Tea went without further incident as well as without further conversation. Petunia returned with the stool and joined them which effectively put a lid on the semi-pleasant atmosphere. Harry spent most of it stuffing her face and receiving disapproving looks from both adults. But she hadn't eaten lunch and was frankly starving. Besides neither of the adults said anything about it though they kept sending accusing looks to each other whenever Harry took too large a bite. Once they had finished, only a single sandwich remained on the plate and Harry glanced at it thoughtfully. Any other day she would have attempted to get it and hide it away for later. It seemed after her professors had arrived that the Dursleys had decided to feed her. She knew of course that this was merely for show. When was Snape going to leave? And when would McGonagall stop coming back? Could she afford not to stash this sandwich? How long would it be before she would go hungry again?

“Are your books in your trunk?”

“Huh?” Harry replied as she was pulled from her thoughts.

“I asked you whether your books are in your trunk?” said Snape.

“Yeah,” replied Harry and shrugged.

“Yes, sir,” corrected Snape and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Harry stared at the man for a moment before repeating his words. She couldn't make him out. One moment he was sneering at her, the next... Well, after she came downstairs he'd been almost... Not kind but at least less Snape-ish. Now, he was correcting her again and although she herself had reminded him they were no longer at school it very much felt like it.

“You cannot possibly eat more!” he continued and gave Harry a pointed look as she was once again staring at the sandwich.

“No, sir. I was just.. Never mind,” she mumbled and got off the stool.

She brushed crumbs off the dress but didn't look up to see Petunia's frown. It was incredibly weird to walk in. She knew she had worn dresses as a very small child – back when she had been referred to as 'Harriet', but she had completely forgotten how it felt. It wasn't unpleasant in any way but it was unusual. And Harry felt like one of Petunia's porcelain figurines. She touched the soft fabric. Could you run in this? Could you work? Harry didn't think so. Just then she felt something move above her head and gasped in surprised when the hairband was suddenly placed there.

“You forgot this,” smirked Snape.

“I don't want to wear it! I told you!” protested Harry.

“Weren't you just admiring yourself? I would think you would like to complete the ensemble.”

“Why don't you wear it! You're the one with the girly hair!” retorted Harry and tossed the hairband back onto the table.

Harry saw the smirk disappear from Snape's lips and be replaced with a grim expression she knew only too well. It didn't help that Petunia was suppressing laughter over at the sink.

“What did I tell you about being respectful?” said Snape.

That didn't sit well with Harry. At the return of that topic she suddenly remembered who she was talking to. When he was joking around her it was a pleasant escape from his otherwise terrible moods. But it wasn't like when she was with Ron. Snape was laughing at her not with her, wasn't he? Well, if he was still going to be the same old bat who could not take a joke at his expense she would at least have some fun with it.

“Okay, your greasy hair looks girly, sir!”

At this Petunia burst into full on laughter and Snape's expression darkened further. Oh, so it's not funny when it's you is it?

“Potter!” hissed Snape.

The return of that lastname felt like a punch in the gut and Harry suddenly realized Snape hadn't referred to her by that name in a while. It was a sharp reminder of why he was here with her and the lie that the name was left her nauseous. Here he was telling her what to do and how to handle this when he was the cause of all her misery! Well, Harry didn't want to hear whatever lecture Snape was about to give. Instead she simply did the most childish thing she could think of because she knew that would upset him the most. She looked up at him with the anger visible in her eyes and just as he was about to speak she stuck out her tongue at him and ran back up to her room.

---

Severus was fuming. What on earth was that? Of course he could have told himself that whatever progress he thought they had made with the girl wasn't going to last. She was still that child he knew from Hogwarts after all. Still, her behavior didn't seem to be the result of a luxurious homelife as he had first suspected but a combination of neglect at home and the indifference her rulebreaking had been met with at school. Minerva had made her a seeker for Merlin's sake! When by rights, she should have been punished! Yes, that was it! The Dursleys, Minerva and the Headmaster had been effectively ruining her between them and he was the one suffering from it!

