The Outer Alliance and Chapter 22
Thanks to a hateful online rant by a SF writer, a group of LGBT writers have formed The Outer Alliance. Our first group action is this September 1st Pride posting.
As a member of The Outer Alliance, I advocate for queer speculative fiction and those who create, publish and support it whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity. I make sure this is reflected in my actions and my work.
For those unfamiliar with my work, "The 8th Year" is Harry Potter fanfic. (I'm also working on several other writing projects, including a YA fantasy and a cookbook, but I don't feel ready to post any of that.) Most of my blog is friend locked because a lot of it is NC-17, but this chapter is PG-13. Let me know if you want to be friended in to read the rest of it.
Thanks to my betas, Leviathan and Mrs. Q. They do their best for me; any remaining errors are my own fault.
Harry and his world belong to J.K. Rowling. My fanfic is wishful thinking.
+++++
Chapter 22
"I'm hoping I won't be here long.”
Saturday, September 26, 1998
+++++
The next morning the 8th year Quidditch team, with the addition of Luna and Hermione, stopped to see Neville on the way to breakfast. His bruises were at the green and yellow stage and his nose still swollen. He was embarrassed by his appearance and the attention focused on him, but the others traded stories about their own stays in hospital and he felt less conspicuous. Harry, they all agreed, won the "most frequent patient" award.
"Pomfrey can put a sign on the wall, 'Harry Potter slept here'".
"'And here, and here, and here...,'" Ron continued, pointing at the different beds Harry used while recuperating under Madame Pomfrey's care. "Blimey, mate, they should just name the whole hospital wing for you!"
"Shut it, Ron!" mumbled Harry, embarrassed, but Malfoy laughed scornfully.
"That's not how you get wings named for you," he smirked. "You do it by giving whomping big piles of galleons."
"You'd know, wouldn't you, Malfoy?" snarked Ron.
"I knew you wouldn't, Weasel!" snarled Draco.
"Boys!" Hermione called them into line and they both clamped their mouths shut and looked away. The rest of the 8th years shared smiles and rolled eyes at the exchange.
Pomfrey chased them, including Dean, off to breakfast, assuring them that Neville would be released later that morning. Dean said he'd be back after breakfast to make sure Neville got back to the dorm.
"I'm not up to playing Quidditch today," he said apologetically. "While Neville's face was still swollen he breathed really loud and hoarsely. Then once in awhile he'd sort of hold his breath and then snort really loud when he started breathing again." The others laughed but Dean shook his head. "Laugh all you want, but it was impossible to sleep, waiting for him to start breathing again."
"S'alright," Ron said. "That's what we got extras for."
"What are you two doing with this rabble then?" Dean asked Luna and Hermione.
"We're going to London with Madame Indigo to buy some books," Luna said.
"The Lights game starts at 2 o'clock," Ron reminded them.
"We'll meet you at the Leaky by one then," Hermione assured him.
+++++
"Aren't we going to Foyle's?" asked Indigo as the cab turned onto Marchmont Street.
"We weren't planning on it, unless you want to go there after,"
"After what?"
"After Gay's The Word," Luna said, as the vehicle stopped at 66 Marchmont.
As they climbed out of the cab, Hermione took note of the somewhat perplexed and doubtful look on Indigo's face.
"Surely this doesn't bother you?" asked Hermione, disturbed that this could be a problem for a woman she considered a friend and mentor.
"On a personal level, not at all," Indigo replied. "I'm weighing the consequences here. On one hand, I go in with you and the Board of Governors fires me for taking students into a gay bookstore. On the other hand, I let you go in on your own, something happens to you, and McGonagall transfigures me into a bootscraper."
Hermione snorted and Luna said, "If teachers aren't allowed to use transfiguration as a punishment, that must apply to the Headmistress as well, don't you think?"
"I don't want to find out!"
Hermione asked, "Are you going to forbid us?"
Indigo rolled her eyes, "Oh yeah, and that's worked so well in the past, hasn't it? Remus and Tonks have told me about you lot, you know. No, let's go in. But I want you to know I really love my job!"
"We understand," Luna said, patting her on the shoulder. "We'll tell them we forced you."
"Right. And they'll believe that because?"
