The Relative Truth

Chapter 4

Warning: This chapter contains rape

When Harry left my room,ouldould tell he was not completely happy with the situation. While he might have been feeling better than when he entered, he still withdrew into himself, no doubt worried about how the rest of the students would take this information. I could not blame him for his fear or nervousness. It was a large secret that we had kept hidden for five years. I had done all I could to reassure him, though, and I did promise not to let anyone know who he really was. That seemed to be what bothered Asphodeline the most, more than people discovering his true gender. The young Slytherin did not want people to know that he was the legendary Harry Potter.

Unfortunately, I could only do so much. My own promise did not stop the other students from knowing what he was. Despite my warnings, I knew the gossip would spread like wildfire. If his countenance was anything to go by, Harry knew it as well. We also both knew that the outcome would not be at all pleasant. Many did not take the revelation well. Of the first few days, he received more than his fair share of odd looks, Prophet headlines, and hesitant treatment. It seemed that the rest of the student body was at as much of a loss as the poor victim was.

The first group that accept Harry as male, naturally, was the Slytherins, with the notable exception of the Parkinson… girl. My students all have their secrets, and, regardless of what others may think, they are not cutthroats. Harry had already been accepted into the fold, and, once they were able to assimilate this new aspect of one of r owr own, their behaviour toward him was as it had ever been. In reality, the Serpent House is quite loyal to its own members, too used to discrimination against them to alienate one for a rn len less than betrayal. Besides that, few students were willing to take on both Draco and Blaise.

The muggle-born students were the next group to cease caring about Harry’s gender. Secretly I believe this pleased Albus to no end. The two groups with the least in common brought closer through mutual acceptance of the secrets of one student. Personally, I still do not understand why the muggle-borns took to the news so quickly. I imagine that group would have to be fairly unflappable to be able to assimilate the idea of being a witch or a wizard. I mean, before they receive their admission letter to Hogwarts, most believe that real magic only exists in stories. Maybe it is a simple as cross-dressing is more common in the muggle world, I honestly would not know. I was please, however, that there was another group willing to accept Harry for what he was. I did not like the thought of him being isolated in the Slytherin dorms for fear of others’ reactions.

It was the pure and half-bloods who had the most difficulty coming to terms with this information. I would blame overly traditional upbringings, but many would argue that my own students are guilty of that same condition. Of course, these students did not have the benefit of knowing the boy as well as my students did. Even when one takes into account the natural prejudice against Slytherins, I still do not know why these students had such trouble with Harry; he was then and still is a magnificent person. It would, perhaps, have been better if they could have maintained an air of indifference, however that was not to be. From the two-thirds of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, Harry was jeered at, insulted, and harassed. Such treatment of one so innocent is heart wrenching.

I believe it was the behaviour of these others that caused Harry to become reclusive. He avoided the Great Hall like the plague, taking breakfast in his own room, skipping lunch altogether, and dining with me in my rooms. I did notice him spending a little more time with Remus, and, while I did not strictly like it, I was glad there was someone he could turn to if I were otherwise occupied. It was easy to be gracious, however, when most of his time was still spent with me. Often our dinner conversations would include stories the werewolf told him about his parents, such as their time in school and the year they had had as a family before Voldemort destroyed that.

In their classes, Draco and Blaise always flanked Harry, taking positions on either side of him whenever possible. For any partner work, one of them immediately paired with him. Both young men had become fiercely protective of the slim brunette. No one dared to raise hand of voice to Harry with his two friends there. Though Draco was not much larger than Harry, he could be quite imposing when he wanted to be. I imagine he learned that trick from his father. Blaise always had an authoritative air that served him well, both as prefect and, now, as Harry’s protector. Though none of them spoke of it, Lin was grateful for the support. I know that I was as well. Though he did not offer answers as readily in class, Asphodeline still excelled, and, thanks to the presence of his two friends, he gradually became more himself again.


