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Rise of the Cannonites	By : KusanoSaku Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 12644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters. I am just having fun with them and I don't make money that way.

Chapter List
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Title: Rise of the Cannonites
Pairings: GideonxArthur, BreccxGeorge, ViktorxCharlie and BillxFleur ect.
Summary: a spin off story of 'I did not Sleep with that wizard!' focusing on the Weasley-Prewett family. Tracks the family's rise to fame or is it infamy?
A/N: Warnings for gender/body disphoria issues. Reveal of genderfluid character

Chapter 24

September 26, 1996

Sometimes, Terry’s heart ached when ze held Mishel.

Ze wanted her to be hir’s…

Ze’d been silently in love with Michael since they were around twelve, then just as ze was getting the courage to confess at least that, ze had found them in a disused corridor.

Michael’s head was under Weaslette’s skirt, ze’d returned to Ravenclaw Tower to hid behind zir silk curtains and cry.

When ze’d heard that Weaslette was pregnant with Michael’s baby, ze’d been crushed.

Hir heart had hurt all the more when ze found out that Ginny didn’t want Michael who was actually very sweet.

It had taken more time to figure out zir gender identity then it took to accept that ze was in love with Michael.

Sometimes, it was almost too easy to pretend that they were a family and that Mishel was theirs. Mishel was such a lovable baby that it was hard not to love her, Terry honestly felt more at home in this apartment then ze ever did in the tower. It was hard to believe that it was only a week since ze’d started coming after classes to help and Michael hadn’t even lasted two weeks after Mishel was born before looking overwhelmed…

After all, it wasn’t even October yet…

Being in the Tower was confining almost to the point of emotionally strangling, under Dumbledore’s Headship gender non-conforming were pressured to go stealth.

It was passed on to the students that gendered uniforms were expected, you only had to hear how Former Hufflepuff Nymphadora Tonks was treated to know.

She had been publicly shamed if she was caught in a masculine form and given detention by Headmaster Dumbledore if her eyes or hair changed color. It was apparently a policy meant to shame teach a metamorphmagus into staying their birth gender.

Cuddling Mishel, Terry felt like clawing at zir skin. The babe brought out zir feminine side even if ze didn’t dress like it…

Surrounded by male friends, Terry was terrified to come out to them because ze didn’t want to be alone.

“Terry? What’s wrong?” Michael had moved to kneel in front of zir. “Did she bit or hit you?”

Terry sniffed, “It’s nothing, Mishel is a good baby.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask, not to seem ungrateful but why?”

Terry flinched, “You needed the help…”

“Avoiding answering directly never gets you into the Tower.” Michael chided.

“I’m going to put Mishel down…” Terry said absently.

“Hurry back, I think its past time we tried talking to one another.”

Terry was half-frightened and half-relieved, ze doubted that ze could have brought it up on zir own.

XooooooX

Michael had noticed that Terry had a tendency to become quiet or withdraw over the years. Sometimes when Terry was with Mishel, he would see happy and others, it was as if their smile had been hexed away.

Given how distant Terry had become after the exams to see who was pregnant, Michael had been surprised when Terry had bullied their way into the apartment and seemed to glow under the demands of parenthood.

It took sometime before Terry returned, the younger Ravenclaw was trembling and wringing their hands.

“Am I that intimidating?” Michael frowned.

Terry stiffened, their voice tight yet trembling. “No… it’s just, this is something I’ve never had the courage to talk about.”

“Not even your family?”

Terry shook their head.

“We can take it slow, do you want to talk about why carrying for Mishel makes you sad sometimes first or why you came to help that day and make me sleep?”

“N…neither…”

“Alright, we have time before she wakes up…” Michael said neutrally.

“I like it here because I don’t feel so trapped.”

Michael blinked, “Trapped? How?” that wasn’t expected at all…

“With Dumbledore gone, it’s easier to breathe. People like me don’t have to hid in the shadows as much.”

“Terry, you’ve confused me.”

“You remember the stories about Nymphadora Tonks?”

Well, that was really like a Bludger out of the blue, “Vaguely, what does that have to do with anything?”

“I’m not exactly a boy…”

“But I’ve seen you in the shower…”

Terry flinched, “That’s just this,” he paused to pinch his skin before tapping their forehead. “I’m talking about what is in here. Sometimes I feel like a girl inside but when I look at my body it’s all wrong. Gender non-conforming students were forced to present in a way that not only fit in a gender binary perception but also was in line with their birth gender. Transitioning wasn’t even an option until after graduation, for those who need to have their gender altered by potion this only lengths the process.”

