Last time on Sudden Changes: Okay, where do I start? Hermione's Draco's slave and he, yep you guessed it, feel in love with her and his love was, let's just say, not returned. Then lots of stuff happened but the most recent is Narcissa Malfoy, hater of all Draco's girlfriends and lover of, well, herself, returned and was not too pleased when she saw pretty little Hermione being Draco's object of affection and therefore, captured her and decided to give her a makeover to cancel out Draco's love for Hermione. Then Hermione made a bet with Narcissa that if she can get Draco to kiss her, the makeover effects will be removed and yadda yadda yadda but if she loses, she has to offer her youth to Narcissa. Which is a….er…. bad thing. It means Narcissa gets turned young and Hermione is going to be old and Narcissa has control over her age so Hermione can be turned extremely ancient. Meanwhile, Ginny's made a deal with Draco to make Harry fall in love with her. Ginny's majorly lusting after the Boy-that-Lived and has made many tries but has had no victory so far. Harry and Ginny are on their way to Hogwarts. So are Ron and Laura. Laura's one of Hermione's slave friends who he met in the Forbidden Forest after he stormed away from Harry (they had a fight) and the two kissed at the end of the last chapter.

And that's it. Hope you can remember the other stuff. That stuff sounds really funny, all clumped together. I'm seriously wondering of my sanity because I wrote all that into my story. And that's only in the last couple of chapters! How do you guys put up with me, eh?

Anyway, hope you enjoy…

What on earth was she doing? 'Mental' Ron would have called her if he were present.

But he was not.

Hermione was on her own except for the manic woman in front of her.

What on earth had made her give up her youth so easily? What gave her the boldness and stupidity to actually bargain with Narcissa Malfoy? To bet on Draco, no, Malfoy – oh whatever his name was, and actual posses a bit of hope that she could win? Hermione was more flustered and frustrated than she had ever been in her life.

What had made her bet on Draco's feelings? How could she possibly comprehend what feelings went through that complex and confusing mind? How could she possibly assure herself that his feelings weren't mere infatuation based on looks and the other many things shallow people focused on? Maybe all his feelings were, was an extremely unusual spell. Or perhaps these last couple of weeks had been nothing but a typical cruel Slytherin joke?

A joke?

A dream?

A crush?

A quick bout of rebellion?

A spell?

Love?

Perhaps he would look at her newly constructed face and not recognise her? Not want her? Be physically sick?

Why had she made the stupid bet anyway?

But Hermione knew that answer already. The truth was, Hermione didn't really care anymore. Her life had changed in so many ways now. Things would never be the same again.

What did she have to lose?

Hermione contemplated for a quick second before remembering. Oh yeah, her youth.

If only she could go back to what she once was. But she wasn't her anymore. Hermione Granger was lost, and only a weak girl, a weak slave, was left in her place.

And what about Malfoy? What exactly were her feelings for him? She had kissed him. Yes, in extreme circumstances but she had kissed him. She just couldn't forget the disappointment she had felt when he had reverted back to old self nor could she forget seeing him cry… because of her.

She hated him. Without a doubt. But to say she only felt hatred for him would be idiotic. She knew him so well now…

Hermione's head hurt.

And what about her feelings for Harry? Where was Harry, anyway? Did she like him as a best friend only or as more?

Why was life so bloody weird?

''''''

Narcissa watched as the child in front of her became steadily uglier and uglier by her own hand. And she laughed shrilly.

''''''

Ron pressed his back against the tree; legs sprawled out in front of him on the earth, watching her. His eyes needed to take in all her features – from her slightly titled wicked shining eyes to the dirty black smudges that decorated her cheekbones to the childish dimples ever present by her grinning mouth.

"WHAT?" she yelled, though she was grinning. "Ron, you've been staring at me since…. Well, since…" A cute blush formed on her cheeks. "Since we…"

He got up off his place by the tree to stand close to her. He didn't talk but simply looked down at her lips pointedly than back to her eyes.

"You want to kiss," she asked loudly, "AGAIN!?"

He nodded.

"Well, okay but-" She didn't get to finish because he had already kidnapped her lips.

Not that she minded, of course.

