"Why were you so nice to Evans before Defense?" asked Pansy Parkinson Monday night over supper.
"What do you mean?" asked Draco.
"I mean, she's a Gryffindork, one of Potter's pals. Weren't you just saying last week how you've got this super secret mission for the Dark Lord? Why are you cavorting with the enemy?" asked Pansy more pointedly.
"First off, she's not one of Potter's Pals, she didn't' show up until after Potter left for his training. And yes, I do have a mission from the Dark Lord, thank you for telling anyone within earshot," hissed Draco. "I wouldn't exactly call introducing myself politely as 'cavorting'."
"Why's you introduce yourself anyway?" asked Pansy.
Discover moreBooksBooks & LiteratureDigital story libraryTV show recapsBook series guides"Rose Evans is a new element, introduced so soon to Potter's exit, she represents an opportunity to secure the Dark Lord's message within Gyrffindor," explained Draco. He then added something in a low mumble.
"I'm sorry Draco, what was that?"
Draco once again mumbled something, though Pansy could almost swear she heard a "Snape" and "niece" in there.
"Draco, once more, and this time, speak clear enough for me to actual make out more than two words.
"Professor Snape asked me to treat her as I would his niece," said Draco finally.
"Ah," said Pansy, finally understanding Draco's methods within the madness.
Two days later Professor McGonagall held a House Meeting in the common room after supper was over.
"As you all know, Mr. Potter has taken a leave of absence to receive more in depth training for his expected fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," said McGonagall. "And as such, while we had Quidditch tryouts just a week and a half ago, we will be needing to have tryouts to fill the position of Seeker. In addition, Ronald Weasley has been selected as the new Quidditch Captain, as of those not in their final year here at Hogwarts, such as Ms. Bell, he has had the most experience on the team."
Ron stood up, and with a nod to Professor McGonagall, stepped to the front of the assembled Lions. "You all know I'm not good at speeches, so I'll make this brief. We'll be holding tryouts for just the one position, that of Seeker. Only those that have brooms of their own will be allowed to audition, I don't want a repeat of the debacle the first time we had them this year. I know we'll all miss Harry, but if we want to show the rest of the school that we've not been getting by on his talent alone, we'll have to have a good team."
With that, Ron nodded again to Professor McGonagall, and went back to his seat, surrounded by the remaining members of the Quidditch Team as well as the other sixth year Lions.
"Good speech," said Rose.
"Not that it matters," said Ron, his voice nearly lost in the noise of the Gryffindors returning to their normal nocturnal activities. "I mean, it's practically just a formality."
"Don't be too sure Captain Weasley," ribbed Katie, who like Ron, Ginny, and the sixth year girls, had signed Hermione's contract of secrecy. "I mean, your little sister isn't half bad as a seeker, and if she makes the cut, then we'll have to fill her position in the Chaser line."
"You really think I could do it?" asked Ginny.
"Ginny, you caught the snitch both times you played last year, you're likely our most experienced seeker candidate," explained Katie.
"Wait, nobody told me you were going to try out for Seeker," complained Ron. "Now I'm going to look the fool when we have to have Chaser try outs as well."
Discover moreFan art commissionsEmail & MessagingAuthor collaboration networkMobile app premiumFan community events"We'll dodge that bludger when we get to it Captain Weasley," said Katie. She had been offered the position of Captain twice, once after Angelina's run at the end of last year, and again after Harry had 'left' for 'special training'.
"So, you are trying out, aren't you?" asked Ron Saturday morning over breakfast in the Great Hall.
"I'm not sure," said Rose.
"What do you mean you're not sure?" asked Ron. He blushed slightly as most of the Great Hall turned to look at him.
"I mean," said Rose in a hushed voice, without the rasp of a whisper, a skill she'd gotten good at using at the Dursleys. "That I don't technically own a broom, which if you'll remember was one of your requirements."
"What about your Firebolt?" asked Ron in a whisper.
"Ron, Firebolts are still one of the most expensive brooms on the market, which means it's unlikely that Rose Evans of New Zealand can afford one if only Harry Potter could by having been gifted it by his godfather," explained Rose. "Plus, I haven't actually flown in the last week."
"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Ron.
"Ron, haven't you noticed that I'm shaped differently, you know, curves and bumps? My center of gravity is all out of whack, took me a couple hours last Saturday to figure out how to walk at more than a stumble. Plus, being the star seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team isn't exactly fitting with my role as Rose," explained Rose.
"Your role?" asked Ron.
"Ron, in the last five days I've not had anyone point at me, no whispers when I pass, nothing of the infamy that I had as the Boy Who Lived. Instead, I've had the best five days of my time here at Hogwarts. I know it's likely because of the Dursleys, but I've finally gotten the one thing I've been denied the last five years here at Hogwarts," said Rose.
"But, you were famous! You won a thousand Galleons as Tri-Wizard Champion!" hissed Ron, his excitement nearly overcoming his whisper.
"Exactly!" countered Rose. "I've always wanted just one thing, and only one thing, something that it seemed, until I was cursed by Malfoy, that I was, pardon the pun, cursed to not have."
"What?" asked Ron, confused.
