Goodnight Sweet Girl

Five: A Sneaky Visit from Aunt Scarlet

Draco spent most of his nights in Hermione's room, so much so that she had an extra bed added to her room and made a request to have "Diana" as her roommate. A request that Dumbledore found amusing and gave Draco a huge feeling of relief seeing as to how Lavender and Parvati were enough to drive him crazy with their questions and "after hours" girl talk. He preferred his intellectual discussions with Hermione or his conversations with Weasley over the scandalous gossip Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown dealt in.

Also when he was around Harry, he had taken to being low key. He'd had a long talk with Hermione about Harry, and decided that slow, although frustrating, was the best option with capturing Harry's attention and heart.

Ron of course was becoming more comfortable around Draco, much to the surprise of Harry, Hermione, and Draco. The redhead even joked around and playfully flirted with the blonde, much to Hermione and Draco's amusement and Harry's annoyance.

Snape was still the cruel bastard during potions, but he had a strange soft spot for the blonde Gryffindor and often praised her work. Apparently Draco hadn't lost his talent for potions. Many Slytherins were shocked to note that the pretty blonde girl with the black magic voice was able to earn Gryffindor points during potions.

On another strange twist, The Daily Prophet reported that the body of Draco Malfoy had been found. Oddly enough the body was horribly deformed from various curses, and could only be identified by the robes he wore and the platinum blonde hair.

The Slytherins had hardly a reaction to the news of their golden boy's death. Pansy put on a good show, but other than that none of them had anything to say, beyond what a pity they would have to find a new Quidditch team captain and a seeker.

'Diana' on the other hand took the news of Draco's death in shock. Hermione had opened up her newspaper and after reading the headline all color drained from her face. Anxious to see what had caused the reaction, Harry and Ron looked over her shoulder and then gave 'Diana' a funny look. The blonde arched an eyebrow at the three, sighed, and then snatched the paper from Hermione's hands. Immediately her gray eyes widened at the headline and a faint choking sound rose from her throat and fell from her lips. Suddenly Dean Thomas looked over her shoulder and read the headline and then said, "Always knew the git would go young. Poor sod, wonder who killed him."

Those words broke Draco's resolve as he took in the words' meanings and anger over the lack of respect for 'his passing' filled him. He stood up, turned to Dean Thomas, pulled back a fist and knocked the poor unsuspecting boy in the face. The boy fell back and then Draco was on him, beating him into a bloody pulp. Harry jumped across the table and grabbed Draco, hauling her back. Professors McGonagall and Snape rushed over to assess the situation and McGonagall was shocked to see the newest Gryffindor attacking a fellow Gryffindor. The blonde girl was even struggling against Harry to launch herself back at Dean.

Harry bent his head and said something that only the girl could hear and she calmed down a bit, but then she turned silver eyes on the beaten and barely conscious Dean Thomas. Her voice, still so full of elemental magic, was cold like glacier water flowing down a mountain.

"How dare you show such little respect to a boy, a man you never knew?! He was the bravest person I ever knew, and I'm proud to say that I loved and admired Draco Malfoy. If you ever speak an ill word about him again, you will have more than your pretty face to worry about!" She spat venomously.

"Diana, let's go before you say something that you may regret, come on," Harry said, and began to pull her toward the doors of Great Hall.

Upon seeing the approach of the professors Draco relented and allowed Harry to lead him away. Harry took him to a strange room that had bookshelves lining the walls, pillows on the floor, and various objects used in the detection of the dark arts. Draco looked around the room with wide eyes and then sighed before he sat down on the cushioned floor. He turned away from Harry and sucked in a deep gust of air.

Finally Draco's voice filled the room. "Where have you taken me? What is this room?"

Harry chuckled. "This is where my little Defense Against the Dark Arts class met during fifth year, it's called the room of requirement. You remember Umbridge's dictatorship. So we kept it all a secret. It had quite a turn out from every house, except the Slytherin house of course."

"Wonders never cease with you Potter," Draco said with a sigh.

"The same could be said for you," Harry replied and then moved around and knelt before Draco and pushed the platinum hair out of the girl's face. Draco looked up at him, silvery gray eyes trying to read green.

