Bloody Hell!

Chapter Ten

She expected to see her mother, the Headmaster, her godfather, James, or even Remus. But they weren't in the mirror. In the mirror was the reflection of her father. She gulped and turned to her father. Severus stood there, looking at her in a strange way. If it wasn't him I would say, he has tears in his eyes at the moment! Harriet thought.

'How long will it last, Professor?' she asked the perplexed professor.

Severus composed himself from the frozen-like state he was in. he said, 'For a few minutes. You may take your seat.'

Harriet smirked and she heard gasps from her classmates. She glared at them for a second and sat down on her chair. Severus finally composed himself, and called the next person to drink the potion. It was Hermione. She shuddered at the taste of the potion and closed her eyes. when she opened them, she looked at the mirror and grinned. She was changed into Minerva McGonagall. Harriet giggled. It was strange hearing Severus's clone giggling, so everyone was staring at her again. The last one to change was Malfoy. Harriet expected to see Voldemort or even his father, but was pleasantly surprised. Malfoy changed into herself. He stared at the figure in the mirror, then blushed and stomped to his seat and sat down, not looking up from his table. The class was soon over and Harriet stayed behind to talk to her father. When the last student left the classroom, and closed the door, she stepped around Snape's table and hugged her father. Severus was a little surprised by the action, but returned the hug nevertheless.

'Well, it seems you are my idol... Tell me something about you, so I can write that roll of parchment I have for homework.'

She grinned wickedly. Severus glared at her for a moment, then he realised the funny part in this and smiled back. God, I'm becoming soft! He thought to himself. I'm smiling more often then ever! How does she do that?

'Dad? Earth do Dad! Where are you Dad!'

Snape shook himself and said, 'Sorry about that. I just thought about something.'

'Is that a secret, or may I find out what were you thinking of, before I go to my next class.'

Snape smiled again and replied, 'I was thinking about what you're doing to me...' Harriet's brow rose surprised and Severus continued, 'I smile and laugh a lot more then a few months back. You completely changed my life. I don't know, what I'd do if I lost you...'

Harriet grinned and said, 'I know... you'd be the same greasy git of a Potions teacher as before.' She sobered for a moment and added, 'I can't make you a promise about not losing me, though. You know of the prophecy about me and Voldemort! It's me or him.'

Severus squeezed her harder and said, 'I know. I'm sorry to bring this out.'

Harriet sniffed and replied, 'Well, I must go now, I have a free period, I am going to write some letters and talk to Remus for a while. Bye, dad!'

Severus nodded and bent down to kiss her forehead. He felt Harriet stiffen for a second and then she hugged him even harder. When Harriet closed the door of the classroom behind her, she frowned a little. It was her free period, but she didn't think of going to Remus, or write letters. She was thinking of speaking with Sirius, her mother and James. She headed for the Astronomy Tower, knowing that there was no class at the moment. She put her bag on the floor, conjured up some pillows and blankets and sat on them. She closed her eyes and concentrated on contacting Sirius.

'Sirius, can you hear me?'

Sirius's voice was surprised, when he answered, 'Who's that?'

Harriet giggled a little and said, 'It's me, Harriet. Harriet Kiara Potter...'

'I don't know anyone named Harriet Kia... Did you say Potter?!?'

'Caught on, have you, Padfoot?'

Harriet laughed again at her godfather and heard him say, 'HARRY?!?'

'Who else can contact the dead?' she said sarcastically.

'But, how?' was Sirius's stutter.

'Well, do you remember what you took in Transfiguration at the beginning of the sixth year?'

Sirius thought for a moment and then said, 'We were learning how to change gender... Don't tell me, someone spoke the incantation wrongly pronounced!'

Harriet snickered and replied, 'Got it in one, Sirius!'

'Who?' was the only question Sirius gave.

'Now, calm down. It's not so bad... Well, it is, but I'm slowly getting used to it.'

'Who?' Sirius asked again with stern voice.

'Ron...'

She heard Sirius sigh and say, 'I thought so. Hermione would never mispronounce the incantation.'

'That's not all I have to tell you...' Harriet mumbled.

'What else?' asked Sirius concerned.

'It seems, that James Potter isn't my real dad.'

'WHAT!?!' was Sirius's shocked yell.

'James Potter isn't my real dad.'

Sirius took a deep breath and said, 'Then the only one who could be your father would be... NO!!! NOT HIM!!! NOT SNAPE!!!'

Harriet sighed and replied, 'Yes, him. And he's not so bad, once you get to know him. We spent the end of the holidays together and it wasn't so bad. I even got him to laugh a few times...'

Sirius was silent for a few minutes and then said, 'Could you break the connection for a few days and then contact me again? I have to think about it...'

Harriet sighed and answered, 'Okay, Padfoot. Hear you later...' With that she broke the connection and opened her eyes. She sat still for a few minutes and then concentrated on her mother and James. She whispered, 'Can you hear me? Mum? James?'

