– CHAPTER SIX –

The Honorary Sister

Harmony and Hagrid spent a few more days stuck at The Leaky Cauldron whilst awaiting news from Dumbledore. Hagrid stuck to his word and rarely left Harmony's side, but with each day he grew increasingly bored and frustrated. Not only was he anxious about all the gamekeeping work he needed to catch up on before the start of the new term, but he was also perpetually worried about his bloodhound Fang.

'He's a cowardly old sod,' Hagrid wept one night, 'but he's my cowardly old sod.'

Harmony, meanwhile, ended up passing much of the time by getting a head start on reading her textbooks, which she found fascinating and helped her get to better grips with some of the unfamiliar vernacular she'd heard over the past few days.

Harmony also spent time bonding with the snowy owl Hagrid had bought her as an early birthday present. She had named the bird Hedwig, after a name she'd read in one of her books. Hagrid helped to teach Harmony how to perform some basic commands and tricks, and quickly the young girl and her owl became buddies, even if Hedwig still occasionally scratched her with her talons or, as Hagrid liked to call them, "her angry inches."

Finally, the day before Harmony's eleventh birthday, Barnaby returned with not one, but two messages from Dumbledore; one for Hagrid, and the other for Harmony. The pair expectantly read their letters in tandem, hoping the news was promising. Harmony's letter read thus:

Miss Potter,

Firstly, I just wanted to congratulate you on discovering your truest self and finally living as Harmony. You are a brave soul through and through, and we here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will do our utmost to make sure you are treated with respect and dignity.

On the matter of your guardianship, my contacts and I have been liaising with the Muggle authorities, and we have come to the mutual agreement that the Dursley household is no longer a suitable environment for you to stay at this time. Whilst this does raise many complications, our first priority is making more comfortable arrangements until term begins on 1 September.

After asking several families who also have students starting this year at Hogwarts, the Granger family of Ealing has graciously agreed to house you for the next month. Dr Dominic Granger, his wife Naomie, and their daughter Hermione, will meet you tomorrow afternoon at The Leaky Cauldron at precisely 12:37 pm.

All the best to you,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Harmony's heart was equally filled with fear and trepidation. To have an actual home to stay in, one where she wasn't a burden but actively chosen, alongside another girl her age? It seemed like a dream come true. At the same time, Harmony had been burned too many times to get her hopes up. What if she didn't get on with Hermione? What if her parents weren't supportive of her identity? She only knew it couldn't be much worse than her current predicament.

The next day, Harmony and Hagrid had their lunch in the dining area of The Leaky Cauldron as they waited for the Grangers to arrive. Harmony ended up spending far more of the meal fending off admirers than actually eating, though many more just stared in bemusement at her. Since feminising her appearance, she had thankfully become slightly more anonymous, but her unmistakable scar immediately gave her away whenever it peeked out behind her hair. Some of those who pestered her seemed even more interested in her transition rather than anything to with her parents and Lord Voldemort.

'I feel for you, Harmony,' said Hagrid supportively after a particularly nosy wizard asked a few too many personal questions. 'It's not easy being like us when you stick out so much already. It'll die down though. Folk just need to get used to the new you.'

As Hagrid said this though, yet another wizard cautiously approached Harmony's table. He was a gaunt and incredibly nervous fellow, whose bland face was completely overshadowed by the large purple turban he wore on his head.

'H-H-H-H-Harry P-P-P-P-Potter!' said the man, stuttering. 'What an honour it-it-it is!'

'Oh, 'allo, Quirinius!' said Hagrid cheerily. 'Harmony, this is Professor Quirrell. He's the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.'

Harmony offered her hand out to shake Quirrell's, but the panicky teacher simply ignored it.

'Oh, l-l-l-look at the time,' he quivered, staring at the pub's clock. 'Flourish and Blottts has b-b-b-b-been holding onto a rare book on v-v-v-vampires for me. Don't want it getting s-s-s-s-s-snapped up. Nice to meet you, M-M-M-Mr Potter.'

