Harry more than half expects Snape to be there, so the sight of him in his customary black robes and scowl is not a surprise. But the number of people certainly is! There has to be more than twenty people in the room, and Harry's mouth gawps open as Luna gently pushes her inside.

"Shut your mouth, Harry, you don't want a Nargle nesting in it," Luna advises in a friendly tone, and Harry does so with a click of her teeth.

"Lovegood, Potter," Snape acknowledges. "Welcome to the first meeting of the Refuge."

"I thought it had a really long name," Harry replies, immediately colouring and feeling like an idiot. Snape smirks.

"It's a bit unwieldy to use every meeting," Snape says. "The Refuge is what it's commonly referred to. A sanctuary for those who are...different."

"What do you mean different?" Harry asks, stuffing her hands awkwardly in her pockets as she looks around. She doesn't know anyone besides Luna, although she has a feeling the twins with vibrant red hair are Weasleys.

"For instance, Bell over there likes girls, not boys," Snape explains, looking a bit flustered. "You're a girl. The Weasley twins are bisexual. Luna here is non-binary, I believe you said?"

"That's right," Luna grins, playing with the ends of her hair. "I don't really know what. But I'm not a girl, and I'm not a boy."

"Erm...so what am I supposed to call you?" Harry asks in confusion. Luna's grin widens.

"My name," she says, before disappearing into the crowd.

"Mingle, Potter," Snape orders her, and vanishes himself. Harry looks around, not knowing where to go or who to talk to. One of the twins notices her and lopes over, calling over his brother with a wave of his hand.

"Hey, Harry," the Weasley says with a broad smile. "I'm Fred. This is George. Welcome to the Refuge."

"What's bisexual mean?" Harry blurts out, face burning. Fred laughs, echoed by George.

"I like girls and boys," Fred explains. "Or...anyone. They don't have to be a girl or a boy."

"Like Luna, you mean?" Harry crinkles her nose.

"Yeah, although she's a little young, Potter, I'm not into infants," Fred snorts. George elbows him hard.

"She's ten, not an infant," George reminds him.

"Point still stands," Fred grins. "Angelina's non-binary, too. Agender. She doesn't feel like any gender at all, but she can't tell her folks that, because they don't understand."

"My-the Dursleys don't understand, either," Harry says, shoulders slumping a little.

"Well, that's their problem," Fred starts.

"Isn't it?" George finishes.

Marginally cheered up, Harry smiles.

"Yeah, I guess it is," she says. "What is this place, anyway?"

The Refuge, Fred and George explain, began the first year their older brother Bill started Hogwarts. It was actually founded by Professor McGonagall, but some of the professors take turns leading and chaperoning. Which would explain Snape, Harry surmises. It was meant to be a safe place for those who fell outside the norm in some way, whether through gender, orientation, or anything else. (Which explains the second year with bright red hair and shiny silver forearm crutches.) The professors in the know about the Refuge would keep an eye out for troubled students and invite them; older students were encouraged to recruit as well.

"But it's all supposed to be a secret," George finishes, his twin nodding earnestly beside him. "Even from the Headmaster."

"Why him?" Harry scrunches her forehead in confusion. "He's the Headmaster, doesn't he know about all clubs?"

"Not this one," Fred answers, shaking his head. "The Headmaster isn't very...accepting, Harry. You'd think he would be, considering his uh previous relationships, but..."

"He's not," George continues. "I got a feeling he's really not gonna be about you."

"Why?" Harry asks, feeling like a broken record.

"You're supposed to be the Boy Who Lived," Fred says, rolling his eyes. "His mascot. But you aren't. You're a girl. Shakes him up."

"Exactly," George chimes in.

"Are you two quite finished monopolising Miss Potter's time?" Snape drawls beside them, badly startling Harry, who nearly leaps back into the wall. She can feel Snape's eyes on her, assessing her, calculating, and her shoulders hunch up.

"My...apologies, Potter," the Potions professor mutters. "I did not intend to frighten you. I merely wished to inform you that all newcomers are expected to report to the side room for an orientation of sorts."

"It's okay, Professor," Harry says, nearly shoving past him in her desperation to flee to the side-chamber.

"Odd," Snape murmurs. The twins nod in agreement.