"So, Hermione, I need your help with something," said Rose once she'd gotten back to the tower.
"What did you need?" asked Hermione, putting down her book.
Rose walked over and sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, "Well, you know how there's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up?"
"Yeah, so," said Hermione. She then paled, "Are they not letting you go since, as Rose, you don't have permission?"
Rose shook her head, "No, no, nothing like that. At least, I hope not. No, it's just, well, Draco wanted to show me around the village, since as Rose, I'm new and all, but I didn't know how to tell Ron."
"Oh, yeah, that's not going to go very well," said Hermione with a sigh.
"I mean, I still like Ron as a friend, he's the first friend I've ever had, but as we both know, he's got the emotional depth of a teaspoon, is about as dependable as a distracted squirrel, and his family and Draco's are about as friendly as rabid dogs," said Rose metaphorically.
"I could help," said Lavender from her bed.
"What?" asked Rose, turning around to look at the girl she assumed was already asleep.
"Well, I mean, Ron's the Quidditch Captain, he's a Prefect, and he's actually pretty handsome. If you want, I'll ask him to escort me to Hogsmeade, so you can have your date with Draco," the blonde offered.
"It's not a date," denied Rose.
"Well, it's sort of a date," pointed out Hermione.
"I'm sorry, but we're not going anywhere near Puddifoot's, and if he offers, then I'll just leave him right there," declared Rose.
"Bad experience?" asked Lavender.
"Last year, for the Valentine's Hogsmeade Day, Harry had a date with Cho. They went to Madam Puddifoot's, but since that was the day that I arranged the interview with Skeeter and Lovegood about Voldemort's return, he mentioned me, and it didn't go very well," described Hermione.
"All she did was cry and talk about Cedric," said Rose. "I mean, I understand the appeal of the place, from an objective viewpoint, but I'd rather face Voldemort unarmed and in my knickers than go back there again," said Rose.
"Well, I'll see if I can't help get Ron out of your hair, and if I'm lucky, maybe I'll be able to get him to Puddifoot's myself," said Lavender with a devious grin.
"Mr. Malfoy, a moment of your time," asked Professor Snape on Wednesday evening before supper.
"Of course Professor Snape," said Draco, following his Head of House to the office he kept near the Slytherin dungeon. It had been his only office for nearly fifteen years before Dumbledore had finally let him take the position as Defense Professor, when Snape had been forced to separate his Head of House office from his Professorial office, which was further above ground, next to the Defense classroom.
Once the door to the office was closed, both Draco and Snape relaxed, "I hear through the gossip that you're escorting Ms. Evans to Hogsmeade this weekend.
Draco nodded, "Yes sir, she's a marvelous witch, and we've become fast friends."
"Friends, or something more?" asked Snape.
"I'm not sure what you're implying Professor," said Draco.
"What are your intentions towards Ms. Evans?" asked Snape.
"Is this because you knew her mum at Hogwarts? I mean, you said to treat her like your niece, so I've been as respectful as possible. Plus, she asked me to ask her, so really, she asked me to Hogsmeade," said Draco defensively.
Snape raised an eyebrow, "I see." He then cautiously sat down behind his desk, gesturing for Draco to take the seat before it. "I did indeed know her mother at Hogwarts, though I had a falling out with her when we were both about the same age you and Rose are."
"I see, and you don't want history to repeat itself?" asked Draco.
"I do not want to see her get hurt," said Snape, surprising himself with his honesty. When Harry had been the spitting image of James Potter, he was easy to hate, easy to put into a box of 'troublemaker
or 'dunderhead' or even 'imbecile'. As Rose, though, Snape could not do that, since, instead of the image of the man who stole his love from him, Rose looked like the woman who stole his heart.
"Well, right now we're friends," admitted Draco. "I don't know if it'll ever be more than that. I mean, she's smart, she's funny, and she's just devious enough to make me think that she may be one of the mythical 'truest Slytherins'. Other times she's as honest and loyal as a Badger, as wise and inquisitive as an Eagle, or as brash and forthright as a Lion."
"We all have elements of the other Houses in who we are," admitted Snape. "You might find that, in the right circumstances, you'll have the courage of a Lion, the Loyalty of a Badger, or the wisdom of an Eagle yourself, in addition to the ambition of a Snake. It does not happen often, but even I have touched the bravery of a Lion on occasion."
"I want to be brave, to go further with her, but I'm afraid," said Draco.
"Afraid?" asked Snape.
"I'm afraid of what the Dark Lord might do if he finds out about her," admitted Draco. "She's a half-blood, so it's not an instant death in her future, but if the Dark Lord believes that she's not pure enough, not worthy enough, I don't want her to die."
Snape sighed, he too knew that feeling, of not wanting the one you cared about to come to harm. Unfortunately for him, and for Lily, he lost her before he could keep her safe. "Mr. Malfoy, should it come it that, and I do not believe that it will, I will support any decision you make with regards to Ms. Evans, even if it defies the Dark Lord himself."
