasoning. If they got there and the test was negative the tone of the visit would be different from a positive. Perhaps it was better to walk in and discover things after the fact, at least with that part.
Ginny nodded. "That sounds good. Better to get that out of the way early then before there is too much time to dwell on it. He's been overthinking it like you usually do. Luna's meeting us downstairs?"
"That's the plan," confirmed Hermione, ignoring the tiny jab that had so much truth in it.
Simon walked from the stairwell to the boy's side, his hair still a bit damp and flat against his head. He was about to say something to them when the sounds of other students moving about quieted them all. Simon looked at them a bit chagrinned and shrugged. He got hugs from both of them before the three of them headed downstairs for breakfast, chatting about inconsequential things. When they reached the Great Hall, Luna hugged Simon as well and sat down with them at the Gryffindor table, telling Simon stories of some of the creature hunts she had been on, about Newt Scamander and what an inspiration he had been in her love of magical creatures as well as some of her father's favorite theories as to the nature of several magical creatures. The details behind Fantastic Beasts were holding him enthralled. Hermione had to admit that Luna was a gifted storyteller when she put her mind to it. That kept the mood at the table light until far too soon they were leaving the Great Hall as a group and headed towards the Hospital Wing. Simon's hand found Hermione's and she held his tight, ignoring the fact that it was a bit sweaty. The smile he gave her was one of great relief at her presence. She squeezed his hand and smiled back. He had every right to be nervous right now.
Walking into an area Hermione had spent far too much time in for a year without Harry antics, they spotted Madam Pomfrey standing a short distance down the room near a curtained off bed. It looked like it would be nice and isolated if she had any other patients come in and interrupt what would be going on. "Ah, good… Mr. Granger. Come over here. It will be alright and this is not a very difficult test. You won't notice a thing and indeed only need lie there. Now, you will need to disrobe and dress in the gown waiting for you behind the curtain. Leave your wand with your clothes if you would."
Simon nodded and hesitantly walked behind the curtain. Shortly he called out in a tremulous voice, "I'm ready."
"Good. Now Miss Granger if you could be so kind as to take his clothes and wand over there. We want to ensure that there are no energetic contaminants to interfere with the test. It needs to be his energy alone around him so the reading is the most accurate possible. Please lie down Mr. Granger."
Ginny held Hermione's hand as they moved behind the curtains and waited, unable to see what was going on. They could hear the soft voice of Madam Pomfrey as she cast several diagnostic spells. It was a soothing sound but their tension was really high. Luna rested a hand on Hermione's shoulder, which helped Hermione release the tension in them. They then heard, "Very well, we are finished. Let me compile my notes and I will let you know what the results are."
Simon clutched his knees nervously and relaxed some as Hermione sat down next to him and gave him a long, warm hug. He leaned against her as they waited, while she idly played with his longish hair, curling it around a finger and pulling it free. It did not take long for the school nurse to return with a clipboard holding her notes. She had her usual pleasant smile which did not give any hint as to which way things had fallen. "Well, I have some news. I found that you are healthy, much better than when I first scanned you when Miss Granger brought you in at the beginning of the school year. A lot of those initial issues have been dealt with and you are doing fine. The slight malnutrition issue has been corrected thankfully. Now to the part that brought you here and the one I am sure you are anxious to know about. The spell did show that your core energy is having problems consistent with changeling issues, fairly serious issues as a matter of fact. Your concerns were quite valid. We can get you started on your treatment today if that is okay with you Miss Granger? There really is no time to dawdle as magical core issues are rather serious." She looked pointedly at Hermione when she asked that, seeing as she was his magical guardian.
Simon started crying in relief, clutching himself to her as she looked up at Madam Pomfrey and said, "I think that will be for the best however before we cast anything or give any potions can we wait for my parents to arrive. They are being escorted here and should be here shortly. Once they are here we can begin."
"Very well, however I do believe that we should also inform the Headmistress and your Head of House about this development as there are arrangements to be made, such as changes in dorm placement and the like."
Ginny nodded, "I've got this."
