2

Several hours earlier….

Harriet Potter took a seat in the empty Gryffindor common room and stared in to the dark fireplace, wondering what it was exactly that Ginny wanted to talk about. A few students came down the stairs but they ignored her for the most part with their hushed whispers and secret glances at her as they passed. "Why haven't they fixed her yet," she heard one girl whisper to another. "Maybe she likes it that way," the other replied and they shared a laugh as they left.

"I most certainly do not enjoy it this way," Harriet thought to herself, "and what do they mean by they haven't fixed me yet? They're talking like I'm broken." She took a look down at her long black hair and her new form. "Then again maybe I am," she whispered to herself.

"Maybe you are what?" came a familiar voice from behind her, startling Harriet. Harriet stood and turned to see Ginny standing behind her. "Uh…nothing. It doesn't matter," came the quick reply. "I'm glad you're here though. Your note said we had to talk. Is everything ok," Harriet asked concerned.

"Well….yes and no," replied Ginny, "have a seat." Ginny took a place across from Harriet Potter and noted the worried look on her face. She hated doing this to her boyfriend but that's the thing. She no longer had a boyfriend. She had a girlfriend and that wasn't something she wanted. Ginny was interested in girls like that…at all. After the accident she had tried to be strong and supportive for Harriet but as time wore on she wore down. She couldn't hide her true feelings anymore, not to mention the rumors going around about her now and the teasings. This was the hardest thing she had ever done knowing that the man she cared deeply for, Harry, was still inside the young lady sitting across from her. At least she hoped he was. She couldn't be sure anymore. Surely if there had been a fix Madam Pompfrey would have found it by now right?

"Harry….sorry….Harriet," Ginny began, "as much as I care for you I don't think I can do this anymore. I can't be your girlfriend because I don't want a girlfriend. I've tried to stick it out in hopes that they would find a way to fix you but the longer this goes on the more distant we seem to get. I'm not sure that they will find a way to fix you and I'm not trying to be mean but I am beginning to doubt that they ever will."

What was she saying? Was she giving up on him…er…her? A thousand thoughts raced through Harriet's mind. "B…b…but Ginny I'm still me. This is only temporary," came the stammered reply.

"If this was only temporary it would have worn off or they would have found a cure," Ginny stated. "I'm sorry but I can't be with you as a woman. If they ever fix you then maybe…maybe we can figure it out then. I'm sorry." Ginny got up and left the common room, heading back to her shared dorm room while Harriet was left there with tears streaming down her face still in shock about what happened. She felt truly alone.

At least when she was with the Dursleys she knew she was alone. Since she had come to Hogwarts she thought she had made a family of friends but apparently she had just fooled herself. This was crueler than any joke that Dudley could have played. She had finally found a place where she felt like she belonged only to have it all ripped away because of an accident in potions class. She felt like the last vestige of her happiness at Hogwarts had just been shredded. It felt like she had been destroyed. She almost wished Voldemort would come back and finish her off. It would probably be less painful that way. She couldn't handle being in the Gryffindor commons right now so she got up and left. She wasn't even paying attention to where she was going. She was just kind of wandering aimlessly until she couldn't take it anymore and collapsed on the staircase where Luna had found her.

Lying by the lake the thought of Luna made Harriet smile. It was good to know that she still had a friend out there. They had never really been terribly close but despite everything that happened Luna was there for her and she wouldn't forget it. Still losing Ginny had hurt tremendously and she didn't know what to do. They were in the same house and shared the same common room. It was inevitable they would bump into each other and it was going to be awkward for quite a while.

In a mixture of emotion she stared into the sky and wondered what the future held. Would she be cured? Would Ginny change her mind? Would something happen with Luna? She had never felt more confused and lost yet hopeful at the same time. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice behind her. "Harriet? Am I interrupting?" Harriet sat up and turned around to see her friend Hermione Granger behind her. "Of course not Hermione. It's good to see you," replied Harriet with a smile. Hermione took a seat next to Harriet on the grass and looked at her friend concerned.

"I ran into Ginny this morning. She told me what happened and I've been looking for you ever since. Then I ran into Luna while looking for you and she told me where I could find you. Are you ok Harriet? Is there anything I can do?"

"Not unless you can change me back," Harriet smiled grimacely, tears beginning to form.

"I wish I could," replied Hermione as she moved to embrace her friend.

"What am I going to do Hermione," Harriet asked as tears began to roll down her cheek.

"For once I'm not sure that I have an answer for you. All I can say is just keep being you and wait for it all to blow over. I'm here for you no matter what."

"Keep being me? I've tried. People avoid me like the plague, even Ron. I think I've got a better chance of being cured than him coming around. Although both seem unlikely at this point"

Hermione agreed with her friend but didn't want to make things worse by saying so.

"What if I never get better Hermione? What if there isn't a cure? What if I have to stay like this forever? I don't know how to be a girl," cried Harriet.

"What if you don't Harriet? What's wrong with being a girl? Besides you've been a girl these past two weeks and haven't died from it," replied Hermione, although her answer came off a bit snootier than she intended. She was born a girl and she didn't exactly think it was the worst thing in the world to be one. However she did understand her friend's plight. It's not every day that someone is forced into the opposite gender.

"That's not the point! I don't want to be a girl. I wasn't born a girl. I never wanted to be one in the first place!"

"I know you didn't Harriet but we don't always get what we want. You may eventually have to come to terms with yourself and the fact that you're going to remain a girl."

That wasn't what Harriet wanted to hear as her tears continued down her cheeks leaving wet spots on Hermione's robes. Hermione let go and looked Harriet straight in her face. "I know you don't think so right now but it will be alright," she said, "Eventually everything will get back to normal around here….or at least what settles for normal in this place. Now let's dry those eyes and get back to Hogwarts. It's getting late."

Harriet hadn't even notice it was getting late but sure enough the sun was beginning to set behind the lake. She had been out here all afternoon and hadn't even realized it. She dried her eyes on her robes and stood up with Hermione. "Hermione….thank for you being here for me. I know it hasn't exactly been easy these last few weeks."

"I'm always here for you Harriet. You're one of my best friends and I know you'd be there for me too. In fact you always have been whether it be troll in the bathroom or a misfortunate polyjuice potion."

They shared a hug and began making their way back to Hogwarts as the sun continued to set over the lake.