"What do you want, Potter?"

Instead of answering Harry leaned forward until his lips met Draco's in a soft chaste kiss, but Draco wouldn't let it go at that. Draco wrapped his delicate feminine arms around the dark haired boy and wouldn't let him go. Draco's tongue darted out and brushed Harry's bottom lip. Draco felt Harry's body shuddered and then Harry's mouth opened up and Draco tasted him, his tongue meeting Harry's in burning passion. Harry's hand tangled into the platinum fall of Draco's hair and Harry's other hand settled at the base of Draco's spine, pulling the feminine body against his own and that was when Draco noticed Harry's growing arousal.

Harry managed to press Draco's back into the cushions as instinct took over and then he felt Draco's delicate hand pressing on his chest. Harry let out a small cry of protest as he let Draco up from the kiss. Harry sat back and then Draco sat up, both were breathing hard, their hearts racing, blood and fire rushing through their veins. Harry's green eyes were dark with desire and suddenly Draco's chest tightened in fear and apprehension. He couldn't go any further, because there would be no regrets between he and Harry.

"I've had time," Harry said, his voice deep. "And I want you."

Draco sighed. "I know, but there are things that you don't know. And I don't know how to tell you."

"Tell me what?" Harry asked.

"I lied when I told you that I... That 'Draco' died a virgin. I haven't been a virgin since I was a first year. Merlin... I can't believe I'm telling you this. If I'd had a choice though... I would have waited for you," Draco said, and then he looked down at the cushioned floor.

"If you'd had a choice?" Harry asked and then his face twisted in horror as he realized what Draco was telling him. "What happened to you?"

Draco laughed, the elemental magic of his feminine voice filling the room. "Isn't it funny how I told Granger I didn't want you to know, because you wouldn't understand. Wouldn't want me any more, and here I am, about to tell you because I cannot stand the idea of there being lies or secrets between us. You will hate me, Harry. And I won't blame you."

"I could never hate you," Harry whispered. "I can be angry with you, annoyed with you, even happy with you, but I couldn't hate you."

"You believe that now," Draco said, his voice edged with bitterness, and then he sighed in defeat. "Once I was sorted into Slytherin I thought I had it made. I was a Malfoy after all. What I didn't realize was that the power the name held was not enough to protect me. I told you that I was a sickly child when I was younger. I didn't start gaining strength until I received my letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. It was my third night here that it happened.

"Marcus Flint saw me in the common room and then he came up to me. He suggested that I go to his room that night, and I asked him why. He told me I would find out when I showed up. I didn't go though. The next day he came after me. He shoved me into a broom closet for some privacy and told me if I didn't show up in his room that night that I would regret it. He hit me in the stomach, knocked the wind out of me and then sent me on my way. But I still didn't go to him.

"So, instead he came to me, that third night. I don't know how late it was, but everyone in my dorm was asleep, although how anyone could sleep through Crabbe and Goyle's snoring is beyond me. I felt a hand cover my mouth. I tried to yell, but then I heard someone mutter a silencing charm and there was Flint. I struggled and then he put a binding spell on me. I could still struggle, but he made sure that I couldn't hurt him or get away. And then he took me. And he made me do things. I made the mistake of biting him that night. A mistake that I did not make twice. He came to me at least three times a week after that. Until he graduated after second year. I lived for the winter and summer holidays those first two years," Draco said and a shudder tore through his body.

He nearly jumped when he felt a pair of strong arms wrap around him, and Harry's voice said soothing things to him, Harry's breath lightly tickling his ear as he spoke gently. Draco regained his composure, and not a tear was shed. He withdrew from Harry's arms and looked at the dark haired boy. He noticed something fierce and protective in those green eyes that he had never seen before.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Harry asked.

Draco looked at him in shock. "And risk the humiliation? Merlin, I could only imagine what my father would have said if he had known. The punishment I would have endured."

"What about Snape, he seems protective of you," Harry replied.