“You say you are a teacher, Severus? Oh, well, you'll get the hang of it soon! I promise you that! Just give it a little time,” said Petunia sweetly.

Severus glared at her and once again stared in the direction the girl had disappeared. He didn't know what to make of Petunia at the moment. She seemed to be switching between despising the girl and defending her to him.

“I need to take a walk,” Severus muttered and made for the front door.

Perhaps clearing his head a little would help. At least it would get him away from Petunia. He stepped outside and walked out to the pavement. He glanced back at the house to see Petunia looking at him through the lace curtains but she quickly disappeared. He began walking down the street. He didn't know where he was going. Perhaps, the girl would have improved once he returned. Who was he kidding? This was practically letting her get away with it! If they had been at school he would have assigned several detentions by now so why was he letting it go? Minerva told me to be patient, she's had a shock! He stopped walking. But so have I! If I say nothing I am no better than Minerva and the old coot! The mental image of the girl running amok in the school corridors, no longer affected by his harsh words because he had shown her they meant nothing, was flashing before his eyes.

He turned around and walked back to the house in swift long strides. He was going to give that girl a piece of his mind. When he opened the door the first thing he heard was Petunia's voice from the floor above:

“What were you thinking? Are you really that stupid, you little freak? I would think you'd be happy to be with your own kind! Do you expect them to take you when you act like this?”

“I don't care!” cried the girl. Severus couldn't be sure but her voice sounded broken as though she was crying.

“Can't you at least put in a little effort after all the trouble I went to?” cried Petunia.

“How am I supposed to know what we are pretending when you don't tell me?”

“Even so, what you did down there was idiotic! I dressed you up to look like an actual decent child and you do nothing but complain! I always knew you to be ungrateful but you are choosing the worst possible time to showcase that!”

“I told you I didn't want to wear it! You practically forced me into it!”

“And what you said to that old slumdweller? Are you out of your mind? Have you any idea how hard I've tried to make him accept you? You're pushing him away and he'll never take you if you're like this!”

“You're the stupid one of you think he ever will! He hates me!” hissed the girl.

“I'm not surprised! So do I and one would think you'd cooperate with that in mind!” shrieked Petunia. “Now, you better apologize to him the moment he comes back and you better seem like you mean it!”

“I won't! I'll wait right here until McGonagall comes back!”

“You ungrateful little bitch!” spat Petunia.

Severus had heard enough. He slammed the door shut behind him alerting the others to his presence. A moment later a white-faced Petunia appeared at the top of the stairs with a smile painted on her face.

“Oh, Snape! I... You're back already?” she smiled weakly.

“Indeed,” Snape confirmed.

“I... I need to see to something in the kitchen,” mumbled Petunia and carefully began descending the stairs.

Snape watched her like a hawk watching its prey and Petunia clearly felt he could pounce on her at any minute because she was unusually jumpy. In reality he didn't know what to do? Should he confront her? Or go speak to the girl? He had known Petunia was hiding things from him and that she had been quite insistent upon their taking the girl away but it was quite something else to hear her admit it. How dare she attempt to manipulate me? In the end he opted for letting Petunia live in uncertainty and went to the living room. He had fully intended to speak to the girl but he couldn't bring himself to face her right now. Something she said was gnawing at him. He hates me! Not two weeks earlier he would readily admit that he did and he would have done it to her face but there was something about hearing her say it like that, without his presence and without any sympathy to be gained from it that bothered him. It was almost... hurtful. But he didn't care what she thought of him! Well, she hadn't actually said she hated him, rather she had only spoken of Severus' feelings. Perhaps he would have liked it better if she had. If he could dismiss this as the words of an angry confused child. If there wasn't any truth to it at all. And if he didn't feel ashamed of it.

And what was this thing about them not taking her away? He knew for a fact that that was exactly what they planned to do! As soon as there was a place for her to go! She would have to be reassured of this but Severus didn't feel he was the one to do it.

