Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

By: Krystal Lily Potter

Chapter Twenty Four: Changes in Friends

Rating: PG-13 (more on the AA side)

Couples: HP/HG, DT/LB, PP/SF, LL/NL, DT/GW, LB/RW, LL/RW, HP/CC

Summary: As Harry and his friends enter their sixth year at Hogwarts they don't enter the cheerful world they left behind. They enter a world covered in a thick blanket of fear. It only hits Harry how important he really is when people start seeing him as the light that allows them to see under this blanket. Along with his friend he must battle the horrors of the past, present, and possible the future to begin the end of the war, hopefully before it hits Hogwarts. What happens when people start disappearing from under Dumbledore's protection, and one of the famous 'trio' disappears? It's up to the last two, plus some more friends, to find a way to save all the people that disappeared because they can't fight this war on their own...

Warning: Dark themes will be mentioned a lot and if worst comes to worst I'll rate this R because of that. There's swearing, mentions of suicide, murder, rape, gore/bloody scenes, and other dark things like that...honestly though it's not as dark as I make it sound...

The news about another attack spread around the school before Christmas date even ended and people suddenly got extremely nervous again. They had learned at whatever was attacking students was only targeting certain people.

When Christmas break had come to an end Harry and Ron were glad Hermione had made them finish their work before, although Ron would never admit it, Harry seemed to think he had to.

Never in Hogwarts had anyone inspired such a quote of truth as Hermione did when she had stated the words 'gossip travels faster around here then STD's do in New York city'. Along with the news about the group of students that were taken this time the news that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were (finally, in many cases) dating.

There was many disappointed people, some for jealousy reasons (ex: Cho Chang), some people seemed to take it as both disgusting yet an amazing way to bug them (ex: Draco Malfoy), many people were relieved because it was annoying them that they weren't together yet acted like it (ex: Padma Patil) and everyone else had bets going on about when they'd get together or if it would be Hermione/Ron or Hermione/Harry. The people that had bet for Hermione and Ron to get together were all going around groaning about losing their money while the people that betted on Hermione and Harry getting together all had large smiles on their faces and pockets of gold jingling as they walked. They would say something along the lines of 'it was so obvious, I can't believe you didn't see it' to other people.

But their lives weren't spared for even a minute, the week after they returned to their classes Katie Bell made her Quidditch team practice as hard as they could. Apparently they hadn't beaten Hufflepuff by enough points at the last match. That didn't mean they couldn't discuss other things while they were at practice though. They also talked about the attacks that had been happening around the school.

"Maybe it's just at random," Katie suggested one day while the Quidditch team did stretches.

"I highly doubt it," Harry replied and winced as he accidentally cracked one of his fingers then stood up straight.

"I don't see why we have to stretch AFTER practice," Ron groaned angrily.

"Because we'll be more flexible," Katie replied briskly. "Imagine what would have happened if you wouldn't have been able to bend out of the way of that bludger in the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff Ron?"

"I would have gone through the hoops instead," Ron replied with a shrug.

"Wonder how many points that would have been worth?" Tessa asked. "The Keeper through the hoops..."

Everyone laughed as Ron shot her a glare.

"Anyways," she insisted. "I've never seen the school this empty, with people being pulled out all the time (not that many students didn't fight back against their parents now) and the people that disappeared not here the halls just seem so empty now."

"I know," everyone agreed.

Ron's stomach gave a huge rumble and the whole team went from morbid to insane laughing within less then 10 seconds.

Katie wiped tears of laughter out of her eyes and said, "The stomach as spoken, let's go get something to eat."

People started walking off but Harry saw Hermione in the stands and said to Ron, "I'll see ya later ok?"

"Sure," Ron said with a shrug. "I promised Lavender I'd meet her for lunch anyways."

The two friends parted ways and Harry flew up to where Hermione sat, to lazy to take the stairs.

"Hey," she said happily and put down the book she had been reading.

His eyes followed the book and a smirk grew on his face as he said, "Come on."

"Where are we going?" she asked curious and went to pick up the book but Harry grabbed her hand and said, "Leave it." He quickly took off his heavy Quidditch gear and put it beside Hermione's things, leaving only his team robes on.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, always the inquisitive one. "I'm going to take you flying," Harry insisted as he hopped back on his broom.

