"Changing"

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns nearly everything in this fic- I borrowed them for personal enjoyment. The only things I can lay claim to are the three characters Michala, Luke and Stephanie.

Author's Note: I am aware that I have an ugly habit of starting many stories and not updating them that often but with this one I absolutely PROMISE that it will be updated more frequently.

I know this is also set in the first year of Harry and co. however because I didn't want this fic to pretty much just follow the plot of The Philosopher's Stone, I changed things around a bit so don't go off at me for not having all the facts right. Some things do briefly follow HPATPS but not very many. Hope you like it!

Chapter One... 'Returning to Hogwarts I'

"He's not!" gasped Oliver Wood, leaning forward on his seat, his mouth crammed full of chocolate frog.

"He is!" confirmed Percy Weasley, very matter-of-fact-ly.

"I'll believe it when I see it," said Michala Byrne, rolling her eyes and staring out of the train window at all the passing greenery.

"Fine then," Percy mumbled, crossing his arms in defeat.

It was the start of another year at Hogwarts. It was Oliver, Percy and Michala's fifth year at the school and they were very happy to be back. Rumour was that the Harry Potter was actually sitting on the train at this point of time. Percy had even told his friends that he'd spoken to Harry though they didn't believe a word of it.

"Look," said Percy, annoyed and willing to try and convince his friends again. "I spoke to him. He is sitting with Ron, my brother, now."

Oliver unwrapped another chocolate frog. "Uh-huh."

Percy opened his mouth to speak again when the compartment door came sliding open again. A familiar face popped in along with a carry bag that was bursting with more sweet snacks. Oliver practically began salivating there and then.

"Penelope!" smiled Michala, standing up to give her a friend a quick hug which was difficult in such a small compartment. From day one in their very first year, this group of students had been the best of friends. They had what they called 'their' compartment on the train, the Hogwarts Express and heaven help anybody who tried to steal it.

Penelope smiled and returned the hug and then moved her exploding bag onto the floor so she could sit down. "How are you guys? Did you hear-"

She was cut off by Percy. "-I told you he was here! Harry Potter! Uhh... that's who you were talking about right?" he asked.

She nodded frantically. "I passed him a few moments ago. He was with your brother actually Percy," she added.

Percy threw his arms in the air triumphant. "See!" he cried to Oliver who was still staring at Penelope's bag longingly. "I told you! I wasn't lying!"

"Ah who cares old friend," replied Oliver, still not moving his eyes. "Uhh Pen..." he began slowly.

Penelope laughed. "Yes Oliver, you can help yourself. Infact, you all can!"

Without hesitation, the four of them dug into Penelope's bag and relieved it of the strain by pulling and ripping open various snacks. They spent the next fifteen minutes stuffing themselves stupid. It had been a long time since they'd seen each other and for the ones who lived in muggle families, it had also been a long time since they'd seen a wizard treat.

"Hey," asked Michala after a while. "Where's Luke?"

They all stopped munching momentarily. "Oh yeah..." said Percy slowly. "Where is he?"

Luke Taylor was another of their friends and usually sat with them in their compartment. It was very strange that he wasn't present in their chocoholics anonymous meeting at that very moment. Penelope started scrunching up the wrapper of a finished Bertie Botts bag and prompty threw it in Oliver's face causing him to turn red in embarrassment. He was the Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team and he'd managed to let a non-Quidditch player such as Penelope score a very easy goal.

"Bwahahaha," Michala burst out in laughter as the colour spread to Oliver's ears.

Even the normally subdued Percy had to join in the laughing. It had been far too long since he'd seen his friends and he'd missed them terribly.

After the laughing had subsided and they'd gone back to wondering where Luke was, Penelope noticed Michala staring out the window, blankly.

"Hey Mic," she said softly, reaching over to touch the sleeve of Michala's Hogwarts robes. "You okay?" she asked concerned.

"Yeah," added Oliver, not wanting to seem insensitive.

"Yeah," added Percy, not knowing what else to say.

"I'm... fine," said Michala quietly even though she knew her sudden mood change was a giveaway.

"No you're not," said Penelope, reading her thoughts. "Seriously Mic, what's up? You can talk to us. Hell, we haven't seen each other for what seems like years, there must have been something that's happened to all of us in our time apart." Unsure of how to treat this situation, she handed Michala another Pumpkin Pastie, hoping it would cheer her up.

