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 7: Honorable Mention

Dumbledore entered Courtroom Ten promptly at 8 to the stares of the full Board, including Lucius Malfoy. The spectator's stands were also full of people and reporters who did not want to miss a moment. He looked at Amelia Bones, who was to be the Arbitrator.

"I assumed this was a private hearing, Amelia."

"You assumed wrong, Professor Dumbledore, and I would appreciate you not taking such liberties with me. We may be acquaintances, but I demand respect while you are here, sir." she scowled.

Harry, from his seat behind his councilor, smirked. Score...Board – 1, Dumbledore – 0.

Amelia started the proceedings immediately thereafter, closing the courtroom doors to outside.

"Hogwarts Board of Governors presiding over Case Number 4234, Harrietta Potter – complainant, Professor Albus Dumbledore – respondent. It is hereby noted that Ms Potter was entered into a magical contract without her permission to participate in the Triwizard Tournament being held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Is council for the respondent present?" Albus gained his feet.

"I shall represent myself in this matter. I have done no wrong and have nothing to hide."

"So noted." Amelia nodded. "Is council for the complainant present?"

Griphook, manager of all Potter accounts at Gringotts, stood up, causing those assembled to gape in shock.

"I am, your Honor." Griphook announced. Dumbledore's eyes widened.

"I object to this! Goblins do not concern themselves with wizard affairs!" he cried out.

"Explain yourself, sir." an elderly witch sitting next to Lucius, demanded.

"If it pleases the Board, I would like to read a letter left to me by Lily Potter shortly before her death. It's authenticity has been confirmed by several Unspeakables, if you'd like to see the report."

"If you please." Amelia nodded. There was a few minutes of silence as the report was read. It reached Lucius last and he chuckled as he read it. He nodded to Amelia.

"Please continue, Griphook." Amelia stated.

"Thank you, your Honor." Griphook cleared his throat. "June 17, 1981. Sir Griphook. You have been a trusted member of Gringotts since the Potters came into existence and I am clearly hoping that this cry for help extends to members of the family not born unto it. As you know, the man known as Lord Voldemort is hellbent on destroying my family and I need to insure that Harry is spared from his wrath for as long as possible. There are those who would try to exploit my only child in any way they could and I would like to prevent that from ever happening. That is why I am asking you to be the Potter Family Council for as long as we shall need your services. I assure you that this is legal, having checked with several Unspeakables about the laws governing Goblins and Wizards alike. If you agree, just speak to this letter in the affirmative in your native tongue and the contract will appear before you, signed, a second copy to be sent to the Potter Family Archives. My husband's family has always placed their trust in you and that seems like all the recommendation I need to ensure that same trust. Thank you. It is signed Lily Potter." Griphook finished.

"If the Board has no objections?" Amelia looked at the other members, who all shook their heads. "Professor Dumbledore, your objection is noted and summarily dismissed."

Dumbledore glared at Griphook before resuming his seat. Harry's smirk widened. Board – 2, Dumbledore – 0.

"Griphook, you may begin."

"Thank you, your Honor." Griphook approached the podium. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board. On October 31, 1994, The Goblet of Fire was presented to the students of Hogwarts, guests from Durmstrang and Beaubaxton's, staff and officials, to draw three names of potential Champions from all three schools for the Triwizard Tournament. Cedric Diggory was chosen as the Hogwarts participant and that was, for all intent and purposes, the end of the selections. But The Goblet spat forth another name, that of my client, Ms Harrietta Potter. The rules of the tournament clearly state that no one below a Sixth Year student can participate in the tournament, and there were several witnesses to the fact that Professor Dumbledore, Professor Minerva McGonagall, and Professor Severus Snape, all staff at Hogwarts, cast an age line spell around the Goblet itself to prevent underage witches and wizards from entering. Witnesses also noted that Masters Fredrick and George Weasley, Fifth year students at Hogwarts, tried to circumvent the age line by concocting a potion that aged the gentlemen a number of years – which failed when the magic in the Age Line spell detected their true age and punished them accordingly. So, I ask you, Ladies and Gentlemen, how could my client have put her name in The Goblet without the Age Magic detecting her signature and punishing her in the same way? Your Honors, it's quite possible that her wand was stolen without her knowledge, most likely when she was sleeping, and her magical signature used to forge her name."

Murmuring from the crowd behind them was heard at that statement. The Board conferred with one another for a moment.

"Ms Potter, could you please step forward?" Amelia asked. Harry got to her feet and moved forward. Once again Albus jumped up.

"I was not aware Ms Potter was to be present for this hearing."

"The Board requested she be here, Albus." Lucius stated. Board – 3, Dumbledore – 0. Dumbledore resumed his seat.

"Ms Potter, where do you keep your wand at night?"

"On my bedside table."

"At anytime did you notice it was missing?"

"No but..."

"There we have it! Ms Potter clearly found some way to put her name in." Dumbledore interrupted. Harry glared at him.

"As I was saying...I always leave the handle facing me so that I can quickly grab it if I need to. When I awoke the following morning, the handle was facing the other direction. I thought nothing of it at that time, assuming I probably hit it in my sleep and it turned the other way." Harry finished.

"That's a very plausible explanation." A man next to Amelia nodded.

"Thank you for your testimony, Ms Potter." Amelia nodded. Harry smiled brightly at them and returned to her seat.

"If it pleases the Board, I would like to call Professor Alastair Moody to testify." Griphook announced.

"This is highly irregular! Alastair is one your most trusted Aurors, Madame Bones!" Albus exclaimed.

