Chapter 18

It seemed as if many hours had passed but Harry's beloved potions master had only left 20 minutes ago. Harry looked to the door while sitting on his new bed. Just a mere meter or 30 away, Professor Snape will be sleeping and eating and grading and everything! He will be living as his neighbor and though he was reluctant at first accepting this privilege of having his own quarters, Harry now has no regrets. Location wise, it couldn't get better than this! And on top of that, he has his privacy which made Harry turn to his trunk of belongings. Still in there, wrapped in his invisibility cloak was his dress, tailored to his body and taste. Oh, how he wanted to wear it again but he swore to him self that no more would he wear that blasted thing! Harry Potter is a man, a boy, a human with the anatomy that his potions professor preferred. He was a he and it wouldn't be long before he and Snape would be entwined in his bed, legs tangled and lips sore from kissing. There will be no dresses, ever again! Harry was already perfect for the love of his life!

But why was he still not satisfied with this? Harry opened his trunk and dug around searching for the little Mirror of Desire to gain a more insightful look into his wants. Looking into the mirror, very quickly did the familiar image of a soft and precious Harry appearing before him. She had her arms out with her hands holding onto the hem of her dress. She was barefoot and twirling around in her room. She wore a large, carefree smile. She was pure joy if it took the form of a human.

"Well…maybe Snape doesn't need to know?" Harry asked himself.

Harry put the mirror down and picked up the forbidden parcel. He unwrapped it gently and there it was, that beautiful green fabric, touching his wrist, teasing him and tempting him. Harry walked across his apartment to lock the main door and casting all the privacy wards he knew of. Gender be damned, if Harry wants to wear a cute green dress and be a beautiful girl and feel like one too, she is going to do just that. She did not just spend the last 7 years being chased by mad men and escaping death to be denied yet again of something she wants in her life. No one will know, no one will ever know! Harry, feeling rebellious hurriedly put the dress on, no socks or underwear and charmed her hair to be longer as well as remove the body hair she wasn't a fan of. Legs, so smooth, knees knobby but hairless, Harry grabbed the hem of her dress and did just as mirror Harry did and spun around and smiled and laughed. Happiness radiated off her, the smile she wore couldn't be erased. She was free to be herself in these quarters, there were no roommates she had to worry about, no sneaking around and planning around their schedule. She can wear her beloved dresses while doing homework or even consider having Myrtle down to join her in the bath and have some girl time, gossiping and giggling.

Becoming out of breath from the twirling, Harry lay on her bed, sprawled out. Huffing and puffing and catching her breath she was laughing. She can get used of this.

The great hall was festive and loud. The candles hung from nothingness and wax fell on to no one. The banners of all houses were on display. One request Harry made to the new Headmistress was that this year to not display a single house from the previous year's winner but to proudly have them all hung because in his eyes, last year everyone won and lost. Everyone in every house were equal and the headmistress couldn't agree more. Harry sat at his usual spot and noticed that there were more vacant seats in the great hall than usual. A pain in his chest reminded him of the deaths from last year. Slytherin and Gryffindor had the emptiest tables. One was from mostly heroic deaths and the other are being locked up in Azkaban.

The Slytherins weren't really talking to each other and kept to themselves, almost uncomfortable and ashamed to be there while the other houses laughed and hugged and carried on. Harry looked up at Snape and noticed he too looked on at his house's table with almost pity. He wasn't ashamed of his house but it must have hurt to still wear the pride of the most hated house in Hogwarts.

The doors flung open and came in no more than 20 new students following Hagrid. The smallest number of students to pass through those doors in decades and Harry wasn't the only one who had noticed this. The older students who have witnessed many more new students walk in were looking around for the rest presumably. Murmuring and whispers of "Where's the rest?" had begun. Hermione within seconds had put the pieces together and softly spoke. "There aren't any others, not after the war." The senior Gryffindors had heard this and it had sunk in that the students and teachers of last year weren't the only ones who were affected from the battle. Children related to those who defied the practice of the Dark Lord were dead or had flee the country. Harry and likely many other students have realized that this may be the norm for several years to come. There were thousands killed and this was the proof.

The small students were sorted. Oddly, the majority were sorted into Hufflepuff this year. Harry leaned over to Hermione and saw that she had written down the names of the new students and what house they were sorted into. Harry counted, 7 sorted into Hufflepuff, 5 into Ravenclaw, 5 into Gryffindor and only 3 into Slytherin and the students who were sorted into Slytherin either cried or begged to be re-sorted. Not a single child wanted to be in the serpent house.

Headmistress McGonagall gave a welcoming speech similar to what Dumbledor would have given. Warnings to stay away from the forest without a staff member to escort them, being warned of the giant squid, to not run in the halls, introductions to each staff member as well as a mention that the newest Defense against the Dark Arts professor will be joining the school tomorrow and so on.

"And with that, let the feast begin!"

Announced out the headmistress and suddenly the tables were completely covered with all sorts of roast meats and vegetables, salads, breads, sauces and hearty stews. The students just couldn't get enough of the food and even though there were few of them, the newest additions to Hogwarts were in awe with the magic of food granted by the old and wise Headmistress McGonagall.

Harry made his small talk and as well as his fellow older peers who wore a brave face and smiled, trying their best to let go of the past trauma and current lack of students in attendance.