AN: I guess disclaimers are a thing? Everyone should know I don't own Harry Potter. Also I am definitely not making any money off writing this. If I were I would probably update regularly. As I am not, don't expect anything from me. I am working on a Doctoral Degree in Mathematics right now, so I don't have time for much. I hope you enjoy chapter 2.

September 1st, 1991

Honestly the clues were all there. I don't know how I didn't notice it before. Ok, I know how I didn't notice it. I didn't want to notice it. Also, nothing else has been as glaring and Harry actually being Harriet. The only thing that should have given me pause but didn't at the time was the first glimpse of Hogwarts. It was so beautiful shimmering over the lake. The castle itself kind of looks like a hodgepodge of turrets and battlements, but it somehow comes together well, and when it is lit up at night it is like it is floating on the clouds. But the problem was that it first came into view when we were already in the boats. In the books it was clearly visible around a corner on the trail before they got to the boats. That was something that my presence should not have changed, but it was different. That is a geographical difference after all. So yes, this is a fanfiction and now all my plans are dead. Will the story I love even be worth watching at this point. I really don't know.

I was excited to go to Hogwarts you know. I thought I would be able to fade into the background and quietly watch my favorite story play out around me. Unfortunately, it seems that whoever wrote this fanfiction is determined to make Malfoy's sister a main character. There are two schools of thought when it comes to writing. Some writers like to present situations and see how their characters react to them. They develop the characters and do their level best to stay true to the people they have created. Naturally this can create problems if your villain kills your hero in chapter 5. If the villain encounters the hero in chapter 5, they would try to kill him, and usually at that point the hero is too weak to fight back. Most people try to walk the fine line between that and our second type of writers, the ones that map out every plot point exactly and force their characters to follow their story. If this is done incorrectly you run the problem of the characters being inconsistent, acting out of character, or introducing a random saving item or person that will never be seen again. Obviously, you don't want that. The problem is, the more I live this new life, the more I'm convinced the author of this reality is firmly in the second category. The story is already written, and I don't know if I have the power to change it. The problem is that I don't think I like my role in this upcoming story. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

My name is Lyra Malfoy. In my last life I was called Jessica Anderson, and I was a huge Harry Potter fan. I can't even count how many times I read those books. I was known to complain loudly about how much the movies messed up the story. I read every scrap of information that J.K. Rowling put on Pottermore. Then, when I was 22, I was hit by a van and died. I reincarnated as Malfoy's sister in what I thought was the Harry Potter universe. Turns out I was wrong. This story was not written by Rowling, but by one of her fans. I have no idea who, and the whole Harry Potter fanfiction universe was so big it was practically alive at the point when I died. I first realized the divergence on September 1st.

We had the perfect sendoff. I must say it's hilarious being part of a "perfect pureblood family." Everything we do is exact and thought out. Appearance is everything in this family. We flooed into Platform 9 ¾, because purebloods should not associate with muggles, so the barrier was out, at precisely 10:30, because a half-hour is the perfect amount of time for a dignified goodbye and to find ourselves a compartment for the journey. Next was the parting instructions.

"Draco, Lyra," Father nodded to us both, "I expect you to be the top two students in your year. No exceptions." We nodded back. Of course, I know there is no way to beat Hermione for top spot, but it's all about appearance after all. "You will be a tribute to Salazar Slytherin's house." I winced internally. I wasn't planning on being in Slytherin. I only hoped they wouldn't be upset since I wouldn't be in Gryffindor either. Externally I, of course, nodded while Draco preened. He was never as good at his emotionless public Slytherin mask after all.

"Of course, Father." I stated, cutting Draco off from saying something that would probably make a fool of himself. He frowned at me.

Next was the sorrowful mother's goodbye. Mother wrapped us both in a hug. It lasted precisely 3 seconds, since she should be sad but not show weakness so that is the perfect amount of time. Sometimes I wonder if my family are secretly robots. "Both of you just do your best. We will be proud of you no matter what." A single tear streamed down her face. I really wonder if that would hold true if I was in Gryffindor. Luckily, I won't have to find out.

Our trunks were handed to us. Father had used a spell earlier to make them light enough for us to carry. "I expect you to learn that spell before you come home for Yule," he had said. "It wouldn't do for a Malfoy to be seen struggling to carry anything like a common muggle." I cannot stress how much appearance matters in this family.

That was the end of our proper goodbye, so with one last look back we boarded.

