Author's Note: Before you get started, you should know that I began this story before the release of the fifth book so some inconsistencies apply, but aren't a big detriment to the story. So please, enjoy :)
The Exchange - Haley JonesHe could feel the headache already.
Professor Severus Snape shook his head knowing that in a few short moments, his most prized students, the seventh year Slytherins, were going to enter his classroom. The only problem was that his most detested students, the Gryffindors, were going to enter as well. Then there would be yelling, insulting, pranking, snickering, and even more yelling.
Yes. He could feel the headache already.
And at that moment, his favorite student by the name of Draco Malfoy stepped in with his two lackeys at his side. The blonde Slytherin greeted the professor and Snape nodded his greeting in return. As the trio took their seats, Pansy Parkinson stepped in, taking a seat behind Draco, the object of her affections, followed by Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom. In singles or in groups, the students began to pile in, the most famous trio of Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter, stepping in last.
"All right, class. Today, we will be making the Transpartium Potion in groups of two." Snape sneered. "I have already paired you off." Snape called off the pairs and after moments of groaning, the students reluctantly partnered off.
Harry sighed inwardly as he picked up his cauldron and sat down next to Neville. He greeted the boy and listened to Snape's instructions.
"When made correctly," the professor tossed a look at Longbottom who instantly paled. "The potion will transport its drinker just outside the room. Begin!"
Throughout the class, partners yelled at each other to get things cut properly and a number of insults were exchanged from Ron to Crabbe and vice versa.
Harry and Neville began cutting up the necessary ingredients, Neville having to stop several times to ask Harry what Snape had said.
'I really hope we get this right.' Harry thought to himself. 'Especially if I'm the one who has to drink it.' The Boy Who Lived didn't notice the fact that Neville, who was currently daydreaming about Ginny Weasley, was stirring the potion clockwise instead of counter-clockwise as Snape had directed. He also didn't spot Neville adding Wolfsbane rather than Dragon's Breath. And he also didn't see that Neville had minced rather than diced the Wiggin's Leaf.
Just before class ended, Snape called the pairs up one by one, picking one of the two to test the potion they had just created. So far, all partners had made it out of the room without much damage except for the fact that Seamus, who was paired off with Goyle, had made it out of the room without any clothes. The final pair was Harry and Neville.
"Potter, drink." Snape ordered.
Harry scooped some of the potion into a vial and stared at the strange silvery mixture. "Here goes." He murmured to himself before downing the potion in one quick gulp. He waited, but nothing happened. Again, Neville paled before looking up at the greasy professor who was currently sneering at the pair.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor for a failed potion." Snape glared.
"Professor, that's not fair!" Hermione tried to argue.
"And another ten for your little outburst Granger. Would you like to make it twenty?" Hermione sank back into her seat, keeping her mouth shut. Snape shook his head and with a wave of his hand dismissed the class.
"That was a little odd." Harry said, when reaching his two best friends. "The potion didn't do a thing. If I turned purple, that would make more sense. This 'nothingness' is a little…uncomforting."
"Don't worry about it, mate. Would you rather have it change you into rat?" Ron said, reaching for his girlfriend's hand. Hermione willingly hung on.
The three were the last ones out the door when Harry felt a strange rumbling in his stomach.
"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione looked at her friend, worry evident in her eyes.
"I think that potion is kicking in…" Harry clutched his stomach before bending over. He felt his hair grow at an alarming rate while there was a strange pulling sensation in his chest. A minute after it had begun, it had stopped.
"Harry?" Ron stared at his friend in shock who was pointing at Harry's chest. Harry looked down to see two somewhat large breasts. His hair now fell down to the small of his back and something was definitely missing from between his legs.
"What happened?!" Harry cried, hearing that his voice was an octave higher than his normal voice.
"Come on, Harry." Hermione grabbed Harry wrist and pulled what used to be a him back into Snape's classroom. Snape was currently at his desk marking up some papers. "Professor!" The head of Slytherin looked up and did a double take when his eyes landed on the 'new girl.' "Professor, the potion Harry drank turned him into…this." She said, waving her hand over Harry.
Snape couldn't help but snicker. What a precious day it was to see his least favorite student trapped in a form not his own.
