It's good to be working on this one again. I apologize for this chapter being mostly filler, but a lot of things had to be covered.

I hope you enjoy it.

Summary: Draco is changed into a form that pleases Voldemort, and one that he greatly regrets, although it is meant to help his family's name. He is then offered as a toy for the Dark Lord - how long will it be before he breaks?

Disclaimer: There is no way in any shape or form that I own Harry Potter. The credit should be given to one J.K. Rowling. The only thing I own is the plot.

Distorted Reflections

Chapter 2: Cover-Up

Harry kept his gaze trained on Professor McGonagall as she finished her short start-of-term speech and sat down. He did his best to ignore the empty chair beside her. Despite her step up to headmistress, she refused to occupy it. The other seat that should have been empty was merely filled by an unknown substitute (he had forgotten to catch the name). Anger lanced Harry's chest as an image of his ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts/Potions professor filled his mind. A sneering, pale, pointed face accompanied it and he looked toward the Slytherin table. That face, too, was missing.

All the better for Malfoy.

The students went through their meal albeit, unlike previous years, quietly. There was some chatter, but many faces had wan, pinched looks as they unconsciously turned to look at that center chair and then suddenly remembered why it was vacant…

Harry pushed the food around his plate, willing the ache in his head to go away. He was tuning in and out of Ron and Seamus' conversation. He ate a little bit of everything in front of him, although the food filled his mouth with an unpleasantly sour taste. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione peering at him, her brown eyes dark with sadness, worry, and a little understanding. She laid a light hand on his arm; he appreciated the comforting gesture and gave her a small smile.

Much sooner than usual, students started drifting out of the Great Hall toward their common rooms. Most of the Hall was cleared before Harry, Ron, and Hermione even stood to leave. They felt reluctant to depart without even being fully sure as to why.

"Well, I guess we should head on up," Ron said to break the silence that had fallen over them. He pushed away from the table and stood, stretching as he did so. Harry and Hermione followed and began the long shuffle up to the Gryffindor tower.

As the trio got to the foot of the staircase, a slight pressure began squeezing Harry's skull. He paused, realizing he could hear a very low buzzing. Ron and Hermione stopped to look at him. "You don't hear that?" he asked as he took in their questioning glances. The words had just left his mouth when the pitch increased and comprehension dawned on their faces.

"What is that?" Ron questioned, digging a finger into his ear. Hermione suddenly looked alarmed and opened her mouth to reply. Before she could get a word out, a whining siren shook the very foundation of the school. Harry's hair stood on end.

McGonagall flew out of the Great Hall with several other professors in tow. Every one of them had a wand brandished.

"Get upstairs, now!" The headmistress left no room for argument as she glared at them. Hermione pulled at Harry's and Ron's sleeves, trying to get them to move, as the other straggling students scattered and darted past. The remaining professors took off down different corridors to secure other areas of the school.

"Come on!" she screamed frantically. "The ward surrounding the castle has been triggered!"

Harry complied, but only as far as the top of the steps. "You go on! I want to see what's happening!"

Hermione moaned with fright and exasperation. "What if it's the Death Eaters? What if –?" She cut herself off, unwilling to continue. Her expression steeled and she stood firmly next to Harry. Ron did the same. The three of them squeezed behind one of the larger alcoves behind a nearby suit of armor, wands out and ready.

It was several trying moments before the siren ceased and they could hear yells and screams echoing over the grounds. Harry couldn't discern one voice from the next. He could see vague flashes of light through one of the windows as curses were fired. There was a horrible pause before a high-pitched scream rented the air, causing Harry to shudder, his skin breaking out into gooseflesh. Hermione gasped, her fingers flying to cover her quivering lips. There was one last shout before utter silence fell.

The professors appeared in the doorway a bit later, looking haggard, a few nursing minor wounds. Hagrid stumbled in last; Harry thought for a brief, heart-stopping second that he was more severely injured, but then he noticed the grounds keeper was carrying something, or rather, someone. He, Ron, and Hermione held their breaths and squeezed further back into the alcove as they group swept up the stairs and passed their hiding spot. Harry gleaned as much detail of the inert figure as he could, irrationally thinking it was a Death Eater. To his astonishment, it appeared to be a young female, probably around his age. Her clothes were dirty and torn, her long hair so matted with dirt and blood that it was difficult to discern the color. Her face and one of her arms, Harry noticed with a lurch of his stomach, were horribly disfigured, most likely the result of a curse. Looks may be deceiving, but surely this wasn't their threat?

"…straight to the hospital wing," Professor McGonagall was saying to Hagrid, her voice hushed yet strained. "Try not to be seen. No word of this individual should get out. We do not yet know who she is or what she's capable of. I will contact the Minister and request that the Aurors come clean up the grounds. The scum shouldn't be going anywhere on his own any time soon." There was a sharp, disgusted note in her voice. She continued delegating directions as the group briskly made its way down the corridor.