“So, are you saying you want to be a girl?” Michael asked to clarify, since he was confused.

“No, sometimes I feel like a girl. Other times, I feel like I’m a boy. There are even times when I don’t feel one way or the other… my gender identity feels a bit like a pendulum.”

Michael blinked, “Oh so that’s why sometimes you seemed more feminine…”

Despite having everyone in his immediate family seem straight and to fit within Dumbledore’s narrow gender binary expression, Michael had always sensed something different about Terry.

Not frighteningly different as if his friend was hiding some secret about them being a monster, like how his father did not discuss his werewolf brother. Not that Michael had issues with anyone being a werewolf, his father just wasn’t the most open-minded of persons at times…

“Is that bad?”

“What? No,” Michael blurted out perhaps a bit too quickly.

“Are you sure?” Terry prodded.

“Of course,” Michael swallowed, “so why does being around Mishel sometimes make you sad?”

“Being genderfluid, well I just don’t really expect to have a family.” Terry admitted sadly.

“Why? That doesn’t even make sense…” Michael protested.

“Sometimes my gender identity feels like it changes from day to day…” Terry whispered.

“Then you definitely need someone flexible. Have you discussed this with our Mind Healer?” Michael knew he probably needed appointments of his own but he felt more grounded and less stressed since Terry started coming over.

“You’re the first person I told…”

Michael blinked, “What?” then he frowned, “You don’t feel like I forced you do you? I didn’t mean to…”

Terry sighed, “I had to tell someone sooner or later… we’ve become so close almost in sync since I came by that day and made you sleep.”

“Honestly Terry, I don’t know what I would do without you…” Michael said honestly as he ran his hand through his hair.

Terry blushed, “Um…you’re welcome?”

“If being here makes you more comfortable, you’re welcome to just move in. I really appreciate the option of sharing childcare duties. I was certain I would have to handle it by myself…” Michael coughed.

Terry gaped at him, “Really? I won’t be a bother?”

“A bother? You’ve been very helpful. In fact, why don’t we lay down some ground rules?”

Terry flinched, “Why sort of rules?”

“For one, here you’re safe to express yourself. Be as free to explore that pendulum of yours. You know that you’re just about my only visitor and if anyone comes and you’re not comfortable being you around them, then you can just go upstairs.”

“There are only two rooms…” Terry protested.

“I don’t need much space so I can just move into the nursery. You can have my room…”

“Honesty Terry, aren’t you going to need the room?” Michael asked exasperated.

Terry blinked, “Why?”

“How are you supposed to get comfortable with that pendulum of yours if you don’t have room for an accommodating wardrobe?” Michael blinked.

Terry swallowed, “But,”

“My sister-in-law Lavender is supposedly some fashion encyclopedia. When you’re comfortable, I’ll see if she and Pavarti will take you shopping.” Michael sighed, “To be honest, I think she could use the distraction…”

“Are you sure? I mean I would be ever so grateful if she agreed…” Terry stammered.

“Feel free to experiment, it doesn’t bother me at all…” Michael said honestly.

He was curious how Terry would outwardly expression his gender pendulum, perhaps it was the Ravenclaw in him…

XooooooX

Terry had moved in right away.

Just to test how accommodating Michael was, Terry had put up a poster that read:

Unless otherwise requested pronouns are:

Ze
Zir
Zir’s
Zirself

and since the poster went up, Michael had done his best to address Terry properly.

Coming from someone who had been a longtime friend and secret crush, Terry was silently pleased…

Having one person be accepting meant a lot…

Since Terry identified on a gender pendulum, it was more difficult to actually claim a sexual orientation. Was ze straight, bent or flexible? Ze had never had sexual thoughts or desires in regard to anyone other than Michael.

Terry experimented with zir hair, ze’d always preferred it longer but styling it was something ze really had no experience with.

The closest Terry had ever gotten since he was three and wasn’t shamed about playing dress up, was wearing primarily androgynous clothes. This was accomplished by slight altering of the clothes zir Aunt purchased for zir but never where ze could be seen.

But ze wanted to experiment and having the option was quite freeing.

XooooooX

He was probably pushing Terry a bit too quickly but after some reading on genderfluidity and gender dysphoria, Michael hadn’t lasted that long before he reached out to Pavarti and Lavender.