Michala gratefully accepted the pastie and immediately began to eat it. "It's just..." she stopped and looked around at the three faces who had now given her their full attention. She sighed. As much as she loved these guys she couldn't help but feel slightly left out. It wasn't like she was the best friend of any of them. Penelope and Oliver had always been extremely close and they knew things about each other that no one else in their tight knit group knew.

Luckily at that very moment she was saved by a door sliding open. "Hey guys," said Luke, standing there with a goofy look on his shiny face. "Miss me?" He promptly threw his bag on top of Oliver who seemed to be copping a lot of flying objects today and squeezed in the compartment.

"Luke!" cried Michala with relief and joy. "Where you been buddy?" she asked, trying to switch the attention from her to Luke.

"Ahh..." Luke's expression changed quickly. "I got a bit lost," he fumbled for a decent excuse. The group didn't seem to notice much though and after greeting him with the initial 'it's so good to see you again' or 'how were your holidays?', they returned back to Michala who was hoping they'd forgotten about her.

"Well?" prompted Luke. "Tell all."

Michala took a deep breath. "Michael broke up with me last night."

Nobody said anything. Nobody knew what to say. They all just sat there absolutely stunned. Speechless. Completely lost.

"You know," said Oliver after the realisation had started sinking in. "This is one of those very, very few moments in life where I am totally lost for words."

Penelope nodded in agreement. "Oh honey," she said, wrapping Michala up in her arms. "I'm so terribly sorry. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," said Michala, expressionless. "Except I need air," she added, trying to break away from Penelope's insanely tight grip.

They gave an uncertain laugh before Luke became serious again. "No seriously Mic, why?"

The previous year Michala and her boyfriend Michael had been unofficially voted Most Popular Couple. To hear that they had broken up was a shock to say the least. They'd been dating since anyone could remember and had had barely any fights, arguments or disagreements during that impossibly long amount of time. Even their names were very similar and they all had to wonder just why Michael had wanted to break up.

Come to think of it, Michala wasn't even too sure of the reasons herself. She tried her best to give a smile. "You know, I don't really know why. Michael wasn't too descriptive. He just said he thought it would be better if we didn't see each other this year," she paused. "Now can we stop talking about it?" she asked hesitantly.

Sensing that there were things Michala would much prefer to talk about, Percy interrupted. "Yep sure, so did any of you go and see the Prides versus the Tornadoes on the holidays?"

This got Oliver started as Percy had predicted and soon the conversation had changed from Michala's relationship problems to a full on, in depth, detailed discussion about Quidditch. She gave Percy a grateful smile which he returned before a voice boomed throughout the entire train, "We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes."

Having been through this procedure many times before, the group of five best friends, began to collect their belongings and prepared themselves for the big return to their home, Hogwarts. They waited as the train pulled into the Hogwarts station and rolled to a stop. Trying not to lose each other in the frantic stampede to the train exits, they made their way off the Hogwarts Express and stood around on the station platform in a huddled group like everyone else. It was night time and a strong breeze was blowing through the station. They all pulled their robes around each other tighter and eventually the groups of students started walking.

In the distance they could head Hagrid, their groundskeeper, yelling out in his big strong voice 'All right, all firs' years over 'ere! Chop chop!'

Oliver smiled as he remembered his own first days at Hogwarts. How daunting it had been until he'd met this wonderful group of friends. And in particular Penelope. He couldn't imagine life without her. She was indeed his very best friend. Always there to listen and always there to care.

"Hey Wood," said Luke, nudging Oliver in their ribs. "Stop dawdling."

Once they had safely arrived at Hogwarts and were seated in the Great Hall, the normal start-of-year festivities commenced. Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, made his usual speech and they watched as the new First Years became sorted into the houses.

Percy let out a giant 'Hooray!' which was unusual for him, when Harry Potter appeared on the stool and was sorted into Gryffindor. He let out another Hooray when Ron was too. Michala smiled when a girl who Harry and Ron seemed to be avoiding was also made a Gryffindor. There was something about this girl that reminded Michala of herself. Not in looks but in the way she carried herself. After the sorting ceremony, a giant feast promptly arrived at the tables and they all forgot the snacks they'd indulged in on the train and dug in even more.

