The next morning, Harry was relieved to wake up and find that Malfoy had already left. The only thing to show that he had been there the night before was the damp blouse that hung limply off the side of Harry's bed, and slight embarrassment that still burned in his chest. Both for  getting caught trying to help heal Malfoy, and making up the stupidest excuse possible when it happened.

He just hoped Malfoy couldn't remember any of it. His morning started out fairly well, even though he felt a little concerned at first, because there were classes today, and he was missing them, just sitting by himself in the hospital wing.

He sat cross legged on his bed, eating his small breakfast and reading one of the more interesting books Hermione had let for him, consoling himself with the fact that Hermione would always help him catch up in any any classes that he missed. And he got to skip Snape's class. That was always a win.

It was nearing lunchtime when his friends finally came in for a visit, but he had expected that, as they were busy with their classes. This time, though, they held looks of worry and anger as they strode over to him, rather than the excitement and wariness they had held before.

Harry was intrigued and slightly concerned over this change in attitude as he watched them approach. Hermione seemed flushed and her hair was in disarray as she came near him, and Ron looked angry and a little frustrated as he followed closely behind her.

Harry greeted them warily, "Hey guys, what's-" he didn't get to finish his question before Ron decided to answer.

"They know." He bit out, his teeth clenched and his face tinged red in his anger and Harry looked between him and Hermione, searching for a more descriptive answer. Ron was evidently too into his frustration to speak sentences properly, and Hermione seemed to be trying to find the right words to say.

"They...know? What? Who knows what?" he repeated feeling panicked and confused. Their expressions did not bode well for him.

Hermione was the one to speak this time, "They...know." she parroted, with her brows furrowed and her lips pursed. Harry was feeling agitated now, and barely felt the shifting weight on his chest as he turned more towards them.

"Who knows what?!" He nearly yelled, getting tired of their vagueness. Hermione seemed to snap out of her thoughtful trance and Ron spoke up, having finally found his voice. Albeit, his slightly loud and enraged voice.

"It was that stupid hag, Parkinson! She told the whole school!" Hermione looked like she was about to scold Ron for his loud temper, but then her gaze drifted towards Harry's ashen face, and his trembling figure.

They didn't need to tell him what Parkinson had revealed to the school, it didn't take a genius to figure it out. Anger coursed through his body as he realized what had happened and he briefly felt his face heat up in embarrassment and anger. His was furious, but the anger quickly burned out and faded to a terrifying anguish. He could almost feel the blood run out of his face as he thought about the implications of this. Suddenly, there were tears in his eyes, and he felt helpless. "The-the whole school?" he whispered softly, blinking back frustrated tears and wrapping his arms around himself.

Hermione made a small noise of sympathy and Ron nodded curtly in an affirmative answer, his lips pressed tight. Harry felt the burning behind his eyes that signified more tears. He blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the unnecessary breakdown that he was close to having, but the blurring of tears started to cloud his vision anyways.

He felt so conflicted, between wanting to tear his hair out in frustration and anger or curling up and sobbing into his bedsheets. His voice-that had sounded deeper before, but was now slowly climbing higher in octave each day- was hoarse as he made a small sound of desperation, wishing that Ron and Hermione were wrong. He knew they weren't though. He knew this would happen sooner or later, but he had hoped a cure would have been found before then.

There was an awkward silence as Ron and Hermione watched with sympathy, before Hermione spoke up. "I'm really sorry Harry. Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore tried to warn her against spreading the news of your transformation around, but obviously she didn't listen." She looked down in shame, as if she had been to do something wrong, and Harry tried to assure her that she hadn't, but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth.

Ron decided to chime in then. "Of course she didn't listen. What would you expect from someone like Parkinson? Dumbledore should have done something to make she she couldn't talk."

Harry nodded at that, still unable to say anything as he sat there in a state of shock. There were a million things running through his mind, and he wondered what would happen now that everyone knew. He'd been staying in the hospital wing so far, but he had been told that he would be moved to a different place if the cure took too long to create.

Now that everyone knew already, did that change? Would he be able to go back to his regular dorm and go to all his classes as usual? Harry had mixed feelings about that, wanting to have some normality in his life right now, but also knowing that the state of his body would ruin that for him.

