A/N: Not as interesting chapter as last time, and its not the pensieve chapter, so dont get excited. I'm putting upthe pensieve chapter tomorrow. Thanksfor the reviews! Some of them were really long, and i was like 'cool!' So downto business: notes.

1. Snape is not evil, just snape

2.Peter comes into play later

3.Theres lots more Draco soon, i promise!

4. We meet Draco's siblings soon too. His sister, more than his brother.

5.About D/Hr, the dream, Ginny etc, you will just have to wait!

Petrynronlover: Sure, you can post this story on your website. That would really cool! Whats the addy to your website?

Miss Elvira Dark: You're right. This story has terrible spelling mistakes etc, but i am only 15, so... And i know it gets boring in places, but i wrote this story for me, and it's the way i like it :) but i wont make the same mistakes next time.

Amitra Minh Day: Thanks for adding me to that c2 community, it's pretty cool! I'm going to have to read all the stories in it!

Chapter 23: Changes

The trio walked silently out of Defense against the dark arts, and wondered almost aimlessly to Gryffindor tower.

When they reached the Fat Lady, Hermione stopped dead still.

'Ron.' She said, turning to face him. 'Do you mind if I change the password?'

As the 7th year prefects, that was Ron and Hermione's duty.

'No. Course not.' Ron replied glumly, with his hands in his pockets. 'Why?'

'A new password for a new start.' Hermione replied strictly, then turned to the Fat Lady. 'Could you change the password to Carpe Diem, first thing tomorrow?'

'As you wish.' The Fat Lady said.

'What does Carpe Diem mean?' Harry asked Hermione, simply. He knew not to expect a long explanation, Hermione didn't appear to be in the mood. Infact, the trio appeared to have a small black cloud following them around.

'It's Latin.' Hermione replied. 'It means seize the day, which is exactly what I'm going to start doing. When we get back to our world, things are going to be difficult, and I wouldn't like to die knowing that I never lived life.'

'You aren't going to start do mad things are you?' Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. 'Like jumping off of cliffs and things.'

'No.' Hermione said, with amusement in her voice, but not meeting his eyes. 'I just mean that I'm going to start… start taking chances. First of all, I'm going to start doing homework the night before it's due.'

'Who are you, and what have you done with Hermione?' Ron asked, dramatically shaking Hermione's shoulders. Hermione smiled with warmth, and laughed.

'Come on, you fool.' She grinned, and turned to the Fat Lady. 'Elf Rights.'

The portrait door swung open, and the trio climbed inside, feeling a little better than before. The common room was filled with friendly chatter, and Harry was just about to sit down, when he remembered something.

'Shit!' Harry cursed. 'I'm supposed to meet Lupin. I've got to go!'

Harry legged it from the common room, out of Gryffindor Tower, and only slowed down his pace when he met the corridor leading to Lupin's office.

He stood still for a moment and bent over, breathing hard.

'You alright there?' A familiar voice asked. Harry stood up to be face to face with a grinning Ginny Weasely.

'Yeah.' Harry replied, automatically. 'Except for the fact that I just ran through half of the castle.'

Ginny giggled brightly.

'Where are going in such a rush?' Ginny asked, amusement playing in her eyes.

'To meet Professor Lupin.' Harry answered, deciding that it would be safe. 'Need to discuss homework.'

'Same here.' Ginny replied quickly, her face reflecting her good mood. 'I've just left his office.'

'Oh, well, I'd better go.' Harry said walking past, before turning back on himself. 'Ginny? Can I ask you a personal question?'

'Sure.' Ginny said intensely though she didn't look very sure. 'Fire away.'

'What does a Bogart turn into when you stand in front of it?' Harry asked, tensely. 'I mean, what do you see?'

'Myself.' Ginny replied sadly, in a small but familiar voice. A voice which reminded Harry very much of a younger Ginny. A younger Ginny in the Chamber of secrets.

'Right.' Harry replied, thinking. 'Thanks.'

Ginny turned with a flick of golden hair, and Harry was left immobilized. He watched her walk away for a moment, before finishing his journey.

'Hello Harry.' Lupin smiled, when Harry strolled into his office. 'Ready to go?'

'Ready when you are.' Harry replied firmly, and followed the older man out of his office.

After an hour of practicing, Harry felt invincible. He hadn't yet reached a particular animal form, but he wasn't too worried.

'Now change your face again.' Lupin said, with his eyes twinkling, and his hand scratching his chin. 'Your eyes.'

Harry scrunched up his eyes, and when he opened them, they were blue.

'Brilliant.' Lupin complimented, and Harry changed back. 'Now your legs. Make them shorter.'

Harry obliged, and fell to the floor, laughing.

