Changes

By NicolaPadfoot

Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story-

Mrs.Sirius Black - I like your reviews and your enthusiasm keeps me happy and keeps me writing!!!

Princess Gin-Gin - My fic is pants compared to yours!!!!!! I have added yours to my favourites, it's sooooooo good. By the way, anyone who reads this, go and check out The Pheonix Ring, it is really cool

Scarlett*Eyes – Omg!! I didn't know I was even remotely funny, I didn't think i was even good at a little bit of humour. You have lifted my spirits!!!!!!!!! Thanx for your review, it was really great!

Mrs Grim – Thanks, i loved the fact that you put quotes in your review, good idea!! Let's me know what you like, also, in England pants mean underwear. Sorry if you already know this but that's the definition I meant!!! Thanks!!

Rini – Thanx 4 the review, and i have to ask u somethin. When is your next chapter up!!!!!!!!!????????? That's great appreciation of your story.....: )

Shayla – I love your review, in this chapter there is a bit of suspense between Serena and Sirius, but you mite have to wait a while before anything serious happens. Also thank you for saying my story was addictive, I now happen to love you.....but not in that way! Thanx!!!

And Last But Not Least HERACLAS – Sorry but you are like my favourite reviewer, and you love orlando bloom. I also love Elijah by the way, he is well hot. If you get with Elijah and I get with Orlando we could have a double wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cough cough.... anyway, your review was the best one I have ever had, thank you so much!! Can I just say I have never eaten a Dill Pickle.....sounds nice!!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, so please don't sue me!!!!!!!!!! I don't have any money anyway!

5. Announcements and Potions

The horseless carriage was waiting outside the station ready to take them to their destination, the beautiful Hogwarts castle. To the surprise of all the pupils Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were waiting to greet them at Hogsmeade Station.

"Come on, everybody hurry up, we haven't got all day you know," shouted Professor McGonagall, "Professor Dumbledore wishes to make an important announcement to you all!"

Serena was sure that (after recognising who she was) McGonagall had given her a sympathetic stare; she suddenly became very nervous. The journey to Hogwarts was a loud one; everyone was trying to guess what Dumbledore was going to tell the school.

"I bet there's going to be some sort of tournament, like the Triwizard cup!" Sirius said, getting very excited.

"I don't think that's likely," Lily said in a superior tone of voice, " It was banned ages ago because people were starting to get killed."

Sirius muttered something which sounded distinctly like 'Miss Know It All'. Lily gave him a dirty look.

Serena sat silent for the journey to the castle, she couldn't help feeling that the announcement had something to do with her, the stare that McGonagall had given her was not a trademark McGonagall stare. There was something wrong and Serena had a strong suspicion that it had to do with a member of her immediate family. She couldn't voice these suspicions though because only Lily knew who her father really was. The other friends just thought that Lord Voldemort had killed Serena's parents, when he first started to rise to power. Dumbledore said this was the best story because every time Voldemort's name is mentioned (of lack of name as it were) Serena would start to get jumpy and nervous. Lily noticed that something was wrong with Serena.

"What's wrong?" asked Lily in a low voice.

"I'll tell you later," Serena got out of the carriage, her fingers crossed as she looked at the black twinkling sky.

The Great Hall was as beautiful as ever, the ceiling was identical to the one outside, it's enchanting beauty made Serena sit down forgetting about her worries for a moment. She looked around the four house tables, 'this is where I belong' she thought to herself. The first years then trundled into the hall, looking extremely nervous, Serena remembered fondly the time when she and Lily were in the same state, Serena had remembered what the hat had said to her when she had put it on her head.

"My, you're a clever young lady, should we put you in Ravenclaw? No I don't think so. You're a descendant of Slytherin I see. You don't belong in there though. Hufflepuff is not an option. You are brave I'll give you that, yes that's my final choice, you'll find your kind in GRYFFINDOR!"

Serena was so happy when the Hat said that she didn't belong in Slytherin, it meant that she was not like her father. Professor McGonagall then brought out the old sorting hat, after a minute of silence the hat started to sing.

I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,

The clev'rest of them all,

I'll tell you where you ought to be,

Short fat or tall!

GRYFFINDOR!

SLYTHERIN!

HUFFLEPUFF!

RAVENCLAW!

All are noble and strong,

But from you each wants different things,

As I'll tell you in this song.

Gryffindor prizes bravery,

That's lasting, long, and true,

They love a daring youngster,

Could that youngster be you?

Slytherin are cunning and bold,

They long to reach for the sky,

They like a shrewd sort of pupil

They might give you a try

Hufflepuffs are loyal and kind,

They're fun and trusting too,

They admire a child of truth

Who'll smile the whole day through

Ravenclaw are a clever sort,

With minds that are strong and bright,

They adore a youth with wit,

Who'll always get things right.