She cast her patronus and a silvery otter burst from her wand, spinning some, and rushing off through a wall. Hermione and Ginny's eyes went wide, following the figure until it was gone and then they stared at each other, stunned. Her mind racing to figure out what was going on with Ginny's patronus Hermione curiously cast the spell to send a note to the Headmistress, letting her know her presence was requested. Her otter came forth from her wand and swam off. Given how close it had been since the other was cast, it was possible to note small differences in the two otters, so they were obviously distinct forms but this was something unexpected. Simon looked between them and asked, his voice a bit unsure, "Uhm… Ginny… isn't your patronus a horse?"
"Yes." Her voice was filled with disbelief, while she was still staring at the wall and then looked down at her wand like it had betrayed her or something. Luna seemed a touch amused by this and snickered slightly.
"I wonder if this is what Harry meant?" murmured Hermione partially to herself but loud enough for the others to hear her conjecture.
"What is?" Ginny clearly wanted to get some answers and turned to face Hermione, who seemed to have them.
"Harry said that from what he had learned about the Patronus charm couples, like his parents, often had one of their patronus'… change, to match the others. He said that his father's was a stag and his mother's became a doe the closer they got. His guess is that it had something to do with the fact that the strongest and happiest emotions the person could draw from to cast the spell were about the other. He also said that the reason that they eventually matched is that in a couple there is a balance that needed to be maintained. I know, insight about relationships from Harry." Both girls snorted a little at that.
"There is always one member of the relationship who is the… stronger I guess is the term for it, personality and that person's patronus seems to become to dominant form for the couple. I'm not exactly sure what constitutes stronger in this case but there you go. It's also why the forms in a couple don't just switch completely. A few times while the couple is getting stronger it's expected but as they get more in tune with each other it stabilizes. It's all about the love felt for the other person. And Professor Snape's patronus became a doe due to his love for Harry's mother. So I guess yours changed to match mine? Maybe? That's all I have on that subject." Hermione didn't sound entirely sure and she hated that. She had meant to look into the Patronus Charm more but she had been so busy lately that she hadn't had a chance get to the Library with time dedicated to doing so. If she had she might be able to answer with more surety. It was fairly fascinating stuff and incontrovertible proof that emotions had an effect on a person's spellwork.
Ginny looked thoughtful and then shrugged, "I'm okay with that. It was just a shock to see it the first time. Otter or Horse, so long as the spell works I'm fine. As for the other part… well, I guess it makes sense. But that's not important right now. You know we need to cast them together, right? At least once? Because Amy will go crazy over them if we do."
Hermione, Luna, and Simon laughed when she said that. Hermione realized that it was so true. Amy would squeal and freak out seeing two otters like that. There might even be chasing the ghostly forms involved. This was now on her to do list. That could easily turn into a patronus worthy memory. She turned to face Simon, so she could get things back on track, "So Simon, are you okay with this, with going through all this? With changing?"
Tears were welling up in his eyes, but he looked happy, his smile strong. "You have no idea how long I have been praying for this Hermione. Years I've thought about this, even though my parents tried to beat it out of me any time they caught me doing anything 'unmanly'. I… I want this more than anything. It would make everything I've gone through worth it. Thank you. Thank you for making this happen."
Tears filled her eyes as it was made even plainer just how much she had changed his life, all because she had taken notice of a little boy who had reminded her a bit of Harry. Her conversation with a scared little boy changed her life as well. Life was rather funny in that way. She gave him a tender smile and said, "You are very welcome Lucy. I am positive you will make as great a little sister as you have a little brother."
He grabbed her and started crying as she said that, overcome by her calling him by the new name for the first time, by anyone calling him by the new name. She whispered comforting words to him and held him as he let it all out, the years of fear and pain, the suffering at the hands of those who were supposed to love him. Rubbing his back, she tried to settle him as so much confined grief gushed out. Luna came over and rubbed his back as Ginny hugged Hermione. They were still like that as her parents came in a short while later with Headmistress McGonagall. Her mother hustled over to the group and joined them on the bed, hugging both of them tightly. The other two moved back away from the bed to make more room. Parent and eldest child locked eyes and with a nod Hermione answered the unspoken question. To help even more, to make things as clearer as possible to both her parents, she said, "It's okay Lucy, Mum's here. Everything will be alright."