As Quirrell scampered away, Harmony gave Hagrid a doubtful look. 'So when exactly does this misgendering "die down", you say?' she asked sarcastically.

Before Hagrid could answer, the clock struck 12:37. Exactly as Dumbledore promised, a family of three emerged from the cupboard passageway to Diagon Alley.

Dominic Granger was a rather plain-looking but jovial chap in his early forties, with a receding shaven head and thin rimless spectacles on the end of his nose. Naomie was both taller and wider than her husband, with her huge shock of black frizzy hair only making her seem that much bigger.

Skipping ahead of them whilst hugging several large books in her arms was Hermione, who looked positively ecstatic upon seeing Harmony. Her hair was as bountiful and curly as her mother's but was a dark auburn like her father's, and her coffee-brown skin was littered with freckles.

'Hi, Harmony!' she exclaimed loudly. 'I'm Hermione. It's so nice to meet you!'

Harmony, taken aback slightly, just waved lightly in return and said, 'Hi.'

Hagrid stood up to greet the Grangers, who looked up in shock as they realised his true size. 'My word,' said Dominic. 'Professor Dumbledore didn't mention you'd be so –'

'Handsome?' Hagrid quickly deflected. 'Yeah, I get that a lot. Anyways, you must be Dr Granger. How d'you do? And Mrs Granger, nice to meet yers.'

'Actually, I'm also Dr Granger,' said Naomie. 'We're both dentists, you see.'

'Dentists? Now what does that mean? D'you fix dents in people's bodies or summin?'

Dominic chuckled. 'No, no, no. We look after people's teeth.'

Hagrid nodded, genuinely fascinated. 'Muggles. What'll you think of next?'

Meanwhile, Hermione continued to not so much talk to Harmony but talk at her.

'I'm so excited to get to Hogwarts! I had no idea I was even a witch until a week or so ago, but I know I'll be as good as any wizard who's known their whole life. Now that I've got my books, I hope I can get through them all before we start term. Oh, we could study them together! I mean, you don't have so much to prove, being so famous and all. Are you looking forward to getting started, Harmony?'

Harmony was startled that she finally had a chance to speak. She just shrugged and said, 'Sure, I guess.' Hermione seemed a little disappointed, but Harmony couldn't help herself. She genuinely wanted to get to know and like Hermione, especially if they were going to be living together for the next month, but her anxieties were getting the better of her.

'Well, glad we're all sorted then,' said Hagrid. 'I'd best be off. Hogwarts isn't gonna keep its own game. Lovely to meet you, Harmony, and I'll see you in a few…cripes, I almost forgot!' Hagrid reached into his pocket and handed Harmony an envelope containing a train ticket. 'That's for getting to Hogwarts. I 'spect you'll get yours in the mail soon enough, Hermione. Stick to your ticket, Harmony, and have a good one.'

As Hagrid started to leave, Harmony instinctually leapt out of her chair and gave Hagrid one last hug. Hagrid was touched and did his best to not tear up again. Eventually though, the gentle giant had to leave, and Harmony was left with the two dentists and their excitable daughter.

Dominic Granger carefully approached the nervous Harmony, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Hi, Harmony. I know you've been having a tough go of it, but don't worry. We're here to help you, whatever you need.'

Harmony appreciated Dr Granger's kindness but still showed no reaction. All of that confidence she had found just a few days ago had worn off, and she was the perpetually sad and lonely child in an unfamiliar world again.

'I hear it's your birthday today, Harmony,' said Naomie. 'Let's get you home and we'll celebrate.'

After fetching her belongings from her room, the Grangers shepherded Harmony out of the Leaky Cauldron and to their Volkswagen parked just off Charing Cross Road. On the drive westward, Hermione initially tried to converse with Harmony but was unsuccessful, and instead threw herself into her new textbooks. By the time they had reached Ealing, she was already well into her copy of A History of Magic, which she had spent much of the trip announcing interesting facts she'd found in it to the fascination of her parents and the disinterest with Harmony.

