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The Changes

Chapter 20

Changes and Hogwarts train ride

Needless to say Molly Weasley was shocked when her son came home, looking very different from his usual self. She at first assumed it was a charm and swished her wand and tried to undo them, with two words "Finite Incantatem" but nothing worked. Molly looked stunned staring at her son in utter disbelief she couldn't understand where he had gotten the money to get his hair done. She hollered for her husband, who came barging in his wand at the ready looking for an armed intruder. Only to find his wife almost hyperventilating on the sofa and their son he did a double take at.

"What on earth is happening?" asked Arthur confused.

"Ronald Weasley what have you done?" shrieked Molly Weasley, she hadn't shrieked like that since Bill came home with long hair and refused to let Molly cut it. Ron hadn't expected her to react like this; it was only a few highlights for goodness sake. He wondered what her reaction would be when he told them what really happened. Fred, George and Ginny were peeking around the door curiously now. Wanting to see what Ron had done to earn their mothers wrath.

"I went through the blood brother rite bond" said Ron quietly.

"Who?" asked Arthur not knowing anyone his son trusted enough to make a Weasley. Well he did but he was currently at Privet Drive safe from harm, in the Muggle world.

"Harry, I'm now legally Ronald Harry Bilius Weasley - Potter" said Ron softly.

"But why?" shrieked not Molly surprisingly but one Ginevra Weasley. Who looked like her entire life had shattered before her eyes, and it had in a way. Ginny Weasley would never be Ginny Potter the wife of the boy who lived. She would never have the big manor and fancy clothes. No beautiful expensive jewellery or fan base she always dreamed of one day.

"Because he's my brother, he was my brother in all but blood didn't you want him to be a Weasley?" asked Ron sadly.

"He's our brother now? Cool!" beamed Fred.

"Very cool" smirked George ignoring their sisters devastated look.

"You know I love him" sobbed Ginny throwing Ron a betrayed look.

"Harry's gay Ginny you wouldn't have stood a chance unless you are thinking about getting a sex change" said Ron bluntly.

Arthur and Molly just sat quietly on the couch, feeling overwhelmed with this new information. They couldn't deny they had hoped Ginny and Harry would get together, and Harry would be a Weasley that way. They had thought it was the case as Ginny always spoke about Harry and the things they did together. Which was why they hadn't ever officially adopted him into the family properly. Now though it seemed the decision was ripped from them. If Harry was gay then Ginny would have to find someone else, they didn't hate him for the fact he was gay. Two of her sons were gay, Bill and Charlie, so it would have been very hypocritical of her.

"Now Ginny enough of that, Harry cannot help his preferences any more than Bill and Charlie can. I know it hurts but you have to look at it this way, it was better for him to realize now rather than later on in life." said Molly honestly taking her daughter out of the room. She stopped at the door and smiled at her son and said "Well done son, I'm proud of you. I know you have grown up a great deal lately and I couldn't be happier. We shall celebrate Harry's official welcome into the family during the holiday's" that was her acceptance as she led a sobbing even louder at Molly's approval of Ron's actions away.

"Dad are you ok?" asked Ron seeing his fathers stunned looks.

"I am son, but you really should have asked me for my acceptance before going through with the rite" admonished Arthur.

"Not really, only requires one head of the family and Harry is his" said Ron weakly.

"True" mused Arthur it made sense why he wasn't contacted magically to agree with it. If Arthur hadn't been happy Ron would have just taken only the Potter name and been done with it.

"Well it looks like we have another…"

"Brother to torment…" grinned Fred and George speaking together.

"Just you remember who gave you that money" whispered Ron cheekily into their ears as he headed for his own room. They would be leaving for the Hogwarts Express first thing in the morning, without more ado he packed everything into his trunk and fell asleep almost immediately.

"Harry! I was beginning to think Snape hadn't brought you" said Ron looking relieved. He had been looking in every single cart for Harry, ending up talking longer than he liked with some of his Gryffindor house mates. He was back to saying Snape as they were in a place near students; where they could overhear. He didn't want to be caught calling the man he supposedly hated by his given name. It would raise unwanted and awkward questions, something they wanted to avoid.

"He did, he's away back to Hogwarts," explained Harry.

"Where's Hermione?" asked Ron his face contorted as he asked about her.

"Don't know" shrugged Harry indifferently. He wasn't going to pretend to be her friend this year. She had another thing coming if she thought he was going to make it easier for her to spy. It was just a shame he couldn't tell everyone that she was a horrid little sneak. He just wished he knew how to charm that on her forehead, like she had done with Marietta Edgecombe back in fifth year. Perhaps he should do the same to her, he was sure she would appreciate it. Actually Marietta still had the words on her face just not as prominent as before. He had to give Hermione applause for that she was a powerful witch but not as powerful as him. He wondered if he did it when they would disappear he sniggered at the thought.