A drumstick in one hand and a fork with German potato salad loaded on in the other, Penelope began to speak. "Quiet," she said loudly, though it was hard to understand with the food in her mouth. Oliver took the initiative and putting his fingers in his mouth, whistled loudly like he did at Quidditch practise sometimes.

A hush fell over the Gryffindor table. The other houses kept chatting away oblivious to the activities anywhere else.

"Time for Penelope's speech," whispered Michala in Luke's ear who grinned and nodded in return.

She stood up and looked around at the fellow Gryffindors. "Hello there everybody," she began. Everyone stared up at her and mumbled replies. Penelope was a good public speaker and never got nervous. She made this speech at the start of every year and the older students were used to it. The new ones however were sort of surprised at the kind of intimidating looking 5th year girl who was wearing a shiny Prefect badge like Percy's.

"I'd just like to say a few words while you're all here," Penelope continued, grinning at her friends who hadn't stopped eating but were giving her their full attention. "A big warm welcome back to Hogwarts everybody and a big warm welcome to our newest Gryffindors. My name is Penelope Clearwater for those who don't know me and on behalf of everyone here, we'd like to say that we hope you enjoy being a Gryffindor and that you make us proud. Good luck this year everyone and if you have any problems whatsoever do not hesitate to talk to myself or any of the other older Gryffindors- we're always here to help you." She smiled again and sat down.

Everyone applauded and slightly flushed, the meal finally ended. Dumbledore dismissed everyone from the feast and Penelope and Percy led the Gryffindors back to their familiar tower behind the Fat Lady portrait, closely followed by Oliver, Michala and Luke.

"Snoozles," said Percy when they reached the portrait. It swung open which was followed by many 'oohs' and 'ahhs' by the First Years and they were led inside the common room, the familiar surroundings bringing a warm feeling to Michala, Oliver and Luke who headed straight up to their dormitories to unpack. They'd heard Percy and Penelope's introduction speech many times before and didn't feel like hearing it again.

After awhile, Michala was joined by Penelope upstairs in their dormitory.

"Hey," Penelope said, sitting on Michala's bed and watching her carefully fold some of her school robes.

"How did they settle in?" asked Michala.

"Oh yeah, all right, no big dramas," replied Penelope, gazing out of the window. "It's good to be back isn't it?"

"Yeah," agreed Michala. "I sure missed everyone. The holidays seem to get longer each year."

"I know. But this year we have to really start concentrating on our N.E.W.T.s."

"Penelope," laughed Michala. "We've been back for like... five minutes! Anyway, you and Percy work so hard every year that I'm sure this one won't be a problem."

Penelope was turning red.

"What?" asked Michala, noticing the redness of her cheeks and also the uncomfortable silence. "What?" she asked again when she still had no response. "Penelope!" she scowled.

"Uhh..."

Michala stopped what she was doing and stood in front of Penelope. "Oh my goodness..." she said in realisation. "Oh my goodness," she said again.

"Uhh..." Penelope mumbled.

"HAHA!" laughed Michala. "You fancy Percy don't you? Don't you?" she giggled.

"Michala!" moaned Penelope. "Don't make fun of me!"

Michala opened her mouth to say something.

"And don't make fun of Percy either!"

Michala closed it.

"It's not that bigger a deal," said Penelope.

"Yes it is!" smiled Michala. "Aww, that is so cute! I had a feeling something was going on between you two. There was definite chemistry. Nah, sorry for picking on you. Percy is a very, very nice boy- even if he does have a limited sense of humour."

"Well maybe you just don't know him the way I do," Penelope said seriously.

"Maybe," confessed Michala. "Are you going to ask him out?" she asked.

Penelope shook her head quickly. "No way!"

"What about to the Halloween Ball? That's coming up soon you know?"

"No way Michala. He doesn't like me that way. I don't even think he is that interested in girls in general," she argued.

"What?" asked Michala. "You mean he's interested in boys?" she teased.

"No!" scowled Penelope. "Urgh," she threw herself back on Michala's bed in frustration.

"So when did you first realise you liked him?" Michala asked, lying down beside her. Unpacking could wait. This was far more interesting.

"It's a long story," began Penelope. "But..." and she proceeded to inform Michala of every little detail about her feelings towards Percy Weasley. It wasn't until a long time after that she actually finished talking.

Author's Note: So...? What do you think so far? I have a lot planned for this story so you better keep reading! Reviews are appreciated as per usual! Thank you!