A look of horror past over her face and she backed away from him and said, "Oh, no, no, no." She stressed the last no more then the others.

"Aww come on," Harry says. "You know I won't let you fall."

"But I hate heights," Hermione replied.

"I know, but you flew when we had to get that magical key and when we had to fly Buckbeak to save...well you know...and on the Thestrals last year," he insisted.

"Well of course I did, we had to! But there's no need to fly right NOW!" she screamed the last part because Harry had grabbed her around the middle and pushed off into the air.

She gripped a hold of his laughing figure and refused to look at the ground. After he flew around the pitch a few times she dared to take a small peak, but didn't like what she saw. "Can we please go down? I really don't like it up here."

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes then said, "Fine, since you're being such a baby about it."

"I am not being a baby," she insisted although her voice didn't sound that confident about her statement.

"Sure," he said but went over to the stands and helped her off the broom then jumped down the stairs leading down.

"Come on then, let's get inside," he said, picking up his stray Quidditch gear. "Yeah," Hermione said while scooping her book into her arm and walking along beside him back towards the castle.

Harry was in the bloody corridor again. He hadn't been here for along time. Harry felt goose bumps arise on his arms and a cold shiver go up and down his spine. After his other self didn't show up Harry decided to see if he was allowed to go to other places in his dream.

He followed the bloody hallway, determined not to touch the gory, sickening walls. Finally he reached a door that, much to his delight, was made out of wood and iron, like a normal door would be.


Pushing it open he slowly walked in only to find himself into a circular chamber. There were tons of handcuffs chained to the wall, and many were filled with people. Some were groaning in pain, others were crying and sometimes someone would let out a blood chilling scream of help.

Harry closed his eyes quickly and felt like he as going to throw up. A terrible grew in his stomach.


Suddenly someone grabbed his arm roughly and he looked over quickly and saw somebody he recognized. His eyes widened and he said, "No...it can't be."


"Don't believe her Harry," the person said. "Don't believe her."

"Don't believe who?" he asked then a chilling, cold laugh fill the air.

"You tell us that Potter," the cold voice said and his other self appeared.

Harry stared at him coldly then looked back around the room again and his eyes widened as he realized who the people they were. The ones that had gone missing...

"YOU!" he yelled and turned back. "I knew it. You're in charge of those Devil Wolves or whatever they were. You're the one that's taking students."

"Nicely observed," Harry2 replied sarcastically and leaned against a wall.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Like I'll tell you," Harry2 sneered. "But I will give you a hint, you've looked at the reason more times this year then you realize, but never noticed it."

Harry was about to growl what that meant when a light appeared in front of him. That ghost appeared again and she said, "Harry you have to wake up now. This bastard is keeping you busy so Voldemort can attempt to creep into your mind."


"Voldemort?" Harry asked slowly then said. "Of course! The devil wolves are my other self's minions and Voldemort in the main one in charge!"

"That's right," she replied. "But the rest of the answers are more complicated then you'd realize...keep looking Harry and follow you're heart. It won't lead you wrong but you've been ignoring it lately."


"No I haven't," he said softly, now more comfortable since they appeared in front of the Hogwart's lake.

"Yes you have," she said clearly and stubbornly. "If you would have then he wouldn't have been able to block your mind about that vital thing you figured out."


Harry stared at her then said, "Thank Hermione hasn't been following her heart too."

"None of you have," she replied with a side sigh. Everything in Harry's vision went bright white then

Harry got up and was extremely confused, he had no clue what showing his emotions had to do with the other him capturing students.

His stomach suddenly felt sick and like it was twisting into a thin knot at the images of the people in the room. Then the vision of the blood in the jar and every little drop of blood he had seen all mixed together in front of his vision. He quickly jumped up from his bed and ran to the bathroom, where he lost all his supper, lunch and breakfast from the day before. Luckily he didn't wake any of his friends up.

Wiping a little bit of sweat off his face and flushing the toilet he stood up shakily, preparing for more images but none came.

Sighing he walked out of the bathroom and fell onto his bed then muttered, "I wonder what the thing I forgot was and I wonder what the reason is I've looked at a lot just recently."

Harry slowly fell back into a light sleep, tossing, turning and muttering things in his sleep. One of the things that stood out to anybody listening was the words, "I wish you were here mum, dad. I can't do this alone anymore..."