There was a sob and a male voice said, 'Harry? How?'

'I got this power from Merlin and I wanted to talk to you two. It's okay, isn't it?'

'Of course it's okay, we just didn't expect it, that's all,' was Lily's answer.

'Hold it! Why is your voice so... feminine?' James suddenly asked. Harriet thought for a second on how to express herself, then said,

'My best friend mispronounced an incantation in Transfiguration. The one you took at the beginning of your sixth year. And I'm going to be a girl for the rest of my life.'

'Oh...' was James' only response. Harriet smiled to herself and said,

'Yeah... oh. I'm getting used to it, though...'

'I bet no one expected that to happen,' James said and Harriet replied,

'Yeah, now I'm not the-boy-who-lived anymore, I'm the-girl-who-lived.'

Lily chuckled slightly and said, 'Well, at least you will have the insight of man's feelings as you were a boy once.'

'Don't remind me, mum. Today in Potions, Malfoy changed in me. We were making the Potion of Souls.'

They laughed for a while, talked, and then Harriet said, 'Mum, James? I have to go now, I have classes in a few minutes and I don't want to be late, or miss a class. I already missed two weeks of classes.'

'It's okay, kiddo. We'll miss you,' was James' response.

'Bye, child,' said Lily.

'I'll contact you soon!' answered Harriet as she broke the connection. She slowly got up and headed to the staircase.

~8~8~8~8~

Draco Malfoy wasn't a happy young man, thank you very much. He stalked the Hogwarts corridors and was deep in thought. He didn't notice a slur with black hair, thundering down the stairs, until it was too late. They both went down. Draco scowled and was just about to say something, when he saw who it was, that barrelled them down. He stood up and helped Harriet on her feet, then asked, 'Are you all right?'

Harriet's eyebrows rose in surprise, then she said, 'I'm fine, thank you. And I'm sorry I knocked you down, Malfoy.'

'Draco...'

Harriet's eyebrows went even higher.

'What?' she asked.

'Call me Draco,' Malfoy said, smiling slightly. Harriet eyed him suspiciously and asked,

'Why would I do that?'

Draco's smile vanished and he sobered.

'Well, I do need to write something about you for Potions homework and I thought it would be good to make a truce for at least that long.'

Harriet seemed to think for a minute, then nodded and said, 'Okay, I'll call you Draco, and you can call me Harriet.' Draco smiled again and they shook hands. There was a roar and Draco went down under the body of a red head, normally known as Ronald Weasley. Harriet stared at Ron and said, 'Ron, stop it! He didn't do anything!'

Ron looked up from beating Malfoy and said, 'Why did you shake hands?'

Harriet sighed and answered, 'Because, we just made a truce, at least for as long as he needs to make his homework for Potions.'

Ron stood up and brushed his bloody knuckles, then sighed.

'Okay, but if he says anything bad to you, tell me, okay?'

Harriet scowled and angrily said, 'I know how to defend myself, Ron, thanks. If you remember, I was a boy until you changed me into a girl!'

Ron Weasley reddened and scurried away. Harriet kneeled down at Draco's unconscious body and held out her wand, saying, 'Enervate!'

Draco's eyes fluttered open and Harriet sighed.

'Can you stand?'

Draco grimaced and nodded. Harriet held his arm and helped him stand, then she said, 'Please, don't tell anyone about what I'm going to do, okay?'

Draco nodded, starting to worry. Harriet smiled a little, and then closed her eyes in concentration. Draco suddenly felt the pain go away and when he looked down at his body, there wasn't a scratch of what Weasley did to him. He looked at Harriet in astonishment. Harriet just grinned and said, 'Stop gawking at me!'

Draco shook himself out of his reverie and said, 'What did you just do?'

Harriet grinned again.

'Oh, that. Just a little Healing.'

'But you didn't even attend the first class of Healing yet! And that's a very advanced art of Healing! How did you do that!?!'

Harriet sobered and said, 'I can't tell you, Draco. It's a secret and if Voldemort ever found out, it would be a disaster!'

Draco glared at her,

'You think I'm going to tell the Dark Lord about any of this?'

Harriet sighed.

'That was my impression of you for the last five years.'

'Well, I wouldn't! I hate the Dark Lord!'

Harriet stared at him, but Draco didn't notice it, and continued his rant.

'I hate what he did out of my father! He took his soul and I resent him for that! On the contrary of popular belief, I don't want to be a Death Eater!'

'Then what do you want to be?' Harriet asked gently.

'I want to be your friend and not a marionette that my father orders around. I don't want to be just like my father. I have my wishes too! And I don't want to have spies on my back!'

'You mean Crabbe and Goyle, don't you?' asked Harriet. Draco nodded numbly and stared at her for a second, than said,

'I'm sorry about everything I did to you or your friends for the last five years. Can you accept my apology?'

Harriet smiled and said, 'I'll try.'

Draco smiled too and replied, 'That's all I can ask for at the moment! Thank you.'

