DISCLAIMER: JKR owns Harry Potter & Co. I am not JKR. Therefore, I do not own Harry Potter & Co.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Haven't totally decided yet, but I believe the name will be in the next chapter. So far I am thinking about:
Mock Locks-Thanks Shadowedhand

Metamorpha-mane-Sevati (suggested many variations of metamorphasis & mane)!

Hairball (would change from strands of hair to a gumball)-inspired by Arica, Princesss of Rivendell-she got me thinking about 'hairy/harry' variations w/ her suggestion of Colored Harry's

Feel free to 'vote' or write in more suggestions!!

Chapter 24 end of the world, er, first week

"Okay, guys" Harry said as they reached the entrance hall, "I'm going to try and see if I can talk to Moony before the feast starts."

"Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked, "What is he doing at Hogwarts?"

"Oh, please say that he's teaching again!" Ron pleaded.

"Maybe. I don't know. Professor Dumbledore wouldn't tell me who the DADA professor is this year, but he did say that Moony would be staying at the castle."

"That's it then," Ron said with a smile on his face. When Hermione and Harry looked at him, he explained, "He has to be the DADA professor. Why else would he be staying at Hogwart's during the school year?"

"With Professor Dumbledore, Ron, you can never tell." Hermione answered, she was well aware of his cryptic plans and words.

"Yeah, for all we know, he might be here to make sure that the headmaster never runs out of lemon drops." Harry continued. As they all laughed, Harry snuck through the crowd and made his way to the rooms Remus used over the summer.

"Harry? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the feast?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to see if you were back yet. I really need to talk to you when you have a chance."

"Okay, then, come on in for a minute." Opening the door so that Harry could enter, Remus asked, "Is this about Cybelle's journal?"

"Yeah. I tried owling you about a week ago, but the letter came back with Hedwig."

"I wasn't here. I'm sorry that I missed your letter. Do you want to set up some time to talk this week?"

"That will be fine." Harry said, dejectedly after a moment's pause.

"Harry? Is something wrong?"

"I guess I just really wanted to talk now. I haven't been able to talk about this with anyone since I found out. You are the only one that knows for sure about the adoption and Cybelle. There have been so many times I wanted to talk about this, that I almost told Ron & Hermione."

"Why didn't you? I'm sure that they will understand."

"Yeah, they probably would. But until I understand it, it's a little difficult explaining it to someone else."

"I can understand that. If you want to talk now, we can. You will probably end up missing the feast, though."

"That's okay, not much happens anyways. Is Dumbledore expecting you at the feast?"

"No," Remus replied. "I will be taking most of my meals in my room."

"Oh," Harry said, wondering if the werewolf was in the castle for reason's other than safety.

The two moved into the living area, as Remus told Harry, "Get comfortable, and remember, you can tell me anything."

And so Harry told him about what he had read in the journal. About how Cybelle's fiancé died, how a year later she discovered Harry's father's inability to care of him when his mom died, and how Cybelle adopted him and used 'Novo Visius Adoptio' with the blood of her fiance's brother and her own.

Remus just listened as Harry spoke. Outwardly he appeared calm and collected, inwardly, though, that was another story. The poor child had three mothers he couldn't remember. Three mothers, all of which had died within 15 months of each other, within the first 15 months of his life. Remus was sure that Sirius never expected anything like this when he wrote that initial letter Harry informing him of his adoption. No one could imagine this. An adoption within an adoption, Harry must be more confused than ever. Of course, he must also be heartbroken. If the journal didn't mention anything about his birth parents, then most lkely, Harry would never discover who they were.

"Harry," Remus said when he finally finished. "How are you doing?"

"Truthfully, Remus? I don't know. At times I can't believe this is all happening. Just when I begin to feel like a normal teenager, I remember everything that has happened in the last two months. I can't even imagine this as a plot in a movie, and yet, it's my life!" Harry said with a half-hearted laugh.

Remus didn't know what a 'movie' was and wasn't about to ask, since he didn't want to distract Harry from the topic at hand. "So, now what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I just don't know." Harry said as he shook his head. "I debated writing to the Swann's to tell them what I found out, but I wasn't sure if I should. I mean, they stopped talking to their daughter because they thought she became pregnant outside of marriage. I can't decide if they deserve to know the truth or not."

"That decision is up to you. If you ever want to discuss it with me, you just need to ask."

"Thanks. I figure that I have a week to decide what to tell Ron and Hermione. I promised them that I would tell them the first week of school. Of course, Hermione pretty much figured it out already."

"Not surprising. How long did it take her?"