The castle was moving around in a quick pace on Saturday that week. Students were all muttering excitedly and looking around occasionally.

People cheered when both the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw Quidditch teams left the Great Hall to prepare for their match that day. Once they did people started making bets, a common practice with the students young and old.

"I think Ravenclaw's going to win," Ron said confidently.

"I dunno," Harry replied with a shrug. "I mean you've got to give Hufflepuff more credit, they're doing really good this year. Best team they've had since third year..." He trailed off slightly at the memory that not only had it been Cedric who beat him but it had been Sirius who scared him before the Dementors showed up.

Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and he smiled weakly at her. "Let's get going to the match."

"Yeah," she replied and the two stood up. Harry took her hand then looked at Ron and said, "Coming?"

"Yeah I'm just going to wait for Lavender, save us a seat ok?" he requested.

"Sure," they both said and headed towards the Quidditch pitch with a large group of other students.

They climbed up the part of the stands that was designed for the Gryffindors. Everyone around them was talking animatedly. The laughter that surrounded them made everything seem light and happy in the dark of current events.

Suddenly they saw Dean waving over to them from where he was, the teacher's box and he mouthed, 'come here.'

They moved through the icy stands and over to where Dean was and he said, "Come sit over here, it gets a little boring with only teachers here. Seamus, Parvati, Neville and Ginny are coming here too."

"Alright, as long as there's room for Ron and Lavender too," Hermione insisted.

"If there isn't we'll all crunch together, it's freezing out so it wouldn't bug me any," he said and took his seat. Soon Ron, Lavender, Ginny, Neville, Seamus and Parvati showed up. Dean watched as the players came onto the pitch before he started commenting.

"Alright let's get this show on the road. It's freezing so this game better go by fast, but it probably won't," he said as his voice magnified around the place. "Here's the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff match!"

"GO HUFFLEPUFF!" Harry yelled and his voice was slightly caught on the microphone so everyone heard a light echo of it and laughed.

A few Ravenclaws looked insulted but he just shrugged. It was more of a personal thing rather then which house he preferred.

The game started up quickly but seemed to drag on and on. Dean got too cold at one point of time so he got Harry to comment for him. Hermione tried but it just ruined the game. Harry was having a great time yelling out what happened but he often got scolded by McGonagall for taking sides.

"It's not that I don't like Ravenclaw," he insisted. "It's just that I don't like the Ravenclaw seeker." He got a few laughs, a few scowls and he heard McGonagall stifle her laugh into a rough cough.

This seemed to dishearten Cho at the least. Harry could almost tell that the Hufflepuffs loved him at that very moment. Soon both he and Dean were commenting at the same time, which even made McGonagall laugh at them. It was like when you listened to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon talk about the New York Yankees in baseball.

Hermione was shivering heavily now so Harry threw his arm around her and pulled her to his side but he continued talking on.

Ron watched his two friends and it soon hit him that they were changing. It could never just be the three of them without it getting really uncomfortable. He knew Harry and Hermione would never think of him as the third wheel but he himself would think that, as well as other people that saw them.

'I've always been the third wheel,' he thought suddenly. 'I just never realized it until now. Harry and Hermione were always together, especially since third year.'

Harry let out a loud yell of "YES" when the Hufflepuff seeker caught the snitch. "200-100 for Hufflepuff! YES!"

Hermione burst out laughing at his remarks and screamed lightly as he picked her up for a minute before setting her on the ground again.

Ron smiled at the two before taking Lavender's hand and walking down the stairs. Maybe change wasn't all that bad, they were still friends all in all and that's what was important.

Besides, he and Lavender had a double date planned with Harry and Hermione for the next Hogsmead weekend so it was still all good.

A young girl and a young boy sat down, laughing happily as they showed each other pictures of them before they came to Hogwarts. They were only third years and still full to the brim with life. Neither of them noticed the heavy breathing on the opposite side of the castle from them.

"Yeah and there's me with my grandparents," the girl said. "I'm going to see them this summer. When I told them I'd come they were so excited. I'm their only grandchild."

"Wow," the boy replied. Suddenly he heard a twig snap and he said, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" the girl replied and went silent as her companion silenced her with a wave of her hand. They both heard a crack of ice and a light animal growl.

