Chapter 30

The Story

Note from the Authors: So, it has now been a year since Mystic Dodo and I first published the first Chapter of this story (Well, it was one year on the 11th). We both want to thank all of you so much for your reviews, comments and likes. Honestly, it means a lot to us.

Now, this is going to be different, because today, we're releasing two chapters! This is because the first of the two is Rita Skeeter's story. Rita is going to surprise people, but the whole reason for the surprise will be a surprise later on in the story.

So, please do enjoy these chapters, and as always, please feel free to comment and review.

Boy who lived now the Girl who lived!

Harry Potter is a name the entire wizarding world knows, ever since the fall of You-Know-Who at Godric's Hollow almost 13 years ago. He started at Hogwarts three years ago, and since then, he's had to face You-Know-Who twice already, as well as dealing with Dementor's last year, who were looking for the wrongly accused Remus Lupin. This intrepid reporter was at Hogwarts, to do a story on the Tri-Wizard tournament, where I learnt, to my shock, and horror, that someone working for You-Know-Who, someone who is unknown at this time, has entered poor Harry into the Tri-Wizard tournament.

However, when I was introduced to the fourth tournament champion, I was not introduced to Harry Potter, but the sweet and beautiful Lily Potter!

I learnt quickly that Lily is a Transgender girl. For those who aren't aware of the word, Transgender is a Muggle term, assigned to people who are born in the wrong body, so to speak. Lily, a Transgender girl, was born as a boy, but inside, she is a girl, and a Transgender boy is someone born as a girl but is a boy inside.

I was fascinated by this story, and to have a chance to meet Lily. She is a sweet, kind girl who has been the target of unfair bullying and abuse by others in the school, some because she is Transgender, which is disgusting, and some because she is a Potter, and a good person. When I learnt of the bullying, my heart ached for her. What kind of environment is being cultured in that school? I have previously slated Albus Dumbledore, but now I am angry for poor Lily.

The Transgender Community, it seems, has been a target for bigotry in both the Wizarding World and the muggle world. In the muggle world, Transgender people are often attacked, and sometimes killed, merely for wanting to live their lives. We, the more advanced society, should be above such behaviour, but the example shown at the Quidditch World Cup shows that this isn't the case.

Lily, the fourth contestant in the Tri-Wizarding tournament, is up against the French beauty, Fleur Delacour, the Bulgarian seeker, an often-dour Viktor Krum, and Hogwarts own Cedric Duggory. Compared to the three of them, Lily is the underdog, but perhaps we shouldn't count her out.

After all, in her first year, she was forced to face You-Know-Who, her nemesis, who had taken possession of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Quinius Quirrell. My sources say that Lily was able to stop Quirrell/You-Know-Who and even helped the kind-hearted professor break free of the possession before You-Know-Who destroyed him.

In her second year, Lily faced a different version of You-Know-Who, but this time in the form of a diary that had been slipped to an innocent child, one this reporter refuses to name for their own safety. Through the diary, You-Know-Who was almost able to return, but once again, Lily, along with her friend Ron Weasley, Potions Master Severus Snape, and Charms Master Filius Flitwick, stopped You-Know-Who, and each were awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, and rightly so.

Lily spent a little time telling me of how she realised she was Transgender. As a young child of six, Lily, still known at the time as Harry, went to a fair with her uncle, Sirius Black, and her surrogate aunt, Minerva McGonagall, where they all won prizes on muggle games. Among them was a dress which Lily put on, and first realised she was meant to be Lily, and not Harry.

Poor Lily was tormented by this vision in her first year when she found the Mirror of Erised, an ancient artefact which resides in Hogwarts, and it showed Lily as she was meant to be. But the constant bullying meant that Lily was not safe to reveal the truth of who she is to anyone. At this point, sweet Lily's eyes glistened with tears as she thought of the struggles she'd had, having to hide away for fear of attack.

I have, of course, sent a very strongly worded Owl to Albus Dumbledore, insisting that he do more against the bullying. How can anyone allow such behaviour? Is Hogwarts too big that the staff are blind to such events? I suspect that when she is bullied, Lily refuses to say anything because she knows that the bullies will run to their parents, who could then cause trouble for Lily, and that is an abhorrent thought.

It was Lily who shared the fear that it was one of You-Know-Who's supporters who put her name into the Goblet of Fire, and it is certainly logical, although why they did so remains a mystery. I can assure you, dear readers, that I will not stop digging. After all, Lily Potter is not only a sweet, innocent child, but also the one who has saved the Wizarding World three times now, and yet people remain unaware of this. Imagine if she had not been there at Hogwarts in her first and second year? You-Know-Who would certainly have returned long before now, and we would now be under his vile rule. For this alone, we owe Lily Potter a debt of gratitude.

Lily spoke of her parents as well, and again there were tears in the poor girl's eyes as she thought of the parents who should be with her, protecting her and guiding her through her transition. She knows they would have supported her decision to become Lily Potter, as does her uncle, Sirius Black, and her Godfather, Remus Lupin.