The three of them stood in shocked silence for a moment, still confused and nervous. No one knew what to say. Harry finally shook his head clear and motioned for them to follow.

"This has to be an isolated incident," Hermione said quietly as they hurried toward their common room. "McGonagall seemed convinced that almost everything was taken care of. But who was involved? Who was that girl? And what happened?"

"We should be finding out some of the details," Harry replied. "This will have to be addressed. You can't just brush this off as the wards going haywire. People are scared enough after last year."

His mood darkened noticeably as his mind swung toward Dumbledore's unnecessary demise and the looming unknown Horcruxes. He was surprised to find himself at school this year, considering that he planned on searching the countryside for them. However, after much deliberation (mostly on Hermione's part), they decided to stick it out at Hogwarts and do what research they can rather than flailing blindly about and possibly put more people at risk. After the seizing of the cabinet in the Room of Requirement and what appeared to be a major ward upgrade, the building was deemed safe again, so they thought it best to do most of their work here. If they got a lead…well, they'd get to that later.

His two friends left him to his thoughts and remained quiet until they stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. She let them through after Hermione muttered the password.

A blast of noise hit them as the portrait swung open. The common room was packed with students, each and every one showing varying levels of fright and befuddlement; no one seemed to fully register their sudden appearance.

"What's going on?"

"What was that noise?"

"Is the school being attacked?"

The questions and general babble went on for another few moments before the Fat Lady swung open again. The headmistress ducked inside the portrait hole; her mere presence caused everyone to fall silent.

"No, we are not being attacked." A sigh of relief escaped the group. "The ward was triggered by someone Apparating too close to our front gate. A Death Eater was involved, but we do not believe he had any intention to harm the school." She finished her last statement quickly to prevent outcries of dismay. "The other Heads of Houses are currently informing their students of what happened. If you feel the need to contact your families about this, please do not hesitate. If they wish to send inquiries, we will give them any information we can provide. We are quickly assessing this issue. Please do not fret." She stood silently for a moment, panning her eyes over the group, trying to reassure them. Then, with a small nod, she departed the common room.

As soon as the portrait closed, the Gryffindors broke out into conversation again, although this time it was less panicky. After about half an hour, however, people ran out of things to talk about. Now that they were beginning to see that there no longer appeared to be a threat, several students began making their way up to the dormitories. Harry followed Ron upstairs after saying goodnight to Hermione. The five boys ready for bed in near silence. No one was sure what to say.

As Harry got comfortable in his four-poster, he suddenly realized that McGonagall neglected to mention the other person involved. He understood, though. They may be harboring a fugitive in the school. Until they find out who she is, he was sure no word would get around.

His mind a little more at ease, he drifted off to sleep.

"She's in here, Minister," Minerva stated as she led Rufus Scrimgeour and Kingsley Shacklebolt through a door in the hospital wing; the two men had just returned from the Ministry, where they had left the Death Eater under watchful guard. Madam Pomfrey trailed in their wake. The headmistress rolled a vial of clear potion between her fingers after they came to a stop. They stood next to a bed that contained a sleeping figure. Both the Minister and the Auror noticed that she couldn't be any more than eighteen. Her head was heavily bandaged, and a thick salve covered most of her face and right arm. Minerva drew her wand, feeling slightly guilty about taking the patient out of her healing sleep. But it had to be done.

"Ennervate."

There was slow movement under pale eyelids before they fluttered open, revealing slightly-crossed gray eyes. Even when they focused, there was a dazed, haunted look to them. Minerva couldn't even begin to imagine what may have happened to this girl. All the same, she would soon find out. She unstoppered the vial and motioned toward Madam Pomfrey, who adjusted the bed so the patient was in a sitting position. Surprisingly enough, the girl didn't put up a fight when the headmistress grasped her jaw to ease her mouth open, yet fear flitted so fast across her face that Minerva wasn't even fully sure if she imagined it or not. All the same, she tilted the small vial and emptied a few drops of Veritaserum down the girl's throat. She waited a few seconds until those gray eyes glazed over before she posed her first question.

"What is your name?"

The jaw worked to open. She made an effort to talk, but her voice was very raspy. It took the young blonde a few tries before she spoke, her voice just above a whisper.

"Draco Malfoy."

The sound of smashed glass echoed throughout the room, the remainder of the Veritaserum pooling on the floor.

Over the next week, the students didn't hear anything more about what occurred that first day back. There was no more information to give them. After the headmistress found out that the Death Eater was only attempting to capture the runaway Malfoy, she dismissed her fear of Voldemort finally making a move. Still, after last spring, she was not going to let her guard down. To do so would be utter folly.

