Harry Potter and the ...

Chapter 1:

Changes

POP Harry appeared in the kitchen of Hermione's house. The room was bright and cheery like Hermione seemed to be. There were different colored vases with numerous sunflowers sitting on shelves, tables, and countertops. Apparently she had charmed the room to change with her moods like the Great Hall.

"There you are Harry! Hello! How are you these days?" asked a cheerful Hermione.

"Oh, I'm doing fine. I just finished my Auror's training last week. Graduation is in two weeks. I hope you can come," replied Harry.

"Well you know Viktor will be playing Quidditch in Berlin the, but I wouldn't miss it for the world!" exclaimed Hermione.

"Thanks. Is Ron here yet? I talked to him earlier and he said he was coming by Muggle car."

"No Harry, but do you mind helping me bring this food out to Viktor to grill?"

"Of course not. Oh and do you know if Ginny will be able to make it? I know she's been busy at school and all," asked Harry.

"Oh Ginny and Draco should be apparating any moment," said Hermione.

"I don't know why we had to travel by Muggle car. Why can't you just ask directions, Ron?!" asked an irritated Cho Chang.

"I said I can figure out how to get to Hermione's house on my own!" said Ron. "And besides, I thought driving there would be fun. The twins and I used to do it all the time."

"Just stop by that coffee house and-"

"Aah, found it! I told you I didn't need to ask directions. Now, to change the subject, how should we break the news to everyone, especially Harry?" Ron said, looking worried.

"Ron, we've talked about this. I know Harry's your best friend, but he'll just have to get over it. Oh look, that must be her house!" exclaimed Cho.

Ron parked the blue vintage car in front of a quaint white house with multi-colored flowers planted everywhere. They were charmed to change color everywhere few minutes. Outside hung the Bulgarian flag. Cho and Ron walked up to the door and knocked. The door opened and Ron was enveloped in hugs from Hermione and Harry. Everyone was so busy talking that they didn't notice Cho standing in the doorway. Ron glanced back.

"Oh, ahem, everyone, everyone this is-"

"Cho Chang" whispered an astonished Harry. He couldn't believe his eyes. His only girlfriend at Hogwarts was standing two feet away from him. He was speechless.

"Wh-what are you doing here Cho?" sputtered Harry.

"Uh, she's with me, Harry," said Ron, "and we have some news. Cho and I are-"

POP POP Ginny and Draco Malfoy apparated into the busy kitchen.

"You two are what, Ron? Come on man, spit it out!" burst in Harry.

"Well, Cho and I are engaged Harry. Surprise." Ron was blushing the color of his hair and Cho was smiling sweetly as she hugged Ron.

Everyone else's mouths dropped open in astonishment. Hermione was the first to recover.

"Well, congratulations to you both! I'll get the camera and Viktor." said Hermione as she looked back at Harry. Harry looked stunned, sad, betrayed, and weirded-out all at the same time. Oh great, muttered Hermione as she rushed off to get the camera and tell Viktor to come inside. Then Ginny walked up and gave her congratulations to her brother and Cho. She elbowed Draco in the stomach to do the same. There was an awkward pause as everyone looked at Harry and waited for his response.

"Oh, umm, well congratulations Cho, Ron," said Harry as he tried to conceal his sadness and jealousy. Ron winced as Harry patted him, well let's just say not-so-nicely on the shoulder.

"Picture time," said Hermione. She had pulled a tall, dark Viktor Krum inside. "Everyone get together – oh you too honey - and say 'Merlin's Beard'!"

"Merlin's Beard!" said the group. It was an awkward picture. Cho was smiling happily in the center, Ron looked worried, Harry looked oblivious, Ginny looked concerned, Draco looked amused, and Viktor, well, he just looked confused. Hermione, trying very hard to lighten the mood, said, "Ginny, Cho, why don't you two help me in the kitchen while Ron, Draco, and Harry go outside and help Viktor attempt to use the grill." The boys headed outside and the girls stayed inside to help Hermione.

"So Cho, Ron never told any of us that you two were even dating. How did you end up engaged?" asked Ginny.

"Oh, Ron and I met again at the National Quidditch League Annual Meeting in March. I mean, I had only known him because, well, you know, when Harry and I were together. But, at the meeting we really started talking. I first saw Ron trying to turn his water into Butterbeer! I knew it was Ron because of his red hair! He was just so cute I couldn't help walking over to him. I was laughing my heart out, and then we just started talking," said Cho.