---

The male Dursleys arrived back home for dinner. Severus didn't join them but was now completely occupying the living room much to the boy's displeasure since that was where the television was kept. The girl didn't join them either but Petunia brought up a tray for her with a nervous glance in Snape's direction. After the Dursleys had eaten dinner the boy went out again to meet with some friends and Vernon joined his wife in the kitchen. Neither of the two said a word to Snape. Severus was sitting in one of the armchairs in the living room when he heard a tapping at the window. He looked up to see an unfamiliar barnowl outside and the sight made him feel much better. He opened the window to let in the owl. It had a letter tied to its leg addressed for him in Minerva's handwriting yet the owl was clearly not hers.

Dear Severus
Excellent news! My meeting went better than expected
and the reply was almost instant! I am currently
at the Flamel residence with Albus. I have
informed him of our findings.
We will be arriving tonight to see you.
Expect us before long!

Minerva

Well, that was certainly vague! She had informed him? What did he say? Did he know anything? If not how did he take it? The only upside was that he was about to find out. The prospect of spending another night at Privet Drive was certainly not appealing. He looked up to see that the owl had already flown, leaving an empty windowsill behind. A reply was clearly not expected.

Of course there was the matter of the Dursleys. They would certainly not react well to additional wizards but Snape recognized the necessity of the Headmaster seeing the girl's living conditions for himself. He decided not to inform them at all. Considering what he had overheard Petunia say he didn't want to give her time to put on a show. Severus closed the window and walked up the stairs to the girl's room. He knocked but there was no answer. He knocked once more and when there was no reply he moved to open the door. As soon as he had cracked open the door he could hear soft sniffling. He opened the door completely and stepped inside to find the girl sitting on the end of the bed near the window – looking out.

“What do you want?” she said softly, not even bothering to look up.

Snape wondered how she even knew it was him but then thought that perhaps the Dursleys usually did not wait for permission to enter.

“I am sure you will be pleased to hear that we can expect professor McGonagall and the Headmaster here tonight,” replied Severus.

She turned and looked up at him. Her eyes were slightly red and her cheeks were pale. She was still wearing the dress however she had kicked off the shoes which were now lying in separate locations on the floor.

“What? When?” she replied.

“I cannot be sure but I expect them here soon. Will you come down?”

The girl seemed to consider for a moment before she nodded her consent.

“Yes, sir,” she added and got up from the bed but then she paused.

“Oh... Erh... About earlier.”

“Are you referring to what you said in the kitchen or the discussion with your aunt I overheard?” asked Severus and crossed his arms.

The girl blushed. Clearly she had been referring to the latter and forgotten about the first. However, she clearly no longer wished to say whatever it was she had been about to say as she remained silent and passed Snape out into the hallway.

“I might as well take up the conversation from this afternoon. Your schoolbooks are in the cupboard?”

“I already told you,” mumbled the girl walking in front of him.

Severus exhaled and reached out and grabbed her shoulder. She stopped on the step she was currently on and he turned her around.

“Don't start that! I am merely suggesting that you start on your homework while we wait,” he said in what he believed to be a calm tone.

“What? School isn't for months!” she replied with wide eyes.

“Well, that only reassures me that this would be a good idea. I'm not surprised to find you a procrastinator!”

“I'm not a procrashi.. Whatever!”

“If you intended to wait until the last minute then you most certainly are! Now, run along with you into the living room and I shall fetch you something to read!”

“Ugh!” was all the girl said before running down the remaining steps and into the living room.

Severus rolled his eyes. Girl or not. His biological child or not. She was still hopeless with schoolwork. He went to the cupboard and found it locked. Not only with the padlock but magically as well. He unlocked it and pulled the trunk closer and opened it. Inside were what he assumed were the majority of the girl's belongings all thrown together in a giant mess. Severus was no longer surprised that the boy he had known had always appeared in wrinkled robes. Severus muttered something about disorganized brats under his breath and began searching for a book. He wasn't surprised to find none of the books required for the coming school year. Instead he pulled out last years potionsbook, relocked the cupboard and went into the living room.

