Changes

Prologue – This Is Me, Then

Does is really mean this much to them? I mean, what difference does it make? I'm still myself, no matter what. It's just…them. They have changed so much. Or have they? Maybe I have changed, but I just hadn't noticed yet. Maybe that is why I care so much. I wish I knew.

But that's just the way it is and things will never be the same.

Last year was one of those years I will never forget. Especially that last term and when I came to the Headmaster's office. No, I wasn't in trouble like you probably right away thought. At least, not in any kind of trouble you could think of. I remember every single word of Dumbledore's speech even now, after three months.

»Sit down, Mr. Thomas, sit down. Jelly bean?«

»Er, no thank you.«

»Suit yourself. Now, you'd probably like to find out why you are here?«

»Well, yes sir. I mean, am I trouble for anything? Because I didn't break any rules. Today.«

»Don't worry, Mr. Thomas, you're not in trouble. In fact, what I am to tell you, concerns you in a most private matter.«

At that moment the craziest things came to my mind. I must've looked really scared, because Dumbledore chuckled and started to calm me down.

»I must tell you some things I should've told you long ago. I seem to make that mistake quite often – not tell people what I should have, I mean.

Tell me, Dean, how much do you know of your father?«

»My father? Well, a lot, I guess. I mean, he is my father, sir. If you know what I mean?«

»Your biological father, Dean.«

»Oh. Not much. I know he was a good-for-nothing-idiot who left my mum pregnant and we never heard from him again. That's all I need to know, sir.«

»I see. Well, I actually knew your father, Dean. His name was Gary Thomas and he was a Student of mine once.«

»Hold on! My dad was a wizard? That's impossible.«

»Is it? Your mother is a Muggle and so are all of your step-brothers and sisters. Is it really that impossible?«

»But, my mum would've told me that. Unless…«

»She didn't know. She never knew what your father was or what had happened to him. Only few of us knew.

Your father, Gary, was a Gryffindor. He was a year before James Potter, actually. After he had graduated, in the years of Voldemort's reign of terror, he as too few Hogwarts students joined the Order of the Phoenix. Oh, and he was also a Pureblood wizard, which might've been the reason Voldemort contacted him. They wanted him to join the Death Eaters, for some reason I had only recently found out.

It was just after your parents got married, they contacted him. He refused to join them, and followed my advice to go into hiding. He would risk his own life countless of times, but he wanted you and your mother to be safe. So, he pretended to have left you.

He died about a week before you were born. If he hadn't left his family, you and your mother would've died with him.«

»They killed him?«

»Voldemort himself. I knew about his plans, but I was too late. By the time I arrived, he was already dead. I never knew why your father was so important to Voldemort and I decided to find the truth. It took me years, but I had finally realised.

If we had known then what we know now about your family, the war would be over years ago, and the Dark Lord long dead.«

»What do you mean, about my family, sir? I don't understand.«

»Tell me, do you listen at History of Magic?«

»Yes. Well, I try to. Why?«

»The Half – Blood Prince. Ever heard about that?«

»I-I think so. But I'm not sure what it is.«

»Tell me, what do you think about the so called importance of Pure Blood?«

»I think it's nonsense, sir. It's just blood. It can't decide what or who you are.«

»No, in most cases, it can't. Unless, if that Pure Blood is the heirloom of the ancient wizards such as founders of Hogwarts. That blood matters not on the magical abilities of the descendants or their spouses nor children. Such blood carries in it the magic of the greatest wizards or witches of our history. Would such blood be important?«

»Well, I guess so. I mean, that's kinda like the Heir of Slytherin thing, right?«

»In a way. The person with such Pure blood is called the Half – Blood Prince.«

»I see. But, sir? Shouldn't it be the Pure – Blood Prince then?«

»But he is not of Pure Blood. The Prince is Half Blood, with both Muggle and Magical heirloom.«

»He? You mean, it really exists? The Prince, I mean.«

»Ofcourse. I am looking at him as we speak.«

I didn't quite get that, and Dumbledore obviously saw that because he chuckled again.

»You are the Half – Blood Prince, Mr. Thomas.«

I don't really remember what happened after that. I must've looked really shocked and all because…well it was a shock. One moment I was just a student and the next…damn.

This is me, then: Dean Thomas, seventh year Gryffindor, the Half – Blood Prince.

I'm still the same guy, anyways. A Westham Football Fan who likes to draw and just walks around Hogwarts, mostly unnoticed.

I hope.

So, this is the Prologue to CHANGES or How Dean Thomas' Life Changed After He Learned The Truth (HDTLCAHLTT) ;)

Anyways, I hope you liked it, I know it's pretty short but it's not a real chapter so…

It may even be a one-shot cos I don't really know what I want to do with it yet – I like it the way it is now and I'm afraid I might ruin it but we'll see…there's a lot of material to write of so…and ofcourse some nice reviews might help me decide ;p

Oh and I know we don't know yet who the Half – Blood Prince really is (less than 1 month!) but I deeply hope it's Dean cos I think he's a great character and I hope to see him more in the books (and movies – Alfie – so cute). AND there's tons of material on him by JKR on her site I just hope it's there for a reason.

I'm blabbering now so…R&R and I hope you like it.

Oh and everything Hogwarts belongs to JKR and the verse from Changes (…that's just the way it is and things will never be the same…) belongs to Tupac Shakur (r.i.p.)/Afeni Shakur/Amaru Records.

Yours Truly: Dassa