Hey guys! I've updated a couple of the previous chapters (if you can be bothered to go back). A couple of readers told me that it's kind of hard to see the transitions between scenes because of the lack of description (what can I say, I'm a woman of action). So basically there's a little scene with Kreacher in "12, Grimmauld Place", a description of Malfoy Manor and Voldemort in "Malfoy Manor" and a description of William the Muggle's hovel. Other than that there are a couple of minor sentences, but nothing plot-related.

So... I would like to welcome FromEyesToMind and iwantsprezzatura to the fold of readers/reviewers. Thanks so much for your feedback and I'm glad you like the story so far!

Also a shout-out (?) to Williukea for spotting some errors (all fixed!) and of course, my beloved HT188, creelluka and xXRosexScorpiusXx (especially the latter for her guesses for the continuation of the story: all great ideas, and you shall see what happens next!)

Finally a bit of humour after all those dark chapters; enjoy!

It was the morning of their first day at Hogwarts. James had already managed to land himself a detention from swelling part a fourth-year's head to the size of a balloon - his speciality spell. His excuse was that he wanted to see what his wart looked like when enlarged. Needless to say, Lily Evans had not been impressed, and her lecture could be heard all the way from the Slytherin table.

'Urgh,' Lucinda covered her ears. 'It's too early in the morning for this kind of shit.'

There was a murmured assent, but no one continued; Professor Flitwick was handing out their new timetables. Alecto grabbed Emma's before she could even look at the first lesson.

'We didn't get any of your letters, so I don't know what lessons you're taking,' she explained. 'I need to know what times of the day I can have some girl talk and complain about stupid problems.'

Emma smiled, shaking her head. 'You could have asked, you know.'

'I want to hear too,' Regulus said from the other side of the table, leaning forwards.

'Okay, listen up people,' Alecto scanned the timetable. 'Our dear Potter is taking Charms, Potions, Arithmancy and Transfiguration, but also Defence Against the Dark Arts (good one Ems) and.…What? Muggle Studies? Why on earth would you continue with that crap? Third year, I could understand: hell, there was no way I was taking Divination or Ancient Runes. But now... when you have so many other classes?'

A couple of heads shot up from their conversations.

'Keep your voice down,' Emma hissed.

'Why should she?' Rabastan asked loudly. 'Our fellow Slytherins have a right to know if we have a blood-traitor within our midst.'

Regulus's grey eyes were flat as he stared at her with what seemed to be a hint of betrayal.

'Look, first of all I want to know if they have anything that we can't deflect with magic,' she said. 'Imagine if any had guns.'

'What's a gun?' asked Lucinda.

Alecto shrugged, though Emma knew she had studied them in class with her the year before. The red-head would never admit it, but she had received more than "Acceptable" in her Muggle Studies O.W.L. She only changed her mind after the Muggle, Emma thought spitefully, but kept it to herself.

'It's an electricity powered thing that shoots metal out of it really quickly. It's like a Severing charm that punches holes instead,' Emma explained, then lowered her voice. 'Besides, if I do Muggle Studies, then who's going to suspect me?'

'Forward thinking,' Regulus said, but she couldn't tell if it was genuine or sarcastic.

'Maybe I should sign up again,' Alecto said thoughtfully. 'There have been raids on our house by the Ministry. Of course they didn't find anything, but someone tipped them off about Amycus. Yeah, I'll go and see Slughorn about it.'

Emma shook her head in disbelief.

'Or he just wasn't careful enough,' Rabastan said derisively. 'He isn't exactly what you would call subtle.'

'One of these days he's going to end up in Azkaban and I'm going to be the one to fish him out,' Alecto sighed, rolling her eyes. 'Anyway I'm off to find Evan, git's probably sleeping in. Why do seventh years get so many free periods?'

With a shake of her bright red hair, she stalked from the table, scaring a few first years on her way out.

'I guess that's my cue to get to Potions,' Emma sighed, regretfully eyeing a last piece of toast.

'I have it too, we can go together,' Regulus offered, though his plate was still half-full.

'I'll eat this then shall I?' Rabastan asked, heaping the eggs onto his own plate. 'Tell old Sluggy I have a stomach ache or something; he loves dad enough to let me off the hook. Wouldn't do to have Prefects late to class though, run along now.'

Emma rolled her eyes at the boy's sudden change in temperament: he could go from murderously angry to joking around in a second flat. She took a quick look at Regulus's timetable, it was nearly identical to her own. At least she wouldn't be on her own in Transfiguration - she knew that Helen, Lucinda and Rabastan had all received Acceptable in the class. Alecto was good at it, but couldn't always be bothered to come to class. The only difference was that he was taking History of Magic instead of Arithmancy and - of course - was taking Herbology instead of Muggle Studies.

Handing it back, she looked at her friend, not for the first time wondering how he could be so calm. After his first outburst in the bookshop, he acted as though Sirius was just an acquaintance he barely knew. He had told her that Bellatrix had been teaching him Occlumency in preparation for receiving his Dark Mark, which had been hinted at coming soon, but even before that he had always managed to keep his cool. Watching him take his place in front of his potion, she envied the way everything just slid off him, untouchable.

'Today we'll be starting on the Polyjuice Potion,' Slughorn said, sweeping into class and shrugging Emma out of her thoughts, the same way he did every class.

