The Zabini Cover

Review Replies: http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/60182-the-zabini-cover-review-replies/

“Oh, did you see how he looked at me?” Harry asked Blaise, pulling the dress over his head and quickly stepping out of the underwear that had grown more constricting as his body changed. “I think he likes me.”

“He likes Celeste. A girl.” He said, stopping Harry’s happy search for boxers.

“Oh.” Harry realized, his voice small.

“Which is weird, because he told me last year that he was gay, and there was only one person he liked. He wouldn’t tell me who.”

Harry smiled. “So he’ll be fine when he finds out I’m a guy!” Harry decided.

“He fell into a depression a week ago when Harry Potter was declared dead.” Blaise said darkly.

Harry froze, pulling the pajama bottoms up slowly as he thought.

“I think he liked you. Harry Potter. He’ll be angry when he finds out that you were playing him, Harry.” Blaise said, worried.

Harry sat on the bed, topless, looking down at his male chest as he thought it over. “What if he hates me for it?”

Blaise shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, Harry.” He sighed. “You could lose him before you ever really had him.”

Harry looked down at his lap, his eyes filling with tears. “I’ve had a thing for him since sixth year started. I at least want a chance. Do you think that I could be with him? Just once? As Celeste?”

Blaise shook his head. “No. That would be worse, plus we don’t know if you can become pregnant while female. Not only would you be betraying him in the worst way, but you’d be endangering yourself as well. It’s not going to happen. He’s my best friend, and I’d side with him over you. He deserves better than to have his first time with you be a lie.” Blaise stood. “I’ll leave you now. Good night. We’re heading to Diagon for school supplies tomorrow.” He said. “Try not to dwell on what can’t be.” He finished softly.

Harry sat on his bed for a long time, thinking, before he laid down, silent tears streaming down his face as he cursed the lie he’d have to live.

Sleep came slowly for him that night.

*****

“Ah, and here’s your school list and notice of acceptance, Celeste.” Arabella smiled, handing Harry the letter and the list. “You’ve been placed in Advanced Potions, Animagus Training, Advanced Herbology, Advanced Charms, and Mental Magics.”

Harry frowned. “Let me guess: Your cousin didn’t care much for Defense Against the Dark Arts?” He asked Blaise.

Blaise smirked. “Not really. She preferred using the Dark Arts to defend.”

“Ah.” Harry said, looking at the list. “Well, guess I have to find me a Potions tutor, then.”

Blaise snorted. “Draco.” He said simply.

Harry flushed. “I really don’t think I can. He’d kill me if he knew the truth, so I should just avoid him.” He said softly. “It’ll hurt me, either way. Best to spare him, if I can.”

Blaise looked at Harry with new eyes. For his age, he was remarkably mature, and a bit too altruistic. “Are you sure?” He asked cautiously.

Harry sighed and met his gaze head-on. “I know what you’re thinking, and I’m not really that good inside. I just don’t want him to hurt, because it would hurt me more to hurt him than it would to hurt myself. Either way, I lose. I’d rather not drag him under with me. Don’t put me up on a bloody pedestal. I’m doing this to spare myself.” He hissed, fighting back the grief that was trying to consume him.

Blaise considered his words. “I think you should get to know him as a friend. Make it clear that you aren’t ready for anything more. Then, when he knows you, start dropping hints. He’ll figure it out, and maybe he won’t be too mad. If you’re only friends. Once he knows, it could become more.” He said.

Harry bit his lip, steeling himself for what he had to say. “I already think I may love him. I can’t be just friends with him, Blaise. It would kill me.” He took a deep breath, composing himself. “And that’s why I’ll just keep him from getting too close.”

*****

“Blaise! Celeste!”

Harry felt his heart stutter at the voice so close behind him. He turned, forcing a smile onto his face. “Draco. How nice to see you. Mrs. Malfoy.” He said, giving her a curtsy, his emerald green skirt allowing the elegant movement.

“Mother, this is Celeste, the one I told you about.”

Narcissa looked at Harry closely. “She’s pretty. How old are you, Celeste?”

Harry blushed, knowing the answer by heart. “I will be eighteen in January, Madam.” He said softly.

