Chapter 1: Proposition
"Harry it would just be so much easier, don't you understand the importance of this?" Remus asked him imploringly.
"Importance! Importance! Harry seethed his fists shaking slightly. "If you think for one minute that I'm about to go along with this-"
"Harry, we don't have another choice and until we have Hogwarts protection on you again there is no way to keep you hidden at the Dursley's without Voldemort knowing." Sirius said frustrated at his godson's stubbornness but he did understand why Harry wouldn't want to do it. "We'll hide you at Remus' place for the summers until you finish Hogwarts and we'll apply the potion then. No one at Hogwarts will know except for some of the teachers."
"Yeah," Harry spat angrily "What about if I want to see Ron or Hermione? Am I just gonna show up and say 'Hey, guys, I'm a freaking GIRL for the summer!'" He bellowed. Remus and Sirius looked at each other nervously.
"No way!" Harry roared glaring up at them. "Yo expect me to leave the house and meet my friends like that?"
"Well – well, yeah, Harry. We thought you wouldn't care around Ron and Her-"
"OF COURSE I'D CARE!" Harry screamed, feeling tears of anger building up. He couldn't believe this and so he just stared at his new guardians mutinously in silence, breathing heavily.
Remus wiped his tired scarred face wearily. "Harry, I know you're upset." He said. Sirius begged to differ and thought that Harry's head was about to pop off his shoulder from rage. "But don't you think we'd only ask you if it was the last option?"
Harry opened his mouth and then closed it again but said nothing.
"Harry…?" Sirius asked.
"Okay, I get why you'd want me to do it, for protection and stuff but no one even asked me how I felt about it." He jibed trying to make them feel guilty enough to stop their stupid plan. He felt a swelling satisfaction when their eyes became downcast and Sirius fiddled with the bottom of his shirt.
"Harry," Remus began "to tell you the truth we only knew about these two days ago, not even before we brought you here. We thought you wouldn't have too big of a problem with it for the Order's sake but Dumbledore doesn't know what to do now that the blood wards have gone down." Harry felt a small stab of his own guilt when he saw how sincere Remus was but tried to swallow it as he continued his fight.
"Look," Harry said running a hand wildly through his hair, a habit he had picked up during the stress of last year. "Why don't we just use spells to make me look really different, change my name and move out of London for the summer?" he suggested praying silently.
"Sorry, Harry, it isn't that simple." Sirius said shrugging in apology. "Voldemort will still know who you are even under enchantments and will be able to find you. It's sort of like the Marauders Map, but with your magical aura. Because 'old Voldy' and you are kind of connected, he can sense where you are, which is why he keeps popping every year. Spells can cover up where you are but not who you are…is this making any sense?" he asked.
"No, not really." Harry said bluntly.
"If you take that potion, which is really rare and complex by the way, your magic will change." Remus explained, "A female aura is different to a male and so it will confuse Voldemort and make him connected with a totally different person who he's never met. Because we've got all the protective charms around you, he never will but he won't be able to send images through your head because of the change in auras. Two male aura's are easier to mix minds than those of the opposite sex, which is why falling is love is a blessing because there aren't many opportunities for a person of getting a soul mates in the Wizarding world."
Harry sat down on the bed behind him, his two guardians watching for his next move. The almost sixteen-year-old sat rubbing his temples and running all this new information through his mind. He could tell it was complex and that it wouldn't be taught at Hogwarts.
"Alright then." He murmured into his lap, feeling the unwelcome tingling sensation of defeat in the back of his throat. Remus sighed and Sirius hung his head and sighed. Harry didn't know how to feel about this situation, but he knew one thing, he would most certainly not be leaving the house much this summer.
"Harry, thankyou," The werewolf said to him sitting down on the bed next to him. "You've saved the Order allot of trouble." He praised only causing Harry to feel more uncomfortable about the idea.
"Yeah, Kiddo, we're proud of you. I sure as heck couldn't have done this, especially at your age." Sirius remarked putting a hand on Harry's shoulder for support. Harry tried to give a smile but it turned out to be more of a grimace and he watched with a pounding heart as Remus went out of the room to fetch the potion.
A minute of silence passed until Remus carried in an old goblet that was slightly smoking pink swirls of cloud. He handed it to Harry and Harry blushed ever so slightly at the hot pink liquid, hoping that his godfather and Remus wouldn't force him to wear anything remotely resembling that colour. He downed the goblet quickly and noticed that it didn't taste so bad. Sort of like milk and fairy floss but allot thicker.