Harmony soon arrived at the home of the Grangers, which was a modest two-bedroom semi-detached house just off of Ealing Common. Naomie and Hermione helped Harmony bring her belongings inside the house and up the narrow staircase.

Hermione's room, which Harmony would be sharing with her, was a small but cosy space with dark blue walls that were littered with sparkly gold stars and moons. However, it was hard to even see that much, as the place was packed to the brim with books and stuffed animals, including on the bottom berth of the small bunkbed tucked away in the corner.

'Hermione!' barked her mother. 'I told you needed to clear out the bunk. How is Harmony supposed to sleep with all that rubbish there?'

'Sorry, Mummy,' said Hermione remorsefully. 'And sorry, Harmony. I meant to before we left, but I got caught up in a book and lost track of time.'

'It's OK, sweetie. Get yourself settled, Harmony, and come down to the living room when you're ready for the whole tour.'

Dr Granger left the two girls alone as Hermione started organising where to put all of her stuff that had been taking up the bottom bunk. Harmony tried to assist her, but Hermione was very particular about where everything should go and she ended up feeling like more of a hindrance than a help.

Once the bed was clear, Harmony quickly collapsed onto it. Being boxed in slightly by the wall and the underside of the top bunk brought back memories of her cupboard, but it was still mighty comfier and there wasn't dust everywhere.

'You're actually the first person to sleep on that bunk,' said Hermione. 'My parents bought me this thinking it would be good for when I had friends for sleepovers…but I've never had any who wanted to stay. It's okay though, because now we're going to Hogwarts and basically every night will be a sleepover!'

Sadly, Hermione's enthusiasm continued to not phase Harmony, who couldn't even make eye contact with her. Instead of ignoring it this time though, Hermione pressed.

'What's wrong?' she asked. 'It's not me, is it? Oh god, this always happens. I get excited and it freaks people out and – I'll just shut up if you want to be alone, okay?'

Seeing Hermione's insecurities come to the surface, Harmony finally found the words. 'No, no, it's fine. It's not you, it's…I…I'm just a bit overwhelmed.'

Hermione took it the wrong way, and she started to get upset. 'I'm sorry. People do say I'm too much for them. Probably explains why I don't have friends.'

'No, seriously, it's not your fault,' Harmony stressed. 'You're lovely. You, your parents, this house, welcoming me in like it's no big deal. It's…I'm not used to people being nice for no reason. It just makes me feel, like, it's too good to be true.'

Hermione calmed herself down, and now the baton was passed back for her to support Harmony. 'Mum and Dad didn't say what happened with your aunt and uncle. What did they do?'

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Harmony couldn't bring herself to utter them.

'Was it because you're trans?'

'You know?'

'Well, it's hard not to. Not that you don't look like a girl, you look fantastic. It's just that…you're so famous. Everyone in Diagon Alley was talking about you and your transition. Some of them were quite rude about it, to be honest. I don't understand why people make such a fuss about how someone dresses or wants to be called.

'I mean, I had a boy like you in my old school called Charlie. He was miserable and angry when everyone thought he was a girl, but once he got to be a boy, he became so sweet. I can't imagine though what it would be like for your own family to reject you just for being who you are.'

Harmony couldn't help but feel comforted. Any doubts in her mind about Hermione's heart faded away, and yet she still couldn't believe someone this genuine and understanding existed in the world, especially at such a young age.

'So…so you see me as a girl then?'

Hermione didn't even hesitate. 'Of course,' she said supportively. 'I've always wanted a sister. I hope I can be a good one for you.' She then took Harmony's hand and gave it a supportive squeeze. 'C'mon. Let's go downstairs.'

Hermione led Harmony downstairs and into the living room. The light emanating from it was warm and dim, and as Harmony rounded the corner into the room, she understood why.

A large homemade banner hung above the mantelpiece read "WELCOME, HARMONY!" Dominic Granger held a chocolate cake with eleven candles lit atop it, whilst Naomie clutched onto a small pile of wrapped gifts. They and Hermione then broke out into a recitation of "Happy Birthday to You", and as the song came to a close, Harmony burst into rapturous tears.