Narcissa smiled. “Wonderful. Draco, she’s a good girl with excellent manners. You should see if you suit each other. After all, you do need to marry soon. You can’t inherit without a wife.”

Harry pressed his lips together. “I am sorry, Mrs. Malfoy, but I am not looking for a relationship at this time. I merely want to finish my education and move on with my life.”

Narcissa blinked in surprise. “Oh.” She said sharply, the word conveying her distaste. “Very well. Draco, let’s move on, dear. You need Potions ingredients.”

Draco glanced back at Harry, confusion in his eyes at the sudden change of heart.

Harry watched him go, feeling his eyes burn at the tears he ruthlessly forced back.

Blaise sighed. “Come on, let’s get you a new wand. Your old one is too noticeable.”

*****

Harry sat on his bed, fiddling with his new wand, thinking about how confused Draco was over the abrupt change of heart. Things would soon be very complicated. He sighed, heading down to breakfast in jeans and a t-shirt, not even bothering to put his bra and fake breasts on, since they weren’t expecting any company.

Blaise smiled when he entered the room, rubbing his eyes. “You okay?”

Harry sighed, nodding. “This year is going to hurt.” He said softly. “But I think I can survive, if I don’t see Draco too much. I did a few of the potions, and with no Snape harassing me and no Slytherins sabotaging me, I’m not too bad.”

Arabella smiled, setting a plate of waffles in front of him and Blaise and sitting down with her own. “That is good, Harry. I think you’ll find that you will be okay in class, since you start with a clean slate and on the same side as the Slytherins.”

Harry hummed noncommittally, eating slowly.

Blaise looked up in surprise as a black eagle owl swooped in through the window, dropping a letter in Blaise’s lap and settling on the back of his chair, obviously waiting for a reply.

Blaise opened the letter as Harry stared at the owl, recognizing it as Draco’s.

“Shit.” Blaise looked up at Harry. “He wants to come over and see us.” He said.

Harry nodded. “I’ll go change.” He said, getting up as a house-elf took his plate.

Blaise sighed and nodded, summoning a quill and writing a reply.

Harry quickly put on the bra and magical underwear that would hide his gender, then summoned a short pair of cut-off jeans and a blue tank top, throwing them on as he quickly ran to the bathroom, going through the make-up he had bought with Arabella’s help.

He used the cover-up first, concealing his scar carefully, then quickly used a blue eye shadow that complemented the shirt. He was finishing with his mascara when Blaise rushed into the room.

“You have five minutes.” He panted, having just run up the stairs.

Harry nodded, grabbing a sheer lip gloss and coating his lips with it. “How do I look?” He asked, using the charm and a spell to brush and curl his hair instantly.

Blaise smirked. “Like a tramp.” He said bluntly, and Harry rushed him, knocking him over and sitting on his stomach as he summoned a pillow and beat the Slytherin savagely.

“Call me a tramp one-more-time!” Harry snarled in mock rage, punctuating the last three words with blows as the pillow smacked into Blaise’s head.

“Tramp!” Blaise bellowed, then laughed, when Harry cut him off with a pillow shoved in his face.

“I’ll suffocate you, you little prick!” Harry shouted playfully, taking the pillow off Blaise’s face long enough to ask “Is that okay with you?”

Blaise took the chance and flipped them over, pinning Harry’s wrists to the floor on either side of his head.

Harry pouted. “Oi, if you wanted my body so bad, all you had to do was ask.” He said lightly.

Blaise snorted, and the two teens began giggling, Blaise releasing Harry and helping him up.

“Um.” Harry said nervously, his eyes meeting molten mercury orbs, gazing at the scene with shock from the doorway.

“Well, this is certainly interesting. So, Blaise. When did you start fucking your cousin?” Draco drawled.

“Ha, ha.” Blaise said sarcastically. “Even if Celeste were interested in keeping with tradition, I’m not her type. She likes-”

Harry flicked his wand at Blaise casually, silencing him and examining his pale green fingernails. “Well, now that peace has been restored, anything in particular you came here for?”