Except today there are only about fifteen students, Emma noticed to her surprise. Sophie Parkinson was there, along with Severus Snape. They were as far from Sirius Black and her twin brother as possible, and Emma vowed to keep an eye on him. She didn't put it past Snape to hex James while his back was turned. She also recognised Lily Evans, pointedly ignoring Snape and James, with someone Emma didn't recognise from Ravenclaw. There were a couple of Hufflepuffs, and the rest were Ravenclaws.

'Tell you what: to make this interesting, the one who brews the best potion gets a free sample! I have some stock in my supply closet. Doesn't that sounds exciting?' Slughorn clapped his hands together eagerly. 'Instructions are on the blackboard. You have two hours to start.'

'I'll get the ingredients,' Emma muttered and Regulus nodded. In the closet she quickly found the stock and stole some. Who knows when it'll come in handy?

By the time the two hours were up, it was obvious that Severus Snape had won the challenge. His potion was already a dark green, bubbling away merrily while the other potions gurgled and spat out little bubbles. Even Emma had to grudgingly respect his skills as a Potioneer. However he nearly ran out of class as soon as it was over, so the "prize" fell to Lily Evans. Slughorn took out a large bottle of Polyjuice potion and made a big show in presenting it to her.

'Congratulations!' James grinned, going to hug her.

She moved back in alarm and tripped on the foot of his cauldron, the bottle going flying.

'No!' she cried, drawing her wand, but only succeeded in bursting the bottle in the air. The room was showered in thick goop.

James quickly took his own wand out and turned the potion to steam.

'There!' he said. 'Now no one can accidentally drink it.

'Oh no,' Slughorn murmured. 'Take cover, everybody!'

Emma found herself hiding under a table with her brother.

'Smooth,' she said.

'Hey, no risk no reward, right?' he grinned.

'I'm not sure Lily would agree,' she replied, before noticing that his hair was almost shoulder-length. How did I never see that? 'What, did she tell you she liked long-haired guys, or something?'

James frowned. 'No she -'

'Oh dear Merlin, get away from me!' Rabastan's uncharacteristic screech interrupted him.

They poked their heads out from beneath the table. Rabastan had shoved the Hufflepuff across the room in horror, staring at his hands, which were becoming smaller and thinner. Thick yellow hair was growing from the top of his head. On the other hand, the Hufflepuff's robes were ripping as she grew bigger and stockier.

'It's happening,' Slughorn said in horror.

Emma looked over to him: he was standing in what appeared to be a huge bubble, Lily sitting on the floor next to him.

'You idiot!' she yelled on spotting James. 'What were you thinking?'

James was looking at Emma in awe. 'The steam. We must have soaked it up through our skin, and it must have taken the DNA of the person nearest to us, maybe their breath caught in the steam.'

'What?' Emma shook her head, blinking. The room was getting fuzzy. 'James, I can't really see. Your face is all blurry. What's happening?'

'Here,' he put his glasses on her face. 'I think we just got a dose of Polyjuice Potion.'

'What? How does that even happen?' she asked, but she saw that it was true. People were emerging from their hiding spots to watch the Hufflepuff-Slytherin duo and most had undergone some kind of physical change.

'I think I'm going to be sick,' the Hufflepuff looked green.

'You can use the basins used for washing ingredients!' Slughorn said cheerfully. He seemed to be rather enjoying the whole catastrophe now that it was clear that he hadn't been touched.

'Me too,' Sirius said in a strangled voice, rushing forwards.

Emma looked at her twin, who was somehow caught between both of them. The change wasn't too shocking, though his hair was growing like a metal head's before his face started shifting. Meanwhile Rabastan and the Hufflepuff - whose name was Hestia - had gotten past that stage. They had quickly shrugged off their shoes and robes and exchanged them, though Emma was sure that Hestia's clothes underneath must have been four times too small. As if on cue, she rushed into the supply closet and locked herself in.

'Oh my,' Slughorn said. 'This is rather interesting.'

'Interesting is one word. Vomit-inducing is another,' Regulus said. 'And I don't mean in a literal sense.'

He blew Sirius's mane of glossy hair out of his face in annoyance. 'Do we have to attend class today?'

'Only if you don't want extra detention Black,' Slughorn replied, but before Sirius could open his mouth he added. 'And I'll be sure to put them at every Quidditch match.'

'I forgot you were so short,' Sirius had returned. 'You got the better deal Reggie, you get to see what good-looking feels like.'

Regulus ignored his brother: it was odd to see his lofty look on Sirius's features. Though as aristocratic as Regulus's own, whereas Regulus barely showed his feelings, Sirius made it a point to exaggerate every expression on his face.

'I get to be a Prefect,' James said in a sing-song voice.

Emma had to admit that they got the better deal, considering. She and James were of a height, and when Hestia emerged wearing some very stained clothes (at which Rabastan looked in disgust), they didn't have much to exchange. Emma warned James not to take his shirt off and gave him her jumper for good measure. It was snug on her shoulders and they had to exchange skirt and trousers, but they kept their own shoes. She handed James her timetable, instructing him to try not to prank anyone. In return he told her to tell the Gryffindors that tryouts would be held that very weekend.

'You don't lose time do you?' she asked, amazed.

'Gotta beat Slytherin after all,' he held out a hand for her robes.

'Efficient,' Slughorn said approvingly. 'Everybody exchange timetables! The Potion was administered in a small dosage, so you should be back to your old selves within eight hours. Oh and my little reward system is strictly under the radar, so I'm going to have to ask you to keep this to yourselves.'