Harriet grinned again and said, 'My name is Harriet Kiara Potter, who are you?'

Draco played along, shook her hand again and said, 'My name is Draco Lucius Malfoy. Pleasure meeting you!'

They laughed when they walked to their Defence Against the Dark Arts class.

~8~8~8~8~

The whole class, including professor Lupin, stared at the pair, as they were still laughing slightly. When Harriet noticed the silence in the classroom, she scowled at her classmates.

'What are you staring at?'

Remus looked around him and said, 'I think it's time for our lesson. Miss Potter and Mr Malfoy, please take a seat, so we can begin.'

Harriet smiled and sat in the front row, Draco behind her. Remus said, 'I think almost (there he looked at Harriet) all of you heard, what happened a week ago. That's why we are going to learn how to produce a patronus, which helps us back dementors away. I heard some of you already have one,... at least a shadow of a one,... can you please raise your hands, so I can write you down?'

Harriet, Neville, Hermione, Seamus and Lavender all raised their hand immediately. Harriet sneaked a glance at Draco, then grinned. Draco remembered the time in their third year on a Quidditch match and blushed. Remus noticed this, but saved it away for a later discussion.

'Okay, last year some of you learned Defence Against Dark Arts on your own, as your former professor thought you could learn everything without wands and pass the exams. We have several of its members in this room. Could you please also raise your hands so I can write you down?'

Harriet said, 'I can give the list to you, Professor, since there are a lot of them, from almost all of the houses and different years.'

Remus nodded and replied, 'Yes, that would be easier. You were the leader, weren't you, Miss Potter?'

Harriet nodded and said, 'I was thinking of re-establishing the club, if it's okay with you...'

Remus smiled and said, 'Of course it is, that's what I wanted to suggest anyway, because it seems that the members of the DA club got higher grades in Defence classes than other students and it would help the others to get better grades too.'

There was an uproar in the classroom, made by DA members that were there (read Hermione, Ron, Neville, Dean, Lavender, Parvati, Ernie, Justin, Hannah, Terry, Padma, Seamus, Anthony and Susan). Remus smiled again and said, 'Okay, now that we discussed this, I would like to call up here the students that can produce a real Patronus, so we can see what it looks like. I have studied the Illusion spell to make a dementor. At least an illusion of it.'

Harriet stood up and went over to Remus's desk. As those who could summon the Patronus came to the desk, Remus smiled down at them and said, 'Well, it seems these students here are the only one that can produce it. Can you tell me the incantation to call your patronus?'

Harriet grinned and said, 'It's expecto patronum, professor.'

'And what do you do to call the patronus?'

Harriet acted as though she was thinking hard, then she said out of the blue, 'Let me show it to you... Did you ever watch Peter Pan?'

Some of the students nodded, and Harriet said, 'Well, I did too and I changed the lyrics of the song so it's compatible with calling the patronus. Here it is...'

Harriet swished her wand and Remus stood up and started to sing with music in background,

'Think of the friends you've got,
Any merry little thought,
Think of Christmas, think of snow
Think of sleigh bells,

Here we go!
Like a blooming flower!

You have power! You have power!
You have power! You have power!

Soon it'll shine all around the room,
All it takes is faith and trust,
But the thing that's a positive must,
Is a little bit of feelings trust,
The trust is a positive must!

You have power! You have power!
You have power! You have power!

When there's a smile in your heart
There's no better time to start
It's a very simple plan,
You can do well, man!
At least it's worth a try!

You have power! You have power!
You have power! You have power!'

Remus then stopped singing and Harriet burst out laughing. The students did their best to not do what Harriet did - laugh. Remus didn't seem angry. On the contrary, he laughed along with Harriet. This made the class laugh too. It was fun, seeing a laughing Draco, or a gawking Ron. When the laughter finally ceased, Remus said,

'Well, I think that's all you have to know... for today, since the class is almost over. For homework you collect as many merry little thoughts as you can, and we can go and produce our patronuses. Harriet, just one more thing, before you sit back. Show them your patronus!'

Harriet smiled and nodded. She brandished her wand and thought of this morning with her father, then yelled,

'EXPECTO PATRONUM!'

A completely silver stag came out of her wand tip and nuzzled her cheek. Then it transformed in a stag, which had Lilies on its antlers, a thestral stood near it, a big black dog and a wolf were sitting on the backs of both other animals. Harriet just stood there, mouth agape. She stared at it and squeaked, 'Oh my!'

Hermione calmed down first and continued in a professor mode, 'I think the dog is Snuffles, the wolf is Professor Lupin, the stag is James Potter, the Lilies on its antlers mean Lily Potter, but I don't know who a thestral is...'

Remus was also staring at the patronus and whispered, 'Your patronus has me in it?'

Harriet blushed and smiled, went over to Remus and hugged him tightly. Remus hugged her back and said with a choked voice, 'I love you, Harriet.'

Harriet snuggled deeper in Remus's arms and replied, 'I love you too, Uncle Remus!'