"Professor, this is no laughing matter!" Harry complained, only adding to Snape's snickering at the sound of the Harry's voice.
"Professor, please. Harry can't stay a girl!" Ron said.
Snape gained control of himself. "I can't say that I've seen this happen before, Potter. I doubt that anyone in the wizarding world has seen this."
"You can't be serious." Harry paled. "I don't want to stay a girl."
Snape stood up from his desk. "You two," he motioned to Ron and Hermione, "Get to class. Tell your teacher that Mr. Potter will not be joining you. And as for you," he looked at the raven-haired girl. "Follow me. We shall see what Professor Dumbledore has to say."
They all went their prospective ways, Harry and the Potions Professor making their way to Dumbledore's office.
"Whachamacallit." Snape said, causing the eagle statue to move from its place as well as Harry's eyebrow to arch. The student and teacher went up the staircase and walked through the Headmaster's door. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk as if already expecting the pair to come.
"Professor Snape. How may I help you?" Dumbledore asked, a twinkle in his ever-knowing eyes as he looked from the Potions Master to the young female standing next to him.
"It seems to me that we have a problem." Snape looked at Harry from the corner of his eye back to Dumbledore. "Mr. Potter here has taken a potion that has…transformed him, as you can see."
Dumbledore smiled. "Ah. Mr. Potter. Even after the Dark Lord's vanquished, you still seem to find trouble for yourself." Harry blushed and looked at her feet.
"I have never seen this take place, Albus. Perhaps, you have?"
"I'm afraid not, Severus. But I do believe that you as our Potions Master are skilled enough to bring Mr. Potter back to normal?" Snape merely nodded.
"But sir," Harry interrupted. "What do I do until then? I don't want to go around Hogwarts being a girl."
"We don't seem to have a choice, Harry. But, to save you some embarrassment, we can make a new identity for you."
Harry tossed a puzzled look towards the Headmaster.
"Instead of Harry Potter, you shall be someone else. Make sure to cover your scar to make it convincing. If done correctly and carefully, your peers might not realize who you truly are. But your teachers will have to know of course, for the sake of your classes."
"Where will I sleep? A girl can't stay in the boys' dorms and I don't think I should be able to stay in the girls' dorms."
"You will have to be somewhere where Severus can keep an eye on you."
"You don't mean-" Snape started.
"Yes, Severus. Harry, as a girl, will be a Slytherin." Harry's jaw dropped and even Snape couldn't control his shock. "If Harry is in Slytherin, you can keep a sharp watch on him without causing too much suspicion. If any other house member were to enter the Slytherin common room, I doubt the result would be appealing."
"But-but, sir! Slytherin?!" Harry sputtered.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. A Gryffindor through and through. Only until Severus can find an antidote to the concoction made in your class." Harry sighed, seeing no way around it. "Severus, make sure Mr. Potter has his own room as to not inconvenience the boys or girls in the seventh year dormitories. And see to it that he has his own robes and new uniforms."
Harry started at the phrase 'new uniforms'. "Sir? I'm going to have to wear a-a-"
Dumbledore nodded. "Suspicion shall arise if you do not."
Snape smirked, knowingly. What a precious day it was indeed. He looked down at the distraught girl. "So Potter. What size skirt shall I get for you?"
Harry glared at her professor. Her whole world was turning upside down. She was going to be a girl for who knows how long, she has to wear a girl's uniform, and to make matters worse, she has to live with the people who most despise her, the Slytherins. 'Could this day get any worse?'
"All right, Severus, please show Mr. Potter where he shall be staying. Mr. Potter, your belongings will be moved to your new room. If either of you need anymore assistance, I'll be here."
Snape gave a short nod to the Headmaster before turning on his heel back down the steps.
"Oh wait! Professor Dumbledore!" Harry said, a problem coming to her mind.
"Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"Won't the others think it strange that I'm gone and some girl is in my place?"
The twinkle in the Headmaster's eye was even more evident at this question. "Don't worry about it, Mr. Potter. I'll take care of that particular problem."
"Come along, Potter." Snape sneered from the doorway.