''''''

Why did he have to be so rich? Why did he have to live in a place as big as a whole Quidditch pitch with upper floors? Why couldn't he just live in some dinky cottage with only a flowerbed for a garden and two wardrobes for bedrooms?

Hardly the Malfoy style, he supposed.

So here he was, running through hallways upon hallways with Pansy puffing behind him, occasionally muttering useless remarks.

"This is better than fifty Quidditch lessons."

"Won't need to be eating those weight watchers biscuits after this, eh?"

"I've never even flown as fast as this, even when I'm falling off the broom."

"Madam Hooch would be proud of me, going at this speed."

"Imagine if I bumped into Madam Hooch now, she'd be well shocked!"

Because Draco was familiar with Pansy and Madam Hooch's long-time battle and Madam Hooch's infamous attempts at making Pansy bother at Quidditch and try fly faster than Longbottom's grandmother, Draco may have found these comments funny at another time. He supposed Pansy was trying to make him laugh.

But Draco was not in the mood for laughter.

'''''''

Ginny stared at him. She wanted to kill him. Harry Potter deserved to die for the agony he was putting her through. It wasn't fair. She was so close but she couldn't touch him. It was as if an invisible barrier was between them. Ginny wanted to be The Once. The One for him. The One he spilled all his worries and secrets too. The One who made her feel like she was the only person in the world that mattered.

She could see it. Was it a lot to ask her? All she wanted was for the loneliness to go away.

Harry thought she was happy. But she wasn't. She was so alone. Ever since she had entered Hogwarts, she had felt isolated. She had no friends; never did she have any after first year.

Tom had been her solace, her only friend. Not many people knew what happened between her and Tom. But she knew. He had been her best friend, the perfect guy.

He wasn't just a diary. Not by a long shot.

Once Tom got his body back, she had begun to die. He had brought her down to the Chamber of Secrets, not by force, but by taking her by the hand and whispering in her ear that everything was going to be okay… that he'd never let anything hurt her.

She hadn't liked the Chamber very much. She had been so weak by then. Not really with it. She had looked at Tom with large innocent eyes, had asked him where they were and why they were there.

He had helped her lie down then, had assured her that everything was going as planned. By then, she had known though. "I've been very foolish," she had said sleepily with no real feelings attached, "to believe you."

He had leaned close to her. "I do appreciated everything you've done for me," he had said, with only a trace of sarcasm and honesty.

"I don't think I shall be able to forgive you," she had told him. "I think I shall feel angry and betrayed later."

Although she had had her eyes closed, she had known he had smirked. "But… you're dying, love."

"Harry'll save me."

And of course, he had. He had came in gallantly, waving the Phoenix's sword around with no real talent or skill or experience. All Harry possessed was noble bravery. Yet he had won.

She had thought then that he might pay more attention after that. But Harry was a hero in all aspects. She was just another one of his grateful fans.

No, he had spent all his time with her brother and that bitch, Hermione.

At first, Ginny hadn't minded. In fact, she had quite liked Hermione. Hermione, with all her books and plainness, was fine.

It was only when Harry spent all his time in her company that it started to bother Ginny. And then Hermione had started to become pretty and more confident and mature. Ginny saw Harry's feelings change before he even became aware of them himself. And it made Ginny sick.

And then Hermione had been captured. Ginny had been so startled when she had realised that she hadn't cared one little bit. In fact, Ginny had been quite pleased and faintly amused when she had realised Malfoy would be Hermione's new master.

She had thought Hermione was finally getting what she deserved.

Malfoy was the only person who had actually seen through her façade of 'Happy Normal Ginny Weasley.' He had often said it to her, whispering it in her ear whenever he caught her alone, telling her how ironic and strange she was to love both the Dark Lord and the Dark Lord's conqueror and how she was a fool. Love's fool.

So, she had got a little shock when she had received his owl. She had been silently storming in her bedroom because Harry was off, trying to save Hermione when he should have been with her, Ginny Weasley.