'Honey, what's wrong?' said Naomie as she rushed to Harmony's side.

'Nothing,' she sniffed. 'I…I just…thank you.'

'It's the least we could do, Harmony,' said Dominic. 'Every kid deserves a decent birthday. I hope this is just the first of many for you.'

Harmony and the Grangers sat and ate cake as Harmony opened her presents. Ever being the dentist, Dominic had bought her a fancy electric toothbrush, whilst Naomie had gifted her a children's picture book about LGBTQ+ history and its various icons, which Harmony flicked through with interest; it was so heartening and empowering to know so many people like her had made such a difference in the world. Hermione's present was by far the simplest: it was a simple round pin with five coloured stripes; two light blue at the top and bottom, then two pink, then a white stripe in the middle. Harmony thought it looked pretty, but she had no idea what it was.

'It's a trans Pride badge,' said Hermione. 'I got it at the same shop where Mum got you that book. The colours represent the gender spectrum. Look, I got one too!'

Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out her own pin, but this one had a black background and bold lettering that read "TRANS ALLY" in alternating blue, pink, and white.

'So you always remember you're not alone.'

Harmony blushed. 'I don't know what to say.'

'You don't have to say anything,' said Naomie. 'Happy Birthday.'

Usually, time was something that passed by at an unbearably slow pace for Harmony; partially because of boredom, but usually just because they couldn't wait to escape whatever torment they were trapped in that day. However, her month staying with the Grangers passed by so quickly, she wished that she had the time to savour it.

From the get-go, the Grangers treated Harmony as a part of the family. Whenever they went out on some family activity like going to the cinema or bowling, Harmony was brought along rather than being left behind with a babysitter. Whenever Dominic or Naomie had guests around the house, instead of being locked away like an uncontrollable hound, she was paraded out and made to feel special.

The only thing Harmony disliked about the Grangers was their obsession with her dental hygiene. Admittedly, Harmony's had never been that great considering the Dursleys had never provided her with anything beyond the cheapest toothbrush and paste they could find, but their constant fretting about it could drive her up the wall at times. Still, at least it was a sign that they cared about her.

Hermione herself wasn't always the easiest to get on with either, but compared to Dudley she was an angel. She had said she'd always wanted a sister, and she treated Harmony like one, warts and all. Hermione would often scold Harmony for interrupting her whilst she was studying her textbooks, which she read over and over again for at least four hours a day, and questioned why Harmony wasn't doing the same.

She also had a tendency to be too proud of her intelligence and was surprised about how much Harmony didn't know about even the Muggle world, but considering Hermione was a star pupil at a well-funded grammar school whilst Harmony was a problem child at a state primary, it shouldn't have been so surprising.

However, when it came to emotional bonding, Hermione was more than Harmony could have asked for, and it wasn't just a one-way deal. Harmony could quickly tell how much Hermione craved companionship and connection, that she had little to no real friends and not a huge grasp of social norms, but her obsession with knowledge often overpowered that. Being social outcasts was the main thing the two girls could connect on, and by the end of that summer, Harmony was helping Hermione just as much as she was helping her.

Before long, September arrived and Harmony found herself back in the Volkswagen on their way to King's Cross. Harmony didn't have many belongings and hadn't really bothered to unpack whilst at the Grangers, but Naomie had still fussed her about making sure she had everything even more than Hermione. Once they arrived at the station, Harmony found the various bystanders looked at her with some befuddlement. Whether it was because she was trans, because of her scar, or the fact she was carting around an owl, she did not know or care.

'What platform are we looking for again, Hermione?' asked Dominic, checking the departure timetable. 'I'm not seeing Hogwarts Express up here.'

'Dad, of course it's not listed,' his daughter replied impatiently. 'We need to head to platform nine and three quarters. It's hidden right between platforms nine and ten.'

'Nine and three quarters?' questioned Naomie. 'These wizards are as barmy as they are brilliant.'