Harry looked from the Potions Master to the Headmaster and back again. "Right then. Good day, Professor."
"Good day, Mr. Potter."
And with that, Harry stepped out of the office and onto the staircase. 'Good day in deed.'
"Hurry along, Potter." Snape took long strides down several corridors towards the dungeons. He came to a stop at a bare stone wall. "Subtilis." The wall split to reveal the entrance to the Slytherin common room. "Remember that password, Potter. I will not repeat it for you. And if I see you stuck outside, I will leave you there." He said all this without looking at the seventeen year old.
Harry continued to follow the head of Slytherin into the man's personal quarters. The door from the common room led them into a separate living quarter where numerous ingredients were held along the walls. On the right side of the room held a work station, obviously for Snape's personal concoctions. To the left was a desk with piles of parchment on them. At the far end of the room was another door, most likely for Snape's bed and such. Snape walked to his desk and pulled out a key from one of the drawers.
"There are two locked rooms across from this room. The room to your right is yours. They're for the Head Boy or Head Girl, if one is chosen from Slytherin. As you should know, that means the room on the left is taken. Remember that. I don't want our Head Boy complaining to me that you've been trying to break into his room."
Harry rolled her eyes, remembering that Draco Malfoy was chosen to be Head Boy this year. That would mean she'd be sleeping one room away from her now number one enemy.
"Since Miss Granger is obviously not in Slytherin, thank goodness, the other room is yours."
"Why do I need a key? Why can't I just use magic if I need to lock it?" Harry just stared at the key in the professor's hand.
Snape rolled his eyes. "Remember what house you're in, Potter. Slytherins aren't known for being celibate. They could remove the locking spell with a wave of their wands if need be." Harry instantly flushed before snatching the key from Snape's hand. "Go change. It's absolutely horrid seeing Gryffindor robes in the home of the Slytherin."
Harry glared at the man before leaving to go to her own room. Harry unlocked the door and was greeted by green and silver tapestries on every wall. The bed was queen size much nicer than the usual twin size in normal dorms. The cherry oak, four-post bed had green sheets of satin and the pillows were a mixture of silver, green, and white. Her trunk was already at the foot of her bed and a whole new set of girls' uniform as well as Slytherin robes were hanging in the wardrobe on his right. In the furthest right corner was a door, presumably to her own bathroom while a desk with more of Harry's things on top of it was located to her left. The stone walls, ceiling, and floor, made the room seem colder.
'Perfect for a Slytherin.' Harry scoffed. She walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a uniform. The actual thought of having to wear a skirt sent shivers down her spine. But, having no real choice in the matter, defeated, Harry began to undress to redress herself into girls' clothing. She absolutely refused to wear anything but his boxer underneath. She struggled a bit with the bra, not really understanding how girls did this all the time.
When redressed, Harry walked into the bathroom and looked into the full-length mirror. If she hadn't known any better, she wouldn't have recognized herself. Her usually messy hair looked great when long. It seemed that the longer her hair was, the tamer it was. Her female instincts took over for a second as she grabbed a comb and parted her hair on one side to cover the side of her forehead where the telltale scar lay. Happy with the result, Harry squeaked, though she would never admit that to anyone. She turned to the side and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She switched sides and repeated the action.
'Not bad.' Harry thought, before mentally slapping herself. 'No, I will not check myself out. No. Never.' At that thought, Harry left the bathroom and her room and crossed the common room to Snape's room. She knocked on the door and after hearing "What?!" from Snape, she entered.
The Potions Master almost burst out with laughter at the sight of Harry only because of the thought that it was in fact Harry underneath the girl's form. But to keep his reputation, he merely sneered. "May I help you?"
"I was wondering about my classes. Do I take them as I usually do or does that have to change as well?" Harry asked, feeling self-conscious and tugging the bottom of her skirt to make it somewhat lower.
Snape thought about this for a bit. "Well, we can't have a Slytherin hopping around with the Gryffindors so you'll have to rearrange your classes to have them with your 'peers'."
Harry sighed.
"Also, you'll have to eat with them as well. Can't have a Slytherin at the Gryffindor's table, now can we?" Snape said, obviously having fun with changing the Gryffindor-at-heart into a have-to-be-Slytherin. "And another thing, about your friends."