"I'm normal Ron," said Rose, a smile spreading on her face. "Nobody is trying to kill me, nobody is talking about what I am destined to do. Nobody is looking for me to save them. And since Professor Snape is both teaching up the material and now that I look like my Mum, being a halfway decent human being, nobody's expecting me to teach them how to defend themselves. For the first time I can remember I've finally normal. While I'm no longer 'just Harry' like I always longed for, at least 'just Rose' is a close second."
And so it turned out that Rose did not try out for the Quidditch team. Ginny, as expected, won the position of Seeker handedly, and Ron had to quickly arrange to fill the now empty spot on the Chaser Line, which was filled by Dean Thomas, who despite not trying out for the Seeker position had brought his broom to the pitch.
"Are you going to miss it?" asked Hermione of Rose as they watched the last of the Chaser tryouts.
Discover moreCrossover story promptsCharacter development workshopFan FictionCreative writing toolsAnime merchandise store"Playing?" asked Rose. She then shrugged, "After last year, well, I only played half the games anyway, and we still won the cup, thanks to our new Seeker. Plus, while Quidditch had defined my time here at Hogwarts, since I didn't even have to try out that first year, I'm not sure if, during what time I have as Rose, I want to do everything I'd have done as Harry. I mean, I'm already better friends with Lavender and Parvati, and I mean better than I was with Dean or Seamus, about what I had with Neville, though I'm not sure if they'd follow me to the Department of Mysteries."
"I'm not sure if I'd follow you there again," said Hermione, rubbing her chest. While the curse that had nearly killed her had left naught but a scar, it was a scar that she'd carry for the rest of her life. "I mean, really, what was it worth? Sirius was killed, the rest of us nearly were, and for what? A prophesy that the Headmaster told you anyway, and the Ministry finally acknowledging what was obvious to anyone who could open their eyes? I'm still your friend, Rose, and I hope this doesn't change anything between us, but, well, being your friend, or at least, being Harry's friend, is dangerous."
"Being Harry Potter was dangerous," said Rose with a sigh. "In retrospect, I'm not sure if we should have gone anyway myself. We were honestly all quite lucky to get away with our lives, like you said. I'm not sure, if given the same chance, I'd do it again either."
Just then Luna climbed up to sit next to Rose and Hermione in the stands.
"Hey Luna," said Hermione. She then introduced her two friends, "Luna, this is Rose Evans. Rose, this is Luna Lovegood, she'd in Ravenclaw a year behind us. She might be a little odd, but she'd good people."
"Thank you Hermione for that lovely introduction," said Luna. She then looked at Rose, and studied the older girl's features. "You look happy Rose," Luna finally said after a minute of investigation.
Rose chuckled, and said with a nod, "Yeah, I think I am."
"That is a good disguise, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you really were a transfer witch for new Zealand," said Luna. She then turned to a gobsmacked Hermione, "My complements to Lavender's makeup job, but Rose's shade is a bit darker, and so the concealer over her scar is a bit easy to see if you know what to look for."
"What?" asked Rose and Hermione nearly simultaneously.
"Come now, you both didn't think that as Harry's friend I'd not be able to tell that after being cursed with a spell that was literally 'feminine change' and a frankly transparent substitution by Headmaster Dumbledore, that I'd not be able to tell that Rose is actually Harry? Plus, Rose has practically the same friends as Harry did, though she's spending more time with Lavender and Parvati. She's taking the same classes," pointed out Luna. She then pulled her wand from behind her ear, "not to mention she's using Harry's wand."
After a few seconds of silence, Rose began to chuckle.
Hermione, though, was flabbergasted, "Rose, this is no laughing matter. If Luna can figure it out, what about anyone else?"
"Hermione, it's alright. It just means I have to work that much harder to be a different person that Harry until Nurse Pompfrey and Professor Snape figure out how to change me back," said Rose.
"The important question is, 'Do you want to change back?'," Luna pointed out. Before either Rose or Hermione could say anything else to the odd blonde, Luna stood and climbed back down out of the stands.
"Of course I want to change back," insisted Rose. She then turned to Hermione, "I do want to change back."
"I believe you Rose, but you don't have to convince me," said Hermione defensively.
Two days after the second Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts, Rose and the rest of the sixth year Lions, no longer in a defensive formation, met back outside of the Defense classroom. It seemed that without Harry to get Draco defensive, and without Snape sniping at Harry for being a Potter, the Lions and Snakes were halfway civil with each other, though five years of antagonism could not be erased in a single week.
As the waited for class to begin, the two Houses chatted, Lions with Lions, and Snake with Snakes. It was only by chance that Rose, listening as Hermione explained to Neville the history of a particular curse, noticed that Draco too was not participating in the conversion among his housemates.
Instead, Draco was watching Rose, as she was now watching him. For a brief moment their eyes met, and Rose could swear she saw more than just interest in her as a new student. Even though the Hogwarts robes concealed most of the female form, Rose noticed that Draco was paying attention to what curves the loose cloth revealed.
And she wasn't sure if she didn't enjoy being admired, even if it was by the wizard that had cursed her into femininity in the first place.