So put me on your head,

And don't be scared or fearful,

I'm going to put you into your house,

Not give you an earful!

The hall erupted into a loud cheer, as Professor McGonagall stood up to read a long piece of parchment. After the sorting ceremony, Professor Dumbledore stood up and welcomed the school.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this year will be very different to any other you have had so far. As some of you may know already, Voldemort has blown up a small school in Ireland." Dumbledore gave Serena a small glance, she noticed that he had the same look of pity in his eyes as McGonagall, "So we have decided to take the children on until their school has been repaired. There will be one hundred and forty students here, twenty in each year group. I trust you will all be on your best behaviour with them, if I here any of you have been rude or nasty the consequences will not be good," Professor Dumbledore gave the hall a piercing stare, "They will arrive in a month. To celebrate their arrival we will have a ball in their honour on the 1st of October. Students under third year will wear their black robes, everyone else will wear dress robes, a Hogsmeade trip is scheduled for the 25th of this month."

Dumbledore then tapped his wand on the table and food appeared in front of them. Lily looked slightly downhearted.

"What's the matter Lily?" Serena asked, Lily glanced up at Serena with a sad look on her face.

"I wont be the only fiery red-head in our year anymore, my dad told me that most Irish women are red-heads, he told me that my Grandma was Irish and that was were I got my hair from."

Serena couldn't help laughing, "That's only a stereotype, not all Irish people are Ginger, my mum was half Irish and she was blond."

Serena thought Lily was quite clueless sometimes. Yes, she was very clever, but clueless all the same. After the magnificent feast, all the students in the hall trundled slowly off to bed. Lily was in, what looked like, deep conversation with James about the weather, Serena was sniggering silently behind her back, Lily could flirt for England. Serena was just wondering whether she could do that with her new found confidence when she received a tap on the shoulder, she turned around.

"Hi Sirius!" she said happily, her heart was going ten to the dozen.

"Hi, did you have a good summer then," he was flirting with her. For the first time ever she felt a stab of anger towards Sirius, he was talking to her as if he liked her. It wouldn't have been so bad if Serena didn't realise that he was only doing it because of her new found prettiness; she put on a face of dislike towards Sirius.

"Oh, suddenly noticed I was alive then did you?" she then turned on her heel and walked double speed towards the Fat Lady.

"You're looking a bit flushed there dear, are you okay?" asked the Fat Lady in a motherly tone of voice.

"Yes, I'm fine!" Serena snapped, "What's the new password?" she shouted this to a prefect down the corridor, who eyed her suspiciously for a moment, thinking she was from another house.

"Who are you?" asked the boy, for all he knew she could have been a Slytherin spy.

"I'm Serena Riddle," the prefect looked at her again, and then gasped in shock, Serena was getting sick of this reaction.

"Wow!" said the prefect, "the.. the passwords, Nimble Wimble," the prefect said his eyes falling out of his head.

"Nimble Wimble!" Serena shouted before climbing through the portrait hole, and storming up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

As she lay in her bed half an hour later she began to think about Sirius. A smile popped onto her face, the boy of her dreams had just flirted with her.

The next day was a Thursday, so unfortunately the students had to go to classes the next day. Down at the Gryffindor table Professor McGonagall was giving out the fifth year timetables. As she was about to give Serena hers she thought again and took Serena aside.

"Are you okay after last night?" Professor McGonagall had a stern appearance, but Serena knew she was an old softy at heart.

"Yes I'm fine, I was just a bit shocked, I didn't know anything about it, Professor," McGonagall smiled kindly at her.

"You were at Lily's for the Summer so I suppose you didn't hear much about the Wizarding world, if you ever need to talk, you do know my office door is always open, off you go then. Oh, and Serena, you look lovely."

Serena smiled at this, she liked Professor McGonagall, she saw past Serena's family background. As she sat down, Serena looked at her timetable.

"Oh no, Potions with the Slytherins first lesson," Serena said aloud.

"I don't know, I quite like Potions," Reemi said happily, eating some marmalade on toast.

"Yeah, but you're not going to get an earful from Narcissa and the rest of the Slytherins," Serena said, she shuddered. "I can already guess, 'Were you getting sick of being ugly, or were you just tired of not having any real friends?'" at this comment Sirius gave her a furtive glance, Serena gave him an apologetic one back. After an uneasy sort of silence (which James broke with a loud belch), the Gryffindors headed off towards the Potions Dungeon.