We had barely gotten settled when two small gorillas walked into the compartment. I was immensely confused until Draco addressed them.

"Ah, yes, Crabb, Goyle." He nodded to them each in turn.

I can't believe I forgot about Crabb and Goyle. Looking back, I can't remember ever meeting them before, but they and Draco were supposed to be inseparable from the very beginning. I thought they were good friends of his, but I'm sure this is the first meeting. And I'm still not convinced they aren't gorillas.

They grunted in response.

I sidled over to Draco to have a whispered conversation with him. I was pretty sure the gorillas wouldn't understand anything I said, but better safe than sorry.

"What are those things?"

"Honestly Lyra, were you not listening to Father this morning at breakfast?"

I thought back to breakfast. Was Father speaking then? I was too busy thinking about what would happen today to pay attention. I sheepishly looked away.

"Their families owe ours a big favor, so Father enlisted them to help us out while at Hogwarts."

Is that how it happened? "Like servants?"

Draco scratched the back of his head. Somehow that action didn't manage mess up the hair that had been plastered to his head. Must be magic? "I wouldn't say it like that." He finally replied.

"So… more like minions?"

Draco rolled his eyes. I'm happy to know that he still feels comfortable showing such emotions with me. Or maybe I just take delight is pushing his buttons. It remains to be seen. "I guess that is a better way to put it, but I would have called them friends instead."

"I'm pretty sure true friends don't have to be coerced into it."

"Whatever." Draco mumbled and sat down, sulking.

I smirked and sat down opposite him, pulling out one of my coursebooks to read on the ride. I knew it would be a few hours till I could watch Draco interact with Harry again.

I was deeply engrossed in my transfiguration text when Draco shook me roughly. The theories behind transfiguration made no sense with my knowledge of modern chemistry. I think that magic is based off Aristotelian theories. For those of you who don't know Aristotle was wrong about a lot of things. His theories were taken as facts and set back sciences for the next several thousand years. They are one of the leading causes of the Dark ages. But somehow magic theory is based off that. It really is fascinating, and I found myself wondering what would happen if I were to apply modern science to it instead. My thoughts were interrupted by my brother.

"What's happening?"

"We are going to meet Potter. My informants have found out which car she is in."

The fated meeting. My inner fangirl started to squeal. I smiled and stood up. "I will be joining you."

Draco nodded and left the compartment, a gorilla on each side. I followed a few steps behind. Two train cars down and we were waylaid by a strange girl. She had the frizziest hair I had ever seen and, wait is that Hermione? Her front teeth were enormous, and I half expected her to speak funny. Apart from the hair and teeth she was rather adorable though. I could see how her fourth-year transformation would work in her favor.

"Have any of you seen a toad? A boy names Neville has lost one."

Her tone was rather arrogant as well. Bossy know-it-all indeed. Draco did not like that one bit.

"No, we haven't, and we are on important business." He sneered at her. "How dare you interrupt with something so trivial."

Hermione looked affronted. Then she put on a determined face. "Well excuse me mister high-and-mighty. I'm only trying to help a fellow student. What makes you think your business is more important than that?" The way she said business was rather sarcastic and condescending. This wasn't even the confrontation I was following to see but I was getting excited. This was a great scene that didn't even happen in the books.

"What..." Draco seemed lost for words. "How dare… Excuse yo… Do you not know who I am?"

"No, I don't." She practically spat the words at him, "and I don't care to."

Hermione brushed past us, bushy hair bouncing along. Draco just stared after her with shock and, is that a blush on his face? Was he attracted by that incident? This is a whole new territory! Did Draco have a crush on Hermione first year? I guess it must have been stamped out once he realized she was a muggleborn. He eventually shook himself off and headed down the hall to his destiny.

Without even knocking he had gorilla 1 open the compartment door. I looked in over his shoulder to see Harry and Ron sitting there with a pile of sweets around them. There were wrappers strewn everywhere, and Ron was currently stuffing his face with vigor, not even perturbed by the new arrivals. It was actually rather disgusting to see.

Draco looked at him with disgust before turning to the tiny little Harry Potter. "So, it's true what they are saying down the train, Harriet Potter has come to Hogwarts. It's you isn't it." I looked over at Harry when he started talking and he quickly looked away. He was staring at me again, wasn't he?

He didn't respond, so Draco continued. "This is Crabb, and that's Goyle." He pointed out the gorillas on either side. "I'm Draco Malfoy." I don't know if he forgot about me behind him, or if he was just interrupted by Ron snorting into his Cauldron Cake.