'Ok.' Lupin smiled. 'Now I want you to change your arms and legs, at the same time.'

Harry had never done this before, and was a little hesitant. Harry's thoughts must have shown on his face, too.

'Don't worry.' Lupin hushed, helping Harry to his feet. 'You can do this. Arms and legs.'

Harry clenched his teeth, and concentrated so much, that his face went red.

'No. No, stop.' Lupin said, waving his hands. 'You're thinking, not feeling.'

'I'm trying.' Harry sighed, leaning against the wall.

'That's the problem.' Lupin said, taking a seat on a nearby desk. 'Tell me what you're trying to do.'

'I'm thinking hard about changing, and the molecules in my body moving.' Harry said honestly. 'And then I just wait till it happens.'

'You're anticipating the change.' Lupin growled. 'Exactly what I was trying to avoid. Your father always anticipated the change, and it took him months to get over it.'

Lupin put his head in his hands, and Harry asked the question which was most troubling him.

'Remus?' Harry asked, in a child's voice. 'When will I start changing into an animal?'

Lupin raised his eye line.

'When you're ready.' Lupin said, wisely. 'When you've mastered other things, we'll start to cover it. I'm afraid it's going to be a long while before we get there, though. It took the Marauders the better part of their years at Hogwarts, to fully master it. It takes most wizards no less than 6 years of hard work.'

'But I'm not them.' Harry replied, stubbornly. 'I'm not most wizards.'

'You have to be in the right frame of mind to transform.' Lupin explained, rubbing his eyes. 'You have to be mature, and you have to have a reason. The other Marauders did it to help me. They knew I urgently needed someone to transform with, and they came to my aid.'

'I have a reason.' Harry said, passionately. 'I know it took them a long time before they reached the stage where they could transform, but I'm not like them. These exercises don't interest me, and I only have my animal transformation on my mind.'

'You want to try and transform?' Lupin asked, with his eyes lighting up.

'Yes.' Harry said. 'Will you help me?'

'I wouldn't usually, but today has been as unexpected as it could possibly be.' Lupin stated, standing up. Harry grinned. 'I don't think anything would surprise me right now. Lets give it a go.'

Lupin stood bang in front of Harry.

'Now I want you to clear your mind.' He continued. 'I want you to concentrate on your actions, but I want you to feel them.'

'Ok.' Harry whispered, with his eyes closed.

'I want you to feel that little bit inside of you, that little bit that wants to come out.' Lupin recited. 'That thing which makes you, you. Harry, do you know what your patronus is?'

'A stag.' Harry answered, clearly.

'Of course.' Lupin whispered, almost to himself. 'Now it's all up to you. You've got to feel the movement, and make it happen. I don't expect you to do it Harry, understand this.'

'I will do it.' Harry chanted, with his eyes still closed.

'Good.' Lupin said, in a comforting voice. 'Just breathe and let it go. Let everything melt away. Think of the things I said, when we talked about animals. Think of the way they move. Make it happen.'

Harry, almost unexpectedly, began to change. He changed rapidly and strongly, from the bottom upwards. It stopped at Harry's waist, when Harry decided to open his eyes, and found that the body below wasn't his. Harry panicked, and changed sharply back, falling tiredly top the floor.

'Brilliant!' Lupin cheered. 'I don't believe it! This is impossible! Harry, don't forget how that felt. We're going to go right back to that next lesson.'

'No.' Harry argued, pulling himself to his feet. 'I'm trying again. I know what it is I have to do now.'

Harry closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he knew that he had done it. For one thing, there was the look of utter astonishment on Lupin's face, then there was the way Harry felt: free. His mind was his, but it was different, wild. Harry took a look in the reflection of the classroom windows. He was a Stag.

'Harry.' Lupin said, grinning proudly. 'You have really outdone yourself.'

Harry changed back to himself, and took the compliment with a grin.

'I didn't think it was physically possible.' Lupin said, shaking his head. 'The little time we've had. It guess the only thing that matters is what you have in here.' Lupin pointed to his heart with a fist. 'I'm so proud of you. My second student to transform this year.'

'What?' Harry asked, squinting. 'You mean, I'm not your only student?'

'No, you're one of three.' Lupin replied, fatherly. 'And the second to transform today, infact. I was most surprised when a student made a transformation earlier, and now I'm quite shocked to say the least. Your fathers going to be so proud. It took him years to transform.'

'Who are your other students?' Harry asked, as Lupin opened the door.

'I'm afraid I can't tell you.' Lupin said. 'It's not my place to.'

'How did you chose them?' Harry asked.

'I didn't.' Lupin replied, simply. 'Dumbledore did. And he chose them on potential, and it turns out that he chose right.'

Review, and make sure you check for the next chapter 2moro!