"Now Harry you may feel a little sleepy so just lie down if you want to, but Professor Snape said that that was normal." Remus said taking the goblet from Harry. Harry whipped around to him.
"What!" he gasped, "Snape? He made this? But – he – he could have poisoned it!" Harry protested.
"That's what I thought." Sirius said darkly from behind Harry.
"Then why'd you feed it to me!" Harry demanded enraged twisting around.
"Because we tested it, Harry, calm down." Remus said worriedly. Remus fumbled around in his pocket and brought out a live, white mouse.
"It's a girl." He stated, holding the little creature up to Harry. "Twelve hours ago it was a boy. We fed a drop to the mouse and it worked without side effects."
Harry breathed easier at this, but then froze. "H-how can you tell if it's a girl?" he asked his face going pale.
"How do you think?" Sirius asked dumbfounded by Harry's reaction. To his surprise Harry blushed and looked down at his hands twisting themselves in his lap. Remus looked at him curiously, wondering what was going through Harry's mind.
"Harry, what's wrong?" he asked kindly.
"I hoped the potion was just gonna make me look like a girl, not – not – well you know." He whispered back his entire face now pink. Remus sighed in understanding and Sirius put an arm around Harry's two shoulders.
"Its okay, Harry, we'll help you through it." Sirius said comfortingly to the very embarrassed teenager.
Just then Harry gave a small yawn that he covered with his hand, but it did not escape Remus' sharp wolf eyes from spotting it.
"Bed." He said firmly, pushing Sirius off the large bed and as the potion was taking effect rather quickly. Harry felt very groggy but not at all like a girl yet. Maybe he would wake up a girl, or maybe he would just wake up and discover this was all some crazy dream. Harry decided hazily he liked that's last idea the best.
"Here Harry, we'll help you into your pyjama's." Sirius said taking Harry's arm to support him, allowing Remus to go to the draw full of clothes. Harry started out of his stupor.
"Wh-what?" he asked stupidly watching with pink cheek as Remus pulled out a pair of pale blue pyjama's. He watched growing even more tired as the seconds passed, as Sirius sat his on the bed and took the jumper off of him and was about to lift off the shirt.
"Wait, stop." Harry slurred out, looking slightly more awake as he clung to the t-shirt on his skinny frame. "I may agreed to changing into a girl, but I'm not about to be dressed like a baby!" he protested.
"Harry, don't be stupid, we're all guys here, nothing to be embarrassed about." Sirius said, a tiny blush appearing on his own face and gently prying the shirt from Harry's surprisingly tight grip. Harry however shook his head, suddenly feeling wide awake and mortified at what his guardians were going to do.
Remus was holding the pyjama top out waiting to help Sirius and was really confused about Harry's sudden embarrassment. "Its okay, Harry, all parent or guardians have seen their kids naked, it's nothing to be embarrassed about." He said pretty much repeating Sirius. But at the word 'naked' Harry's face turned scarlet and he shook his head again knowing he couldn't help being embarrassed at such a prospect. He had always been taught by the Dursley's that letting other's see you in such a way would not be tolerated and was the lowest thing you could do. They also added that no one wanted to see a little freak like him anyway. Fortunately, Harry had never found out the consequences for this as he was terrified by his Uncle's warning which was accompanied by a blow to the face.
Remus sighed but then got an idea. "I'll make a deal with you, Harry, if you can find the energy to dress yourself, then you can." He said, watching Harry grasp some hidden and surprising amount of energy even with the potions effect. Remus threw the pair of pyjama bottoms at Harry and the boy looked down at them secretly worried he may not be able to out them on of his lack of energy, but sheer determination carried him on.
Harry looked at Remus who was looking a little too smug for Harry liking, and Sirius who just seemed baffled and worried. Remus' look dropped a little when Harry gestured for them to get out of the room but they wouldn't budge instead turning around so their backs were to Harry. The teenager blushed at this but decided it wasn't worth the battle as he felt the little energy he had being zapped out of him. Laboriously changing into his PJ bottoms he felt himself fall onto the bed when he tried to lift up his t-shirt. He also vaguely remembered a hand resting on his shoulder before he slipped into a long heavy sleep.