"I think she pieced most of it together on my birthday, because of the 'Magic of Adoption' book, and all. I made a comment that pretty much told Hermione that I read the book. When I showed up at the burrow with blue eyes, she asked me about it. I didn't say anything other except that I couldn't talk about it yet."

"Are you going to tell them about both adoptions?"

"Yeah, might as well. Otherwise, they'll try to help me track down Cybelle's family. Both of them know how much I would like a family of my own and the opportunity to leave the Dursleys. Besides, Hermione might be able to help me find a way to explain my ever changing appearance to everyone. Plus with her detective and research skills, maybe she can see something that I missed in the journals to point me to my parents."

"Harry," Remus said with a cautioning tone. "I don't want you to get your hopes up, only to be disappointed again. If Cybelle didn't mention their names, then it's going to be pretty impossible to find them. Unfortunately, during the time that you were adopted, so many families were torn apart by Voldemort. Almost everyday, parents were left without children and children without parents. It would take years to track them all down. It would take ages just to come up with a list of all the broken families."

"I know Moony. But I have to at least try. Hope is all I have left. I can't ignore the fact that I might have a family out there, especially if there is a possibility that they might want me to be apart of their life."

"Double potions first thing Monday morning" Harry grumbled. "Welcome back to Hogwarts."

"It could be worse," Ron said, grinning since he wouldn't have to suffer through it.

"How?"

"It could just be Slytherin's and Gryffindor's in the class instead of a class with all four houses. And at least Hermione's there with you."

"True," Harry said, still a little nervous. He kind of liked the 'truce' that developed over the summer between himself and Snape. He had also realized that he actually enjoyed brewing potions, when no one was breathing down his neck or telling him how awful and hopeless he was at potions. Now however, he was worried that Snape would be the same 'greasy git' he has been for the last 5 years, deducting points and giving him detention every five minutes.

Hermione and Harry were seated at one of the work benches in the back of the room talking when they heard a voice behind them.

"If it isn't Scarhead and the Mudblood. I must say, I'm surprised to see you here, Potter. I expected you to get a 'T' on your potion OWL. Or maybe you did and the headmaster had to use his 'power' get his precious Golden Boy into this class."

Harry had to bite his tongue to keep from saying that Snape willingly made an exception for him after seeing his skills. Much as he would enjoy popping Malfoy's bubble, Harry knew that if he said that a) Snape would throw him out of his class, not just for knowing, but for repeating what he said and b) Malfoy would tell his dad, who would tell Voldemort who might then become suspicious of Snape.

Luckily the office door opened and a block robed figure walked into the room.

"Congratulations, you've been accepted into my NEWT potions class. Whether or not you will be here next year is up to you.

"Let's hope all of you are worthy of being in this class." Snap said as he looked around the room, his gaze gliding over Harry before stopping on some six year Hufflepuffs sitting behind Draco. "We will soon find out.

"You'll discover that my NEWT classes are structured a little differently. You are responsible for knowing all the material assigned, not just how the potion is brewed," Severus said with a glare at Harry. Harry cringed as he remembered how he did that for the Revealo potion over the summer, that won't be a mistake he would make again. "This includes the history and origin of the potion, as well as the different varieties. If I feel that you are not taking this class seriously, or if you are failing this class, your attendance will no longer be required or allowed. Since you made it this far, hopefully you will be able to brew your potions without endangering the lives of your classmates. I will be in the room at all times, but as NEWT potion students, I should not have to, nor will I babysit you. I will also not tolerate you sabotaging your classmates potions and putting everyone, myself included, in danger. You are sixth years, that juvenile behavior should be far behind you. If you have a question, a problem, or are unclear about something, it is your responsibility to ask me. I will not hover over your shoulder, watching your every move.

"Today's lesson is a review from last semester." With a wave of his want, note cards appeared at each desktop. "On those cards you will find the potions you are to brew this week. Begin."

As the class just stared at Snape, he pounded his fist on the desk to get their attention. "I said begin. Get your ingredients."

"So, what do we know about the new DADA professor?" Harry asked as they took their seats.

"Only that it's not Professor Lupin," Ron whined.

"Not much." Hermione said, ignoring Ron. "Just that her name is Wren Rivedy and she didn't attend Hogwart's."

"As long as she isn't another Umbridge, Lockhart or Quirrel. Or a death eater in disgui-" Harry's voice trailed off as the class room door closed.

"Good afternoon, class."

"Good afternoon, Professor Rivedy." The class stated back.

Rivedy looked surprised at this before smiling and saying, "You might not have learned much about Defense last year, but I see that you learned how to answer a professor."

"Yes, ma'am."

Rivedy smiled again.

"Now, I hate to do this to you on the first day of class, but" she continued, ignoring the groans, "I have no choice. Since there has been a different DADA teacher every year that you've attended Hogwart's, there has been no consistent record keeping. It appears as if some professors didn't even bother with records."

