This Changes Everything

Summary: After it had happened, everything changed completely. Things were never going to return to how they were, how they should have been. Where were they going to go from here?

Warnings: I don't really know what rating this story is going to go up to, so I have rated it high to be sure. At the moment, only slight swearing, but could change. This story is AU, with OC characters, major and minor. Multiple pairings. R & R will be greatly appreciated!

Disclaimer: Nothing from the world of Harry Potter belongs to me, obviously. I am just a fan of the books and films. Only original characters are mine, everything else belongs to J.K Rowling.

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Chapter 1: Invitation

Dear Erin,

Sorry about the long wait, Mum and Dad have been keeping me extremely busy! So far they've dragged me around 10 of what could be the most boring villages in France! They won't tell me why either. But anyway, we've only just got back home.

How have your holidays been? I know you were dreading that visit to your grandparents' house; I don't blame you! Hopefully they didn't embarrass you as much as that time with the frilly dress! Has your brother even stopped taking the piss out of you for that?

Well I have to go now, so maybe next time I write to you, it'll be slightly more interesting!

Ruby

Ruby Knight sighed and laid the quill down on her desk. The rain outside came down in waves as she tied the parchment to her owl's foot. Then she stroked the bird slowly, whilst opening the window to let her out. She felt bad about making her go out in this weather but was desperate to talk to her friend. It was only three since the end of school, and Ruby was already dying of boredom.

Usually her parents made the holidays more exciting. She was always telling Erin about her different adventures. However, this year they had insisted on going to France for several weeks. What was so important about France? Ruby had been thinking this since the day they had left. To her knowledge, they had no connections to France: no relatives and no friends. She had given up trying to work out what was going on- it made her brain dance in confusion. She shook herself from her trance and closed the window.

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Ruby woke with a start. Artemis, her owl, was tapping the glass with her sharp beak. Ruby jumped up and rushed towards the window, tripping over her school books along the way. Gathering herself, she let Artemis in and quickly untied the parchment attached to her leg.

Dear Rubz

FRANCE! Couldn't your parents think of anywhere else? Wow, I think I actually had a better summer than you for once!

We didn't go down to my grandparents; they cancelled at the last minute, thank God! So Dad and Leyla took us to Spain for two weeks, so I'm going back to Hogwarts with the best tan ever! Ced spent most of his time trying to get laid- he failed miserably. This was wonderful to watch, of course, me being the sadist that I am.

I can't believe that it's not even halfway through the holidays. I love being at home, but it does get a bit tedious after a while.

Guess what else? Dad said that you can come and stay for a couple of weeks! Leyla and he are going to be travelling for work, but the maid will still be here. It'll be a laugh, if you can come that is.

Speak to you soon,

Erin

Ruby grinned with excitement. She already knew what her parents' answer would be. They had been getting slightly irritated of her sulky face around the house. Of course, her mum would write to Erin's dad to check the arrangements, but she could overlook this embarrassment.

"Fun at last!" Ruby rushed down the stairs and into the living room.