Chapter 11

Coming Out

Note from the Authors: Are you ready? This is the big chapter that everyone's been waiting for, and both Mystic Dodo and I hope you truly enjoy this chapter!

Harry's summer so far had been an amazing one. With Dobby now working at Sirius and Harry's home, Harry was enjoying having Dobby's company. The House Elf was the hardest worker he had ever known, and Dobby was always cheerful, with Harry, Dobby and Sirius enjoying the evenings. Dobby was even learning muggle and wizarding games, enjoying them immensely with his already wide eyes gleaming with wonder.

Ron and the rest of his family had gone off to Egypt, his family having won a large sum of money from the Ministry raffle. Bill had apparently been delighted he would finally get to see all his family again, promising to show them the pyramids and other sites of magical interest in the country. From Ron's post cards, Bill was being especially attentive to Ginny who had noticeably withdrawn after the events of her first school year. Hermione was in France, exploring the Notre-Dame and spending quality time with her parents. Sirius, not wanting Harry to feel left out, had taken Harry on a mini-holiday to see some wizarding historical sites in England. It was fascinating, seeing Stone Henge, visiting the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Roman Baths and the Alnwick Poison Gardens. Sirius was knowledgeable and engaging, teaching Harry some history as well as enjoying family time.

"You'd be a good teacher, Uncle Sirius," Harry commented more than once. "You should take Professor Binn's class."

Sirius just ruffled Harry's hair in response, a mildly self-conscious expression on his handsome face.

With such an interesting and fun holiday, the summer passed far too quickly, and before long the family unit was in Diagon Alley picking up school supplies. The Quidditch store was now displaying a brand-new broomstick, a Firebolt, which was apparently an amazing broom, faster than any other, sleek and had been pre-ordered by professional teams. Harry was impressed, thinking about how easy it would be to win the school games, but the price was far too extortionate.

He did, however, find himself drawn to a small jewellery store. The signs claimed enchantments ranging from protection, beauty enhancement and health monitoring. Curious, Harry stepped inside, and his eyes were immediately drawn to a necklace that seemed to shimmer in the daylight. It was beautiful; an emerald cut into a heart shape, nestled in a platinum casing with an elegant, apparently unbreakable, chain. He stared into the delicate heart, losing himself in it. It looked so beautiful, and he could see himself wearing it. But only women wore jewellery like that, didn't they? He didn't know what to think or do, but he reached out, touching it gently, feeling it, wanting it.

"Something you like, dear?" the older store owner asked, smiling warming at Harry. Her kind eyes crinkled.

"I was just looking. I… someone I know might like it," Harry said, knowing that he sounded awkward and anxious.

"It would be beautiful on any young woman dear," the woman said. She gave him a pointed look, no judgement on her face, and Harry had the feeling that somehow, she knew.

Harry smiled softly, relief flooding through his body.

"How much?" he asked, looking back to the emerald heart.

"Six galleons," the woman replied. Harry nodded and pulled out his coin bag. The woman removed the security charm and placed the necklace into a velvet box, which Harry pocketed carefully before leaving the shop. "It will suit you perfectly," the woman called out after him.

Blushing, excited and not quite believing what just happened, Harry kept his hand in his pocket over the small box. His heart was thumping hard in his chest and as he walked down the busy alley to return to Sirius, Harry paused when he spotted his two best friends outside of the ice cream store.

"Harry! There you are. It's so good to see you!" Hermione said, embracing Harry in a hug. She was tan and a delicate dusting of freckles covered her nose. Harry felt rather than saw the beginnings of Hermione's developing womanly form during the hug. "How were your holidays?"

"Brilliant, thank you," Harry replied, his elation slowly fading into a sad longing. He disengaged from the hug and accepted a clap on the shoulder from Ron - who was more freckled than ever before - before he told them about his holiday visiting Britain's magical sites.

Hermione listened with fascination and, after Harry had finished, she grinned.

"France was amazing, you should have seen everything! I took lots of pictures to show you."

"And how was Egypt, Ron?" Harry asked as they put in their order for some ice cream. "Did you trip any ancient Egyptian curses?"

