Glamour

Fake

The dream Harry woke from was not his usual, of long sweeping corridors and dark mirrored halls. Instead he woke to the laughter of Sirius and Remus, praising him for being just like his father as he stood over Malfoy who was curled up covered in stinging hexes.

You are just like James

The words rang through his head, in a way it was more of a nightmare than the endless corridors that Voldemort kept visiting. More real to him than any mystery snake-face wanted to force on him.

Harry felt out of sorts the whole day, even the adorable nifflers they were currently studying in Care of Magical Creatures did nothing more than bring a brief smile to his face. How much did it matter that he was changing himself, if when anyone looked at him all they saw was his father.

Was it possible to change appearances long term? Harry already knew of a short term solution, but he didn't have the skills to brew Polyjuice potion, nor did he want to look like anyone else. He just wanted to be Harry.

As soon as the lesson ended, Harry raced to the library, citing Dumbledore as an excuse and ignoring the shocked complaints of Ron behind him. He had been trying to speak to Harry ever since the incident outside the great hall yesterday, but Harry was still too annoyed to give his friend the chance to speak.

Making his way to the reference books that floated at the edge of the study area, he picked up the attached quill and quickly wrote 'Changing your appearance'. A list of books appeared below his request and he quickly jotted down the first five books that weren't in the restricted section, before turning to walk into the stacks.

As he browsed, he thought with remorse on the fact he had returned Your Core and You. The exercises had been helpful and he wasn't sure if he wanted to give the book up just yet, but he was only allowed to check out five books from the library at once, and he really wanted to figure out the problem of his appearance. Maybe he could buy a copy in the future, there was a book store in Hogsmaede, Hermione would be more than happy to help him find what he needed.

The standard book of spells grade 7 was the first book on his list. It gave a brief introduction on glamours, as well as several basic charms to try. Unfortunatly none of them seemed permenant, wearing off after an hour or so. Harry did like the sound of the hair glamour mutatio capillus. The description said it allowed you to change the colour and length of your hair, and the spell would last up to two hours, depending on the strength of magic used and how well you visualised the outcome. Harry jotted it down on a scrap of parchment and carried on flicking through the book. It was a good enough start, but he wanted more options. Spells to change his face structure, longer lasting spells.

Opening the next book in the pile, he started reading, jotting down more spells and notes on improving and maintaining glamours was he went. He kept his fingers crossed that this would be an answer. That it could make him feel more like just Harry, and less like another Potter.

A rustling in the stacks made him look up and he saw Hermione making her way towards him. Harry closed his book, pulling his charms homework from his bag as a cover. It wasnt that he wanted to hide his side project from his friend, he just wanted to do this on his own, without Hermione's input on what she thought was best for him and the inevitable argument about it being morally wrong to change your appearance like that.

Before she reached him, she turned to the study tables to the left of the alcove he sat in and joined a familar red head, placing her pile of books on the table between them. Harry shrank down behind his own pile of books. He still wasnt interested in playing nice and was content to hide for a bit longer. To his surprise as Hermione sat down, Ron leaned over and gave her a quick kiss before she pushed him back to whatever he had been focusing on before.