Title: Just A Girl
Author: Lady B
Genre: AU Het
Pairing: Draco/Girl!Harry
Rating for this chapter: PG
Summary: Lily Potter was the top of her class in Charms and Hexes. With a bit of creativity and a spell from an ancient relative, she cast a spell upon Harry the moment she died, thereby ensuring that her child would survive. Only no one understood the nature of her spell and its long-term effects. Is the Wizarding World prepared to deal with...A Girl Who Lived?
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Yes this is het. I know I said I'd never write one again, but my bunny was chomping at my heels for this. I'm not following the books/movies much and there will be time-line jumps.

- - -

Chapter 1: 2 Letters, 1 Choice

The mail flap rattled in the entry way, causing everyone to look up from their brunch.

"Get the mail, please, Harry." Vernon stated to his niece.

"Right away, Uncle Vernon." Harry smiled, getting to her feet.

"Check and see if my new periodical came." Dudley called after. Harry just rolled her eyes.

She picked up the mail, sorting through it as she headed back to the dining room. She handed a stack of bills to her uncle, who grumbled upon seeing them, a postcard from a friend vacationing in Paris for her Aunt and Dudley's computer gaming periodical he was expecting. There were two letters for her, she noticed upon sitting down. Once was expected, the other was a complete surprise. She opened the first one.

Mr Harry Potter
The Bedroom at the Top of The Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Surrey, England

Dear Mr Potter,

It is with great pride and honor that you have been slated to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry beginning the first week of September. Attached you will find your lists of equipment and clothing required for your upcoming year. We will see you on September 1st.

Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

Rolling her eyes, she set the letter aside and opened the second one.

Ms Harrietta Potter
4 Privet Drive
Surrey, England

To whom this may concern;

We would be pleased if you would consider our school, The Salem Institute of Magic, for your upcoming year. While we do not hold the prestige and honor such as those of your home country, we pride ourselves on preparing you for entry into wizarding society with classes your first year gearing toward family traditions and finances so that you will be better equipped when you leave school to make it on your own. Enclosed is an informational pamphlet for the school and areas of Wizarding America that may interest you and a list of books and equipment you will be required to purchase if you accept. Please look them over and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. My Floo address is listed in the pamphlet. I look forward to hearing from you either way.

Sincerely,

Principal Richard DeWitt
Salem Institute of Magic
Salem, Massachusetts
USA

Harry looked up to see both his aunt and uncle staring at him.

"Harry? What is it?"

"I've gotten a letter from Hogwarts and a letter from some school in The States." she sighed.

"Well, that's good isn't it?" Vernon asked.

"Sort of." Harry shrugged.

"Then what's the problem?"

"These people at Hogwarts – they sound like they demand I be there, like they aren't giving me a choice to be there or not."

"Let me see." Petunia held out her hand and Harry gave her the letter. Petunia quickly looked it over and by the time she was done, there was a scowl on her face. "And the other one?" Harry handed that one over as well.

Petunia sat back in her chair, handing the letters to her husband. He gaped at the first, mumbling under his breath about "rude barbarians" the whole time. After the second, he looked at his wife and nodded his head.

"I think you should go to Salem, Harry. I don't like the tone of that first one. The way that Dumbledore signs it makes him sound like a self-important twat!" Petunia stated.

"Mum!" Dudley gaped.

"Aunt Petunia!" Harry laughed.

"Pardon my language but that's how I see it." Petunia replied, unrepentant.

"I agree with your aunt. Nothing good can come from going to this Hoggywards place." Vernon growled. "They didn't even give you any information about the school or the classes. At least this Salem place knows what it's about."

"You'll really let me go to school in America?" Harry was pleased.

"Of course, Harry." her uncle nodded. She moved around the table and hugged him fiercely. He smiled lightly and patted the young girl's back before she moved away.

"Now there's the matter of expenses. We will have to pay for this, I imagine."

"Oh! That reminds me. I got a package from an owl yesterday from a bank called 'Gringotts'. I assume it's a wizard's bank." Harry exclaimed. She went to her room to get the package and they spent the next couple of hours pouring over the financial reports that were inside.

"It seems your parents left everything to you, Harry. I think you'll be able to afford your school things." Petunia smiled.

"I'd like to share it with you, if I may. I think Mum would have wanted it that way." Harry told his family. "After all, you did give me a home here."

"We would be honored, dear child." Vernon nodded, looking suspiciously misty-eyed.

"Dad, are you crying?" Dudley grinned. Vernon snorted and cuffed his son in the back of the head. That broke the tension in the room as everyone enjoyed a good laugh.

- - -

Petunia and Harry took the tube to the wizarding section of London to catch an international floo to America so Harry could buy her school supplies and to meet with Principal DeWitt to get her house assignment. They stopped off at Pizza Hut for a bit of American cuisine before heading back home.

Harry left by muggle plane at the end of August and by the first of September, was firmly absorbed in her studies at S.I.M.

- - -

Hogwarts Welcoming Feast – The Sorting Ceremony

Albus Dumbledore smiled down at the first years waiting to be sorted into their houses for the next seven years. His eyes searched for the one he was most excited to see but saw no sign of the only son of James and Lily Potter.

He must be really shy and is hiding among them. He thought to himself as "Granger, Hermione" was sorted into Gryffindor. Beside him, his Potions Professor, Severus Snape was also looking for Harry. He leaned close to his mentor.

"I don't see the little blighter. No doubt he thought he was too good to grace us with his presence."

"Calm, Severus." Albus chuckled as "Malfoy, Draco" was sorted to Slytherin. Severus smirked at that one, planning to call on his good friend, Lucius, at the end of dinner. "Weasley, Ronald" was sorted last into Gryffindor and then Minerva was moving the hat and stool. Albus's eyes went wide as he scanned all the tables for any sign of their Savior. He got to his feet.

"Hold, Minerva. I believe we are forgetting one." Minerva frowned in confusion.

"I think not, Albus. All new students are accounted for." Minerva told him.

"But, what of Harry Potter?" Albus asked.

"There was no Potter on my list, Albus." All the teachers gasped and whispering broke out amongst the students.

"Are you sure? I sent his letter myself. He should be on the list."

"See for yourself." She handed the first years scroll to her employer and he quickly skimmed down the list. Where "Potter, Harry" should have been between "Patil, Parvati" and "Weasley, Ronald" there was an empty spot.

"Strange, indeed. No matter. I will look into it tomorrow. For now, everyone eat up." he announced, returning to his seat as the food appeared on the tables.

The whispers grew louder, each one asking the same thing: Where was Harry Potter?




To Be Continued...

..::..Chapter 2..::..

Missed the beginning?

..::..Prologue..:..