Ron laughed before sharing everything he and his family had done on the holiday. Bill was a talented curse breaker and while most of what he had explained went over Ron's head, the youngest Weasley male enjoyed all of it, nonetheless. Unfortunately, Scabbers had begun to fall ill during the trip, so Ron needed to pop to the pet store to grab some tonic. The rat had begun to lose some weight and his fur was becoming dull in colour, and the pet seemed increasingly anxious.

While in the pet store, Ron was showing the clerk his unwell companion when a large, orange blur tried to go after the rodent, hissing furiously. It didn't take long for the very apologetic employee to safely capture the fluffy cat and he gave Ron a hefty discount for further traumatising the already stressed rat.

Ron, holding Scabbers protectively to his chest, paid and quickly left the store with Harry. The two were both shocked when Hermione emerged from the store a few minutes carrying the cage with the cat, who was called Crookshanks.

"You brought that monster?" Ron was flabbergasted, his hands covering his cowering pet. "He tried to kill Scabbers!"

"He's not a monster, he's gorgeous," Hermione said. "He's been in the adoption section for months, nobody wanted him." She reached into her pocket then passed the rat tonic to Ron. "And you forgot this."

"Just keep him from Scabbers. He's already ill, I don't want him eaten," Ron insisted. The rat in question hid up Ron's sleeve, away from the piercing gaze from the flat faced feline.

Hermione nodded in understanding, hoisting the carrier to fit more securely in her arms. "I won't let him eat Scabbers." Hermione promised.

"Thanks, Hermione," Ron said, after a look from Harry. Hermione flashed him a smile as they went to get the rest of their school equipment.

The journey to Hogwarts was the worst one yet. Horrible creatures called Dementors had been stationed on the train and their abilities had knocked Harry out cold when they did their rounds. All he could remember were high pitched, bone chilling screams and a flash of blinding green light before he came to again, sweaty, shaking, and full of terror.

It felt like he had been unconscious for hours, but it had only been a few minutes. Thankfully, the dementors had been driven off by Sirius. Harry and his friends had been more than shocked and happy to learn that he was to become the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!

The reason quickly became clear. A dangerous man by the name of Remus Lupin, a follower of the Dark Lord, had escaped from Azkaban and was targeting Harry. It had been noted that the man had been muttering "he's at Hogwarts" in the weeks prior to his escape. Sirius was a powerful Wizard and could protect Harry and, with his natural affinity for teaching, taking the position was a no brainer.

The start of the term made up for the horrific journey. Hagrid had been made Professor for the Care of Magical Creatures, which filled the Gryffindors with joy. Hagrid may not have been naturally suited to the role, being rather disorganised and often careless, but his passion for the creatures located on and around the Hogwarts ground was contagious and he was able to demonstrate things that a textbook would never be able to replicate.

Flying on the hippogriff didn't feel as stable as flying on a broomstick but it was utterly amazing! Draco Malfoy being attacked for being his usual rude self, did put a dampener on the situation and Harry was worried that Hagrid would be fired before his first week of teaching was over.

The strangest thing for Harry, however, was the fact that Snape wasn't being as cold and heartless towards him anymore. He wasn't warm and friendly, by any means, but his attitude had noticeably changed. When Harry had made a mistake in potions Snape had just told him to do it again, pointing out where Harry had made his mistake. The change was baffling, and Harry privately thought that maybe it was because Sirius was around. It was clear the two did not get on well.

A few weeks after the start of term, Harry and his friends had made vague plans to spend the weekend relaxing. As he finished getting dressed that morning, his eyes spotted the box holding the beautiful emerald necklace he had purchased in Diagon Alley. He wanted so much to wear it, but he didn't know whether he could or not. He thought carefully, arguing with himself before taking a deep breath and putting the necklace on.

He looked in the mirror, a smile breaking out over his face. Along with his rapidly growing hair, teasing his chin, he almost looked feminine! Tucking the necklace carefully under his shirt and with one last glance at himself, Harry made his way down the stairs to see Hermione and Ron already waiting for him. "Hey guys," Harry greeted.

"Morning. We were wondering when you were gonna get up," Ron joked, returning the grin. "Hermione wanted to send me up to wake you up."

"Sorry, I was just getting ready," Harry laughed. "What we gonna do today?"

"Well, I managed to plan some research stuff," Hermione began before Ron groaned, rolling his eyes.

"No way, we wanna have fun," he complained. "It's not like we have anything major happening, right?"

