Albus Potter, Classmates and Elves

Ch 7 The Shampoo Business

More excellent suggestions and changes by Deb, my Beta. Thank you.

*

Cho Chang approached Harry the second Monday in October. "I need to take a few vacation days, Harry. Ed and I need to pick up Chloe and, well, it's ..." Cho gave a great big sign, obviously trying to control her emotions.

Harry motioned Cho to come into his office. "Take your time, Cho," he counseled.

"I know that Chloe has wanted to be a boy since she was little, and that her transformation to a boy is what is best for her. It's just hard for me to accept. Ed, my husband, does not seem to have any problem with it. At least I'm not having the problem Patricia's family has had. She's not welcome home. Ed and I have agreed that when they are not in school they both can stay with us. I've just have to get used to calling Chloe Charles, and Patrick Patricia.

"We are picking up both of them from Switzerland. I understand that Muggle's cannot totally transform, but with some very advanced magic Magi can. All I know is that the transformation was painful, but both of the young people seem happy. I just wish I was happier."

"Take all the time you need," Harry told Cho.

"They will be at Hogwarts by the end of the week," Cho informed Harry as she arose and left his office.

Listening to people's personal issues was not a large part of Harry's day, he thought, but it was an important part.

*

The middle of October Chloe Koizumi and Patrick Lee came back from Switzerland. To be precise, the former Chloe, now fully it appeared a male Charles Koizumi, and the former Patrick, now fully it appeared a female Patricia, were back from Switzerland. James told Albus, "Koizumi is in my dorm now, and he is OK. He will be a stronger beater as a guy, which is good for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."

Albus asked, "Does he talk about what he and Patricia went through to make the changes?"

James replied, "No. He's a typical guy, and doesn't want to talk about that stuff. He says he has balls and everything, and says he should be able to father babies. He wants to be an Auror and fight the bad guys, just like before. I wouldn't want to be a girl! It just seems like it would be a whole lot harder being a girl, especially a girl Quidditch player."

*

It was October thirtieth, the day before Halloween, before Roxanne called together the cousins. They met right after dinner in one of the rooms right under the Gryffindor commons room. Erica Lionheart was with James. They started dancing lessons in third year, and it was surprising to the Muggle born students how many of the students started to pair up that early. Magi did seem to mature about two years earlier than the normal Muggle, but there was a wide range of when both Muggle and Magi matured.

Roxanne asked, "Are there any matters we need to discuss?"

"Albus being a traitor?" James bellowed.

"James, you are totally out of line!" Roxanne yelled, glaring at him.

Louis Weasley agreed, stressing, "We are all really tired of you bellyaching about your brother, James."

James folded his arms and sulked, but stayed quiet.

Roxanne looked around again.

Albus looked at Cleo, who gave a small nod, then turned back to the group and volunteered, "Cleo and I need help with the shampoo and perfume business. Is there anyone of you that wants to help?"