"We killed Voldemort."
"Oh, right. Forgot about that."
In the store the three of them split up and explored the store in their own individual fashions. Luna wandered off with no apparent destination, humming softly and occasionally touching the spines of the books as if she were greeting old friends. Indigo marched over to the main desk and began asking questions about teaching materials and resources.
Hermione wove a pattern through the store, getting a feel for the layout. History. Politics. Civil Rights. Arts. Fashion. Coming Out. Sex. Relationships. Pregnancy. Adoption. Parenting. AIDS. Legal issues. Media. Spirituality. Religion. Travel. International cultures. Lesbian studies. Gay Studies. Anthologies. Transgenderism. Drag Queens. Drag Kings. Gay Husbands. Lesbian Wives.
Hermione didn't go through the fiction section. She didn't want fiction, she wanted facts and figures. It had to be here. She woven through the store again.
"Can I help you find something?"
The woman was not much older than she was, but she made Hermione feel naive and inexperienced, which, she reminded herself, was ridiculous. The clerk had multiple piercings, tattoos, stylish eye glasses and multicolor hair that Tonks would have liked. But neither Tonks nor Indigo intimidated her by just a eye sweep up and down her body.
"I'm looking for the section on bisexuality."
"No such thing, dearie."
"No section?"
"No such thing as bisexuality."
"What?!"
"It's just a phase, dearie, for people afraid to come out all the way."
"I see." Hermione's voice would have froze the woman solid if she had been at all perceptive. "There are two books in specific I'm looking for: 'The Bisexual Option' by Fritz Klein, and "Bi Any Other Name', edited by Lani Kaahumanu and Loraine Hutchins."
"OK, dearie, let's just look them up and see if they are available." There was something in her voice that made Hermione think the clerk thought she was making them up.
They did have a copy of 'The Bisexual Option' and Hermione was glad of it; she had read it when they were staying at Lupin's but she wanted a copy of her own. She saw several other titles listed but none seemed available at Gay's The Word. The clerk made several other references to bisexuality being transitory, which bothered Hermione greatly. Was she just a stop along the way to gay for Ron and Harry? She didn't think so, but what if...?
Indigo had gathered several book lists as well as a hand written list of recommendations, and Luna held a copy of a thick book with tenderness and joy. Luna was also chatting and giggling with another clerk, this one with long hair and purple eyeshadow. Indigo herded them through the check out process. Indigo was obviously familiar with muggle money and even had a credit card, as did Hermione, and Luna surprised them both by having and easily using muggle money.
"If we don't dawdle, we can make a quick stop at Foyle's and still make it to The Leaky in time to meet the others before the London Lights game," Indigo pointed out.
"Are you going to the game?" asked Hermione, surprised.
"No, but I'll stick with you two until the others arrive."
Luna and Hermione rolled their eyes at each other but they knew the teacher had a point. They browsed through a small portion of the big (straight) muggle bookstore before heading over to the Leaky Cauldron. Since the rest of the 8th years weren't there yet they all ordered a bite to eat.
Ernest, Susan and Neville had stayed at Hogwarts, but the rest of the 8th year tromped in while Hermione and Luna debated dessert. They made quite a large group in the pub, and Indigo encouraged them to move along. After buying a supply of food and drink, they went out to the courtyard behind the pub to apparate away to the Quidditch playing field.
It was a much smaller field than the World Cup, of course, about the same size as Hogwarts' field. As the group climbed up into the bleachers on the home team side, a number of people pointed and whispered, first at Harry, then they began to realize who the rest of the people with him were as well. The attention began to make the group uneasy, and they made sure to put Harry in the center. Justin and Terry made it a point to sit above and behind the main group, giving them a better view to watch for problems.
Harry was staring intently out at the empty field, ignoring the murmurs around them. Ron and Hermione shared worried looks.
"I didn't think it would be so bad," muttered Harry to Ron.
Ron brushed his shoulder against Harry's. "Buck up, mate. Once the game starts, everyone will settle down."
“How did the game with Slytherin go?” asked Hermione, trying to get Harry's mind off the crowd.
Harry grinned and Ron groaned.
“Not the stunning victory Ron planned.”