He knew that considering who he was, everyone would be talking about his transformation, some people even mocking him for it. He didn't want more people calling him a girl, and asking him intrusive questions. He just wanted to be Harry and go on with his life. But, it looked like that was not going to happen.

Ron and Hermione stayed near him as he processed the situation and wiped away his tears. They consoled him for a while, as they all sat there and when he had finally gathered himself, Hermione spoke up again. "I talked to Professor McGonagall, and she says that since everyone knows already, there's no point in keeping you cooped up in the hospital wing. She wants you to go back to the dorms and attend classes again."

Harry nodded at that, knowing Mcgonagall was right, but also dreading the reaction the school was going to have towards him. He didn't care much about what they thought of him, except when they were to forceful and overbearing with their opinions-which is what happened every time.

"Right." He answered, adjusting his glasses and trying to compose himself the best he could, having not showered in almost four days and sitting on a hospital bed wearing rumpled clothing. Ron sent him a sympathetic look and was about to open his mouth to speak when McGonagall walked in.

All three of them turned to look as she walked briskly towards them with a pinched expression on her face. "Professor, I was just telling Harry about what happened..." Hermione spoke up first as Professor McGonagall neared them. Ron nodded along, starting to look a bit angry again as he was reminded of the situation.


McGonagall seemed frustrated as she stopped at the end of Harry's hospital bed and said, "Yes, well this is an unfortunate situation. I apologise for the inconvenience... Ms. Potter." Harry scowled at the use of 'Ms.', but kept his mouth shut in favor of listening to what she had to say. "I'm sure Ms. Granger has already informed you, but due to the circumstances, you will be moved over to the girl's dormitory. House elves have already moved your belongings, and you will be staying there, starting today."


Harry balked at this, because, no, Hermione had not informed him. He felt the embarrassment and annoyance that he had previously been feeling fade away as anger burst in his chest. The girl's dormitory? McGonagall must have seen the anger and surprise on his face because she followed up with, "Don't fret, Harry, It is the most logical solution, and I'm sure you'll do fine with the other girls."

Hermione beamed at him from his side, but all Harry noticed at the moment was the frustration and anger building in his body. Why didn't anyone just understand? "I don't want to go sleep in the girl's dorms!"

He was well aware he sounded like a petulant child, but at the moment all he could think about was how everyone was treating him like he was a different person, like things had changed. He was having a hard enough time dealing with his body changes without everyone constantly reminding him of it, and expecting some other sort of change to follow. McGonagall and Hermione stared at him in shock after his outburst, but Ron didn't look surprised in the slightest.

Hermione was about to open her mouth to speak, most likely to either scold him or try to convince him that staying in the girls dormitory would be best for him, but he didn't let her get even a word out before shouting, "I am a man! I am not a woman!" There was a second more of shocked silence as Harry glared furiously at them, before McGonagall finally spoke up to reprimand him.

"Now, really, Harry, I know this is a difficult situation for you, but-" Harry cut her off with a sharp, "no," turning around and crossing his arms over his chest, for once managing to ignore the irritating weight that blocked him.

He knew it was rude, and completely disrespectful, and he hated himself a little for acting like this, but he was just so tired of everyone telling him what was best for him. He just wanted to make his own decisions and live his own life without people criticizing him for it.

He ignored the lectures he received from both Professor McGonagall and Hermione for his curt response and rude behavior as he slumped down onto his bed more and wallowed silently in his self pity.

After a while of his silent treatment from him, they finally retreated at Ron's suggestion. Professor McGonagall left, muttering about bringing in Dumbledore and contacting Remus and Sirius while Hermione departed sounding disappointed as she said goodbye. Harry felt a little bad, especially when Ron gave him a sympathetic pat on the back before leaving, as well as a muttered farewell.

Hopefully he would be able to convince them that he should stay in his old dorm without any more arguments, but he doubted it. It was still rather early in the afternoon, so he still had a bit of time before he would actually have to go to a dorm to sleep, but there was still a lot of convincing to do, and he hadn't even faced his classmates yet. He was dreading the rest of his day, and decided it would be a good idea to burrow under the thin covers of his hospital bed and pretend everything was ok.

...

I still haven't decided whether or not Harry should be placed in the girl's dorms...

Any suggestions?