Draco gasped in shock, "Professor?"
"I'm not just your Professor or Head of House, Draco, I'm your Godfather, and it is my duty to watch out for your, even if it puts myself in danger. While I hope that it does not happen, for you and Rose, well, I lost her mother because I made the wrong decision, between what was right and what was easy, I pray that you don't have to choose the path I did."
Draco didn't know what to say in response, and so the office fell into silence.
"You may go, Mr. Malfoy," said Snape, gesturing to the door.
"Thank … thank you Professor," said Draco, getting up and making his way out of the office.
After Draco left, Severus thought about how the former Mr. Potter had changed, and how that change had affected him. He'd been charged nearly a month ago to discover the curse that befell Mr. Potter and determine if it could be reversed, and if so, how.
The curse itself was difficult to find reference to, and he'd had to dig deep into the Restricted Section, as well as both his own Library, and ironically, the Library now owned by the former Mr. Potter at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
He had, though, found out what the curse actually did, and what it had initially been used for. He also knew why it fell out of favor. His problem, though, came down to his hatred of James Potter, and by extension, his hatred of Harry Potter. While he had yet to discover the proper counter, he knew that it existed by references, but he was unsure if he'd share that discovery once it was made. Did his love of Lily outweigh his fear of Dumbledore, or did his fear of the Dark Lord outweigh his hatred of James Potter?
"It's now been four weeks since Mr. Potter was cursed," said Albus, sitting behind his desk. Before it sat Severus, Poppy, and Minerva. He looked first to his Deputy Headmistress, "How is Ms. Evans doing?"
"She's doing remarkably well, better even then she did as Mr. Potter," admitted Minerva. "She had more self confidence, and self respect, but also thinks more about how her actions will effect others. I think her effort to keep her status hidden from the majority of the school has also encouraged her mind, as she seems to be studying much more, and her essays are showing much more independent thought, no longer parroting the efforts of Ms. Granger."
Albus nodded. He then looked to Poppy, "I saw reference to Ms. Evans visiting your care last weekend, is there something we should be worried about?"
Poppy smiled, "No, not at all. Actually, she seems to be a perfectly normal sixteen year old witch, though this was her first period. She was unprepared for it, but I've since taught her the basic charms all of our witches are expected to know. I've already started her on the standard witch's regimen, though I suggest you inform me before you counter the curse, since the potions have a detrimental effect on a wizard's magic and virility."
"So it's more than just a cosmetic change then?" asked Albus.
"Oh, very much so," said Poppy. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was born a girl. Even my most sensitive spells only register a slight increase in foreign magic, though with her curse scar from You-Know-Who's first defeat still upon her, it's only slight in comparison. She registers as female for all of the wards, which is good since she's staying in the sixth years' witches dorm in Gryffindor."
"Indeed?" asked Albus, looking agin to Minerva.
"When I first met her in the fifth year dorm, Ms. Weasley's room, I already knew she'd be fine living with the other witches. Had there been a problem, it would have crept up before we were even involved," Minerva pointed out. "I didn't mention it to you specifically, since I had already mentioned the circumstances of her discovery."
Albus chuckled, "That you did, that you did." He looked back to Poppy, "So, beyond her medical needs, were you able to discover anything about the curse?"
"As I said, I could barely distinguish there was a curse, both four weeks ago during her initial check, and last weekend when she came to me with feminine problems," said Poppy. "I called around, anonymously, to my fellow healers, as well as few generalists I know by reputation, but the curse is unknown to them all."
"I can explain that," said Severus.
"You can?" asked Albus.
"It is an old cruse, early twelfth century, Norman in origin," explained Severus. "It's properly called the 'Maiden's Blessing', at least, that's what it was popularized as during it's use among the pureblood families of the time. It was mainly used as a matrimonial charm, to change second and third sons into wives. In addition to the virginity it ensures, it also induces a mild compulsion, much weaker than even the weakest potion, that encourages the victim to think of their attacker in a positive light."
"So that explains her friendship with Mr. Malfoy," noted Minerva.
"It would, if the compulsion didn't fade within a week without intercourse to cement it," said Severus. "After the twenty-eighth, all of Ms. Evans' decisions in regards to Mr. Malfoy were of her own design, rather than any lingering side effects."
"I see," said Albus. "And have you discovered the counter?"
Severus shook his head, "No, I've not. So far I've only discovered the source of the curse from third and fourth hand references, though I suspect that a more diligent investigation of a Darker nature might reveal more. About that only good news, if you would call it that, is that there were circumstances of the curse being countered, though again, no details beyond the fact that it occurred."
"Will you be needing to exploit your more dangerous resources to discover it?"
"I doubt it, as based on the history I should be able to find something at Malfoy Manor. I have been called there for a meeting on the morrow, and so if the reference still exists, I should be able to discover it then and there."
"Be careful, should Voldemort discover that the curse exists, and that it was used on Mr. Potter, then Ms. Evans will be in even more danger than before, if only because she has let her guard down in hiding," said Albus.