“Our offense needs a lot of work. I kept the score down but we only scored twenty points to their ten when Harry caught the snitch.”
“So you won!”
“Yeah, but... I dunno, Hermione.”
“What?”
“I don't know if we're really doing them any good.”
“Ron. Is your team having fun?”
“Well... yeah.”
“Have they improved since they started playing?”
“Oh sure!”
“If it weren't for the Eighth Year team, would the house teams have any experience playing another team before they compete?”
“No, but -- ,” Ron was interrupted by the cheers of the crowd as the two teams flew onto the field.
The game between the London Lights and the Sherwoodshire Merry Men was intense but clean. The Eighth Years were unconditionally on the side of the Lights and cheered Cho on, screaming with delight when she out-maneuvered the Merry seeker and nabbed the snitch, ending the game with the Lights winning by 40 points.
Both teams and a number of their fans then repaired to a nearby Wizarding pub and took turns buying rounds of the local ale. It was after the third round when Harry turned around to avoid an overly enthusiastic fan to find himself face to face with Chang.
“Good catch, Cho!” he congratulated his former rival and crush.
She waved it away. “It wasn't anything special. I just got there first. Harry, I've been practicing the Wronski and I just can't get it. I almost lose my grip, no matter what angle I try it at. You pulled it off the first time you tried it! What am I doing wrong?”
Harry frowned. Cho was an excellent flyer and shouldn't be having trouble with a maneuver like that.
She continued, “Harve says women have less upper body strength and a weaker grip, but I exercize and I know I match most of the blokes on the team!”
Harry closed his eyes and pictured Cho on her broom. Mentally, he checked her posture, her arm position, her grip. “Cho, are you right or left handed?”
“Right.”
“This may be rubbish, but try advancing your right hand on the broom handle and keep your elbow tucked in. Lead with your right shoulder.”
“Krum rolls to the left.”
“He's left-handed.”
“Ah-ha.” Cho's eyes were slightly unfocused as she murmured his words to herself and went through the motions as she envisioned it. Then she grinned at him and said “I'll give it a try, but it sounds good to me. Harve always seems to have helpful suggestions for the boys, but he told me he doesn't like coaching girls. I'm the first woman on this team since he started coaching them 45 years ago.”
“Where's this Harve?”
She tilted her head and rolled her eyes towards a beefy, grey haired man with a walrus mustache. Harry thought he bore an eerie resemblance to Uncle Vernon.
“Why are you putting up with that, Cho?”
“It's a solid local team. A lot of their flyers have been brought up to the regional clubs. I'm hoping I won't be here long.”
“But you should be getting the same level of coaching as the blokes. It's not fair."
Cho shrugged and looked uncomfortable. "Harry," she said, "I've been meaning to tell you, I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked, astonished.
"For coming down on you about the whole thing with Marietta and the D.A. It wasn't your fault, and she could have gotten us in a lot more trouble than she did. And you were right all along."
"You make it sound like I actually knew what I was doing. I was fumbling around like everyone else. I think the only one with a half decent grasp on things was Hermione."
"I suppose. At least I was right about being jealous of her."
"But I wasn't, I mean, I didn't think about her like that then!"
"Aye, but if someone had asked who was the most important woman in your life, what would you have answered?"
"Hermione," Harry admitted sheepishly.
"And now?"
"Hermione. It's been Hermione since First Year."
"See? Even when she wasn't your girlfriend, she was still your girl."
"Hey you two, what's got you looking so serious?" Dean intervened.
Both Cho and Harry shook their heads. "Just talking about what an idiot I was when we were younger," Harry volunteered.
"And how long he's been in love with Hermione."
"And don't leave out Ron; it's been just as long with him."
"Is that what all the fights were about? Aie, didn't think you'd all live through Fourth Year."
"Oi, Harry! C'mere!"
"True love calls."
"You mean bellows."
"Oh shut it you two!" Harry made his way over to Ron, feeling that one more unresolved issue had been laid to rest.
++++++
A/N: I mean no disrespect to Gay's the Word. I have no idea if they had a section on bisexuality either then or now. I know people like Hermione's clerk are still with us.
Both "The Bisexual Option" and "Bi Any Other Name" are real books. There are lots of others as well. I'll go ahead and recommend "Bi America" by my friend Bill Burlson; it's really good, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in it!
