The start of a friendship
Ron ran to the infirmary to check on Isadora. He had been worried about her and also excited that he wasn't the only transgender person anymore.
He sat down next to her and quickly checked the room to make sure it was empty as he didn't want to accidentally out her.
"Hey Izzy. How you feeling," he asked
"Better thanks," she smiled weakly propping herself up," I get to leave this place at lunch,"
"That's great we can hang out later if you want?" Ron asked enthusiastically
"I'd like that thanks. Also I'm sorry about what I said when we first met I didn't mean it I just wanted to make a good impression to people and I messed everything up" she started rambling
"It's fine I shouldn't have laughed at your name but Isadora suits you so much better," Ron interrupted her nervous chatter and smiled reassuringly at her.
She smiled back instantly feeling calmer her eyes sparkling.
It was finally lunch and Izzy was allowed to leave the infirmary. She had been so bored just staring at a blank wall but now she had to put up with the Slytherins and she was terrified. They probably all knew she was trans now she thought to herself. As long as her parents didn't find out it all be fine right? They didn't appear to know from the letters they had sent but they knew she got hurt. She knew they would have a million questions about what happened and she was not ready for any of this no matter how much she pretended to be confident.
"Hey Izzy," Ron waved at her jumping down from the tree he was sat in.
She smiled running over," It's so good to be out of the infirmary,"
"Yeah I bet. I wouldn't survive being cooped up for that long," he laughed.
She laughed too blushing slightly.
"Anyway now your free let's walk around because you haven't gotten to see any of the castle. Let's go to the grounds first it's quieter and less people around," Ron smiled at Izzy and grabbed her hand.
He started half running dragging her along behind him.
Izzy laughed and brushed her short hair out of her eyes. She couldn't wait till it grew grew little longer and she could tuck it behind my ears.
They ran to the giant lake that they had crossed on their first day here. They dropped their stuff and sat next to a tree. The cool breeze was refreshing and trees rustled and chattered in the wind.
Ron then stood up rolling up his trousers. He waded into the water and stood where it was just lapping slightly over his knee caps.
"Come on Izzy," he said splashing water lightly in her direction," join the fun,"
She rolled her eyes and waded in. She grabbed his hand for balance and splashed over to stand nearer to him.
"Thanks Ron," Izzy looked up at him," It's really nice not having to pretend I'm someone else for a change and this is really fun,"
"Yeah I understand what you mean," he smiled at her slightly before his face turned into panic realising what he said.
"What do you mean?" She asked looking confused but also with a slight worry at the panic.
"I uhh I'm um. I'm trans too. I was born a...uhh a girl," he stuttered nervously.
"That's cool. It's nice to relate to someone your always be a man in my eyes anyway. It doesn't change anything,"
He nodded his face lighting up slightly.
They stood there for a moment just swishing the water. Then suddenly Ron sent a massive wave with his hands at her grinning.
She wobbled slightly; her trousers getting a bit damp at the ends.
"Your going to regret that," she laughed with a menacing look on her face. She sent an even bigger wave back almost knocking Ron off of his feet
He chucked and went to send another wave when suddenly Izzy felt something slimy wrapping around her foot. She screamed; her voice going higher and she started shaking her leg," There's something slimy on my foot. Ron. Ron! RON!," She could feel herself getting lifted up.
Then a massive squid slowly emerged from the lake holding Isadora a few inches from the surface of the water. She thrashed around trying to get free," Ron help," she yelled.
Panicking she looked down to see Ron bent over wheezing with laughter," Let her go," he said in between laughs.
The squid looked at him and then put her gently back in the water before submerging itself in the lake and disappearing.
Izzy ran to the shore Ron following behind still laughing.
"It's not funny Ron," she said drying herself off with her robe.
"It is a bit," he said trying to compose himself," Fred and George told me so many stories about the squid but I didn't think it was real,"
I couldn't help but let out a laugh. It was pretty funny to think about. Then the bell went so they parted ways and headed to class.
Ron walked out of Magical Theory with Harry and Hermione. Sadly Izzy was in another classroom but then again Harry and Hermione didn't know about their friendship. He didn't think they'd like it because of the first meet with her but if they just got to know her he was sure it would be fine.
"I'm glad it's the end of lessons today. I'm exhausted," Harry said
Ron and Hermione agreed before they were interrupted.