"And have to face Flint afterward? That would have been worse," Draco said and then he looked at Harry and took a deep breath. "After Flint left I found that I fancied boys. It had nothing to do with him though. I found myself attracted to Blaise Zabini. We ended up in a relationship for a while, and then he wanted me to commit to him, but my father wanted to me marry and produce an heir, so I refused to meet Blaise's demands for a commitment. He went to my father and confessed everything about our relationship. Both Blaise and I were punished. For what, I am not certain, but it was over after that. That was the first time I had to endure the Cruciatus. But the torment doesn't end there. My father used to beat me. I used to have lash marks on my back from my father's whip. All of those scars are gone now that I have a new body, but they still hurt. I still feel it.

"Damn you, Potter. What is it about you that makes me tell you the things that I am most ashamed of?" Draco snapped.

Harry shrugged and then put his hand on Draco's shoulder. The blonde shrugged it off and then glared at him. "How can you still stand to touch me? I'm nothing."

"Don't say that," Harry said. "You're stronger than you think. You're still alive, and you fought for your freedom. So, bad things have happened to you. I have scars too. But you're alive and I am alive. Doesn't that count for anything? You're beautiful, and I always thought that. I don't care about what happened to you, only that it still hurts you. And no one will ever hurt you again. I will see to that."

"Why?" Draco asked.

"Because I want you more than anything I've ever wanted in my life," Harry said and then leaned toward the blonde and captured the soft lips in a desperate kiss. Harry soon had Draco pinned beneath him as he kissed those soft lips and then began to trail kisses down Draco's soft feminine throat.

Again Draco pushed against him and didn't stop until Harry was beneath him. Draco had Harry straddled and looked down at the black haired boy from behind a curtain of platinum hair. The boy smiled and then a sharp pain pinched his abdomen. Since he hadn't expected it he almost doubled over. Harry quickly realized the change and soon he was cradling Draco in his arms. Draco groaned and clutched at his stomach. Harry made his decision, gathered the feminine body into his arms, left the room, and hurried to the hospital wing.

He kicked at the door, since Draco wasn't being helpful and he didn't have a free arm. Madam Pomfrey gave him a sharp look and then looked at Draco. She ushered the two into the hospital wing and directed Harry to put the girl down on a stretcher. Harry did as he was told and then Draco rolled over and Harry noticed a spot of blood on the stretcher. His eyes widened and then he looked at Madam Pomfrey and asked her what was wrong.

The mediwitch looked at the boy, noting the worry in his eyes and sighed. "Nothing out of the ordinary Mr. Potter, just Ms. Marlowe receiving a visit from Aunt Scarlet."

"What?" Harry asked.

"Dear boy, I know you are not experienced with these matters, but what I am trying to tell you is that this is a delicate matter for Ms. Marlowe, honestly off with you boy, there is nothing to worry about. This is a perfectly normal occurrence for women. Ask Ms. Granger if you need any further explanation."

"Are you sure that she will be all right?" Harry asked in genuine concern.

Madam Pomfrey shook her head, trying to hide a small smile. "Of course I'm certain boy. Now off with you before you are late to class. I will see to Ms. Marlowe."

The boy turned again to the girl on the stretcher, gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, turned to Madame Pomfrey, and the mediwitch couldn't help but notice the fierce protective look in those green eyes as the boy left. Things were certainly getting interesting.

Madam Pomfrey then went to a cabinet to retrieve a potion. She pulled the stopper out and gave the bottle to the girl on the stretcher. Draco sat up a bit, wincing and looked at the bottle and then the mediwitch. The mediwitch snorted and then said, "Well, drink up. It will help with the cramping, and I'll see to fetching you some sanitary napkins, which you can take care to use in the loo. Are you still wearing that moonstone? It is used to help ease menstrual pain. And if I am correct in my assumption, which I am certain that I am, this is your first menses?"

Draco's eyes widened. "You mean this is..."

"A normal occurrence every month in the life of women until menopause," Madam Pomfrey finished.

"Dammit!" Draco snapped and then growled, "Why not add insult to injury! How, bloody humiliating, and it had to be Harry bloody Potter that witnessed this!"

"My, aren't we cranky? I'll see to getting you some more of this potion to ease the discomfort, and hopefully your ill temperament, while you adjust to this new development in your womanhood," the mediwitch said cheerfully.

Draco simply glared at the woman.