Her father started some at that pronouncement but there was no response from her mother. There was no change in her as she pet his hair and said reassuringly, "It'll all be okay Lucy. We still love you. Nothing can change that. You are our child and that will never change."
More tears fell and now he had shifted his grip from her and was clutching his new mother just as tight. Her father raised an eyebrow and said, "So I take it…"
Ginny stood there with Luna watching the scene, as if unsure what to do. She nodded and said, "Yes. Other than that, from what Hermione said, perfectly healthy."
"Good. When Hermione explained that there could be… complications because of this, we were concerned. The last thing we would have wanted was for this to cause illness or something." He moved next to Ginny and hugged her. Ginny leaned into it, appreciating the comfort.
The Headmistress had walked into Madam Pomfrey's office once she had entered. Before they exited Professor Cottington strode in as well, her cheeks a bit rosy from perhaps hurrying to reach them. Hermione pointed to the office to inform her of where the other instructors were and got a grateful nod in return. Hermione shook her head at how good she was learning to understand her new Head of House. She was certainly different from the reserved and a touch aloof McGonagall. She was very involved and was present in the Common Room several times a week to check on everyone. The three of them walked out after a bit, Healer leading. Wasting no time, so dove right in, "I take it Hermione explained everything to you?"
"She did in a letter she sent us a few days ago," said her father in confirmation. "It had limited detail as you can imagine but from what I gather we are at the treatment portion of things, to set Lucy to rights since her core was… damaged?"
Madam Pomfrey nodded, pleased that they understood things and smiling at the use of the new name. Hermione knew from her own research that some parents had issues with their Changeling children, at least in the short term. It made her so proud of her parents to see how they were tackling this newest challenge. "Yes. I see you have a name chosen, which makes things easier."
Lucy chimed in, saying, "It's Lucy Alice Granger."
"Very good. What we do at this point is have Lucy here drink two potions, one is a pain relieving potion and one helps prepare the body for the major spell that will be cast and then two further spells will be cast, one major and one minor. There are a few other spells and potions to be given over the day to help things as well as an overnight stay. That is the initial treatment. Tomorrow, things should stabilize in her core and form so she should be able to go back to her dorm room at that time. Once that occurs she will be on a daily potion for a few months to ensure that everything takes and the body is reacting properly. Is that clear?"
Everyone nodded. The description seemed clear enough. Lucy nervously asked, "Wi… will someone explain… you know… all this to my friends? I don't want them to find out about this the wrong way. Losing them would… hurt."
Professor Cottington nodded and said, "I will talk to them a little later and if it is fine with Madam Pomfrey I'll have them visit you this evening. I am sure they will want to see you after everything. This will all get worked out Lucy. I'll make sure of that."
The Healer nodded in confirmation. "That would be fine. Perhaps after dinner the hardest parts of the change will be over and you'll be ready to talk to people for a little bit, well people besides your parents. Octavia, check with me before you send them over in case something has changed."
"I can do that." said their Head of House with a slight grin.
"Well, there is no use in waiting. If we get this started right now, you might be up for chatting with your friends later. Shall we?" She handed a potion to Lucy who glanced at Hermione, then Mr. and Mrs. Granger who all gave him encouraging looks. Once that potion was down another was passed over before Lucy's faces at the taste faded.
The Headmistress pulled free her wand and said calmly, "Please let Lucy lie back on the bed. This is type of Transfiguration always seems easier if the person is lying back as you want the body to be still while you are preforming the spell. Once it is cast there are only a few others needed in order to make sure the new body holds, and we will see about those later. Are you ready?"
Lucy looked kind of scared and kind of excited, eyes moving from Hermione to the elder Grangers to Ginny to Luna and back. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and let it out slowly. Looking up at the Headmistress, she said, "Yes."
"Very well." Headmistress McGonagall moved a bit closer so she stood next to the bed. Everyone backed off to give her plenty of room. As she spoke, her wand moved in a very complex pattern over Lucy's body, a pattern that Hermione couldn't fully follow. The wand work was some of the most intricate Hermione had ever seen. The Scottish burr was slightly evident as the Headmistress intoned the Greek, "Só̱matos arsenikó metatropí̱ se thi̱lykó!"