"I will endeavor to do so."
Albus then cheered, "Well, since we have time before Mr. Potter returns to us, I guess I will have to proceed with Ms. Evans instead. Minerva, if you would inform Ms. Evans that I will need to meet with her on monday night to continue the training she began in September, that would be appreciated. I do not plan on changing my password until afterwards."
"Of course Albus," said Minerva.
"What should I wear?" asked Rose, sorting through the clothes in her wardrobe. Unlike in the boys dorm, where the clothes were just folded and left in the trunk, in the girls dorm each had a wardrobe to hang their clothes in. While Rose cared not either way, it did make sorting through them slightly easier. If she could decide what to wear.
"Well, there's three inches of snow on the ground, and more on the way, so whatever it is you decide on, make sure it's warm," said Hermione.
"Or at least, properly charmed," added Parvati. She was wearing a pair of pants over tights, and was putting on her third jumper.
"Ooh, good point," said Lavender, who was looking over Rose's shoulder into the wardrobe. The blonde grabbed the dark red peacoat that had subtle golden accents, "Here's your foundation piece. Since it's so cold, you're not going to be taking this off, so everything else will have to work around this."
"Ah, well, I guess …" said Rose. She then grabbed a black jumper and a crimson turtleneck, "I think these should work fine for the tops."
"Ah, good choice. Black and Red as your primaries with gold for accent," said Lavender nodding. She then pointed to a long woolen skirt, "There, that one."
The skirt was nearly the same shade as the turtleneck, and had embroidered celtic knot work along the hem, "I'm thinking that I may have limited myself in taking Professor McGonagall with me shopping. My casual clothes seems to be rather monochromatic."
"Eh, with your hair and skin, the darker reds actually work pretty well. Now, if you had Ginny's, you'd need to go with a whole different palate, but with your darker hair, it's fine," said Lavender. "Now that we have your clothes, let's start with the intimates."
Rose selected a rather simple bra and knicker set in black, and also a black pair of tights. After putting them on, and before she could start with the next layer, lavender stopped her, "Ah, well, there's one more thing we need to do."
"What?" asked Rose.
"Warming charms," said Parvati.
Rose grabbed her wand, "And where exactly are they going?"
"Bra, knickers, tights," said Lavender. As she said that, Rose cast the charms. Already she noticed how much better she felt, even though she hadn't realized how chilly the dorm was. "Better, right?"
"Much," said Lavender. "Now, one day you might decide to skip the charm on the bra, but since this is your first date, it's best not to go that far ahead."
"Why would I skip the bra?" asked Rose.
"Come now, you were a boy, surely you're familiar with the effects of the cold on a woman's breasts?" asked Parvati with a snicker.
"Ah, of course," said Rose with a bit of a blush.
"No matter, let's get you dressed," said Lavender.
Ten minutes later Rose was fully dressed, her skirt falling to her ankles, leaving just enough space for it to clear the top of the snow outside. Her peacoat was open at the lapel, revealing her black jumper and the collar of her turtleneck.
"Now, this is how you'll want to wear it until you're actually outside," said Lavender. "Once it the weather, button all the way up."
"Gotcha," said Rose.
"Here Rose, I have something for you," said Hermione, grabbing a box wrapped with a gold ribbon from her own wardrobe. "I was going to give these to you at Christmas, that is, if you were still Rose and not back to Harry, but I got them done early, so I thought today, pretty much the one-month anniversary of your transformation, would be better."
"Thanks Hermione," said Rose, accepting the gift. She pulled the ribbon, and then opened the box. On a bed a white tissue were four knit accessories.
"I got really good a knitting for S.P.E.W., so I thought these would be good," said Hermione.
Rose picked up the pair of mittens, and smiled at the softness. She tested one out, and noticed that they were lined.
"I lined them with felt, to keep the wind out, but I also added some runes," said Hermione. She picked up the large beret, turning it inside out, revealing the golden felt lining inside the knit red shell. "See, look closely," she said.
Rose did, and noticed fine gold and silver threads, nearly lost in the golden felt.
"These will stop the wind from getting it, they'll keep you warm, and since they're runic based, they'll never need to be re-cast," she said. "For the scarf, the lining is between the two layers, so while you can't see it, it'll be there, keeping you warm."
Rose smiled, and then wrapped her best friend in a hug, "Thank you Hermione. These are the most thoughtful gifts I've gotten since, well, a long time." Rose then stepped back. She took off the mittens he wore and put it in the outer pocket of the peacoat. The opposite pocket was quickly filled with the other mitten, while the scarf was loosely wrapped around her neck, and the beret, with some help form Hermione, was placed such that it caught most of her hair within it, though still keeping her head warm. Rose then stepped over to the mirror that was next to the door out of the dorm and spun around, looking at all of her ensemble.
She then smiled, knowing that she was beautiful, and that, no matter what Ron claimed, she wasn't losing herself to femininity, just enjoying the ride.