"Too busy trying to kill you, Harry," Ron whispered.

"Shh" Hermione whispered.

Harry thought he saw Rivedy hide another smile at Ron's comment, but dismissed it, since the professor didn't say anything to Ron about talking in class.

"Wands away." Rivedy said as the class groaned again at her words. They had heard that so often last year from Umbridge. "Books away as well." And with a flick of her wand, test papers appeared in front of each student. "No talking. You may begin."

At lunch on Friday, Harry and Hermione, as the only six year Gryffindor's taking potions, told everyone about the week in Snape's class.

"It has actually been quite enjoyable," Hermione said.

"For you, maybe, but what did Harry think about it?" Ron asked, knowing that Hermione even enjoys History of Magic.

"Actually, it was good." Harry said, ignoring the gasps of surprise. "Professor Snape left us on our own to do our work. He feels that as NEWT potion students he shouldn't have to walk us through things, so he doesn't hover over our shoulder. He mostly sits at his desk grading papers. It is up to us to go to him if we have a question or a problem. This way, it is our own responsibility whether we pass or fail."

"Why couldn't he have had that approach the last few years?" Neville grumbled as he banged his head on the table.

They all laughed at Neville's antics as Hermione said, "And except for a few glares at Harry on the first day, he's pretty much left Harry alone. Not a single insult or comment directed at him."

"What about Malfoy? Hasn't he tried anything?"

"No, well, nothing except a couple of remarks before class starts. Professor Snape said he wouldn't tolerate anyone sabotaging someone else's work and placing the class in danger. So far, no one has tried anything."

"No offense, Harry," Dean said. "But I'm still a little surprised that you got an 'O' in potions."

"Hmm," Harry said, not willing to lie, yet not wanting to explain about his potion's OWL score either. "I was surprised when I got into the class as well." Harry said, ignoring the pointed look from Hermione. He grinned and shrugged at her, as if to say, 'Hey, I didn't lie, I was surprised'.

"So," Ron said as they left the great hall, "Snape hasn't been mean at all?"

"Ron, you sound disappointed that Professor Snape isn't mean to Harry!"

"Not, disappointed. Just surprised. I figured there would be some things in this world that would never change. Snape hating all Gryffindor's and especially Harry was one of them. Even if he is being nicer," Ron continued, emphasizing the 'er', "I still don't think you should trust him, Harry."

"Ron, if he wanted to hurt me, he had plenty of opportunities over the summer. Trust me, he's really not that bad." Just lonely and missing his family, Harry finished silently.

"Humph" Ron said, dropping the subject. "So, school started and the first week's almost over. Are you going to tell us why you changed your appearance?"

"Ron!" Hermione scolded as she looked around the hallway, "We said we wouldn't p-"

"No, it's okay, Hermione. I said I would tell you and I will. Meet me in the Room of Requirement tomorrow after lunch."

"Okay, Harry." Hermione said as Ron nodded. "But only if you really want to tell us.

"I do." Harry said, before walking off to find Remus. Now he just had to decide if he was going to share the prophecy with them as well.

"Um, I need to tell you guys something," Harry said after he placed a silencing charm, an Imperturbable Charm and a locking charm on the room.

He looked at Ron and Hermione, before looking down at his feet. Slowly he began pacing around the room.

"I was adopted," Harry started to explain, when Ron interrupted.

"Blimey, Harry, that's great! I mean, you might be a little bit older than most kids are when they are adopted, but still! You've got a family now. So, who adopted you? Remus? It must have been. That's why he's staying in the castle and why you've met him for meals a couple of times this week, isn't it? No?" Ron said when Harry just looked at him, "Well, it wasn't my parents. They would love to adopt you, but they would have told us about it first. Please don't say it was Snape! Although that would explain why you are being so nice to him, but you wouldn't do that, even if it meant a family." At his last suggestion, Ron stood up and started pacing around the room. "Dumbledore!" Ron cried out as he snapped his fingers, "I always knew he liked you, but I didn't think he would adopt you. Merlin, the things we can get away with now."

"Ron! Hush!" Hermione said when Ron stopped for air; for she had seen the pleading look in Harry's eyes when he glanced in her direction. "I don't think that's what Harry meant."

"What do you mean, not what he meant?" Ron asked puzzled. "He said he was adopted!"

"Ron! Just let him finish. Harry, please continue."

"Er, yeah, um, okay." Harry said nervously as he resumed his pacing. "I was adopted by the Potter's when I was almost three months old."

"Oh!" Ron said, as he turned as red as his hair.

Hermione just looked at Harry, with a calming smile on her face, since this is what she expected.

