Hoping You'll See

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Chapter Two: The New Girl (or, Day One)

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The next morning, Harry is still a girl. Hermione dresses him in a spare skirt and blouse, taking time to teach him how to deal with all the extra fabric. "I'll check later to see if there is a corset for you to use," she tells him.

Remus, Harry, and Hermione move to the room off the Lady's closet to talk.

"What did he do to you?" Remus asks.

"I think, considering what he said, and what the spell means, that he has put a spell on me to make me find my mate. That doesn't explain why I've turned into a woman."

The three puzzle over this for a moment before Hermione looks up. "Perhaps... Maybe this means your... mate is a man?"

"But that can't be. The point of having a mate is to produce children. Two men can't do that."

"Ah, but you aren't a man now, are you?"

"You don't think I'll stay this way forever, do you?"

"Maybe you'll only be this way long enough for your mate to become comfortable with you, and then you'll change back. If your mate is a wizard, then he might know a way for you to have children anyway."

"A wizard..." Harry thinks over that. "Oh no! What if young Lord Malfoy is my mate?" He groans and lets his head fall to the table.

"Harry." Harry transfers his gaze to Remus. "What if our Lord is your mate?"

"Our Lord. My mate. But he barely even looks at me anymore."

Hermione grows excited. "Oh, I've the most wonderful idea! We can put you up in one of the guest rooms, and you can pretend to be one of the guests here for our Lord's parties. There will be several wizards here, you might find the one that's your mate."

"No, we can't! I don't know the first thing about being a noble lady! I'd slip up the first time our Lord might talk to me."

"We'll help you, I promise. Now, we need a name for you. You can't very well go around calling yourself 'Harry'!"

"I never exactly thought I'd ever need a name for when I was turned into a girl, though."

"It should be something simple, pure," Remus suggests. "Your mother's name was Caitlyn. You could use that."

Harry thinks it over for a moment. "Caitlyn. I think I shall use it."

"Well then. We have a lot to work on. Let's go." Hermione grabs Harry's hand and drags him to the store of clothing available to the servants.

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Two hours later Hermione has found a corset for Harry and he has put it on under his clothes.

"How can you stand to wear this?" Harry shifts around as well as he can with the tight corset pinching his upper body.

"You'll get used to it. Remember, most ladies grow up wearing corsets, so it isn't a big deal to them." Hermione is altering an ivory silk gown for him to wear. The soft whir of the sewing machine as Hermione's foot pumps the pedal is comforting.

"You'll help me, right?"

"Every chance I get, but it isn't really appropriate for anyone to see me. I'll do my best to be with you, though."

"Thanks."

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Harry is put in one of the smallest rooms in the ladies' wing on the second floor of the castle. Hermione dresses him in a blue and white dress and sends him down to lunch with the guests that have arrived so far.

None of the guests approach Harry, choosing instead to stare at the new presence. Harry is somewhat surprised that his Lord is not present at the luncheon, but his Lady is there. Harry has a brief moment of panic that she will recognize him as the boy he is, but she doesn't speak to him at all. It is a relief to him when he is able to retreat back to his rooms to prepare for dinner.

Harry is prodded and squeezed and shaped until he feels he'll never be able to breathe again. The waist of his dinner gown is much smaller than the one of his afternoon dress. The neckline is low and decorated with lace, and a train falls from the back of the skirt.

The first time Harry sees his Lord is as he descends the Grand Staircase. All eyes turn to the unknown woman. Harry feels himself flushing at the attention.

At the base of the stairs stands Harry's Lord, greeting his guests as they pass through the Grand Staircase to the Great Hall. Next to him is his mother, the Lady of the castle. Harry stops before them, nervous at his first time thought of as equal to them. Harry curtseys, looking down. Hermione spent time perfecting his curtsey. "Lady Snape, Lord Snape," he acknowledges.

Lady Snape steps forward. "My dear, you must give us your name."

"Lady Caitlyn, of Linlithgow."

"Have you always lived there?"

"No, my Lady. I have spent the last five years in India, but my father decided to send me back here."

"That is most fascinating. You must tell me of it later."

"Of course, my Lady."

Harry enters the Great Hall and is shown to a seat by Peter, one of the servants. It is about halfway down the length of the room from where Lady and Lord Snape sit. To his right no one is seated, but to the left is a young woman and her father. She turns to Harry. "Hello. I'm Lady Lavender, and this is my father, the Baron of Dunfermline. Who are you?"

"Lady Caitlyn, of Linlithgow."

"Linlithgow? Wherever is that?"

"It's some hours northeast of here. Not as far as Dunfermline."

"Oh. Rather common place, isn't it?"

"Now, Lavender, dear," her father cuts in. "A lady of nobility shouldn't be demeaning to those lower than she is."

"Of course, Father." Lady Lavender turns away from Harry, looking up the table to where Lord Snape will sit.

Harry barely notices as the feast passes. He watches and copies Lady Lavender's movements. All too soon for Harry the feast is over.

The guests trek back up the Grand Staircase to the Greater Gallery for the night's ball. Harry tries to disappear in the crowd, but to no avail. Young Lord Malfoy seeks him out. "Lady Caitlyn, is it? Might I entreat you to the first waltz?"

"Please, my lord, I'd rather-"

"Of course you'll dance with me." Young Lord Malfoy pulls Harry out to the dancing area. Lord Snape stands with Lady Lavender at his side, waiting for a waltz to begin. When the music starts young Lord Malfoy sweeps Harry across the floor in an intricate pattern he can barely follow. After what seems to be ages to Harry the dance ends and he is released. He immediately claims a chair along the wall to catch his breath.

Three dances pass as Harry sits on the side. The patterns the twirling couples make are beautiful. Lord Severus dances each dance, every time with a different partner.

When Lord Severus approaches Harry it is all he can do not to turn and run away. Lady Snape didn't recognize him, but surely Lord Severus would!

"Lady Caitlyn," Lord Severus acknowledges. "Might I have the honor of your hand for the next dance?"

Harry blushes and looks down. "You might, my Lord." Harry puts his hand in Lord Severus' outstretched one and is guided onto the dance floor. Though the steps are the same as the dance he shared with Lord Malfoy, dancing with Lord Severus is much calmer and gentler.

Harry doesn't dance again after that, but instead opts to retire early.

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