Our lives became routine rather quickly. Every night at six o’clock in the evening, Harry would come to my chambers, usually not wearing the school robes (I rapidly became accustomed to seeing the boy dressed in jumpers and long skirts) and we would pass the time in each others company untarryarry returned to his room just before curfew. I did not care that I would be missed at the head table. I also did not care that this could be seen, rightly, as favouritism. I would like to say that I would have done the same for any student who needed me, but I cannot honestly say that I would. I tried to hide my inappropriate feelings for him, but to myself I could not deny that I loved him. I loved his company, his presence in my rooms. Usually we discussed our days over dinner, having intelligent and witty conversations. Sometimes we did nothing more than complete our work for the next day, my grading and his doing assignments for class. No matter what, we were comfortable together.

I admit that I am a creature of habit, so I became concerned when Harry did not come to dinner one night. When I began to consider it rationally, I at first thought that perhaps he had rejoined his classmates and simply forgot to tell me. With this in mind, I took my place once again at the Head Table. After a quick scan of the hall, however, I realized that Harry was, in fact, not present. Suppressing my panic, assuring myself that there was a logical explanation for his absence, I went in search of the boy. It was not until I could not find him in his room, in the Slytherin Common Room, or in the Library that I truly began to worry. On the way back to the dungeons, I passed Misters Malfoy and Zabini.

“Gentlemen, have you seen Asphodeline this evening?”

They looked at me as though I had grown a second head. Draco composed himself enough to answer in the negative and I suddenly found myself frantic. I nodded my thanks to the young men and quickly walked away. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I focused my mind on finding Harry through the bond. Never have I been more grateful to Albus for establishing this connection. I only wish that I had thought to do this immediately. Following where the boy’s magical signature lead, I found myself being guided toward the Whomping Willow. Thest tst thing that I noticed was the sounds of screaming. It was a familiar male voice yelling bigoted homophobic nonsense, until one phrase caught my attention.

“You have a cock, you should dress like a bloody man!”

The next sounds were of a sexual nature and I broke into a flat-out run in an attempt to stop what I feared was happening. As I got closer I heard the pained sobs that could only belong to my… to Harry. What I saw horrified me. Two Gryffindors and two Hufflepuffs were physically and sexually abusing the helpless Slytherin. The ringleader, a loudmouthed troublemaker by the name of Ronald Weasley was… he was raping Harry while the other three called out insults and aimed kicks at his abdomen and chest. It was obvious to me that the redhead was the leader of this little group, for the other three were well know to be both weak-minded and weak-willed. I very much doubt they would have started something of this nature on their own. However, that small fact would not save them if I had any say.

As I approached, the three left off their physical assault, my mere presence enough to paralyse them. Weasley, on the other hand, continued in his vile actions until my hand closed around the back of his neck. In other circumstances, the rate at which the blood drained from his face and his cock might have been amusing. I, however, was in no mood to be amused. At that instant, both Draco and Blaise reached the scene. I imagine that they had begun their own search for Harry as soon as they discovered that I did not know where he was. Intelligent students that they are, it did not take long for them to realize what had happened. It was quite fortuitous, actually, because I was able to ask them to take Harry to the Hospital Wing while I dealt with the four miscreants.

“Malfoy, Zabini, get Miss Evans to Madame Pomfrey immediately!” I truly did not intend to bark at them so harshly; unfortunately I was at my wits end. Equally unfortunately, for them at least, they did not jump to obey. The glare I sent them was enough to quell any lingering hesitation. Casting simultaneous levitation charms, so as not to jostle the injured teen, the two young men carried Harry to the school mediwitch. Turning my anger at the four remaining students, who had not thought to run away (not that it would have served them in the least) I ordered them to follow me to the Headmaster’s office. Weasley, who was an intriguing shade of white, was particularly frightened by the prospect. Releasing the grip I still held on his neck, I could not help be pleased by his terror. I would not make the consequences of their actions any easier on them and I prayed to all of the ancient gods that, for once, Albus would not be merciful.

While Albus and I dealt with the delinquents, my thoughts could not help but turn to Harry. The sound of his screams echoed through my mind. He looked so frail, more so than usual, under the assault. I know from experience that one does not forget something like this easily. Indeed, this attack would be vivid in his mind for years to come, if not for the rest of his life.

I fear that I have lost Harry forever.