"No." Harry shook her head, her hair flying about her. "I will give up my Gryffindor room. I will give up my Gryffindor robes. I will even leave my seat at the Gryffindor table, but I will absolutely not give up my Gryffindor friends!"
Snape was about to retort when a knock came upon his door.
"What?" Snape barked.
A blonde head poked into the doorway looking from the Potions Master to the emerald-eyed girl. "Sorry, professor. Am I interrupting something?"
"No, Mr. Malfoy. May I help you with something?" Snape cocked an eyebrow.
"Well, sir," Malfoy stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He looked timidly at the girl then back at the professor. "I did some thinking during my Arithmancy class."
"As if you're not supposed to think in Arithmancy..." Harry murmured.
Draco and Snape both heard the comment earning a glare from Snape and a look of puzzlement from Malfoy. "Continue, Mr. Malfoy." Snape sneered at the girl.
"Well, I was thinking about that potion Potter drank." Harry started at the mention of her name. That was the last thing she expected. "It seems a bit…off…that nothing happened. Don't you think so?"
"How are you so sure that something didn't happen, Mr. Malfoy? Right at this moment, Mr. Potter could be in the hospital wing coughing up spiders."
Draco's eyes widened with what? Shock? Worry? Harry couldn't tell for as soon as it had come, it had vanished after Draco tossed a look at her again.
"W-What-" Draco started.
"Mr. Malfoy, I assure you, you need not worry about Mr. Potter. He's a big boy." Snape looked at Harry in the corner of his eye and emphasized the word 'boy.' "He can take care of himself."
Draco seemed to straighten up and scoffed. "Why would I worry about, Potter? I was merely thinking about the potion." Draco drawled.
Harry rolled her eyes. 'Of course. He's probably going to figure out how to make that potion and slip it into my pumpkin juice…'
"That's all I wanted to say, professor." Draco turned to leave the room but the Potions Master called him back.
"Mr. Malfoy, I need to ask you a favor."
"Yes, sir?" Draco cocked a blonde brow.
"This is a new student." Snape said, turning to Harry.
Harry instantly straightened up. She kept a confident gaze even as she was thinking that her skirt felt way too short. It fell just above her knees.
"Her name is…Haley. Haley Jones." Snape smirked.
Haley felt like cursing the teacher but instead kept her emotions to herself. She would have liked to pick the name out herself if she had to live with it.
Draco strode over to the girl and outstretched his hand. "Nice to meet you, Haley."
Haley cocked an eyebrow at the blonde before taking his hand and shaking it. "Charmed, I'm sure."
"Draco, I need you to watch her while she's here."
"What?!" Haley dropped Draco's hand and stared at Snape.
"You heard me, Miss Jones." Snape smirked.
"But, sir! I do not need a chaperone!"
"Miss Jones. As a new student in Hogwarts, you will need someone to show you around."
"Excuse me, Professor, but you said you wanted me to watch her the whole time. Why the whole time if I just have to show her around?"
"You know very well why Mr. Malfoy." Snape tossed Draco a look that Haley didn't comprehend.
Slowly, Draco nodded. He looked from the girl back to the Professor. "All right. As you wish."
"Professor Snape, I hardly think it's necessary-"
"Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, completely ignoring Haley. "I do believe it's time to head over to the Great Hall."
"Right." The boy nodded. "Come along, Haley."
"Professor Snape-" Haley glared at the teacher.
"I said 'Come along, Haley.'" Draco said, sternly. He grabbed the girl's wrist and pulled her out of the room.
As soon as they were out of Snape's room, Haley snatched back her wrist from Draco's grasp. Draco stopped in his path and turned to look at the girl who was really beginning to annoy him.
"I said," Haley looked at Draco defiantly. "I don't need a chaperone." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the blonde boy.
"And I said that I would watch you." Draco countered, taking up the same pose as Harry.
Haley, with a toss of her raven hair, stamped out of the common room with Draco trailing right behind him.
"What's your problem, anyway?" Draco asked, walking alongside the girl. "I'm just following orders."
"And I thought all Slytherins had minds of their own." Emerald eyes tossed a look at Draco.