Hermione excitedly rushed on ahead to the platform, with her parents dashing after her and Harmony doing her best to keep up whilst stopping Hedwig's cage from falling off her trolley. She soon caught up with the Grangers at the wall that separated platforms nine and ten, but there was no obvious entrance in sight.

'So what do we do now?' asked Harmony.

'Really, Harmony?' said Hermione, exasperated. 'It's all in Hogwarts: A History. I even read you the instructions. We need to run at the barrier as fast as we can, and we'll pass through onto the platform. Mum? Dad? You'll need to hold onto us as we go; Muggles can't go through without someone magic bringing them through.'

Dominic grabbed hold of Hermione and her trolley, and together they backed up before running toward the wall. As they approached the impact point, Dominic winced as if expecting pain, but instead he and his daughter passed through the brick and concrete as if there was nothing there.

Naomie took Harmony's hand. 'Looks easy enough. You ready, Harmony?'

'Yeah,' she replied with some trepidation. 'Yeah, I think so.'

Naomie started running before Harmony as they sped to the barrier. As the brickwork drew closer and closer, Harmony closed her eyes, unable to bear watching if something went wrong and they ended up crashing, but her fears were nothing more than that.

When Harmony opened her eyes, she found herself on a platform surrounded by hundreds of other children and their parents. A majestic steam train, old in build but meticulous in its upkeep, sat on the track, its scarlet red paint job glistening in the sun as smoke billowed from its many chimneys. Packed trolleys rushed up and down the platform, and the cooing of caged owls rang through the air, almost enough to drown out the noise of parents fussing.

'Harmony, come on!' Hermione beckoned. 'I want to get a seat in the caboose!'

Harmony rushed after Hermione to the rear carriage of the train, where Dominic helped them lift their luggage aboard and found them a compartment. Then, it was time for goodbyes.

'Have a good one, darling,' Naomie said to her daughter. 'Try to make as many friends as books you read.'

'Mum, I don't think that's going to be possible,' she replied honestly.

'We'll see you at Christmas, honey,' said Dominic. 'And Harmony, it's been a pleasure having you with us. You're welcome at ours over the holidays too, if you want.'

'Oh,' said Harmony, surprised at the offer. 'I…yeah, I hope so.'

'I mean, we'll have to check in with Dumbledore first,' said Naomie. 'While you're at school, you are effectively under his care. It's up to him, but I can't imagine him saying no.'

Harmony didn't know what else to say really. She did deep down, but she had neither the vocabulary nor the confidence to fully admit how much of a joy the last month had been with them. The Grangers helped her feel seen and part of a family despite having no obligation to, and showed her that a boring family didn't necessarily equate to an evil one. Instead, Harmony just threw herself at Naomie and hugged her tight, before doing the same to Dominic; both reciprocated in kind.

Inevitably though, Hermione's parents had to step off the Hogwarts Express as the conductor made the final boarding call. They stayed and watched as the train pulled off, as both Harmony and Hermione peeked their heads out the window and waved until they were mere dots in the distance. As the two girls sat back down in their seats, a thought suddenly occurred to Harmony.

'Wait,' she said. 'How're they going to get off the platform without us to take them?'

Hermione just shrugged. 'Oh, I'm sure someone will help them. They can't be the only Muggle parents there.'

Harmony felt like she had to speak up again about this. 'Hermione…are you OK calling your own parents "Muggles"? I know everyone else uses it, but – isn't it a bit…mean?'

Hermione had to stop and think about it. For the first time, Harmony had thought of something before she had.

'I don't know. Like, it's easier than saying "non-magical" all the time, but…yeah, maybe there should be a better word for it.'

There was then a knock on the compartment before the door slid open. A boy and two girls, all around Harmony's age, stood in the doorway. The first girl was squat, had reddish-brown hair, and her attire suggested she was middle-class at the very least. The second was petite, had a black bob cut, sickly pale skin, and bright green eyes that shone like emeralds. The boy, meanwhile, was lanky and frail, had an unfortunately pronounced overbite, and was dressed in a hand-knitted jumper; his clothes in general looked like they were all picked by his mum. He was also clutching onto a slimy toad, which croaked almost constantly.

