Changes By Nicola_Padfoot

Authors Note: Thank you so much to everybody who reviewed. I didn't get any flames! OMG! Sorry this took so long to put up but the truth is, I forgot about it. I have rolled two of my chapters into one here because some people said it was too short in their reviews. Again, thank you so much for reviewing. To the person who was wondering which year they were in, I think it says it in this chapter. But if it doesn't, they're in fifth year, or they are going into fifth year, should I say. See ya babez!!!!

2. Lily's House & Diagon Alley

            The journey to Lily's house was an eventful one. Lily seemed to forget about her earlier arguments with Narcissa, she was now telling her parents what a great year it had been, and how she'd done in her exams. Lily's parents were listening with rapt attention. Serena looked longingly at Lily's parents. She would have given anything now to be in Lily's shoes, telling her parents what her year had been like, and how she and Lily had received top marks in almost every class except for Transfiguration, were both James and Sirius got 100%. Lily's parents were very pleasant to Serena, they enquired about her year too. Serena felt stupid for thinking it, but this made her feel quite special

            When they arrived at Lily's house Lily took Serena straight up to her bedroom. Serena had never seen one so beautiful. The walls were a dark red colour, the floor was wood stained with a high shine finish. The furnishings around were a deep mahogany, so was her four poster bed. Serena liked this room, it reminded her of Hogwarts. When they had finished unpacking, they got dressed into some nice clothes to go to Lily's favourite restaurant, Chez Jacqueline's. Half an hour later they were in the restaurant enjoying the most sumptuous meal Serena had ever eaten. Lily was the first to strike up conversation.

            "So where is Petunia? If my memory serves me right she used to love this restaurant," Lily knew very well that Petunia wasn't there because she couldn't stand to be near Lily, she classed her as abnormal. She just wanted to hear what her sisters excuse was this time.

            "She said she was sorry she couldn't be here darling," her mother was lying through the skin of her teeth, "she had to er... go and visit a friend in er... hospital."

            "Oh no," Lily whispered, pretending to be shocked, she knew fine well that there was no friend in hospital, "Who was it? What happened?"

            "It was a girl you don't know dear," her father said, he was shifting uncomfortably in his chair, "She fell, er... concussion I expect."

            "I'll have to tell Petunia to send my get wells," Lily said in a concerned voice, Serena noticed she was quite a good actress.

            "NO!" shouted Mr Evans, "Er... I mean to say er... she'll be upset, yes that's right, she's upset, you don't want to go upsetting her now, do you?" Mr Evans asked nervously.

            "Course not Dad I wouldn't dream of it, now what's for dessert?" Lily grinned to herself. Why couldn't they just tell her the truth?

            After dessert the Evans family and Serena went home, without another word about Petunia. Mrs Evans insisted that because it was late and the girls had had a very tiring day that they must sleep in separate rooms, she didn't want them chatting till the early hours of the morning. Serena was glad of this because she was so tired, she didn't think she could talk until the early hours of the morning. Serena climbed into the soft warm bed and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

            "Wakey, wakey, we haven't got all day you know!" Lily shouted into Serena's ear.

            "What? Where are we going? It's eight o'clock in the morning, we should be in bed for at least another three hours," moaned Serena.

            "I want you to meet my sister, she's only in the next room," she saw the sour look on Serena's face, "What can I say, I'm a morning person!"

            "Well I'm not!" Serena pulled her pillow over her ears to muffle Lily's loud voice.

            All of a sudden Serena felt herself being pulled out of her warm and comfortable bed, and dragged down the hall into a pink bedroom with pictures of what looked like muggle rockstars all over the wall.

"Hey Petunia, what ya doin'," said Lily in a 'would be happy and smiley' tone of voice. Serena could see Petunia grinding her teeth.

            "Nothing that involves you, freak. Now get out of my room before I tell the whole street what you are, then they can burn you at the stake." Petunia shrieked rattling the windows, her grey eyes were stone cold. Serena couldn't help but notice how muggle Petunia's surroundings were. There was no mysterious feel to her room like there was in Lily's. The walls were pink with flowers on. So were the curtains, the bedspread, the lamp, even the rug on the floor. The room was boring, much like Petunia's appearance. She had dirty blond hair, unlike Lily's fiery red head. Her eyes had no twinkle or shine in them. She was very tall and very skinny; she looked like an insect. Like Professor Trelawny at Hogwarts. Serena thought she looked runty, but maybe that was because she didn't like her.

            "We'll be off then, my darling sister love," Lily loved winding Petunia up. That way she got her back for all the nasty comments she made.

            Lily and Serena left the room laughing at Petunia's twisted and angry face. She looked like she'd swallowed a lemon.

            Serena had been at the Evan's house for two weeks and she was having the time of her life. She'd been to Discos, the cinema, swimming, village fairs the list was endless. Then on July 31st, Lily and Serena received their letters from Hogwarts with their supply lists attached onto the back.

            "So, when are we going to Diagon Alley?" asked Serena.

            "Actually, we're going tomorrow," Lily said with a sly grin on her face, "I'm giving you your surprise!"

            "Oh no, I forgot about that," Serena groaned, "Spill then, what you gonna do, and don't give me that look...SPILL!"

            "You'll find out in good time, Serena, but I'm telling you this. You are going to love it!" said Lily, she was getting all excited. "I would if I was in your shoes!"

