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 6: Participation is Required...But Not Necessarily Requested

Harry took a short nap like she had promised and upon noticing the time, groggily made her way to the Great Hall for dinner. Walking through the semi-dark dungeon corridors gave her a sense of peace and calm she'd never felt before. As she was about to climb the stairs, the quiet sounds of someone crying caught her attention. She followed the sound down a corridor that was barely used and came to a locked door. She tried the handle but the door wouldn't budge. She waved her wand, discovering an simple locking spell, and quickly removed it. She opened the door and saw a young girl, a first year from the looks of her, sitting on the floor.

"Hello." Harry stated. The girl looked up, quickly wiping her tears when she noticed Harry's Slytherin crest.

"Hi." the girl sniffled.

"What are you doing in there?" Harry wondered.

"A boy pushed me in here and locked the door. I shouted to be let out but he walked away."

Harry sat down outside the door.

"What a horrible thing to do." Harry insisted.

"He knew I was scared of the dark, but he did this to me anyway. Why would he do that?" the girl wondered, tears leaking from her eyes once again.

"Because boys can be stupid sometimes. You shouldn't let it get to you."

"Even if it was your own brother?" the girl asked. Harry looked closer at the girl and noticed the red hair and blue eyes.

"Let me guess. You're a Weasley." Harry sighed. The girl nodded and started crying again. Harry handed her a handkerchief The girl gave her a watery smile as she dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. She handed the handkerchief back to Harry, who shook her head in slight disgust. "You can keep it, I have plenty more."

"Thank you, Ms Potter." the girl sniffed.

"Please, call me Harry. What's your name?"

"Sylvia. Sylvia Miriam Weasley."

"It's nice to meet you, Sylvia Miriam Weasley." Harry smiled, shaking the young girl's hand. "Which one of your brothers did this to you?"

"Ron. He found me in the library talking to my best friend, Leanne Masters and he got all red and puffy and dragged me out by my arm. It hurt!" The girl began to to tear up again and Harry had to quickly calm her down.

"Why would he be upset about you talking to your friend?"

"Well...Leanne was sorted into Slytherin." Sylvia mumbled. "But she's my best friend! We've been best friends since we were little. We used to have sleepovers all the time!"

"Your brother is just a big bully. There is no law that says you can't be friends with someone in another house." Harry scowled, hating Ron Weasley all over again. She looked back at Sylvia. "Do you have any free time after breakfast tomorrow?"

"Second class."

"Good. Meet me at the the main entrance then. I'll teach you a couple of harmless spells that you can use on your brother if he ever tries that again."

"You're going to help me? A Slytherin help a Gryffindor?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Harry frowned.

"I-I don't know." Sylvia murmured. Harry helped the girl to her feet and waved her wand over the both to clean them up.

"I'd be happy to help you. We better get you back to your house before they realize you're missing."

"Thank you, Harry." Sylvia smiled at her.

"You're welcome." Harry smiled in return. She led them back to the Great Hall in time to see a near-frantic Hermione looking around for them. She spotted them and ran toward them.

"Sylvia are you all right?"

"Yes. Harry helped me." Hermione looked at Harry.

"What happened?"

"Her brother got mad that Sylvia is best friends with a Slytherin and locked her in one of the unused storage closets in the dungeons. I almost didn't hear her cries."

"I'll kill him!" Hermione growled. Harry smirked at the young lioness.

"Feel free to punch him for me as well." Harry replied, walking to her table. She did not see the speculative look Hermione was giving her.

Harry sat in his accustomed seat next to Draco, ignoring all questions of why she was seen in the company of two Gryffindors. She dished up some food and immersed herself in her dinner and the assignments she had missed from her classes.

- - -

After the students from Beaubaxton's and Durmstrang had been introduced and seated, The Goblet of Fire was brought into the Great Hall to announce the participants in the upcoming Triwizard Tournament.

Harry had no interest in the tournament whatsoever so returned to her work, tuning out everything and everyone around her. She was therefore surprised when Draco nudged her slightly some time later. She looked at him.