"Ronald, we need to get ahead of our lessons. Defence Against the Dark Arts is important, given Harry's Uncle is teaching it," Hermione pointed out. "I made a study schedule for us."

"Come on Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. He grabbed the schedule out of her hands and ran towards Harry, who chuckled.

"Grow up, Ronald," Hermione said, rolling her eyes as she stood up. "We're in our third year, and right now, Harry could be in danger. Not to mention we have our third-year exams to think about."

"She isn't wrong, Ron," Harry pointed out. "We do have a lot to deal with, and with how the last two years have gone..."

"She got to you, too?" Ron asked, sighing as he handed back the schedule. "You know you can have fun as well, Hermione."

"I know how to have fun," Hermione said, indignant. At Ron's unbelieving expression Hermione walked up the stairs to the entrance of the girl's dorm. "How about coming and seeing something I've been working on?"

"Like what?" Harry asked, curious.

"Just a game I've been creating. I need help with it," Hermione said, smiling sweetly. "I want to make sure it's fun enough."

"Alright, just no practical jokes," Harry said, walking over to the girl's staircase. He heard a snicker behind him, so he turned to look at Ron. "What?"

"Nothing," Ron replied, a fake look of innocent over his face.

Harry rolled his eyes and walked up the stairs to Hermione.

"Well?" Harry asked, wondering why she wasn't moving. He frowned at Hermione's wide eyes and shocked expression. "What is it?"

"Harry? How?" Hermione asked, staring at him.

"How what?" Harry asked, confused. He turned to look down the stairs at Ron again, who was also staring at him with a similar look of shock. His hand came to his hidden necklace, growing increasingly self-conscious. "Guys? What's wrong"

"Harry, this is… how… I…" Hermione sputtered. "This is impossible."

"What is?" Harry inquired again, beginning to feel a little irritated.

"Harry, boys can't come up those stairs. Ron and I were pulling a practical joke on you," Hermione explained slowly. "There's an enchantment on the stairs."

"Maybe it wore off?" Ron suggested.

"It's been there since the founding of the school, Ronald, it wouldn't just wear off," Hermione glared at him. "It's in Hogwarts; A History."

"Clearly it can wear off if Harry can go up there," Ron said, walking over to them and stepping onto the staircase. As Ron reached the halfway up the stairs mark, they began to sound a shrill alarm before becoming a slide and the Gryffindor slipped to the bottom of the staircase. "Ow," Ron moaned, as Hermione stepped onto the slope carefully. The slope became the stairs again

"Okay, I'm confused," Hermione confessed, looking at Ron on the ground and back up to a standing, uncomfortable looking Harry. "How could Harry walk on the staircase if he isn't a girl?"

"You're not a girl in secret, are you mate?" Ron asked, looking up at Harry. He was clearly trying to make a joke, but Harry didn't respond. "Harry?"

"I… when I was six… I found a dress, and I put it on. When I saw myself in the mirror, I… I knew I wasn't meant to be a boy," Harry said, shyly. He looked down at the ground, mouth dry and hands shaking. "I had a dream… or I thought it was a dream… where my hair grew… and I was a girl called Lily. And in the Mirror of Erised… I saw myself as Lily. I saw myself as who I was meant to be."

"Oh Harry," Hermione said softly, quickly reclimbing the stairs and wrapping her arms around Harry. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't know I could," Harry confessed, a lump forming at the back of his throat. "When I faced Voldemort, he knew I was Lily, and he called me that. He said he could make me Lily if I joined him, and I… well, he said the world would see me as a freak."

"Mate, ignore that moron. You're not a freak, you're our best friend," Ron said firmly. He made a motion like he was going to climb the stairs again but stopped last second, eyeing them distrustfully.

"You will never be a freak, not to us. You can always talk to us about anything," Hermione confirmed, taking his hand in hers.

At the acceptance and understanding, the love and the validation, Harry's eyes flooded with tears and he - she - began to cry.

"Oh, Lily," Hermione said soothingly, pulling her into another hug. Harry… no, Lily, she sobbed more as she kept hold of Hermione. The common room was empty but as the portrait suddenly opened, Harry disengaged from the hug and got off the stairs just as Minerva and Sirius entered the dorm.