Thankfully, Lily isn't alone as she has a close-knit circle of friends who are brilliant and brave, helping her. From what I've learnt, Fleur Delacour and Cedric Doggery are both helping her, knowing she would never have put her name into the Goblet. This shows true sportsmanship in this reporter's eyes, an act that should certainly be applauded. Any help Lily can get would be welcome, from advice to support. After all, as skilled as she is, Lily should never have been entered into the tournament, which was designed to challenge students who are of age, not fourteen-year-old girls who should be enjoying their year at school.

I also learnt that Fleur and her headmistress, Madam Maxime, know of Transgender people, as there are Transgender Girls at Beauxbatons Academy.

This being the case, why is it that schoolgirls are more accepting than some adults? Ludo Bagman, the Minister for Sports, and one of the judges of the competition, proved himself to be a bigot in front of me. He knows Lily is a girl, having met her at the Quidditch World Cup, and from the night her name (her deadname of Harry) was pulled out of the cup. Yet, when Lily arrived, Bagman said, 'Here HE is,' and called her 'Harry' to which Lily had to correct him. What kind of idiot can oversee a department, and yet not know something simple as basic respect for someone?

Still, when Lily and I spoke briefly, she struck me as a sweet, kind, and full of emotions which she sometimes has had to hide, because of the bullying and the abuse she suffers.

What struck me the hardest, when learning about Transgender people, was the high rate of suicide and murder against them in the muggle world! Too many take their own lives whilst waiting to see a muggle version of a healer, known as a doctor, to begin their treatment. Other times, they are attacked or killed by people who refuse to accept them. How can the muggle world be so backwards? Still, even harder is the feelings each Transgender person experiences on a daily basis.

When Lily wakes up, she is lucky to have magic that allows her to change her voice, and the potions which are helping her transition. Muggles don't have what we do, sadly. Many see their appearance as wrong, and some are afraid of looking into a mirror, because they only see the wrong body. They can't change their voice, without surgery for transwomen, or a great deal of practise, although transgender men, when they begin on their hormone treatment, are lucky since Testosterone thickens the vocal cords. Estrogen, the female hormone, does not do the opposite, sadly.

Gender Dysphoria is very real; I found several muggles who were Transgender, who shared a bit about their experiences with me. I found the whole subject fascinating, and at times I wished I could just wave my wand and do something to help them, but of course, the statute of secrecy won't allow it.

For example, I met with Abigail, a Transgender Woman who has just started on Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT. She said to me, "Rita, the hardest part for me is the Dysphoria. Even though I'm on HRT, after three years of appointments with doctors and psychiatrists, I still can't look in the mirror. My body is still too masculine. I hope that HRT will help, but I have no idea if it'll help with my figure or not."

I learnt that some Transgender people, like Melissa, another sweet woman I met, said that she has no intention to go for Bottom Surgery. "Don't get me wrong, I did consider it, but there isn't any specific level for being trans, and whilst I want to be a woman, I still want to keep my lower parts," she said. When I asked if this was common, she said she isn't sure of the numbers, but it's not uncommon. "Every Trans person is different; they all have different goals and hopes."

I was lucky to also meet with Alan, a Transgender man who said to me about his experiences. "The HRT helped me with my voice, and that gave me confidence, but when I started to transition, I was pregnant. I have a daughter with my amazing husband, who supports me completely, and I know I'm lucky. I wish everyone was lucky enough to find someone who loves them the way Marcus loves me."

All of this helped me understand Lily a lot better, and I was glad to get such an insight into her struggles, and into how strong she is. Some people, including Lily I fear, wake up every day wanting to cut the masculinity from them, because they can't stand it anymore. I hope this isn't the case; the poor girl doesn't deserve to feel that way.

When Lily and I spoke of the tournament, she seemed confident enough, and yet she knows this is going to be dangerous, and is, perhaps wisely, afraid of the unknown. She agrees that her parents, were they still with us, would be worried and concerned, as her uncle is, but from what I know of Lily, she has the strength to keep going, no matter the odds.

We must support the poor girl as she continues in the tournament, and with her transition. Thankfully, the staff are supporting her, including the amazing Poppy Pomfrey, the Medi-Witch who has helped develop the Femininus Draught for Lily, a potion that will allow her to be able to go through a female puberty, and develop her 'womanly assets' and soon, I'm certain Lily will also be setting a new trend for young girls with fashion. After all, everyone this reporter spoke to have said how she is a pretty, young girl, and so sweet. I consider it a pleasure to have met her, and to be her friend in this trying time for her.

I will be reporting throughout the year on the tournament, and following Lily as she develops into a fine, upstanding, young woman, and maybe even give her tips on fashion, or on life. But whatever happens, I will be supporting Lily Potter in this tournament. Who will you be supporting?