            "You know what? I have a very bad feeling about this," Serena could feel her stomach doing somersaults. Lily's idea of what was good for Serena was probably a great deal different from her own.

Early next morning Serena and Lily arrived at Diagon Alley, ready to buy all their school supplies, and to find out what Lily had in store for Serena. Lily decided to get all their supplies before Serena's surprise. Their first stop was at Flourish & Blotts, the local bookshop.

            "Okay, what have we got on the list this year?" Lily said in an organised fashion.

            "We have, The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 5) by Miranda Goshawk," Serena said.

            "Check!"

            "An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch," Serena said.

            "Er...wait a minute, it's right at the top," Lily stretched as far as she could reach and finally managed to grab two copies of the book, "There we go!"

"O.W.L's, the Perfect Revision Guide by Kinston Joberry," said Serena.

            "Wait a minute, they're on the other side of the shop," Lily sprinted to the other side of the shop, and was back within ten seconds, "Check!" panted Lily.

            "Only one more to go, When Potions Turn Bad By Annabelle Snape,"

            "Aha, Check!" shouted Lily.

Once out of the shop the girls headed off to the Apothecary's, to get the potions supplies that they were running low on. Serena then dragged Lily off to the Magical Menagerie.

            "I've wanted a pet for absolutely ages, but I'm unsure on what to get. What do you think?" asked Serena.

            "I would probably say an owl, but they're really expensive, why don't you go for traditional witch style and get a black cat!" Lily said.

            "I like that idea, I've always had a thing for cats, lets ask the woman at the counter." said Serena excitedly, as she walked up to the assistant. "Excuse me, do you have any black kittens in stock, preferably magical?"

            "Yes, we've just had a litter been born, looks like it's your lucky day," said the young woman in a friendly voice, as she lead them into a back room. "They were born two weeks ago, lovely things they are. They have a brand of speaking magic, but they only speak to their owner. You can tell them your secrets, and they won't say a word. Just like dogs, they're very loyal animals."

            The kittens were beautiful. Although they were only two weeks old, they had long fluffy black fur. They were all very boisterous... well except for one. A lone black kitten was sat in the corner crying. The assistant noticed that Serena was looking at the crying black kitten.

            "Taken a shine to it have you?" said the lady seeing the look in Serena's eyes, "Yes, she is very beautiful. Shame she's so unhappy. She was like that as soon as she was born."

            "How much is she please?" Serena was aching to have this kitten.

            "She's 5 galleons, bargain I would say."

            "So would I," said Serena affectionately, "I'll take her, by the way, does she have a name?" Serena asked.

            "Yes she does, she's called Forna. You can change it of course, but I think it suits her, don't you?"

            "Yes, it does."

After their trip to the Magical Menagerie, the girls went to the leaky cauldron for a cold butter beer; it was too warm outside to get a hot one.

            "What else have we got left to get?" asked Serena in an exhausted voice.

            "We have to get school robes, dress robes and your surprise," Lily said with that twinkle in her eye, which was becoming familiar to Serena now.

            "Can you please just tell me what it is, don't you think I've waited for long enough?" Serena said, her voice full of impatience.

            "Well, all right then, but you must promise not to shout, because you might not like it at first," Lily waited for her nod of agreement, which came, eventually. "Now, you know that everyone in Gryffindor thinks you're a great person and everything." Lily said quickly.

            "Stop it Lily, your making me blush," Serena said in a sarcastic tone.

            "Well all the girls, as you well know, talk about how pretty you are, and how the boys are just to blind to notice" Lily said, she was starting to get very excited, "I also know how confident you could be, if people saw you for what you really were. The funny, pretty, clever and confident Serena. The one who has the potential to be the most popular girl in school!"

            At this Serena couldn't help herself, she burst into a loud cackle that made the whole bar turn around.

            "Where are you going with this Lily, if you make me laugh anymore I'll wet myself, me the most popular person in school. What, is this a school for me and Pettigrew?"

            "Stop trying to be funny Serena," Lily said sternly.

            "Sorry Lily, but I still don't know what you're getting at," said Serena with an amused look on her face.

            "Well, in short, I'm going to give you everything you have ever wanted. Popularity, good looks, confidence and romance, whilst still being clever.

            Serena had started to become more interested.

            "How?"

            "I'm going to give you a complete make-over, here, today in Diagon Alley," Lily whispered.

            "So what you mean to say is that I'm ugly, and the only way I could be popular would be to change my image," Serena said angrily.

            "No I don't mean that. I mean that you are already pretty, as all the girls say, but I just want to help you out so I can give you the confidence to be who you are in front of everyone else. Not just me and Remus."

            "Remus and I."

            "I want everyone to see how talented you are, and how loud and annoying," Lily said as an after thought, "All I want is to help you out of your shell. At least let me try?"

            Serena was mulling it over inside her mind. Lily was ready and willing to give her everything she wanted. She was handing her popularity on a plate. She could just imagine walking into the Great Hall, looking and feeling like everyone that she wanted to be. It didn't take her long to decide when she thought about the look Narcissa's face when she saw Serena looking pretty.

            "I'll do it!" said Serena, "On one condition though."

            "What's that?"

            "I get to set you up with James Potter!" Serena's face cracked into an evil grin, so did Lily's at the same time.

            "Deal!"