"Aww, how sweet! How long have you tow lovebirds been engaged?" inquired Hermione.

"Only about two months. Enough about me, though. How's married life been treating you two?" replied Cho.

Ginny had surprisingly married into the Weasley's arch-rival family, the Malfoys. Hermione had also gotten married to Viktor Krum, seeker for the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team.

"Well, Draco's father, Lucious, still seems to hate me, but his mother's warming up to me," said Ginny, "but our parents relatively loathe each other. I mean, it has been two years already and we have children now. They'll just have to accept the fact that we love each other. And because we have children, Hogwarts lets us apparate back home every night."

"Is it just me, or did that story seem kind of like a famous Muggle story I've read? Something like Romeo and Judy?" Ginny and Cho looked puzzled. "Oh, maybe not, just forget that. So what were you saying?" said Hermione.

"Well I was just saying that I didn't know Ginny and Draco worked at Hogwarts. How exciting! What are your positions?" asked Cho.

"Draco has been the new potions master ever since Snape had that one nasty potion blow up in his face and he's been in St. Mungo's forever now. But, I told Drakie to go easy on the students. As for me, I'm the flying master." replied Ginny.

"So much has happened since we were together at Hogwarts. What about your life Hermione?" asked Cho.

"Well I'm sure Ron has told you that I married Viktor just last year and you know him because of Quidditch. What team are you playing on now, Cho?" said Hermione.

Cho answered, "Ron and I were both picked for the Genovian National Team. We should be starting this fall. Maybe we'll even play against Viktor sometime. I'll be the new Seeker and Ron'll be the new Keeper. As for the wedding, we were thinking mid-October. We know we're definitely having this reception at the Three Broomsticks Pub. So, what else are you doing this summer Hermione?"

"Oh, well, that's why all of you are here. I wanted to tell you all in person. I'll get the boys." said Hermione mysteriously.

Outside, the boys were talking. "So Potter, you had the girl, but you let Weasley here take her right from under you! Ha ha! Bet ya never thought that your best friend would stab you in the back, did ya?" sneered Draco.

"Malfoy, butt out before I hurt you," said Ron, clenching his fists.

"Oh and what would a Weasley like you do to me? If you so much as point your wand at me I would send you home crying to your mama before you could so much as utter a spell," egged Draco.

"I've always wondered what my sister sees in you. Why did she have to go and marry you? For the longest time Ginny was in love with Harry. What'dja do, put her under a spell or something?" Ron shot back. Harry blushed. He watching his ex-best friend battle with his arch-enemy. Ron actually seemed to be holding his own.

"No! I can't help that she wanted to marry into a rich family, Weasley. She's obviously been traumatized by the fact that her family has always been poor. I guess it was time for a change," shouted Draco.

"Oh leave Ginny out of this!" yelled Harry. "I don't think Ginny married you just to be rich Malfoy, although I don't understand why she did otherwise. But she's not part of this conversation, so just stop!"

"Sad little Potter is just jealous that two girls were stolen right from under him!" replied Draco. Now Ron was the one to blush.

"Alright, alright. That's good enough Malfoy. I'm sure one of the girls will be coming out pretty soon to check on us. Let's just end this now and try to act somewhat happy." said Ron.

Meanwhile, Viktor was still trying to start the grill Muggle-style. Harry noticed and muttered, "I guess Hermione didn't marry him for brains, now did she?"

Hermione had apparently decided to make dinner herself and had stepped outside and called the boys in for dinner. They gladly trudged in.

(Later that evening)

"You're what again Hermione?" wondered Ron.

"The Ministress of Magic, Ron. I told you, Cornelius Fudge is retiring this year and they've just elected me. According to Ministry of Magic: A History, I am going to be the first female Minister the Ministry's ever had. Oh you should have seen Lucious Malfoy's face when he heard the news! – No offense Draco – But, imagine how much I could change for the better with that kind of power!" exclaimed Hermione. Everyone was sitting around the kitchen table, sipping Butterbeer.

"Please tell me you're not going to start a new campaign for S.P.E.W. again are you?" joked Ron. Ginny and Ron laughed, but Harry didn't seem to be in the joking mood. He had been very quiet all night, contemplating how Ron could betray their friendship so easily, just for a stupid girl. Didn't he know that Harry had felt so crushed when Cho broke up with him? How could he be so inconsiderate as to bring Cho back into their lives, his life? Harry looked over at Ron and Cho, they seemed so happy. But did Cho seem happier with Ron that she did when she and Harry were together? Harry thought back to their breakup.