“You may read this again though considering your essays last year I suspect you haven't read it in the first place,” he said as he handed her the book.

The girl made a face at him that Snape pretended not to have noticed and curled up on the couch with it. She flipped through a couple of pages before sighing audibly. Severus was about to lecture her on the importance of homework when someone knocked on the door.

---

Harry jumped and threw the book onto the couch. She was back! It wasn't exactly that Harry especially wanted to see McGonagall but she found the whole situation more bearable when her Head of House was there. It wasn't as good as Ron and Hermione but it was the best thing available to her. She got off the couch and made to run to the front door but she was stopped along the way by Snape grabbing her arm.

“Sit back down and calm yourself! And don't let me see you throwing books around again!”

Harry frowned at him and attempted to wiggle herself free but Snape was much too strong and dragged her back to the couch. She gave up and sat back down though with a visible pout. Well, she wasn't going to read again! That was for sure! Snape picked up the book and handed it to her with a pointed look.

“Read,” he said and tapped his finger on the cover before leaving to answer the door.

Harry opened the book to a random page and tried her best to look as angelical as possible which wasn't hard in that attire. Her ears perked as she listened to what was happening in the hallway.

“Ah, Severus!” she heard McGonagall said when the door was opened.

“Minerva, Headmaster, Poppy,” Snape calmly greeted the group.

“Severus, I...” began Madam Pomfrey, whom Harry was surprised was there.

“Poppy, we will have more than enough time for that! Right now, I myself could use a cup of tea!” said Dumbledore.

There was some shuffleling as they all entered the house.

“What's this? Are you holding a bloody convention?” Uncle Vernon growled from presumably the kitchendoor.

“Ah, Mr Dursley! What a delightful house!” Dumbledore replied.

“The sitting room is through here,” said McGonagall. “Severus, where is Harry?”

“She is waiting for you inside. Studying,” replied Snape. He raised his voice at the last word and Harry stuck her nose deeper into the book. How on earth did he do that? He couldn't even see her!

“And hello, Petunia! How about some tea?” continued Dumbledore completely unaffected.

Then someone entered the living room and Harry looked up to see Madam Pomfrey followed by McGonagall. She smiled widely at them.

“Oh, goodness!” cried Pomfrey and stopped dead in her tracks when she first saw Harry.

Harry's smiled faltered and Pomfrey clearly noticed because she continued:

“Oh... P... Harry! I didn't mean it like that! You look lovely! It's just been a bit of a shock! But oh, how must you not feel!”

“Poppy, calm yourself!” supplied McGonagall and the two women joined Harry on the couch.

Pomfrey immediately put her hand on Harry's forehead and then felt her cheeks before sitting down.

“How are you feeling, Harry? You're not dizzy?”

Just then Snape entered the room followed by Dumbledore. Harry put on her angelic smile once more which only served to earn her a frown from Snape because the Headmaster didn't even as much as look at her. The two men sat in the armchairs. Pomfrey and Snape began staring at each other but Harry didn't give it much thought. She looked up at McGonagall and was about to say something when Dumbledore broke the silence.

“Lemon drop anyone? Harry?” he said and held out a small tin.

Now she looked up and locked eyes with him. If he was shocked at her appearance he did a good job of hiding it. Everyone refused him except Harry who reached out and took one.

“There you go! And I'll say that's well-deserved! How long have you been studying? Already halfway through the book?” smiled Dumbledore.

Harry's eyes grew wide and she glanced down at the book in her lap which she had opened to a random page and then over to Snape. The man raised an eyebrow at her but otherwise said nothing for which Harry was immensely grateful.

“Well, I must say, this is quite a change! Quite a change indeed!” mused Dumbledore.

“So you did not know?” asked Snape.

“Know? About our little lady in disguise? Most certainly not!”