She had gone to Malfoy's house, curious despite herself. Then she had learned that Malfoy also loved Hermione and her chest had nearly burst with jealousy. Maybe that was why she had accepted his offer. Because of this jealousy burning inside of her…

Ginny regretted it now. Not because of any morals for she now believed she didn't have any. No, she regretted it because none of her plans had worked and she didn't own any more of them.

'''''''''

Harry forehead burst with pain as he looked upon Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He felt a shudder up his spine as he stood in the clearing of the forest. The castle seemed to tower over him and there seemed to be a sort of gloomy silence radiating from it.

Voldemort was inside. Harry was sure of it.

Ginny was somewhere behind him. Harry found himself looking back for her. He was worried about her. He had refused her offer without much hesitation but now thought that perhaps he'd been a bit cruel. Perhaps he should have acted at least a little tempted?

But he was also worried a little about… well, whether she was feeling all herself. Only she often seemed to murmur at herself and Harry could swear he saw something other than innocence in her wide brown eyes.

Nobody was who he thought they were. Malfoy was obsessed with Hermione. Harry was worried about Hermione's sanity. Ron had marched off into the woods, without the fear of being alone. And Ginny had feelings for him, and, unless he was very mistaken, not taking his refusal very gracefully.

And Harry? Harry was unsure about everything. He was unsure of his feelings for Hermione. He didn't know whether he was still angry with Ron. He didn't know why he felt a little sorry for Malfoy. He was confused about where Ginny's feelings for him had come from and the exact dept of them. Hell, he didn't even know if his best friends were still alive right now.

Harry had never felt like less of a hero.

But he knew one thing. Hero or not, he was going to kill Voldemort. Now.

'''''''

Draco opened door among door, barely glancing inside. Pansy was on the other side of the hallway, following his example.

He turned sharply when he heard Pansy's yelp. He watched for a terribly second as his mother's pale hand, decorated with only the best of gold and long dark fingernails, grabbed the top of Pansy's robe and pulled her into the dark room.

Draco ran. The room was like a giant dark hole. As he passed over the border, he felt like he was being swallowed by an unknown force.

"Slowly now, Draco," Narcissa said in a low, mocking voice. "Come now and relax. And while you're at it, take a look at the girl you love."

The lights flickered on.

He didn't react. He couldn't react. All he was aware of was Pansy's screeches, Pansy's reaction to the new Hermione.

''''''''''

My dear people, I am so sorry. I have no excuse except for the big old writer's block and then when I finally write the piece I was too bloody lazy to type it out. That's right: Laziness. But the good news is: I have the next part written and half of the ending, so there's not going to be such a major gap before updating again.

I will definitely have this story written for the end of the summer. Hopefully even before the end of July but my goal is to have it finished for the end of the summer. I am so sorry for not updating. I hate it when people do that. It annoys the hell out of me. And yet, I've done it. I can't believe I've done it. I sincerely can't. And I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated. The time has just swept past me. One excuse: I got a little addicted to Harry Potter boards (Frozen Enigma, Deepest Night, etc) and another excuse is that for some reason, I've got a lot more social. This summer hasn't been all free time like it was last summer (when I started this story.)

It's highly unlikely that you lot have got this far in my ranting, but I just want to say I'm so sorry. If I do it again, you have full permission to shoot me. And to keep shooting me until I update and finish this god-damn story.

Okay, I need two favours so if you have a little spare time, try help me out. I'm having problems with Hermione's new "look." I have something written but I'm really not happy with it. Any ideas would be great? Or any good descriptions you have in your little head that you would like to offer would be great?

Secondly, I have another story called Deal With The Devil. It hasn't been updated since October. Yes, October of last year! That's like, so damn long. And I want to finish it but I have like zero ideas, so if any one wants to help me out with or even co-write it with me, I'd appreciate it!

And now I'm going to shut up! I have to go to work now but when I get back home I'm going to post this up first thing! And hopefully, hopefully, you will forgive me and review.

Reviews are loved and read over many times. I especially like the long ones, (even the really long pointless ones - you know who you are -) so feel free to review and give me comments because I really do appreciate them and I really will update sooner than the last time, which was just disgraceful.

Bye!

(And I'm aware I left you on a cliffie but there was no other place to leave it! Everything would have been a cliffie)

Also, wasn't the third movie just great?