The boy's eyes widened and he said, "Come on, we've gotta get inside...now."

The growl became even louder and more dangerous sounding.

"Oh my god," the girl said as they started running up the stairs to the castle.

Suddenly there was a great howl then both turned around and the young girl's terrified scream was heard even under the bottom of the lake.

"THIS SUCKS!" Lavender yelled as she stormed into the Gryffindor common room. Her dark blond hair whipped around her face as she threw herself on a scarlet coloured couch beside Ron.

It was supposed to be a Hogsmead weekend but there had been another attack and no one was allowed outside the castle. Rumour was that not only was there a lot of blood around but many of the hidden Aurors around the castle had been either fire or quit.

This didn't seem good all around.

Harry and Hermione looked up from the chair across from them. Harry was on the chair itself while Hermione was sitting horizontally on his lap, reading a book.

He let out a sigh and said, "I don't understand it. I can't make heads or tails of anything anymore. Too many things have happened and none of it makes sense anymore."

"Alright," Hermione said after a minute and closed her book. "We need to get everything together that we know so far."

"Like what?" Lavender asked.

"Well for one Voldemort captured Ron's family but didn't hurt them. He wanted us distracted from what was happening here at Hogwarts," Hermione said.

"That makes sense now that I think about it," Ron said.

"Harry you wrote something about 'the elements inside' and 'defence'," Hermione said.

"Right and then you wrote 'Half Blood Prince', 'blood', 'raw magic', 'defence ruin', 'copies', 'inner animal', 'the elements inside'," Harry said slowly.

"Then that James kid says there was a reason he wasn't kill," Ron added in, understanding where they were going.

"Harry was sent the blood of all the captured people," Lavender piped up.

Harry placed his chin on the top of Hermione's head and tightened his grip around her waste as he went into deep thought.

When it came down to the line everything added up to Voldemort. It always came down to him, no matter what happened.

He could hear Ron, Hermione and Lavender talking but he wasn't really paying attention.

"Half Blood Prince," he thought. "Half Blood Prince, Half Blood Prince..."

"Half Blood Prince," he muttered out loud and closed his eyes tightly.

Hermione let out a great gasp suddenly, causing everyone to look at her. Harry loosened his grip and said, "I wasn't holding to tight was I?"

"No, it's not that," Hermione breathed out. There was an air of excitement around her and her eyes seemed to have brightened up.

"I know that look," her boyfriend said. "The library...right?"

"NOOOO!" Ron yelled out dramatically, causing everyone in the common room to look at him oddly. His ears turned a bright pink and he said in a normal voice, "Do we have to go to the library Hermione?"

"No you don't," she snapped at him, narrowing her dark brown eyes. "But I am. I've just realized something..."

This felt very familiar to Harry. This was similar to what she had said in second year before she ran off to the library to check information on the basilisk.

"I'll come with you," he said. "You can't be to careful."

Hermione smiled warmly at him then said, "Let's go, we don't have much time."

Harry and Hermione were quickly walking down the hallway. They were taking a shortcut pass the Teacher's Lounge when they heard angry voices.

"The Ministry's stood by for too long around Dumbledore," Cornilius Fudge could be heard yelling. "We've decided it's time to close the school."

"You can't!" McGonagall shrieked back.

"There's more danger in the outside world then there is in Hogwarts," Dumbledore's voice was heard. "If we sent them back then they will most likely die, especially without the proper training."

"This is absurd!" Fudge yelled.

"Harry no," Hermione hissed but it was useless as he angrily grabbed the doorknob, turned it then threw the door open. She groaned lightly and looked in the doorway as her boyfriend stomped into the room, with many surprised looking adults staring at him.

"You have no right to say anything about this war at all anymore Fudge," he growled. "If you believed us a year ago then maybe you could but not anymore! Even if you tell the students to leave I can guarantee that many would remain here. We don't want to leave and you can't make us."

There was along, shocked pause then Fudge said, "What gives you a right to say that Mr. Potter?" He actually spat when he said Harry's surname.