“Headmaster, I don't understand how this could have gone unnoticed for so long! How did the castle allow her into the boys' dormitory?” inquired Pomfrey.

“Hmm. The castle can do many things but it is not a sentient being, Poppy. It placed Harry where she expected to be placed because that was her identity.”

“I should have looked more closely at the letters,” added McGonagall. “Only I was so busy and...”

“I'm not blaming you, Minerva,” said the Headmaster.

Harry popped the lemony treat in her mouth and felt very much like a wall decoration with everyone discussing her yet no one looking at her.

“Lily mentioned several letters. Did you...?” asked Snape.

“That is not the discussion we will begin with, Severus,” replied the Headmaster and gestured towards Harry.

“First things first, Harry how are you?”

“I'm alright, professor!” replied Harry as she closed the book.

“And may I say you look really lovely! And the dress... your choice of color?” he twinkled.

Harry wanted to make a face but instead she smiled. Just then Petunia and Vernon entered the room. Petunia was carrying a tray with a teapot and several cups. She walked over and placed it on the table while Vernon remained in the door. When Petunia moved to leave, Dumbledore stopped her:

“No, Petunia, Mr Dursley, I would like you to join us! We have much to discuss.”

McGonagall transfigured two extra chairs from Petunia's figurines before they could object. Vernon had to be dragged over by Petunia who was whispering something in his ear that caused Snape to frown on the other side of the room. Harry couldn't hear what it was nor could the witches it seemed though they did try to listen in. Dumbledore looked blissfully deaf as he poured himself a cup of tea.

“Now the first thing we need to address are your allegations, Minerva. You claim to have found evidence of abuse?” said Dumbledore and Harry visibly cringed at the last word.

“I never touched the brat!” protested Vernon.

“We found that she has been made to sleep in a cupboard before attending Hogwarts, that her new room has bars of the window as well as several locks. It was in that room we found her upon arrival,” said McGonagall, ignoring Vernon.

“And we will give the Dursleys a chance to explain...” began Dumbledore before Snape cut in:

“She doesn't eat with her family yet I've seen her serve them at dinner! She clearly doesn't eat enough!”

“I can confirm that she is very underweight for her age and will need treatment! In fact it is quite serious! And it is not a new problem! This child hasn't been fed regularly for years! I insist on beginning the treatment as soon as possible!” added Pomfrey.

“She also admitted to me that her cousin is allowed to be violent towards her,” said McGonagall.

“Ehm..” began Harry.

“The boy is at least four times her size!” muttered Snape.

“Excuse me?” Harry tried.

“Dudders wouldn't hurt a fly!” cried Petunia.

“Mrs Dursley you have no need to worry you will be heard in this,” Dumbledore assured her.

“Excuse me!” cried Harry and the room fell silent. “I'm actually here, you know!”

“So we can see,” said Snape. “Do you have a point to make or did you just interrupt the Headmaster to state the obvious?”

“Severus...” said McGonagall and put her arm around Harry.

“No. It's just...You're all taking about me like I'm not here. I just want to know what is going to happen to me!”

“Indeed! And that is what we shall determine,” continued Dumbledore.

“Do you have any suggestions, Albus?” said McGonagall.

“As for the Harry's living arrangements I'm sure we may add some spells and come to some agreement but I really do not believe removing her from the bloodwards is a possibility.”

That was only met with a huge resounding “No!” as every other person in the room cried out.

“You cannot mean that!” said Pomfrey.

“She's not our responsibility!” shrieked Petunia.

“Haven't you been listening?” hissed Snape.

Dumbledore simply took another sip of his tea and calmly looked at them all in turn. Harry's heart sank in her chest. She knew it! She knew it! Nothing was going to come of this. She had tried to tell Dumbledore when she was in the hospital wing but then he had brushed her off as well.

“I'm sorry but you have to understand this is really the safest place for her. She needs the bloodwards – what happened this year should tell you that much.”