There was still the issue of Draco. The boy had been transformed by his father and was used to entertain Voldemort. She did not pry him for details, but she gained enough information from him to understand why he ran away, not to mention that haunted look that still has yet to disappear. No one knew what spell or curse was used to change him (Draco seemed unable to recall it), but certain members of the staff would certainly look into it. There was no known spell in existence to have such a desired effect; after a brief examination (one that wasn't too intrusive on the young Malfoy's privacy), the nurse determined that Draco was now physically 100 percent female.

Madam Pomfrey had supplied him with potions for healing and for dreamless sleep over those first few, very difficult days. Toward the end of the week he was receiving less and less, however, so his body could finish the healing process on its own.

Without the potions, his sleep was troubled. Madam Pomfrey gritted her teeth on Thursday night as the room echoed with screams while Draco thrashed, deep in the throes of a nightmare. She waved her wand and cast a silencing charm before sitting in a chair to watch over him.

The following morning, Professor McGonagall stopped by before going to teach her next Transfiguration class. She walked into the room where Draco was residing and saw Madam Pomfrey fast asleep in her chair; her hand was resting on the young Malfoy's in what appeared to be a comforting gesture. The headmistress gently touched the nurse's shoulder; the older woman stirred and opened her eyes, then immediately looked surprised.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep," Madam Pomfrey muttered, getting slowly to her feet. "He was having one hell of a nightmare, so I stayed here to make sure no more damage was done. He quieted down after a while, but…" She trailed off with a slight shrug as she removed her hand from Draco's. The figure in the bed stirred briefly before shooting upright.

"It's alright, Draco," Minerva said gently, as if consoling a small child. She pitied him, despite the dark tale he'd given her a few days ago while under the truth serum. She knew he was responsible for the Death Eaters getting into the school last term, that he was present during Dumbledore's murder, and that he fled with Snape. But she also knew that he helped because his parents' safety was at stake. The Dark Lord had then apparently come up with a plan to assist the Malfoys back onto their pedestal. That was where Draco came in again. He had a simple task: be Voldemort's plaything. Gorge came up the headmistress' throat, but she willed her nausea away. This poor boy… What more did he endure? She really didn't want to know, and she did not wish to ask. And she was glad to have received a formal oath from both the Minister and Shacklebolt to uphold secrecy on this matter. Both would also be there to help if she needed it.

"Draco, I have something important to suggest to you," Professor McGonagall began, seating herself on the edge of the bed. "I am prepared to set up a separate room for you if you wish, to get you out of the hospital wing, but also to allow you to have privacy." The headmistress did not want to put him back into the Slytherin dormitory for one; some of the students there may have been alerted by their Death Eater parents to keep an eye out for Draco. He was now in danger due to his desertion. Also, it wouldn't do to have an entire House unable to properly sleep every night due to Draco's screams. "And if you wish to begin classes, just say the word. But for you to be among the student body once more, we have to make a couple minor changes to your appearance; you still look too much like a Malfoy, and I don't want you to be a target."

"I would like to begin classes," Draco replied quietly. It was obvious that he had matured greatly over the summer and much more so in this past week alone. There was no petty anger or egotism. Still, Minerva could see a spark hiding deep in those eyes. It just needed the right fuel to bring him fully back to life.

"I'm glad to hear it," she said. "It would not due to have you fall so far behind in your last year. We need fully trained wizards and witches now more than ever." She pulled out her wand. "Now, I'm just going to make very small alterations." A few charms were cast; Draco's skin tingled slightly, and it felt as if ants were crawling over his scalp. After a few seconds, the headmistress produced a mirror. Draco's hair was a few shades darker, his skin appeared more tanned, and some facial features were rounded out. To his very slight dismay, there was now a smattering of freckles over the bridge of his nose. Lastly, his eyes had been changed to a dark blue. All in all, he could deal with these changes. Honestly, what were they on top of his gender-switch? A shudder shot down his spine.

"There is one last thing I'd like to have you do to complete this cover-up," the headmistress said seriously. "You should choose a name and a house you will be a part of for classes and meals; just please understand that Slytherin is not an option. I will tell the rest of the students that you lived abroad and went to another school for your first six years but have now transferred back to be closer to family in these dark times. If anyone questions why you have your own room, it will be because of space limitations. You can come up with your own personal backstory."

Draco thought hard for several minutes, feeling surprised at how much thought she had given all this. He then held out his hand for Minerva to shake. She took it, looking slightly confused.

"Valerie Walsh, Ravenclaw."

A small smile graced the headmistress' usually stern lips. "Welcome, Valerie," she replied, getting to her feet. "I will go find you a room and set up your schedule. I will be back later this afternoon to give you everything you need to be prepared for Monday morning. You will have the weekend to get adjusted." She started toward the door. With her fingers just touching the handle, she paused to look back.

"Just one more thing. Keep a tight hold on Draco. We do not wish to lose him."

Then she was gone.

To be continued…