Draco threw up his hands in defeat. "My God, you're exasperating. Why are you even here?"
Haley's mind was blank. If she came up with a story and Snape told Draco a whole other story she'd be screwed. Haley remained silent. It worked for Draco merely groaned believing that Haley was just ignoring him.
They soon reached the Great Hall. They stepped through the doors where most of the students were already seated for dinner. Just as Haley was about to turn to sit with the Gryffindors, she felt Draco grab her wrist and yank her towards the Slytherin table.
Again, Haley snatched her hand out of Draco's grasp and glared at the boy. Draco only glared in return. Draco sat with Crabbe and Goyle to his left, Pansy in front of him, and Haley far off to the right of him, sitting at the very end of the table.
'Why do I always end up in these types of messes?' Haley asked herself. 'Of all things to happen, I have to be a girl.' Haley rested her head on her hand and pouted.
"Look, Draco-sweetie." Pansy cooed, looking over her shoulder then back at the silver-eyed boy. Harry saw Draco flinch at the pet name. "Potty-brain isn't here. Maybe something really did happen to him." Pansy giggled not noticing as Haley glared her.
"Maybe that potion gave him rabbit ears or whiskers!" Crabbe laughed.
"Or maybe he changed into a toad!" Goyle joined in.
Draco didn't say anything. He would have looked very nonchalant if he weren't searching with his eyes only for The Boy Who Lived.
'Why does he care? Maybe he was planning to throw something at me. Or maybe he was planning to embarrass me somehow.' The sound of Professor Dumblebore clearing his throat snapped Haley out of her thoughts.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I have some exciting news for you, tonight. As some of you have noticed, Mr. Potter is missing from the room."
Haley's eyes bulged. 'What is he doing!? We're supposed to keep this under wraps!' She couldn't help but feel a little panic as people who didn't notice before, now noticed as they searched for the Golden Boy.
"This is for the reason that he and an exchange student have switched places." If Haley was surprised before, she was damned shocked now. "Mr. Potter has been switched to Whittenton's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in America and in his place is Miss Haley Jones who has been placed into the Slytherin House."
Haley flushed as she felt everyone's eyes watching her. She tried to look as if she didn't care but the red on her face told people otherwise.
"Miss Jones grew up in London, before moving to America when she was seven. Please, everyone, give Miss Jones a nice welcome while she's here. Especially you seventh years for you may share a class with her."
The room was filled with applause, especially from the Slytherins who were glad that the new kid was with them and not with anyone else. Again, Haley felt the blush creep up.
"And now, may everyone enjoy their meal." With a clap of his hands, the food magically appeared in front of the students and everyone turned their attention from Haley to their empty stomachs.
"America, huh? What's it like there?" Pansy asked, taking a sudden interest in the girl sitting next to Draco.
"Erm…" Haley's mind was blank again. How on Earth was she supposed to know? She'd never been there.
"What, are you stupid or something?" Pansy sneered. She obviously didn't like it when people didn't answer her. Haley glared at her again but before she could scratch her eyes out, some mashed potatoes ended up on Pansy's cheek.
Harry looked to his left and saw Draco holding up his potato covered spoon, lazily.
"Honestly, Parkinson. You'd think you'd have manners knowing where you come from." Crabbe and Goyle began laughing hysterically at the reddening Pansy. Pansy, angry from being humiliated, glared from Draco to Haley back to Draco who seemed as if he could care less. She stamped her foot before storming out of the room.
Harry stared at Draco. The blonde had humor in his eyes and also…sadness? Harry shook his head. 'Who wouldn't be sad? I would be sad too if I only hit her with some mashed potatoes. I would have gone with the chicken wing.'
Draco turned his gaze to the girl, but didn't say anything.
"Er…thanks." Haley offered the boy a small smile before returning her attention to her stomach. She didn't see Draco's small smile in return before he too returned his attention to his neglected potatoes.
Author's Note/Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters. Course not.
Whachamacallit is a chocolate bar. Or was. I don't know if they still make it. Any questions that refer to the defeat of the Dark Lord or to Lucius Malfoy and such will be answered in further chapters. Questions or comments, please review!