'Mind if we join you?' the girl asked. 'The other compartments are full.'

'Sure,' said Hermione. 'Come on in.'

The two children entered, with the girls sitting on either side of Hermione and the boy nervously taking a seat on Harmony's bench. He didn't make any kind of eye contact with either of them, far more preoccupied with his amphibious friend.

'I'm Susan Bones,' the first girl said, 'and this is Neville Longbottom. My mum is friends with his gran, so she's asked me to keep an eye on him. He's a bit shy.'

'Hi, Neville!' said Hermione perkily, trying to get him to perk up. Neville politely but anxiously waved back. She tried again to get a conversation going. 'That's, um…that's a nice toad you've got there.'

'Thanks,' Neville finally mumbled. 'He's called Trevor. Sorry, I've already lost him twice today. I've got a terrarium for him, but I don't think he'd survive well in the store carriage; too dry for him.'

Hermione nodded politely and turned to the second girl. 'And you? What's your name?'

'Pansy Parkinson,' she said coldly. 'The three of us come from major wizarding families. How about you two?'

'No, I'm…I'm Muggleborn.' Hermione stumbled over the word; she couldn't help but notice it now after Harmony pointed it out. 'I'm Hermione Granger, and this is Harmony.'

Susan finally noticed Harmony. 'Oh, sorry! Hello, Harmony. Did either of your parents go to Hogwarts?'

'Uh, yeah, both of them,' she said. 'My dad's family goes back a fair bit, I think; I didn't know him well. My mum was Muggleborn though, so that makes me…what exactly?'

'Half-blood,' Pansy remarked. 'Which family was your dad from? The old families are quite close. Surprised I haven't met you-'

'I'm a Potter.'

Susan's jaw dropped as she stared at Harmony. Neville finally stopped staring at Trevor and gawked at her too. Pansy, meanwhile, winced slightly; she was clearly trying to hold back a more visceral response.

'Wait, you…Harmony Potter?' said Susan, her mind blown. 'I thought that was just a Quibbler rumour, but…it's really – no, you're playing me, aren't you? Prove it!'

Harmony sighed as she reluctantly pulled up her fringe to expose her scar. Susan got up and examined it up close, just to make sure it wasn't fake; she even traced her finger along it.

'Wow,' Susan exhaled as she sat back down, chuckling to herself. 'Sorry, it's just ironic: the Boy who Lived isn't even a boy anymore.'

'Who said I ever was?' Harmony snapped back. Susan's smile quickly dropped. Hermione's eyes darted back and forth; she clearly felt Susan's comment was in poor taste, but didn't want to start an argument.

'My parents knew yours, Harry…I mean, Harmony,' stumbled Neville. 'Good folks, from what my gran tells me. My mum and dad had their own run-ins with You-Know-Who. They survived, but…' Neville suddenly shut down again and began hyper-fixating on Trevor again.

'I'm sorry,' said Harmony. 'And it's OK if you slip up. I mean, I actually don't mind "Harry". I'm used to it, but I'm worried it would just confuse people.'

'I guess you could change the spelling?' Susan suggested. 'Maybe swap the "y" with an "ie", or even just an "i"?'

Harmony hadn't even considered that. 'I'll think about it.'

As the Hogwarts Express finally made its way out of Greater London and started chugging through the countryside, Harmony, Hermione and Susan kept up a lively conversation; Neville would occasionally chip in, but he probably talked to Trevor more than any other human. Meanwhile, Pansy sat mostly in sullen silence. Every time Harmony's eyes met hers, she felt an uncomfortable pang in her gut. What is this girl's deal? she thought.

Before long, the snack trolley came rattling down the narrow train corridor and outside their compartment. Susan perked up.

'Can I get you anything sweet, my loves?' said the trolley lady.

Harmony had a nosey at the cart, but didn't recognise a single product on sale. There were no Mars bars or Walkers crisps or anything vaguely recognisable. Instead, it was loaded with a lot of confectionaries that looked like they were from an old-timey sweet shop.