Harry went on to explain about both of Sirius's letters, writing to Cybelle's parents, and their response. After hearing about the response from Cybelle's parents, Hermione and Ron jumped up. Both of them looked like they were ready to kill her parents for hurting him like that.

"Calm down," Harry said. "It's okay, it doesn't really matter. There's more."

"More?" Ron asked with a glance towards Hermione. "What else could there be?"

Hermione just looked at Ron and shrugged, asking Harry to continue.

"Well," Harry confessed, "I wasn't really reading a book on Flobberworms. That was Cybelle's journal that her parents sent me, Moony charmed it for me."

"Whew, mate, you had me worried about that this summer," Ron said with a giant sigh of relief.

Hermione shook her head as Harry explained about what he read in journal, discovering that he was adopted by her as well. He finished with "Cybelle was an auror and apparently my birth father wasn't able to raise a child, I suspect that it was because of the death of my birth mother, so Cybelle took me to Sweden and adopted me there."

"An adoption within an adoption." Hermione said, unknowingly echoing Remus's words.

"How does that explain why your appearance changed?" Ron asked.

"The Potters used a spell to make me look like them, it starts to reverse itself four weeks after you learn about the adoption."

"Oh,"

"And it will be changing again." Harry concluded.

"What do you mean? Are you going to reverse it back?"

"No, I can't reverse it back. It can only be applied by using the same blood as when it was used. My appearance will be changing again, because Cybelle used the same spell."

"Harry, when did you discover the second adoption?"

"That first week at the burrow."

"So four weeks would be around September 18? Is that correct?"

"Yeah, I think that's it. Last time it took about two weeks for the spell to be fully reversed. So you guys will finally get to see the 'real' me around the second of October." Harry said sarcastically.

"Harry, it might be a bit sooner than that." Hermione said, as she bit her lip, not wanting to upset Harry.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, from what I remember reading about that spell, the more often it is applied, the quicker it wears off each time. They didn't see that as a problem, since they never really figured on that spelling being applied to someone more than once. I mean, that spell is hardly ever applied at all, let alone twice to one person."

Harry groaned as he rested his head in his hands.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as she walked over to crouch down beside Harry.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't mind the change in appearance so much, it would be nice to know who I really am, but it's just going to be tough to explain to everyone why I keep changing."

"Don't worry," Hermione said as she rubbed Harry's back. "We'll think of something."

"Harry? Where there any clues about whom your natural parents might be?"

"She didn't mention any names, and I couldn't find any clues. I think that they might be auror's as well. Cybelle didn't do much here other than work, I figured she probably heard about my situation from a co-worker. All she mentioned about my parents was that my mom died and that my dad wouldn't be able to care me as I should be."

"Maybe they were auror's." Hermione said before tentatively asking, "Harry, do you mind if I read her diary? Maybe I could find something."

"No, I don't mind at all. I was actually thinking about asking you to read it, hoping that you might notice something that I missed. I know how much better you are at picking up those clues than I am." The two smiled at each other as they remembered 'the art of occlumency' clues from earlier this summer.

"Thanks, Hermione. I would really like to find out about my family. There is even a chance that my father might still be alive, or that either of my parents might have family that is alive. Although I am curious as to why none of their friends or family wanted me."

"Oh, Harry, I'm sure it's not like that. It was a very difficult time, since Voldemort was attacking so often. If your parents were auror's, most of their friends were probably auror's as well. If that was the case, then you wouldn't have had a stable home with them either. It was probably safer for Cybelle to adopt you, even though she was also an auror. I mean, she brought you to Sweden, away from the attacks, and she was no longer in London fighting against Death Eaters every day. I'm sure your parent's friends and family want to know how you are. For all you know, they might have even tried to keep in contact with Cybelle after she left."

"Yeah," Harry said, "Possibly." The feeling of hope burning once more in his heart.

End Chapter 24 end of the world, er, first week

So, I know why Remus is at the school, anyone care to take a guess (no clues have really been given yet).

Okay, with my little adoption w/in an adoption (did I mention that I am fascinated/obsessed with adoptions?) plot, I was beginning to think it sounded like bad plot to a movie, hence HP's comment. BUT I am overjoyed that so many people are reading this. The truth will soon be revealed.

Upcoming: Chapter 25 back to how things were

I actually have like 10 possible titles for ch 25, all which fit equally well, I think. But I had a hard time creating a title for ch 24.

Chapter 26 I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU YET (Title provides hints to how Harry discovers the truth)

Thanks for all the great reviews!! Got a lot of new reviews from people who never reviewed before (hence the term 'new'). Anyways, THANKS XOXOXXO

11/25/04