"What's funny?" asked Ron curiously spreading himself comfortably on the chair. They were sixteen years old now and on their way to their sixth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The door was already locked with a wave of Harry's wand the second he had come in and put his trunk up above him.

"Just thinking of Granger with sneak written across her face" smirked Harry nastily.

"Oh Harry, we have got to find that spell!" begged Ron his eyes wide a surprised, shocked look on his face. Harry had never been one for pranks, even less fond of them since he found out about how his father treated others. Harry wasn't stupid enough to think Severus Snape had been their only target. Ron had been immature then he hadn't truly understood why Harry hadn't laughed at his fathers' actions. Then again he knew Harry so much better now, knew what his life had truly been like before Hogwarts and during the summers. Hermione betraying Harry had been the best thing for them, they were really close now. He knew everything there was to know about Harry Potter, something no one else in the world could claim other than Severus Snape.

"We will" smirked Harry wickedly. Hermione Granger would rue the day she decided to spy on him.

"What else are you thinking?" asked Ron looking over eagerly.

"Well I'm thinking she's with him for his money and titles right?" said Harry.

"Yeah" frowned Ron not seeing where this was going. There was also a disgusted grimace on his face at the thought of such an old man doing anything like that to an under age girl. Even if Hermione was the one perusing it, it still made him sick to his back teeth.

"We have the map, we can conveniently talk about it…how Dumbledore stole my money because he has none of his own" smirked Harry.

"Are you sure you did the right thing going into Gryffindor…that's a pure Slytherin move" said Ron grinning amusedly.

"You know me Ron" smirked Harry he had of course told Ron about the hats suggestion.

"That I do" laughed Ron sitting back down.

"How did they take it?" asked Harry quietly after a few minutes of peaceful silence.

"Not too bad, Ginny was the worst she acted like I had betrayed her" sighed Ron sadly. He loved his little sister; he hoped this got her head out of the clouds. His mother had it right when she said it was better now than later. At least Ginny can get over him and find a true relationship - someone he could beat the crap out of. Without looking his best friend in the progress that was.

Harry winced in sympathy and sighed sadly after a few seconds.

"Fred and George are over the moon, expect a long letter from them" laughed Ron remembering their reactions. Like everything else they took everything in their stride and found the good in everything they did. They were so different from everyone else in the family but the same too.

"Maybe they could help us prank Hermione" said Harry after a few seconds. Both teenagers were lying along the seats quite comfortably. Only Ron had his knees slightly bent as he was too big to lie down properly. Harry who had been abused all his life was lying across it no problem.

"No doubt" laughed Ron it felt good going back to Hogwarts again with his best mate.

"Do you think Dumbledore knows yet?" queried Harry after another few minutes of silence both just staring up at the overhead compartments.

"Probably, might be why he left you there till the last minute or what he thinks anyway" shrugged Ron.

"True, he hasn't done that in a long time, mad eye and the others came to get me last year. It was only what a month into the holidays?" asked Harry.

"Something like that" said Ron quietly. That had been a bad year; Ron knew he was in the wrong. He should have written to his friend, although he hadn't really admitted it then. More often than not Ron was now actually trying to put himself into his friend's shoes and trying to see it from his point of view. Not that Harry's shoes would fit him anyway; he was a size seven for Merlin's sake.

"Anything of the trolley?" shouted the woman; it sounded like she had been yelling for a few minutes.

Jumping up Harry brought a lot of things like he usually did and dropped it all down on the chair. Immediately Harry chucked Ron's favourite sweet at him, which happened to be a chocolate frog.

"Cheers mate" grinned Ron used to this now and no longer bothered to protest. Harry had been doing the same thing for the past five years after all.

Harry just nodded and continued eating himself suddenly ravenous as well. They were still eating when the announcement came on, urging them to change into their robes. Which they did in the carriage seeing as Hermione wasn't there, and that was a good thing for both teens. They were very angry and upset with Hermione's betrayal, even if it had been good for them as friends in the end. They had trusted her with all their secrets, and then she was skipping of to Dumbledore to tell him. They sometimes wondered just how much she had told him over the years; it made them shudder in fury.

"Looks like we are nearly there" said Ron after he was dressed in his brand new school clothes. Being Harry Potter's brother had already come up with some perks. Although he didn't know just how Harry had gotten his measurements to do that. Ginny had gotten a few things as well, but they weren't sure now if she would wear them after his so called 'betrayal'. It was a rather good thing the school clothes didn't cost a lot of money well in Harry's terms really.

"That's usually her line" smirked Harry clasping his cloak around him. He had gotten his clothes slightly baggier than usual. He had a bump he had to conceal half the year; goodness knows what would happen after that. He would have a brand new baby to look after and the rest of the school year to go. Then his seventh year something had to give, he hadn't exactly planned for this. However, Harry had always wanted his own family and he would never under any circumstances, even if he had been dirt poor give up his child.

"Well it's mine now" smirked Ron smugly.

"Who do you think has been made prefects?" asked Harry curiously.