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Harry hurried through the corridors as he tried to reach the dungeons before he was late to double potions. He managed to make it to class on time, although he was rather winded. He took his usual seat next to Hermione, and noticed how both Hermione and Ron turned to the door, expecting to see 'Diana'. They then looked at Harry. Hermione leaned toward him and asked about the missing Gryffindor and then Harry told her about what had transpired in the hospital wing.

Hermione couldn't help the small smile that crept across her face. "Looks as though our little Diana is all grown up. I wonder how she is taking all of this."

"She looked like she was in pain," Harry said and then he looked at the front of the classroom and noticed the absence of Snape. "Say, where is Snape?"

As if in answer of Harry's query the surly Potion's Master walked into the classroom and looked around. Then he walked to the front of the classroom and began his lecture on the lesser-known properties of hyacinth root and its combination with centaur blood.

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"Does this," Draco snapped indicating his latest development, "mean that I have the potential to reproduce?"

Madam Pomfrey almost laughed at the expression on the girl's face, and then sobered realizing that while the body was female the soul had once been male. "Yes, my dear it does. Now, you'll find a change of clothes and a sanitary napkin awaiting you in the girl's facilities. I had a house elf get some things for you. I'll answer any other questions once you have visited the facilities. Now off with you. I have to see to these sheets before there is a stain."

The mediwitch couldn't help smiling at the dark look that her last comment received, as well as note the blush of embarrassment and disgruntlement. The poor thing was going to have a time of it, what with Mr. Potter so obviously enamored with her, him, Draco. The mediwitch shook her head and again her thoughts strayed to the fact that Draco Malfoy, the once proud Prince of Slytherin and heir of the Malfoy fortune, had developed into quite a woman.

Again the mediwitch could not suppress a chuckle as she heard something being thrown against the wall and a stream of shocking profanity coming from behind the ladies' facilities. It was shocking how such a beautiful and elemental voice could shape such harsh words.

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"Bloody hell! Of all the humiliating things! Isn't it bad enough that I have to squat to take a piss?! Now I have to bleed like some wounded animal once every month! Oh the indignity! And this means that I could..." Draco paused in that thought. "Me, end up pregnant?! Maybe that wouldn't be so bad... Wait! What am I saying! Bloody hell! I almost gave in to Saint Potter. If it hadn't been for this I might have..."

Draco groaned and then tossed the small cardboard box that contained the sanitary napkin against the wall. He sighed and then went to pick up the box. He looked over the instructions noticing that it didn't seem so complicated.

He sighed and then gave in to the task his new body had set for him. All the while growling about dignity and the unbearable discomfort of it all.

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Madam Pomfrey nearly burst out laughing when Draco waddled out of the bathroom, his discomfort and displeasure more than obvious. Luckily the mediwitch possessed an extraordinary amount of control and managed to contain her laughter at the annoyed and indignant expression on the poor girl's face.

He glared at the woman, noticing the mirth in her eyes. "I do not see where this is funny!" he fumed.

And that was what broke the mediwitch's resolve as the laughter bubbled out of her, while the young platinum blonde woman scowled with her arms crossed. The mediwitch soon regained her composure and gave Draco several potions for the discomfort, and instructions on how to use them.

"I'm sorry for my earlier outburst," Madam Pomfrey said and then she looked at the girl thoughtfully. "Seeing how this is your first occurrence of the womanly burden I will have you excused from your classes for today so that you may get used to this. Now go straight to your room and rest. And once Aunt Scarlet is done with her visit I would like you to return for a check up and then we will discuss certain potions that you may find beneficial. We wouldn't want any unexpected situations to arrive, especially where a certain Mr. Potter is concerned. And by the way, that was quite a job you did to Mr. Thomas. Luckily I had a bone-mending potion on hand. Poor boy had a broken nose among the lacerations. You certainly don't hit like a girl."

Draco gave the woman a sharp look and then left the hospital wing, heading straight for Gryffindor tower, or more accurately the room he shared with Hermione. Once he was in his room he set the potions down on the bedside table between his four-poster and Hermione's, and then crawled into his bed and curled up in a fetal position, where he fell into a fitful sleep and dreams about a black haired baby with silver eyes...