He invited them over for lunch practically the day after Terry admitted to his pendulum…

“I um… was wondering if you could take a friend of mine shopping. They really need a new wardrobe and well, I was hoping I could trust the two of you.”

“Why us?” Pavarti frowned.

“One, because I thought Lavender needed this and two, because you both know more about fashion then I do.” Michael said shifting his weight nervously.

“Who are we supposed to help?” Lavender whispered.

“Please come down? You need the help and I don’t think they will tell anyone.” Michael called up the stairs.

Some people in their year had a tendency to talk and Michael like lavender was a usual subject, whether they liked it or not. So, it wasn’t all that surprising if Pavarti at least knew Terry had moved in.

“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, I know you need this. Please, trust me?” Michael begged.

Terry glanced up at him and shyly nodded.

“Terry is genderfluid; this means sometimes ze’s fem, sometimes masc and other times somewhere in the middle. Ze isn’t ready to present publicly yet but they need to experiment and find what makes them comfortable. Please, will you help? I don’t want ze to hurt any more than they already do. I want my apartment to be a safe space for Terry to learn to be zirself…”

“You’re a really good friend, Michael…” Lavender said shyly, “Can we help Pavarti?”

“A whole wardrobe will be expensive…” Pavarti mused.

Michael summoned and handed her a large heavy bag of money, “That should be a start.”

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Terry asked quietly.

“How do you feel today?” Pavarti asked circling Terry who tried to hide behind Michael.

“More fem but a bit neither?” Terry admitted nervously.

“I can work with that, trust me?” Pavarti said toying with her wand.

Terry nodded closing his… sorry zir’s eyes.

Pavarti spelled them into blue skinny jeans, a silver peasant shirt with a peacock feather on a blue leather cord, grey boots and an indigo gauze with silver flecks that was worn like an open coat but was wouldn’t be too restricting. Their hair was lengthened then a charm and tied into a tail with a blue ribbon before a fedora appeared on their head.

Lavender pulled out a mirror and shyly held it out, “Do you like it?”

Terry seemed close to tears, “I look…”

“Adorable. I knew they would be helpful.” Michael pushed Terry towards the door, “Go have fun. You need this, Mishel and I will be fine.”

Once Terry was gone, Michael panicked slightly.

Had he pushed too hard? Would Terry be alright? I was sure that Pavarti and Lavender would be helpful when it came to picking out clothes but if someone said anything bad about Terry would they tell them to lay off? Terry wasn’t Lavender and didn’t have the friendship history that his sister-in-law and her best friend had.

Terry had only come out yesterday, was it too soon? They wouldn’t take Terry to Diagon Alley, would they?

Michael checked on Mishel who was still resting quietly and opened a book on gender dysphoria. At least he could be a well-informed friend…

XooooooX

Michael had begun to pace the closer it came to dinner. They made it a habit to eat together and Michael was worried.

Had it been too much, too soon? Bloody hell, he hoped that when Mishel was out for a few hours that he was less neurotic about it.

Terry finally showed up with a large bag from Celestine’s a store his mother frequented.

Michael blinked, “That’s it?”

Terry blushed, “We put it all in the same bag. It made it easier to carry…”

“Oh, I see. I don’t usually go shopping much. I’m usually too busy…” Michael admitted awkwardly.

“I’ll just go put these away and then I’ll join you for dinner.”

“Take as long as you need. Today was about you even if I was a bit of a bully.” Michael said looking at his shoes.

Terry shyly kissed his cheek, “You were right, I did need it and I had fun. They want to invite me out for girl time in the future.”

“That’s um… great Terry. I’m proud of you…” Michael swallowed.

Then his best friend hurried upstairs hugging zir bag.

That was, Michael collapsed in an armchair, worth it. For all his worrying, Terry seemed so much happier…

Even if ze wasn’t ready to dress to express zir place on the gender pendulum outside the apartment, they could do it here.

Which was exactly what Michael thought ze needed most, besides a few friends who accepted Terry was genderfluid.

What Michael really wanted was for Terry to be as comfortable in zir own skin as possible, the clothes were a girl to combat the dysphoria. Michael really did want to be helpful, he didn’t want to see Terry look the way ze had before this weekend…

If Terry was happy, then the cost was worth it. He didn’t want Terry to physically harm zirself…

Someone had to be an ally and what sort of a best mate would he be if he couldn’t be supportive?

What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?
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Rise of the Cannonites