Draco walked up to Harry, eyes narrowed. “Yes, actually. Why did you tell my mother that you weren’t interested in a relationship? You told me you’d give me a chance. What changed?” He asked sharply.

Harry sighed. “Well, I don’t think now is the right time for me to be looking for love. I should be focusing on my classes-”

“You can do both, you know.” Draco said.

Blaise huffed as Harry dropped the silencing spell. “Brat. Draco, if she doesn’t want it, you shouldn’t push her.” He said.

Draco shot a glare at Blaise, before turning back to face Harry. “I like you, Celeste. A lot, in fact. I’m not going to give up.”

“You’re going to get hurt.” Harry warned him softly. “You know nothing about me, Draco. Nothing at all.”

Draco closed his eyes. “Then let me learn.” He said tightly.

Harry shook his head. “Trust me, you don’t want to know me.”

“Yes. I do.” Draco’s eyes narrowed. “And no matter how much you fight it, I will.”

Blaise bit his lip, thinking of a way to defuse what was quickly becoming a very dangerous situation. “Draco, Celeste, let’s go outside, yeah? We should go a few laps around the house to calm down.”

Harry shot Blaise a venomous glare. “I don’t need to calm down.” He snapped. “Take this idiot with you and leave me alone.”

Draco gave Harry a calculating look, then smirked. “Fine, then, Celeste. You can have your reprieve, but you will be mine. Of that, make no mistake.” He said, taking the smaller hand in his own and kissing the back of, bowing over it as he did so. “I’ll take my leave of you now. Blaise, shall we get the brooms?”

Harry watched them go, and cursed to himself.

Draco Malfoy was not a man to give up easily.

And Harry Potter was not allowed to fall for him.

‘But maybe,’ Harry thought, his resolve weakening, ‘If it doesn’t go too far, maybe Celeste is.’

*****

“I’m going to do it.” Harry declared, sitting in the study where Arabella was painting her nails.

“That’s wonderful, Harry, Dear.” She said. “What are you going to do, now?”

Harry blushed, looking down at his shirt and shifting the bra slightly. “Um, I’m going to let Draco date me. As Celeste.” He said softly.

Arabella raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

“If it doesn’t go too far, it should be okay. Right?”

Arabella sighed, closing the nail polish and looking at Harry. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. I discovered something about your condition.”

Harry smiled. “Yeah? What?”

“It was caused when you killed the Dark Lord. The backlash from the spell somehow separated the masculine part of your soul from the feminine. That is why you now have a monthly cycle.”

Harry frowned. “I don’t have a period.” He said, confused.

“Did I say period? You have a monthly cycle of fertility. The days that your body becomes female are the days that you can conceive. I’m quite sure there is no way to undo it, and you may have to live with it for the rest of your life.” Arabella said. “I would be sure that Draco knows that, and who you are, before you get too attached. You don’t want to have him only to lose him.”

“Oh.” Harry said softly. “So, no sex as girl, right? I can handle that.”

“And no sex for a week before the change, as sperm will survive for up to seven days inside the body. Remember that.” She said firmly.

Harry blushed. “I don’t think I’ll forget any time soon.” He said, mortified. “What makes you think I’m a bottom?”

“You want to be cared for, and the bottom holds most of the power in a relationship, as they decide when sex is allowed. If their significant other loves them, they will listen when they are told that the other is not in the mood.” She said. “Besides, Malfoys are not the type to bottom. Even Severus had to learn that, if he wanted Lucius badly enough.”

Harry paled. “Ew!” He shouted.

Arabella laughed. “Malfoys are always drawn to dark-haired men. But they make a good match later on, to produce an heir. You could do that for Draco, someday, if it lasts.” She smiled. “He would have no need to find a wife and hide your relationship. Lucius would be insanely jealous of what you two share.”

“Ew, again. I like the son, his father is just nasty.” Harry gagged.

Arabella laughed. “I think he’s rather handsome.” She said lightly.

“I think he’s rather old.”

“Not by Wizarding standards. He’s still in the prime of his life. Too bad he’s locked up. It’s probably best for Draco, though.”

Harry buried his face in his hands. “Eww…” He moaned.