Changes

Chapter 1Confessions, part I

»Hi, mum!« I yelled as I entered our London flat, which has been my home for as long as I can remember.

»Hello, dear. How was your trip? Did you have enough money for the taxi? I'm sorry dad and I couldn't come pick you up, but Terry is really ill and…what's the matter, dear? You look like you saw a ghost.«

My mother never was one of the quiet people. She speaks even in her sleep. A lot.

At that time, the news had already sunk in. Anger came over shock.

Why didn't she tell me? Why did he leave us? Why couldn't my dad just be who I thought him to be?

Dumbledore told me no one knew about my father except for him and myself. And Moody. Naturally the freaky Auror has to know everything. Especially with that strange eye of his.

I decided to get over with it as soon as possible.

»I talked to professor Dumbledore last night.« I started as she kept checking my temperature. At that point, she stopped.

»That's the Headmaster, yes? And?«

»He told me some things about my father.«

»Ben? What does Ben have to do with…«

»My real father, mum.« I interrupted her. My mum isn't the brightest of minds, really.

»G-Gary? What does he have to do with your school? Oh!«

»He went there. Before he met you. My dad was a wizard, mum. A good one. And he died for that. You knew he was dead, didn't you?«

Tears filled my mothers eyes, but I didn't care. She has been lying to me all my life, telling me my dad was a scoundrel who left us when he found out she was pregnant when he really died protecting us.

»He-he died before you were born. I-I didn't want for you to find out like this, really. I just wanted you to be safe.«

»I know, mum. I'm sorry. But it's too late now, I already know everything.« Well, almost.

»Don't worry, mum. I'll be fine. I just need some peace.« I added before she could say anything and walked up to my room. I had a lot of thinking to do.

That was at the beginning of the summer. It's August now, only one day of holidays left. I hadn't told any of my friends about my dad yet, not even Seamus, who's been my best mate since First Year. I'm meeting him tomorrow at King's Cross. I'll have to tell him. It won't be easy, though.

It was even harder than I thought. At first, he wouldn't even let me speak before he told me everything about this awesome girl he met on vacation and before I knew it, the train was already in motion.

After we have finally found a compartment for ourselves (this train is fuller by the year), I told him to shut up and listen.

»It's just…It's really important, okay? Promise me you won't tell anyone.«

»Sure, I promise, D. What's the problem? You look so…well, pale.«

»Your mum's a witch, right?«

»Yeah, so? What's that got to do with you? Oh, wait, you think she might really be your mum cos you don't have any magical relatives and all so we're really brothers? Sure you can move in with us, but you'll have to sleep in my old bed cos we ain't got that much room and…«

»Shut up, Finnigan, I don't think I'm your brother. I'm scared to death at the mere thought we might be related. I've got a reputation to keep, remember? What would happen to my social life if I was related to you? Not that I'd admit it or anything.«

»You don't have a social life, Dean.« laughed Seamus. And it's true. Sad, but true.

»So tell me, what's the big news, then?«

»Did your mum ever mention anything like…a Half – Blood Prince?«

»No. Never heard of it. Why?«

»Well, you know my dad, right? My real dad…«

I could see I finally got Seamus's interest. I never wanted to talk about my dad though he said I should've asked my mum about him. He was sure he was a wizard.

So, I told him the whole story and he was clearly shocked.

»Well,« he finally said after I had finished. »I don't know what that might mean, I mean, you being the Half – Blood Prince and all, heck, I don't even know what it is, but I know someone whoone hundred percentdoes.«

»Who?« Ofcourse, the answer was obvious and I knew the moment I spoke, who my best mate had in mind.

»Hermione Granger, ofcourse. She knows everything there is to know about well, anything. You gotta go ask her.«

»I dunno, I'd rather kinda keep this thing to myself.«

»Do ya wanna know or don't ya?«

»Well, I do but…«

»Dean, you know darn well Hermione can keep a secret, no one will find out if you don't want them too. You should really trust her more than you trust me.«

We both laughed and I agreed to ask Hermione Granger.

It was kinda strange, though, knowing that I was the Half – Blood Prince, but not knowing what that title or whatever it was meant. Really strange. And it would be even stranger to tell that to a girl I had never really spoken to. I mean really spoken to. I don't think she even knows I have a step – father. I don't know much about her, either.


Oh, this is working out fine, I guess. Not one of my favourite chapters, but I kinda works, so it stays.

And as you know (my last disclaimer in this fic; I mean it is obvious, so…):

Everything Hogwarts: JKR, Bloomsbury, Scholastic…

Everything non-Hogwarts: Me, Moi, Myself, Ego, shortly: Mine

Don't have anything more to say here so R&R and Au Revoir 'till next time.

D.