"I must admit, I'm curious as to why you are calling him." Amelia reluctantly admitted.

"I must ask the Board's indulgence. There is a reason, I assure you." Griphook stated. Once again, the Board conferred on the matter.

"We will allow it." was the answer.

There was a short break as someone was sent to Hogwarts to retrieve the retired Auror. And then Moody stomped into the room, eye whirling around in its socket.

"Madame Bones." he greeted.

"Alastair, forgive us for disrupting your day. We're just trying to clear some things up."

"Understandable."

"You may continue, Sir Griphook."

"If I may ask Arbitrator Bones a question?" Griphook began.

"You may ask."

"What sort of protections are currently on this room?"

"The standard spells to prevent glamors, apparation, lying, and dark hexes."

"Are there more advance spells in place?"

"Such as?"

"Detection for the use of Anti-Veritaserum and Polyjuice for one, maybe even unregistered Animagi." Griphook stated. The crowed murmured again, and Moody was beginning to look a tad nervous.

"To be honest, we have the spells, we've just never used them before."

"May I ask that they be used?" Griphook wondered. Amelia looked at her fellow Board members. All of them voted in the affirmative with the exception of Lucius. Amelia cast the spells and a couple of people in the room began to glow. A spot above Amelia's head also began to glow as well, and she flicked her wand at it. Immediately Rita Skeeter appeared, dropping to the floor in front of the Board Table. The crowd laughed at Rita's misfortune, then gaped in shock as they finally caught sight of Moody. He was glowing so bright, people were nearly blinded. There was an explosion of light before the man collapsed in a dead faint. Aurors bent to check on the man, then backed away quickly when it was revealed to be Barty Crouch Junior. They quickly restrained him to a chair and administered Veritaserum before Amelia woke him. Barty struggled in vain before he slumped in defeat. They waited a moment for the truth serum to kick in.

"You are Bartimus Crouch Junior, are you not?" Amelia asked.

"Yes."

"Why were you polyjuiced to look like Alastair Moody?"

"The Dark Lord asked me to."

"And where is the real Moody?"

"Locked in a trunk in the Defense rooms at Hogwarts." Amelia quickly sent two of her most trusted to retrieve him.

"What were you doing at Hogwarts?"

"The Dark Lord wanted me to enter Potter's name in the tournament."

"For what purpose?"

"To regain his body and continue his plans to take over the world."

"And how was he to accomplish this?"

"By ensuring that Potter won the tournament. I was to get to the tournament trophy and turn it into a portkey that would take Potter to the graveyard in Little Hangleton. The Dark Lord would regain his body in a ritual that would require Potter's blood, bone from Riddle Senior, and a small sacrifice of his most trusted." Crouch began to fight the effects

"How did you get Ms Potter's wand?" Amelia asked quickly.

"I approached Professor Snape with the story that Dumbledore asked me to check on Potter. I played on Professor Snape's hatred of James Potter to get him to let me into the Slytherin dorms without questioning my motives. I took Potter's wand while she was sleeping, forged her name and put it in The Goblet."

"Why didn't you just simply use Harry's wand to kill the girl yourself? Why go through all that?"

"The honor of killing Potter falls to Him alone. I would do anything to ensure He gets that chance." Barty growled.

"How did you escape Azkaban?"

"My mother...took my...place, polyjuiced...as me."

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"Y...yes!"

"Who are your compatriots?" Amelia tried.

"Never...tell...you!" Bartimus smirked.

"I vote he be Kissed immediately!" Lucius shouted. The other members of The Board agreed with Lucius.

"Shouldn't we imprison him and question him again with another dose of Veritaserum? As it is, The Board has no authority to have someone Kissed." Dumbledore wondered.

"He's escaped before. He could do it again." Lucius scowled. "Besides, Madame Bones is also here as Head of the Aurors and she does have the authority to have someone sentenced if they deserve so."

"I agree with Lucius." One of the others said.

"All in favor?" Amelia asked. Every member of the Board save herself voted yes.

Immediately a sealed chamber appeared around Bartimus Crouch and a Dementor released within. A moment later, Bartimus Crouch Junior ceased to exist.

"Well...I think with that, I can safely say that Ms Potter wins her case and will not be required to participate in the tournament." Amelia announced.

Winner – The Board of Governors. Harry looked at Dumbledore. I win, old man.

Dumbledore's glare could have melted metal as hot as it was. Harry just smirked at him, before leaving the room with Griphook.

"How did you know about Crouch?" Harry asked Griphook. He looked at her and winked.

"Wizard magic can never be stronger than Goblin magic." he replied.

Harry's laughter followed them down the hall.

- - -

As a result, Amelia had some of her top Aurors and a few Unspeakables guard the tournament trophy twenty-four hours a day so that no one could tamper with it.

Cedric Diggory won the tournament for Hogwarts.

Fred and George won a load of money from well-placed bets and had it deposited into their vault, planning for their up and coming joke shop.

Dumbledore avoided Harry for the rest of the school year, much to her amusement.

Her relationship with Draco began to flourish, much to Blaise's disgust.

After an intense discussion about her father, Severus apologized for allowing the fake Moody to get into Slytherin and for his earlier treatment of her.

Ron Weasley continued to try and get under Harry's skin, and it was amusing to see his sister continuously charm various parts of his body different shades of green. He was the constant butt of jokes for the rest of the term. He began to leave his sister alone about being friends with a Slytherin.

And so ended Harry's first year at Hogwarts.


To Be Continued...

Oh yeah....it's going to get interesting. Stay tuned!