As a member of The Outer Alliance, I advocate for queer speculative fiction and those who create, publish and support it whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity. I make sure this is reflected in my actions and my work.
For those unfamiliar with my work, "The 8th Year" is Harry Potter fanfic. (I'm also working on several other writing projects, including a YA fantasy and a cookbook, but I don't feel ready to post any of that.) Most of my blog is friend locked because a lot of it is NC-17, but this chapter is PG-13. Let me know if you want to be friended in to read the rest of it.
Thanks to my betas, Leviathan and Mrs. Q. They do their best for me; any remaining errors are my own fault.
Harry and his world belong to J.K. Rowling. My fanfic is wishful thinking.
+++++
Chapter 22
"I'm hoping I won't be here long.”
Saturday, September 26, 1998
+++++
The next morning the 8th year Quidditch team, with the addition of Luna and Hermione, stopped to see Neville on the way to breakfast. His bruises were at the green and yellow stage and his nose still swollen. He was embarrassed by his appearance and the attention focused on him, but the others traded stories about their own stays in hospital and he felt less conspicuous. Harry, they all agreed, won the "most frequent patient" award.
"Pomfrey can put a sign on the wall, 'Harry Potter slept here'".
"'And here, and here, and here...,'" Ron continued, pointing at the different beds Harry used while recuperating under Madame Pomfrey's care. "Blimey, mate, they should just name the whole hospital wing for you!"
"Shut it, Ron!" mumbled Harry, embarrassed, but Malfoy laughed scornfully.
"That's not how you get wings named for you," he smirked. "You do it by giving whomping big piles of galleons."
"You'd know, wouldn't you, Malfoy?" snarked Ron.
"I knew you wouldn't, Weasel!" snarled Draco.
"Boys!" Hermione called them into line and they both clamped their mouths shut and looked away. The rest of the 8th years shared smiles and rolled eyes at the exchange.
Pomfrey chased them, including Dean, off to breakfast, assuring them that Neville would be released later that morning. Dean said he'd be back after breakfast to make sure Neville got back to the dorm.
"I'm not up to playing Quidditch today," he said apologetically. "While Neville's face was still swollen he breathed really loud and hoarsely. Then once in awhile he'd sort of hold his breath and then snort really loud when he started breathing again." The others laughed but Dean shook his head. "Laugh all you want, but it was impossible to sleep, waiting for him to start breathing again."
"S'alright," Ron said. "That's what we got extras for."
"What are you two doing with this rabble then?" Dean asked Luna and Hermione.
"We're going to London with Madame Indigo to buy some books," Luna said.
"The Lights game starts at 2 o'clock," Ron reminded them.
"We'll meet you at the Leaky by one then," Hermione assured him.
+++++
"Aren't we going to Foyle's?" asked Indigo as the cab turned onto Marchmont Street.
"We weren't planning on it, unless you want to go there after,"
"After what?"
"After Gay's The Word," Luna said, as the vehicle stopped at 66 Marchmont.
As they climbed out of the cab, Hermione took note of the somewhat perplexed and doubtful look on Indigo's face.
"Surely this doesn't bother you?" asked Hermione, disturbed that this could be a problem for a woman she considered a friend and mentor.
"On a personal level, not at all," Indigo replied. "I'm weighing the consequences here. On one hand, I go in with you and the Board of Governors fires me for taking students into a gay bookstore. On the other hand, I let you go in on your own, something happens to you, and McGonagall transfigures me into a bootscraper."
Hermione snorted and Luna said, "If teachers aren't allowed to use transfiguration as a punishment, that must apply to the Headmistress as well, don't you think?"
"I don't want to find out!"
Hermione asked, "Are you going to forbid us?"
Indigo rolled her eyes, "Oh yeah, and that's worked so well in the past, hasn't it? Remus and Tonks have told me about you lot, you know. No, let's go in. But I want you to know I really love my job!"
"We understand," Luna said, patting her on the shoulder. "We'll tell them we forced you."
"Right. And they'll believe that because?"
"We killed Voldemort."
"Oh, right. Forgot about that."