'Oh, you two won't have had any wizard sweets before,' said Susan. 'We'll have a three of everything, please; you have to try them all at least once. Neville, anything for you? I've got it covered.'

'Just a pumpkin pasty is fine,' he muttered.

The trolley lady handed them each several different snacks, and Susan paid for the lot from her own coin purse, which looked even more bountiful than Harmony's; clearly, the Bones were even more well-off than her parents were.

Some of the food didn't seem all too weird; a pumpkin pasty was just basically a Cornish pasty but filled with pumpkin instead of meat and potatoes, and liquorice wands were exactly what the name implied. However, others were weirder, like chocolate frogs that were enchanted to hop around and croak like a real frog. They would congregate towards Trevor as if trying to communicate, with Neville cowering as if the bewitched confectionary could harm him and his pet in anyway.

Harmony was more interested in the trading cards that came with the chocolate, each of which featured a famous witch or wizard. The first one she got was for Albus Dumbledore, and after hearing so much about him, it was nice to put a face to the name. To Harmony, he looked like the textbook definition of a wise sorcerer: gigantic white beard, a big hat, and a fabulously colourful cloak. Dumbledore looked magnificent, powerful and, in all the best ways, undeniably queer.

But easily the weirdest sweeties were Bertie Botts' Every-Flavour Beans. Some tasted just like regular jelly beans, whilst others…very much did not.

Hermione took a bite of one bean and immediately spat it onto the floor. 'Augh! What are those murky dark green ones?'

'You don't want to know,' warned Pansy.

Suddenly, Trevor leapt out of Neville's grasp and onto the floor, lapped up the half-eaten remains of Hermione's mystery bean, then hopped his way out of the carriage; several of the remaining chocolate frogs followed him.

'Trevor!' wailed Neville as he nearly tripped over himself trying to chase after him. Hermione and Susan got up as well and accompanied him, leaving Harmony and Pansy behind. For the first time in a while, there was some silence in the carriage. Pansy just sat there quietly eating her Cauldron Cake, flicking looking through the comic strips in the Daily Prophet, and just generally ignoring Harmony.

'So, um,' Harmony stammered, trying to keep the conversation going, '…what house are you hoping to be sorted into?'

'I'm will be a Slytherin, no doubt about it,' said Pansy, still caught up in her paper. 'My whole family has been. You?'

Harmony shrugged. 'I don't know. Whoever will be happy to have me. I hear Gryffindor is pretty good.'

Pansy scoffed 'You know they never win anything, right? The House Cup always ends up going to Ravenclaw or Slytherin. That's where you want to be.'

'What's so good about Slytherin, then?'

Pansy finally put her paper down and looked Harmony dead in the eyes.

'Didn't you hear me?' she said snidely. 'They're the best, hands down, at everything. There's no room for mistakes in Slytherin, and that includes people like you.'

Harmony held back her emotions. What a horrid thing to say to someone you just met, she thought. Still, she tried to take the high ground.

'What do you mean by that?' asked Harmony as politely as she could muster.

But Pansy did not answer. At least, not directly.

'I'm bored,' she sighed as she stood up. 'Excuse me.'

That was it. Pansy grabbed her luggage and left the compartment without another word. Harmony tried to not let it get to her, but she couldn't help it. After spending a month in the hands of loving and unjudgmental folks like the Grangers, it was a sobering reminder that folks like The Dursleys existed even in the wizarding world.

A few minutes later, she heard the unmistakable yelp of Neville. Harmony leapt to her feet and poked her head out of the compartment. Down the corridor, Hermione and Neville were being confronted by three boys. The one in the middle was pale, with slicked-back bleach blonde hair and a cheeky smirk, and to either side of him were two heavy-set lads with buzz cuts and gormless expressions. The pale boy clutched Trevor in his hands and was playing keep-away with the creature.

'Give Trevor back!' Neville cried, nearly on the verge of tears. 'I mean it.'