“Surely we can find some other family and if we all work on warding...” began Snape.

“No, I'm afraid not. No such family is available. Besides there are few whose loyalty we can be absolutely sure of should the worst happen,” said Dumbledore, cutting Snape off. “That brings us to the next topic on our list – Harry's changes. I've not had as much time to consider this as I could have wished for. I of course will respect your decision here, Harry, but I would like to inform you first that it would make things a lot easier for us all if you would agree to resume your previous... lifestyle.”

“Do... Do you mean be a boy again?” all but whispered Harry. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

“Albus, tell me you've been drinking!” said McGonagall, equally shocked.

“Yes, Harry that is essentially what I mean. For reasons you cannot understand it would be much safer for you to go on being Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived.”

“Headmaster! Haven't you realized this is her chance to escape the...” began Snape but Dumbledore cut him off by raising his hand.

“You may take some time to consider,” the old man said.

Harry looked around at the other faces. Yes, she did intend to pretend a lot of things hadn't changed but she had never considered to pretend to be a boy again. She had wished to stop that for years and here was her chance and then... McGonagall squeezed her arm slightly. She looked from her to Snape. McGonagall had a sorrowful look in her eyes yet they shone with encouragement as if she meant to say she would support whatever Harry said. Snape was staring at Dumbledore absolutely mortified. Harry took a deep breath and squirmed a bit in her seat before looking up at Dumbledore.

“I want to be a girl!”

McGonagall held her tighter, Pomfrey smiled, Vernon and Petunia exchanged looks and Snape looked relieved.

“Are you sure?” said Dumbledore, the disappointment in his eyes visible. “This is not an easy decision. You may wish to reconsider.”

“I'm sure! I won't change my mind!”

“I will be replacing the glamour. So you will get you old appearance back.”

“What's wrong with how she looks?” said Snape almost offended.

“I don't want you to! I want to stay like this! I can see like this!” protested Harry.

“I understand that but there will be too many questions as is and we cannot risk anyone knowing the result of that paternity test,” replied the Headmaster.

“I don't look like him that much!” cried Harry but she only received looks from everyone else in the room as clearly no one agreed with her.

“Perhaps only if you know,” admitted Pomfrey.

“Albus, don't you see that this is your opportunity to give her a new identity? What better way to hide her?”

“And what would we say happened to Harry Potter? What will you do when it comes out? Because it will, Minerva. It will. You yourself told me Harry's friends are already aware of her being female and who knows whether they have told others? And don't you think they will once Harry goes missing? Don't you think they will ask questions? And once people begin asking questions we will have the Ministry at our doors demanding to know where Harry Potter is. Once they start digging it won't be long before we cannot hide it any longer and they are bound to be asking questions about how this happened, who concealed her sex and why and eventually there will be questions about her paternity. We cannot let anyone know of her connection to Severus.”

“Then don't deny it! At least not all of it!” it suddenly came from Petunia.

“Mrs Dursley?” inquired McGonagall.

“Well, don't deny that James isn't her father. Just simply say he knew and adopted her and that the girl's father is unknown.”

“And you don't believe they will question that?” sneered Snape.

“What can they do? If they have no suspects they cannot make any tests!” continued Petunia.

“She makes an excellent point,” said Pomfrey.

“Perhaps. Harry, may I suggest you continue your studies in your room? We have something to discuss that does not concern you,” smiled Dumbledore.

“But I...” began Harry but when Dumbledore's eyes lost their twinkle she got up, took her book and huffed before leaving the room. Pomfrey got up and closed the door behind her. There was silence on the other side. They were clearly waiting for her to leave. Harry ran up the stairs and into her room where she threw the book on her bed. It wasn't fair! How could it possibly not concern her? And why was Dumbledore not letting her decide what they were going to do? Why was it any of his business? Well, she intended to find out! Slowly and silently she crept down the stairs and closer and closer to the door. She curled up on the floor outside and pressed her ear against the wood. The voices from the other side reached her ears.