"What gives me a right to say this? Because I am a student! I hear what people say more then you do! If you send us back you're condemning us to death," Harry said, his voice dropping dangerously. "I've been through hell and back in this school, yes, but it's my home and I won't abandon it. I'd go through the challenges in front of the philosopher's stone, be bitten by a basilisk, run from a werewolf, watch Voldemort rise again, and watch my godfather die again then quit now." He had choked out those last two because they had been hard for him to think, let alone say.

"Potter, as much as I hate to admit it, is right," Snape said coldly. "If you send the students back now you seal their fates. We can protect them much better here."

"You know Fudge," Harry said, cutting the elder wizard off before he could barely open his mouth. "I think it's time you retired...before you're thrown out. You're not going to last more then a month tops if you don't."

Fudge stared at him and said, "Is that a threat Potter?"

"No," Hermione snapped and walked between Harry and Fudge. "It's a promise."

Harry stared at them all coldly then he turned around and lightly pushed Hermione out of the room before saying, "Quit while you're ahead Fudge and Dumbledore, soon you're going to have to make that decision too." With that he slammed the door shut, leaving all the stunned staff standing there.

In the corner of the staff room someone growled lightly and said in a harsh voice, "The Dark Lord will not like these new events at all...no not one bit..."

Author's Babbling

This chapter was a little shorter then most because there was nothing else for me to put in here.

I can't wait! My friend and I are going to see The Grudge tomorrow and people tell me it's scarier then The Ring and that one made me sleep with the TVs on for about 5 months so I could hear what was on them!

Should be fun...my friends are gonna make so much fun of me because I am a major wimp!

Stayed tuned for the next chapter because as you saw Harry and Hermione were hearding to the library...that only means one thing...

A lot of things will be explained next chapter!

Anyways onto the reviews! Thank you to everyone who reviewed! This story is written for all of ya!

Destined Enchantress – Honestly I'm not really big on Romance, I prefer more mystery, action, and adventure but there are small bits of it.

Holimontski – EXACTLY! If I keep having a beta I won't learn from my mistakes! Yeah, I wish all I could do is write though. My school work is hard, I'm in grade 10 with an advanced math class and taking a university course (I'm serious...I hate it...)

Quicksilver420 – No actually I've never seen them. I'm the biggest wimp ever like I mentioned so I doubt that I will...the Ring scared me so bad...

Shawn Pickett – Yup just a long spiral down! Remember though things can only go so far to one extreme before it starts heading to the other...

Athenakitty – Damn straight he doesn't. Cho's in 7th year. Parvati...nah...she's great to have around in case you do need to get something around...

CastusAlbusCor – Yeah, actually that was only a little bit of gore compared to what I can stand. Like in Gangs of New York...there was pretty much a blood river...

Carn – Great to know my story comes first. LMAO! I'm just kidden...

Amity-Star – I don't know...school certificates are a big thing? Wow...I've got like 50 of them from fifth grade and up...OH! That's what you meant...I'm not big on romance...

Shinji-Higurashi – Thank you

Hpfanchrissy1502 – LMAO! Read that review over again. The identity of the HBP will be revealed in the next chapter...

Aqua Mage – Thank you

Lady Luck13 – wait til next chapter....

Nicky Potter – Ummm yes? I can't blame you, I don't like logging in all the time too. I hate it but I still wrote it. LMAO! Too much Scooby Doo for you...but no it's not Flich!

Idiot with reason – yeah, a lot of death. Don't worry I won't tell on ya! Who really cares anyway? Go read NC-17 is ya want! LOL! You're only 13 now? Wow I thought you were older. I remember when I turned 13 everyone was still talking about 9/11...

UlimateHPFreak – Thank you!

Johnmenefee21 – Yup, everyone's just plain screwed. LMAO! Well there has to be a little bit of light, other wise there would be no seventh year...if there is one...

Drake Smythe – Thank you

Ginny-cry – AHHH! LMAO! Thanks for reviewing

Schnuff – the answer to that is in the next chapter

Gorav1 – wait til next chapter to get the answers

Cheyanne – I know eh (chapter 5)

SlytherinHeart – Yeah but all mysteries have answers

BlondeAmbition – That's what I'm hoping it'll do

GothicBlackRose – I don't care if people think I'm a bitch...I know I'm one...and proud of it! (Don't ask...)

WIZ1 – thank you!

Please R&R. Be nice but give me your opinion, whether it's good or bad!

Krystal Lily Potter