Changes and Secrets

Chapter 1 - As Usual

Hey guys, this is H0r$epnk, or Skye, or whatever you want to call me. However, you may not call me J.K. Rowling or any variation of that name, as I am not her and I do not own anything she owns. Nor am I as rich as her; I have $8 to my name and do not expect that number to go up any as I make no money from my writing. R&R, please! This is my first fanfiction in the Harry Potter-verse, so don't kill me please! Anyways, enjoy!

I can't tell them. Harry thought. I just can't. They'd freak! But if they found out, they'd probably blame me for not telling them sooner. Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione who were playing a game of wizarding chess. One of Hermione's pawns had just finished destroying Ron's queen, making him sputter in disbelief. 

Harry rubbed his aching shoulder. Maybe I could talk to Lupin? He mused. No. He'd freak too, and I just don't want to deal with that. Who can I talk to? I can't talk to Sirius...he'd go on a rampage. I can't tell Dumbledore; he'd want to know more than I know. I can't tell anyone! But then again, I don't want anyone to know. 

Harry sighed. "I know, right?" "Huh?" Harry looked up at his ginger haired friend. "Hermione wrecked me without even trying! It's not fair!" Ron whined. "It's all about strategy, Ron! If you place your pieces in a strategic position, it becomes easy to win with minimal casualties." Hermione chided. Ron rolled his eyes. "I didn't become a great chess player by listening about strategy," he muttered, making Harry chuckle. 

"What's up mate? You seem a little...I don't know. Distant maybe?" Harry shrugged. "It's nothing." Hermione leveled her gaze at him. "It's never nothing with you. What's up?" Harry rolled his eyes, thinking fast. "If you must know, I got a T on my last Potions test." He lied. "Well, Snape's always unfair to you, so I wouldn't worry about it too much." Ron said. 

"Ron!" Hermione said, exasperated. "Try being a little sensitive, why don't ya? This is obviously upsetting him, so don't act like it's no big deal!" Ron rolled his eyes. "Well, it's not a big deal! Do you know how many different tests I have gotten T's on?" "Just because you don't care about your future doesn't mean that Harry doesn't!" Hermione cried. "Oh, so now I'm an insensitive jerk that doesn't care about my future? Is that it?" 

Harry clasped his hands over his ears and screwed his eyes up. "GUYS! STOP IT PLEASE!" he yelled. Hermione and Ron froze and turned to look at Harry. "Will you stop arguing about how I feel and think about how you guys arguing makes me feel!? Please?" Hermione and Ron hung their heads. "Sorry. I kind of forgot you were here." Ron said, earning a glare from Hermione. "Now that's not a good thing to say either, Ron." Hermione said. 

Ron opened his mouth but was cut off by Harry's hand closing over his mouth. "Just drop it please. It's not a big deal, I was just overreacting about it." Hermione looked at Harry. "Are you sure?" she asked. Harry nodded. "Yes." He said emphatically. "OK," Hermione said. "I'll let it go." "Same here." Ron said. "Thank you. Now can we return to a relaxed environment?" Hermione and Ron chuckled. 

"Thank you." Ron and Hermione continued to chuckle as they set up the chessboard again. "Are you excited for Christmas?" Hermione asked. "Yeah! All those presents waiting for us, and 3 weeks off from school? I can't wait!" Ron exalted. "Yeah. I'm thrilled," Harry said, trying to sound like he really was thrilled. 

I can't wait for the full moon on Christmas eve, he thought sarcastically. And then I'm going to have to hurry and get back here before everyone else wakes up, which will be hard because everyone gets up early on Christmas. 

"Harry?" Harry looked up at Hermione. "Don't you have a Transfiguration test to study for?" "Ah!" he said, slapping his forehead. "That's what I was forgetting! Thanks Hermione." Hermione smiled. "No problem." Harry ran upstairs and started studying. After a while though, his brain began to wander away from the topic, and towards that fateful spring night 8 months ago that changed his life forever.