'Or what, Longbottom? Your parents going to tell me off?' mocked the pale boy. 'Oh, that's right: they're still in the loony bin, aren't they? That's what my father says.'

Neville completely lost his cool and lunged after the pale boy, but the slightly-taller of his cronies held him back. Instinctively, Hermione pulled out her wand and aimed it at the bullies.

'Enough! Give Neville his toad back, or I'll…or I'll turn you into one.'

The boy jeered. 'As if. The way you're holding that wand? I know you barely know how to use it. You're just a Mudblood, aren't you?'

Hermione flinched; she had no idea what that meant, but she was already offended. 'Excuse me? What did you just call me?'

'Yep, she's a Mudblood alright,' the boy cackled. 'And judging by her skin, in more ways than one.'

Hermione buckled. She didn't know what Mudblood itself meant, but she perfectly understood what the implication was. In tears, she fled back towards their compartment, the three bullies heckling as she did. It was then that the pale boy noticed Harmony watching, and his interest suddenly piqued.

'No way!' he gasped. He threw Trevor onto the floor, suddenly bored of his own taunting. The toad leapt off further down the carriage, as Neville started chasing after him again. The pale boy and his sidekicks sauntered down the corridor to Harmony herself, and without so much as an introduction, they got right up in her face and examined her forehead.

Instead of awe though, the boy just started to laugh. 'Wow. I thought the drunks at The Leaky Cauldron were pulling my leg, but it's true: Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts…and he thinks he's a girl!'

Harmony wanted to do nothing more than punch the smug, ignorant child right in his gob, but she thought better of it.

'That's Harmony Potter to you,' she said, doing her best to show that it didn't bother her.

The boy snorted at her sincerity. 'Okay "Harmony,"' he mocked, putting air quotes around her name. 'I'm Draco Malfoy. This is Crabbe, and this is Goyle. People may think you're some kind of hero, but Hogwarts is no place for degenerates. I doubt you're worthy enough, but if you end up in Slytherin…you'll wish You-Know-Who had done you in.'

Malfoy and his lackeys stormed off back down the corridor, laughing as they did. Harmony slumped back down onto the compartment bench next to a still-distraught Hermione. Without even saying a word, the two hugged each other.'

'You know what?' said Harmony. 'Screw Slytherin.'

Hermione's spirits didn't lift much. 'I dealt with racism enough at my old school. I thought witches and wizards would be past that.'

'They may be magic, but don't forget: they're still human. Now c'mon, we're almost there. We'd best get changed into our robes.'

Harmony got her suitcase down from the overhead shelves and took out her Hogwarts robes, jumper and tie; she had already been wearing her skirt all day, and had a white shirt on underneath her cardigan. After pulling her robes over her shoulders, Harmony thought her uniform needed one last personal touch.

She took out the Pride pin Hermione had given her for her birthday and affixed it to her lapel, displaying it for all to see. Upon seeing it, Hermione perked up a bit and was inspired to do the same, wearing her own ally badge in the same position.

Mere moments before the Hogwarts Express came to its final stop, Neville and Susan finally made it back to the carriage with Trevor firmly in hand. Accompanying them was a freckle-faced boy with ginger hair and noticeably second-hand robes.

'Your mate's toad got into my carriage,' said the boy. 'Nearly ate Scabbers, he did.'

'Your what?' asked Harmony.

'My rat. His name is Scabbers. Dumb name, but I didn't give it to him.'

'Fair enough. What's yours? Your name, I mean.'

'Ron. Ron Weasley. And you?'

'This is Hermione Granger, and I'm Harmony Potter.'

Ron looked at Harmony with the same disbelief she was getting all too used to.

'Blimey,' he said. 'So my brothers weren't joking?'

'About what?' asked Harmony, nervous for a moment.

'They said they saw Harry Potter back at Platform Nine and Three Quarters…and that she was really pretty.'

Harmony blushed. She'd known the boy less than a minute, as opposed to the hours she'd spent with Susan and Neville, but Harmony already loved Ron Weasley more than anyone else she'd met that day.