"What?" she frowned. Draco didn't say a word, only moved his eyes to the front of the hall. Harry turned to look and saw that every eye in the room was on her.

"Is there something in my hair?" she asked.

"Ms Potter," began Mr Crouch in a tone that suggested he was speaking to someone dim-witted, "Your name was pulled from The Goblet. That makes you the fourth participant in the tournament."

All eyes turned back to Harry, waiting to see what she would do or say. She slowly closed her book and set it aside before getting to her feet. She stared at everyone in the room before looking at the officials and teachers at the head table.

"I bloody well think not!" she cried.

"Ms Potter, language!" Minerva cried out.

"Sod my language! If you think I'm going to participate in something I know for fact I did not enter, then you have another think coming!" Harry scowled.

"The rules clearly state that if your name is drawn, then you are legally bound to participate." Mr Crouch replied.

"Harry. Think of what this will mean to the school if you succeed in winning." Dumbledore added. Harry gaped at the Headmaster in shock, swiftly entering the man's mind to see what he was really trying to get at.

There is no way Potter can escape this. With Voldemort waiting at the end, Harry will surely come out on top.

Harry's scowl darkened, frightening a couple of first year Hufflepuffs into fainting. Without another word, she turned and stalked from the room, ignoring several reporters and officials who called out her name.

- - -

It was late when she returned to the dorms. Severus was waiting for her in front of the common room entrance.

"Ms Potter, may I inquire as to your whereabouts these last few hours?"

"You can, but I'm not at liberty to tell you."

"I see." Severus nodded.

"See you at breakfast, sir." Harry stated, speaking the password.

"Indeed." Severus nodded. Breakfast was bound to be interesting, if Severus's hunch was right.

- - -

Breakfast had just commenced when the doors to The Great Hall slammed open and 4 official looking people marched up the center aisle toward the head table. Dumbledore got to his feet.

"May I help you gentlemen?" he asked. The man in the front stepped forward and placed a document in front of the headmaster. "What's this?"

"You have been served, Headmaster Dumbledore."

"Served? With what?"

"You are to appear before the Board of Director's tomorrow at 8 am in a disciplinary hearing in regards to Ms Harrietta Potter and her participation in the upcoming tournament."

"But-!" Dumbledore stammered.

"Failure to appear will result in immediate suspension without pay and the blocking of half your magic. Have a pleasant day." The four men turned and left the room. Dumbledore sat down in shock, wondering when he had lost all control.

From her seat, Harry let a small smirk grace her features.

I warned you not to fuck with me, Albus Dumbledore.

"Harry, what did you do?" Pansy asked in a whisper.

"I warned the old man that any interference in my life would be met with retaliation. I guess he didn't believe me." Harry shrugged.

"You've got bollocks, Potter." Theodore Nott stated from his place down the table, "Going against the man who defeated the first Dark Lord is not something many people would dare to do."

"Ah, but some people are not me, Nott. Dumbledore would be wise to remember that." Harry told him. Theo nodded and turned back to his food. Harry caught Draco staring at her speculatively.

"Do I have food in my teeth?"

"You are one fascinating woman, Harry." Draco murmured. Harry felt her face heat up for the first time ever.

"I'm glad you approve."

"Will you go out with me this Saturday for lunch? My treat." Harry had to work hard to mask her shock. She had just been asked out by the most handsomest boy in school. What was a girl to do?

"I'd love to." Harry smiled.

"I really hate you, Draco." Blaise groaned. Draco patted his friend on the back in sympathy, causing their friends to laugh. Harry felt a hand settle around her waist and she felt her pulse begin to race. She turned to look at Draco again and he winked at her.

"Draco, stop making her blush! It's annoying!" Theo stated. Draco did something completely un-Malfoy-ish. He stuck his tongue out. Harry laughed outright and Draco grinned.

It was the most interesting breakfast Hogwarts had seen in a long time.



To Be Continued...