"Think my name is funny is it? Of course with your ruffled state and red hair you would be a Weasley." That wasn't exactly what he was supposed to say. Was my presence changing him without me meaning to? He turned back to Harry. "You will soon learn, Potter, that some families are better than others. I can help you there." He held out his hand, only to realize that Harry was, once again, looking at me instead.

Harry glanced at his hand and back at him. "Um, no thanks, I think I'm ok on that." Draco was shocked and was once again ignored as Harry addressed me directly. "But you know, you could come join us if you want Miss…"

Draco turned back to me, opening Harry's vision further to see me as everyone turned to me as one. Even Ron looked confused by Harry's sudden attention.

My pureblood etiquette training kicked in before my brain rebooted. I found myself in a curtsy. "Malfoy, Lyra Malfoy." I responded.

"You can call me Harry." He sent me a dazzling smile, and was that a sultry tone? Was he flirting with me? Once again, I thought we were all 11 here, and Harry looks like he is 9, so what is up with that tone? "You know we have more sweets than we can handle." Ron looked offended by that. "You are welcome to share."

"Uh…" I seriously didn't know what to do. I was supposed to just be watching the exchange, not participating. "No thanks, I think we should be getting back to our compartment." I grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him away. He was too shocked to even respond and allowed me to lead him away. Gorillas one and two did not seem coherent enough to be shocked, but instead obediently followed.

The rest of the ride proceeded without incident. I returned to my transfiguration studies, all commenting on how it was harder to transfigure things to different humor states or different states of matter. Humors of course referring to the Aristotle theory on the substances in the human body. Once again, it is utter garbage. It got me wondering if the biggest challenge to transfiguration is people's own minds. Most of the exercises have us transfiguring things that seem similar: a match into a needle, a hedgehog into a pincushion, a beetle into a button, etc. Maybe people think that similar things are easier to transfigure, but if the molecular structure is different then that shouldn't make a difference should it? This will take some serious experimentation and study to figure out. Wow I am such a nerd aren't I. Did I mention I majored in Chemistry?

The trip on the boats was beautiful, and the first glimpse of Hogwarts over the water was amazing. We got into the chamber outside the great hall and McGonagall gave her spiel. That, at least, was word-for-word what I remembered. Then she left us, and I looked around, trying to recognize everyone. The Patil twins were obvious, being the only ones of Indian descent there. I saw a chubby boy next to Hermione that must have been Neville. Other than that, I only really recognized Ron and Harry. Everyone else was mostly NPCs at this point, but I was hoping to see some of the characters we get to know later, like Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot. I guess I did recognize Nott. He was at a few family parties in the past though so that doesn't really count.

With nobody else to observe I looked back to Harry. Luckily, he wasn't looking at me. He looked rather nervous. His feet were turned in and his knees were visibly pointing inward just under his skirt line. Wait…. skirt line? Harry was wearing a skirt…. Harry is a girl…... How did I not remember that? Immediately I recalled Father complaining about Harriet Potter…. Harriet Potter. It was always Harriet Potter wasn't it? It's like my brain was constantly blocking me from noticing. Draco even called her Harriet on the train earlier and I ignored it. She did say I could call her Harry though.

No wonder things were different. Harry was a girl this whole time. She is quite cute. A petite little thing with short curly hair, big round glasses, and vibrant green eyes. But if Harry is a girl then what else is different? I found myself thinking back on everything that was different, and the problems kept building.

Harry looked way worse than she should, like the Dursleys were actually physically abusive.

Platform 9 ¾ had a floo that we used, but if that was true in cannon the Weasleys should have as well.

The first glimpse of Hogwarts that I got was when I was already in the boats, when in the book it clearly happened on the trail to the lake.

Draco seemed to have a crush on Hermione from the first encounter, which never happened in the books.

Harry seems to have a crush on me, which is awkward since Harry and I are both girls, and I am straight.

This is bad, really bad. It was all the little things, but it painted a dangerous picture. This isn't Harry Potter that I reincarnated into. This is some alternate universe instead. This is some sort of Harry Potter fanfiction.

If this is a fanfiction than all my future knowledge goes out the window. Who knows what events will stay the same? Is this a mostly cannon Dramione story? Is this a totally different Harry beats Voldemort by 5th year story? What is going to happen next? I honestly don't know anymore.