In the store the three of them split up and explored the store in their own individual fashions. Luna wandered off with no apparent destination, humming softly and occasionally touching the spines of the books as if she were greeting old friends. Indigo marched over to the main desk and began asking questions about teaching materials and resources.
Hermione wove a pattern through the store, getting a feel for the layout. History. Politics. Civil Rights. Arts. Fashion. Coming Out. Sex. Relationships. Pregnancy. Adoption. Parenting. AIDS. Legal issues. Media. Spirituality. Religion. Travel. International cultures. Lesbian studies. Gay Studies. Anthologies. Transgenderism. Drag Queens. Drag Kings. Gay Husbands. Lesbian Wives.
Hermione didn't go through the fiction section. She didn't want fiction, she wanted facts and figures. It had to be here. She woven through the store again.
"Can I help you find something?"
The woman was not much older than she was, but she made Hermione feel naive and inexperienced, which, she reminded herself, was ridiculous. The clerk had multiple piercings, tattoos, stylish eye glasses and multicolor hair that Tonks would have liked. But neither Tonks nor Indigo intimidated her by just a eye sweep up and down her body.
"I'm looking for the section on bisexuality."
"No such thing, dearie."
"No section?"
"No such thing as bisexuality."
"What?!"
"It's just a phase, dearie, for people afraid to come out all the way."
"I see." Hermione's voice would have froze the woman solid if she had been at all perceptive. "There are two books in specific I'm looking for: 'The Bisexual Option' by Fritz Klein, and "Bi Any Other Name', edited by Lani Kaahumanu and Loraine Hutchins."
"OK, dearie, let's just look them up and see if they are available." There was something in her voice that made Hermione think the clerk thought she was making them up.
They did have a copy of 'The Bisexual Option' and Hermione was glad of it; she had read it when they were staying at Lupin's but she wanted a copy of her own. She saw several other titles listed but none seemed available at Gay's The Word. The clerk made several other references to bisexuality being transitory, which bothered Hermione greatly. Was she just a stop along the way to gay for Ron and Harry? She didn't think so, but what if...?
Indigo had gathered several book lists as well as a hand written list of recommendations, and Luna held a copy of a thick book with tenderness and joy. Luna was also chatting and giggling with another clerk, this one with long hair and purple eyeshadow. Indigo herded them through the check out process. Indigo was obviously familiar with muggle money and even had a credit card, as did Hermione, and Luna surprised them both by having and easily using muggle money.
"If we don't dawdle, we can make a quick stop at Foyle's and still make it to The Leaky in time to meet the others before the London Lights game," Indigo pointed out.
"Are you going to the game?" asked Hermione, surprised.
"No, but I'll stick with you two until the others arrive."
Luna and Hermione rolled their eyes at each other but they knew the teacher had a point. They browsed through a small portion of the big (straight) muggle bookstore before heading over to the Leaky Cauldron. Since the rest of the 8th years weren't there yet they all ordered a bite to eat.
Ernest, Susan and Neville had stayed at Hogwarts, but the rest of the 8th year tromped in while Hermione and Luna debated dessert. They made quite a large group in the pub, and Indigo encouraged them to move along. After buying a supply of food and drink, they went out to the courtyard behind the pub to apparate away to the Quidditch playing field.
It was a much smaller field than the World Cup, of course, about the same size as Hogwarts' field. As the group climbed up into the bleachers on the home team side, a number of people pointed and whispered, first at Harry, then they began to realize who the rest of the people with him were as well. The attention began to make the group uneasy, and they made sure to put Harry in the center. Justin and Terry made it a point to sit above and behind the main group, giving them a better view to watch for problems.
Harry was staring intently out at the empty field, ignoring the murmurs around them. Ron and Hermione shared worried looks.
"I didn't think it would be so bad," muttered Harry to Ron.
Ron brushed his shoulder against Harry's. "Buck up, mate. Once the game starts, everyone will settle down."
“How did the game with Slytherin go?” asked Hermione, trying to get Harry's mind off the crowd.
Harry grinned and Ron groaned.
“Not the stunning victory Ron planned.”
“Our offense needs a lot of work. I kept the score down but we only scored twenty points to their ten when Harry caught the snitch.”
“So you won!”