"Sorry about last night," Serena muttered to Sirius, "I was just a bit stressed after all the attention I got yesterday. I'm sorry I took it out on you, it was unfair of me," she looked up at him waiting for a reply, Sirius then noticed her eyes.

"Your eyes are, different," Sirius looked into eyes, this made Serena shudder.

"Er... yeah, another of Lily's ideas," Serena thought that if he looked at her for any longer she might pass out, "Shouldn't we get going, we'll be late if we don't hurry up," Serena then grabbed his cloak and they made their way down the corridor. Luckily they weren't late, the class was still lined up outside the Potions door.

"In you go," shouted Professor Corisant. Corisant was a cheerful old lady and she was the head of Ravenclaw house.

As the students took their seats the old Professor began to take a register. She always made the children put their hands up in the register, telling them that her memory wasn't as good as it used to be, and she sometimes needed a little reminder of who was who. She began shouting names.

"Sirius, Remus, Peter, James, and Lucas," all the boys answered their names, to everyone's surprise, politely. "Reemi, Penny, Lily, Serena, and Alaine," the girls mumbled their answers quietly, Narcissa gave Serena a death stare. Serena got a lurching feeling in her stomach. She had a feeling that Narcissa was going to give her pure hell every time they met. Corisant continued with the Slytherin Register.

"Herman, Lance, Marcus, Severus, and Dreaton," they gave their answers in somewhat angry sneers, Professor Corisant noticed this. "Cheer up boys, it wouldn't hurt to crack a smile one of these days," the boys got more angered at this, the Professor chose to ignore them this time. "Meana, Rachel, Narcissa, Caterina, and Ellen." The girls answered the professor.

"Right, now we have that sorted, lets get back to the lesson," said the Professor, "Today we will be planning a complex potion called 'Felsiolapere Nempenta Marose Puchanta', or as most people call it, the Emotion Potion. This potion makes you display a certain emotion on a person. You will choose your emotion at random from a bag. I will choose your partners for you to display the emotion on. The Potion takes about a month to make, so we will be doing a project about Emotion Potions.

"For example, if Lily and Remus were placed together and Lily chose the 'Anger' emotion out of the bag, she would be angry at him all day, the list of emotions are as follows," Professor said urging them to write it down. "Anger, Hate, Sympathy, Love, Shyness, Unhappiness, Fear, Lust, Grief and Disappointment. I will now put you in partners, boy girl. Lily is with Remus, Serena is with James, Reemi is with Lucas, Penny is with Sirius and Alaine is with Peter."

The Gryffindors didn't hear the Slytherin groups, they were to busy talking about their own. Sirius was laughing at Alaine, he was asking her what he would do if he got the love emotion with Peter. They both reddened at this, Serena came to their rescue.

"Peter is more of a gentleman than you are, Sirius," Serena said in an airy tone, "You wouldn't know what a gentleman was if it danced in front of you naked." Sirius seemed to take this as a challenge.

"I bet I could be gentlemanly for the rest of the day," said Sirius.

"What do you propose we bet?" said Serena, "I don't really have money to throw away."

"If I win, you have to sing at my birthday party in the common room, that's the 16th September if you didn't know," how could she not know?

"I agree, but if I win, you have to ask Narcissa to the dance, stand her up, and then go with Beatrice Grundig instead." Everyone gasped. Beatrice Grundig was a really ugly Ravenclaw, who doted on Sirius' every word. Serena knew that he wouldn't want to be seen anywhere near Beatrice.

"But she smells," said Sirius angrily, "Oh, alright then, deal." The two Gryffindors shook hands. Serena felt a tingle go through her whole body.

The bell then signalled for them to go to their next lesson, Narcissa shoved past Serena knocking her to the ground. Remus and Sirius helped her up. Lily's face turned sour, she was about to say something, but surprisingly Serena beat her to it.

"Watch were you're going, you spoilt cow!" Serena spat. Lily looked at her as if she was going to laugh. Narcissa turned slowly on the spot, her eyes glaring with anger.

"What did you just call me?" she whispered.

"You heard," Serena said, "and I'd watch were I was going in future, you don't want to get on the wrong side of anyone, do you now."

"I wouldn't pick a fight with me Serena, you'll only lose," Narcissa said spitefully, "It would be a shame to get bruises all over that pretty little face of yours." At this she stormed out of the classroom, followed by her Slytherin friends. Lily looked at Serena in disbelief as she stormed off to her next class.

"What's got into her?" laughed Lily.

"I don't know," James said.

I hope you liked this chapter, the next one should be up soonish. I have already written a lot, but I have writers block, and I don't want to end up posting all of it and then realising I don't know what's coming next, anyway...... PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!! It means a lot to me!