"We received an alarm from here," Minerva said, frowning in the direction of the girls' dorms. "It better not be the twins again!" But as she looked around, she saw Harry trying to wipe away his tears and walked over to him, Sirius on her heels.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Minerva asked.

"Do you want me to tell them?" Hermione offered. Harry simply nodded as he was pulled into a concerned hug from his uncle.

"Tell us what?" Sirius questioned, feeling Harry shake in his arms.

Hermione took a breath. "Harry… just told us something important," Hermione said, before explaining the entire situation; her and Ron's failed prank, the alarm, the confession, all of it. Minerva and Sirius listened intently, and as Hermione finished the story, Sirius's arms tightened around Harry.

"Listen to me. You're not a freak, and you're an amazing person. You could always have told me any of this," Sirius said softly but firmly, stroking Harry's hair. "I love you no matter what."

"Harry, we'll look into this," Minerva said kindly. "We'll find a way to help you."

"I… I might know something," Hermione piped up. "Back home, I have… an Aunt, who used to be an Uncle. When I was told about it, she told me she was Transgender. It's where someone is born in the wrong body. For example, Harry was born male, but he feels female inside. It can also be the other way round, where men are born in female bodies, and some people are neither gender."

"You know a lot about it," Ron commented.

"You know me; when I hear about something I don't know anything about, I do research," Hermione replied. "I should have seen the signs... I'm so sorry Har - Lily, for not connecting the dots."

"It's okay, Hermione. truly," Harry - no, Lily, she could finally be free to be Lily - said, sniffing and wiping at her eyes. "What… what do muggles do?"

"They take something called Hormones, and there are some muggle surgeries so that a transgender woman looks more feminine, or so a trans man could look and sound more masculine. Mom and Dad wouldn't let me learn everything, but I can get books from them," Hermione explained. "I could even write to my aunt, find out what she had to do to become, well, herself."

"I'll look around as well, and see if I can find anything out," Minerva promised. "I don't know about this in the wizarding world, but we'll go and speak to Madam Pomfrey and ask for her help. If anybody knows anything, it would be her."

"I'm not ill -" Harry/Lily quickly began to protest in panic, but Hermione cut her off.

"Mind if I try something quickly?" Hermione reached out and took Harry/Lily's trembling hands in hers. "You are Lily Potter, you are a girl, and you are my friend," Hermione said.

Harry gasped, feeling a sensation of joy run through her. Hermione could see tears welling up again and smiled in understanding. "It felt right, didn't it?"

Harry/Lily nodded meekly, trying hard to suppress a renewed wave of tears.

"You are Lily Potter, a girl, and my goddaughter," Sirius said, placing a loving hand on her shoulder. Harry responded by throwing his/her arms around Sirius, no longer bothering to hold back the flood of emotions throwing through her.

"I was… so scared…," Harry/Lily sniffed, "I wish I wasn't… broken..."

"You're not broken, sweetheart," Minerva said firmly. "You're Lily Potter, my niece, and I love you."

"I love you too, Aunt Minnie," Harry responded, looking up from Sirius' chest to the Transfiguration Professor, then around to his friends and back to his family. "I… I don't want to be Harry anymore..."

"Then don't be," Minerva said. "Be Lily. If anyone has a problem with it, they can deal with me. I don't imagine that the next few weeks will be easy, while we adjust our language to suit your preferred gender, and not everyone will understand, but you are not alone. We'll speak to Madam Pomfrey, and we'll see what she can do. We'll research this and find a way to get you your true body, Lily," Minerva further promised.

"You're still my best friend, Lily," Ron said, grinning. "And that'll never change, ever. You and Hermione are my best friends and all I could ever ask for. But I might still call you Harry by accident to begin with... I don't mean anything by it, though. Just correct me, okay?"

As Lily nodded, Hermione took her hand again.

"When you're ready, we can talk to the other girls in our year. I'm not great with makeup but Parvati and Lavender are like artists! For now, you can use some of my clothes until we can go shopping in Hogsmeade. I hope you don't mind sharing for a few weeks?"

"Whatever you need, Lily, we will help you with your transition," Sirius promised. "I'll research all I can. And remember, no matter what, you are loved."

Lily sniffed again, smiling gratefully at the group. She finally said what she had wanted to say for years.

"My name is Lily Potter, and I am a girl."