"Ron," Izzy walked up to the group. She smiled but she had tears glossing over her eyes.
"What do you want Malfoy," Harry glared at her.
"I believe I was speaking to Ron not you Potter," she clenched her fist still holding in her tears.
"It's fine Harry I'll catch you two up ok," Ron gave them a quick grin before turning his attention back to Izzy.
Harry huffed but Hermione led him away but gave Ron a questioning look.
"Hey you wanna walk around the grounds and chat," He suggested making sure not to use her name and accidentally outing her to everyone.
She nodded and we set off going down the winding stairs and labyrinth like corridors.
When they finally got to the grounds they went to a quiet secluded spot so they could chat without interruption.
"What's wrong Izzy? What happened?" Ron asked concerned.
She went to talk and just burst into tears. Ron wasn't really sure how to comfort her so he just awkwardly patted her knee and waited for her to calm down slightly.
"They kept teasing and making fun of me. They pulled me hair kept kicking me and everything. They were saying how I'd never be a real girl. Part of me agrees with them. I'm stuck in this stupid body and I can't do anything about it. I already feel super dysphoric today and being stuck with them made it so much worse," she said shakily wiping away her tears while more spilled out.
Ron leaned in and wiped the tear off her cheek," It'll be ok Izzy things will improve. You can come sleep in the gryffindor common room. It'll be really fun to have a sleepover! You always a girl in my eyes nothings changed," he said using the same line she used when he came out to her.
Izzy smiled a bit wiping the rest of the tears away with her hands. Her breathing was still shaky though.
"Hey I'll tell you what. Mum packed me some skirts but I am definitely not wearing them. If you want you can have them and try them on,"
"Yeah that'd be great," she smiled weakly
They stayed chatting and hiding away from the rest of their peers until dinner. They walked into the Great Hall with Malfoy staying close to Ron's side.
"Oi Malfoy where you going you little freak," the Slytherins yelled across the tables laughing.
"Just ignore them their all losers anyway," Ron whispered.
I sat down next to him with the Gryffindors and some people from the other houses mixed in. She was glad that you could sit where you liked but it was still slightly unusual for other houses to sit at different tables. Two older identical guys with ginger hair raised their eyebrows at Ron but stayed quiet.
"Hey Hermione can you pass the chicken please," Izzy asked politely ignoring the glares from Harry. Ron seemed oblivious to it all and was just enjoying his food.
"Yeah sure,"she smiled at me.
"What are you even doing here Draco. You're a Slytherin not a Gryffindor," Harry glared at her.
"Just lay off him Harry he's not bothering anyone," Hermione retorted.
Izzy mouthed thanks at her and just carried on eating her chicken.
After dinner they headed to the common rooms and Izzy followed Ron.
"Why are you following us Draco shouldn't you go with the Slytherins," Harry asked Isadora looking annoyed.
"First stop calling me Draco and second Ron invited me for a sleepover," Izzy replied smiling over at her best friend at the last part.
"Really Ron," Harry asked raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah got a problem with that," he retorted.
They walked the rest of the way in awkward silence.
When they arrived Ron headed to the dorms and grabbed his duvet and blankets as well as clothes for tomorrow and he hid the skirts inside his robe.
"Hey can Hermione stay and join us?" Izzy asked as Ron dumped the stuff on the floor.
"Yeah sure," he then dropped his voice to a whisper," does she know..?"
"I'm about to tell her." She whispered back.
"Tell me what," asked Hermione making them both jump.
'Right this was it. Come on breathe. You've got this' Izzy thought to herself trying to keep control of her breathing.
"I'm trans. I'm a girl. My names Isadora not Draco," she said trying to sound as confident as possible while freaking out inside. She kept her eyes away from Hermione terrified of telling more people after the reaction of her former mates.
"That's cool. Isadora is a really nice name," Hermione replied.
Relief washed over her and she smiled looking up to meet Hermione's eyes.
"Let me grab my stuff and then let's get this sleepover started," Hermione grinned before running up the stairs.
"Is Harry coming," Izzy asked nervously not really wanting him to be there after the way he'd been treating her even though she felt like she deserved it.
"No he's being moody. He'll come around tomorrow," Ron smiled reassuringly at her.