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.

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Chapter 4: Idle Threats

"There is a Potter in Slytherin, Albus! I won't have it! Put him – her somewhere else!" Severus had been ranting ever since he'd come to.

"Now, Severus. You know Sortings are final until graduation. There is nothing I can do." Albus sighed.

"But he – she is a Potter!" Severus growled.

"I am still in the room, you know." Harry sighed.

"What I am curious to know, is how you ended up this way." Albus wondered. And how I can exploit it. He added to himself. Harry caught the tail end of his thoughts and strongly resisted the urge to growl in annoyance.

"I assume my mother's sacrifice is what changed me." Harry stated, not bothering to divulge any more information. She decided to keep her mother's diaries a secret for now.

"Fascinating. Well, Harry. We must set up a time for you to begin your training."

"Training? For what?" Harry frowned.

"Why, the war against Voldemort, of course."

"What does that have to do with me?" she asked, already knowing where this was headed. Albus sighed and decided to reveal one of his best kept secrets.

"Just before your birth, there was a prophecy made about you. At the time, it wasn't thought to be a genuine one but I verified it with the Department of Mysteries and it is a genuine prophecy."

"What is it?"

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies*..."

Severus, who'd only heard part of that particular prophecy, sat down heavily in the chair behind Harry. Minerva was speechless.

"And you didn't think to let the rest of us know this prophecy?" Minerva snapped.

"What good would it have done?"

"I wouldn't have followed your instructions to leave Harry with those beastly Muggle relatives of his!"

"Please don't insult my family." Harry sighed, catching everyone's attention.

"Why not?" Albus asked, not liking where this was going.

"Because they raised me as if I were their own and I love them dearly." Harry replied.

Albus was not expecting that. Harry was supposed to come to him, broken, beaten and so starved for affection that Albus could easily mold him to be a warrior. But now knowing the things he did, he realized that Lily's sacrifice suddenly changed all his plans. This was a different Harry Potter than what he had been expecting and he didn't like it at all.

Lily if you were still alive right now, I'd kill you myself, you meddlesome witch! Albus growled. He did not see Harry's gaze sharpen on him, nor did he see the murderous glint in her bright green eyes. Albus calmed himself and turned to look at the others in the room.

"No matter, you still need the training. I will set something up for you by the end of the week."

"No." came the reply immediately after he was done. That stopped Albus in his tracks once again.

"I'm sorry?" Albus gaped at the young woman.

"You will not be 'setting me up' for anything."

"Why not? You need the training we can provide you to defeat Voldemort!"

"And I will get the training I need, but it will not be half-arsed training that will probably get me killed. I will set up my own training schedule."

"Ms Potter, I can have some of the best Aurors here to train you inside of a week."

"With all due respect, Headmaster Dumbledore, I have no faith in your British Auror Corps. I don't trust them as far as I can throw them, and believe me, with the right incentive, I can throw things pretty damn far." Harry snapped. Severus, watching this battle of wills between two powerful people, began to re-evaluate his opinions of Harry Potter. She was not giving Albus one inch of rope. He looked at the Headmaster after Harry's speech and had to bite his lip to keep from grinning. Albus looked like someone had changed the flavor of his lemon drops to sour apple.

"Be reasonable, Ms Potter. As your elder, I know what is best for you."

"You are neither my mentor nor my relative, Headmaster. And if you try to land me with your training regime, or try to manipulate me in any way, you will regret it with every fiber of your being."

Minerva sucked in a tight breath and her head whipped around to Albus. Albus's blue eyes were bright with anger.

"Is that a threat, Ms Potter?" the man's tone held no warmth.

Harry gained her feet and leaned toward the Headmaster over his desk, her eyes as hard as granite. She was pleased when he visibly flinched.

"That's a promise...sir. I don't make threats."

And with that, she turned on her heel and left the room. She was nearly to the bottom of the stairs leading to the Slytherin common room when Severus caught up to her. He walked beside her in silence for a long moment, casting surreptitious glances at her profile.

"If you have something to say, best say it now and get it out of the way." she said after a moment.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Ms Potter." Severus quietly mumbled as the door to the common room opened.

"Thank you, Professor Snape." Harry replied in the same tone as they stepped into the room.




To Be Continued...

*Taken directly from the book.

..::..Chapter 5..::..

Missed the beginning?
..::..Prologue..:..Chapter 1..::..Chapter 2..::..Chapter 3..::..