"Ah, well…um…I was offered it but I said no" said Ron stuttering feeling awfully awkward.

"You turned it down?" gasped Harry in shock.

"C'mon mate! I didn't receive a single Outstanding in my exams; I managed to get Potions only because of Snape's extra tutoring. There was no way I was picked because of my academic history it was another way for him to lord it over you" said Ron a disgusted look on his face.

"You did it last year" Harry pointed out confused.

"Yeah well I'm a brother now gotta put him first!" said Ron proudly.

Harry snickered softly feeling a warm glow in his stomach that had nothing to do with the baby this time.

"So no doubt Hermione is one of them, I wonder who was picked to replace you" said Harry after eating a long snake sweet.

"I know they are welcome to Hermione she's insane" grunted Ron.

"Who will be head boy you reckon?" asked Harry curiously.

"Dunno id become one for the bathroom alone, Percy absolutely loved being Head boy for that simply reason" said Ron dreamily.

"Hm…good idea" said Harry.

"What do you mean?" asked Ron curiously.

"Just thinking it would be a good thing having your own room all year…what's the bet he gives me it to make me 'more like my father'" the last part was said very sarcastically.

"You know what Harry? I think you're right" nodded Ron it was something Dumbledore would do.

Before long they were coming off the train onto the Thestrals drawn carriages which Harry petted before getting on. It wasn't long before the beautiful Hogwarts castle came into view and welcoming them. It was always nice and warm no matter what weather was on the outside. They took their normal seats; Hermione was missing from the table so far so it made them all the happier.

"Oh boy Dumbledore looks furious" said Ron staring at Harry trying to stop the smirk from slipping on his face.

"Has he looked at you or is it the money?" smirked Harry quietly so no one else could overhear them.

"Money" nodded Ron.

Harry couldn't help himself he smirked despite his best efforts.

It came of no surprise that Harry was demanded up in the headmaster's office after dinner. Both Severus and Ron were concerned for him, but Severus just gestured to his neck. Severus had given him a Portkey that would take him straight to Severus in case anything happened. Thankfully no one was paying attention to Severus other than Ron and Harry, discreetly obviously.

"Come Harry" said Dumbledore joyfully as usual.

The trip to the headmaster's office was in silence, broken only by their feet on the ground. Before long they entered the headmaster's office which was the same as always. Just missing a few big trinkets that Harry had broken in his furious tantrum at the end of his fifth year.

"Sit sit" said Dumbledore when Harry never said anything.

"Lemon Drop?" beamed Dumbledore once he was seated behind his big chair.

"No thank you" said Harry not even attempting to put sir or Headmaster at the end of the sentence.

"Is everything alright Harry? Nothing you want to tell me?" asked Dumbledore his twinkle noticeably absent.

"Nope" frowned Harry, the nerve of the old fool, nothing he wanted to tell him indeed. When it was Dumbledore who had been stealing from him for years.

"Care to tell me how you became emancipated?" asked Dumbledore shaking his head in sadness and distress.

"I signed my name on a little piece of paper that emancipated me" said Harry bluntly.

"Why?" said Dumbledore hiding his fury at the insolence of the boy.

"Because it's what I wanted," said Harry honestly.

"You are only sixteen Mr. Potter and I'm afraid that is too young," said Dumbledore sadly "Which is why you must return to the Dursley's after Hogwarts finishes for the year."

"Em-an-ci-pat-ed" enunciated Harry smugly.

"I'm afraid it will be overthrown and if I have to I shall gain temporary custody of you" said Dumbledore "It's for your own good"

"It won't happen. I'm emancipated and I've also gone through the blood rite bond which makes me a Weasley-Potter. If you force your hand that's where I will be going you cannot destroy that kind of bond" said Harry standing up not caring for Dumbledore's demanding him to get back in. he walked out and went to his dorm sick and tired of Dumbledore's constant scheming.

Harry watched the map for the longest time, watching Severus doing his rounds around the castle. Then checking on his snakes before retiring to his quarters, only then did Harry put on his invisibility cloak and begin sneaking away. He had to stop abruptly when he noticed Hermione's dot moving. Stopping breathing standing deadly still as she passed, exhaling in relief he made his way down to Severus' quarters.

MY goodness i had forgotten how OOC these characters are! do you like that? an ooc Snape? you must do or you wouldnt read it...i gotta get him more in character even if its just with everyone else bar when harry and ron are alone with him. so must do a potions class next! so ya all that Snape still has it! :) when will everyone find out he's pregnant? how will dumbledore react? fire a spell that ends up flung back at him? his baby protecting itself from harm? or will he use hermione to do it for him? will hermione stop going to him when she realizes' hes pennyliss or continue on as she meant to becuase of his reputation? will i add the horcrux's? him having a burnt hand a little later as in cannon it happened in the summer hols how about it happen within the next few chapters? what do you reckon? horcrux's or not? R&R please