“Yeah, but... I dunno, Hermione.”
“What?”
“I don't know if we're really doing them any good.”
“Ron. Is your team having fun?”
“Well... yeah.”
“Have they improved since they started playing?”
“Oh sure!”
“If it weren't for the Eighth Year team, would the house teams have any experience playing another team before they compete?”
“No, but -- ,” Ron was interrupted by the cheers of the crowd as the two teams flew onto the field.
The game between the London Lights and the Sherwoodshire Merry Men was intense but clean. The Eighth Years were unconditionally on the side of the Lights and cheered Cho on, screaming with delight when she out-maneuvered the Merry seeker and nabbed the snitch, ending the game with the Lights winning by 40 points.
Both teams and a number of their fans then repaired to a nearby Wizarding pub and took turns buying rounds of the local ale. It was after the third round when Harry turned around to avoid an overly enthusiastic fan to find himself face to face with Chang.
“Good catch, Cho!” he congratulated his former rival and crush.
She waved it away. “It wasn't anything special. I just got there first. Harry, I've been practicing the Wronski and I just can't get it. I almost lose my grip, no matter what angle I try it at. You pulled it off the first time you tried it! What am I doing wrong?”
Harry frowned. Cho was an excellent flyer and shouldn't be having trouble with a maneuver like that.
She continued, “Harve says women have less upper body strength and a weaker grip, but I exercize and I know I match most of the blokes on the team!”
Harry closed his eyes and pictured Cho on her broom. Mentally, he checked her posture, her arm position, her grip. “Cho, are you right or left handed?”
“Right.”
“This may be rubbish, but try advancing your right hand on the broom handle and keep your elbow tucked in. Lead with your right shoulder.”
“Krum rolls to the left.”
“He's left-handed.”
“Ah-ha.” Cho's eyes were slightly unfocused as she murmured his words to herself and went through the motions as she envisioned it. Then she grinned at him and said “I'll give it a try, but it sounds good to me. Harve always seems to have helpful suggestions for the boys, but he told me he doesn't like coaching girls. I'm the first woman on this team since he started coaching them 45 years ago.”
“Where's this Harve?”
She tilted her head and rolled her eyes towards a beefy, grey haired man with a walrus mustache. Harry thought he bore an eerie resemblance to Uncle Vernon.
“Why are you putting up with that, Cho?”
“It's a solid local team. A lot of their flyers have been brought up to the regional clubs. I'm hoping I won't be here long.”
“But you should be getting the same level of coaching as the blokes. It's not fair."
Cho shrugged and looked uncomfortable. "Harry," she said, "I've been meaning to tell you, I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked, astonished.
"For coming down on you about the whole thing with Marietta and the D.A. It wasn't your fault, and she could have gotten us in a lot more trouble than she did. And you were right all along."
"You make it sound like I actually knew what I was doing. I was fumbling around like everyone else. I think the only one with a half decent grasp on things was Hermione."
"I suppose. At least I was right about being jealous of her."
"But I wasn't, I mean, I didn't think about her like that then!"
"Aye, but if someone had asked who was the most important woman in your life, what would you have answered?"
"Hermione," Harry admitted sheepishly.
"And now?"
"Hermione. It's been Hermione since First Year."
"See? Even when she wasn't your girlfriend, she was still your girl."
"Hey you two, what's got you looking so serious?" Dean intervened.
Both Cho and Harry shook their heads. "Just talking about what an idiot I was when we were younger," Harry volunteered.
"And how long he's been in love with Hermione."
"And don't leave out Ron; it's been just as long with him."
"Is that what all the fights were about? Aie, didn't think you'd all live through Fourth Year."
"Oi, Harry! C'mere!"
"True love calls."
"You mean bellows."
"Oh shut it you two!" Harry made his way over to Ron, feeling that one more unresolved issue had been laid to rest.
++++++
A/N: I mean no disrespect to Gay's the Word. I have no idea if they had a section on bisexuality either then or now. I know people like Hermione's clerk are still with us.
Both "The Bisexual Option" and "Bi Any Other Name" are real books. There are lots of others as well. I'll go ahead and recommend "Bi America" by my friend Bill Burlson; it's really good, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in it!