Author's Note: Only one person voted on the poll on my profile, and so to make a majority I need at least 3 votes, please do take the time to answer it, the deadline has been extended to GMT +9:30 17/01/2013 (or for anyone who puts the month first 1/17/2013). Please enjoy this chapter of Changes, results from the poll are needed for chapter 14. I only own the Nickel family, plotline, blah, blah, blah you get the point (and if you don't then I shall write it and you will probably go and facepalm, I AM NOT J. ) So on with the story….

Unknown to Carter previously, this year would be harder than the last. They had gotten through the basics and the refreshing from last year, and had started the second year coursework; including mandrakes and mimbulus mimblitonia in herbology, disappearing objects in charms, and changing hair colour in transfiguration. It wasn't just schoolwork, Rose and Scorpius continued to fight, the relapses weren't as often but were just as strong, growth spurts made it harder to hide the scars from others' view and the sadness of having of write letters who would never actually receive them or write back.

She woke to the sound of two very familiar voices arguing, about today's topic: If Rose really beat Scorpius at chess yesterday. Carter was fed up and opened her eyes and found herself on the couch in front of the fireplace. To shut the annoying twelve year olds up, Carter grabbed a pillow and threw it at them, when she threw the pillow she fell off the couch with a loud thump! What Carter wasn't expecting was for someone else to thump on top of her. Everyone was staring at the two people on the floor; some with disapproving looks (Rose), some bursting into hysterical laughter (Scorpius and the rest of the Weasley's) and one person was so far past laughter that they had collapsed onto the floor, laughing manically (named James Sirius Potter).

It took Carter a minute to realise that someone was on top of her, and it also took that person the same amount of time, and he got off her. Carter rolled over and found the figure of Albus Severus Potter standing above her holding out a hand. Once she had stood up she addressed the watching people "we fell asleep, nothing more, nothing less, we were working on homework! Stop looking at us like that!" then she went up the stairs to get changed.

All Carter could think about was how nice it was to be sleeping with Al, and if no-one had found them, would it have been as awkward when they had woken up? Ever since the Summer Holidays she had felt closer to Al, and enjoyed his company more than Scorpius. Before she could finish her thoughts, she was dressed and couldn't delay confronting the situation any longer…

Carter descended the staircase and found the Common Room completely deserted except for a single person, sitting on the infamous couch. She made her way over running through many scenarios of how this one conversation could go in her head. When she got to her achieved destination she flopped onto the couch beside Al "So…" she said awkwardly "Hi"

"Hi Carter" he said obviously not wanting to start the conversation

"Do we really need to talk about it?" asked Carter "Or can we just forget it ever happened" she continued hoping for the former.

"Dunno, but did you see the look on Rose's face?" he asked and Carter laughed.

"Oh yeah, that was hilarious" said Carter and Al joined in on her laughter "I expect an owl from Mum and Dad any second now"

"James" Carter said in her isn't –it –the –most –obvious –thing –in –the - world voice "I get to read that letter"

Al laughed "fine, but next time we fall asleep in the same scenario, let's do it somewhere where my dear family can't find us in a compromising position?"

"Oh, so there's going to be a next time, is there?" said Carter wiggling her eyebrows, then they both cracked up laughing. "Hey Al, you want to help me freak out Rose and possibly Scorp?" Carter asked with an evil glint in her eyes. Al nodded and she whispered her devious plan to him.

Ten minutes later Al and Carter entered the Great Hall holding hands, and just before Carter sat down next to Rose, Albus kissed her cheek. "Guys, we have some news" said Carter, while she winked at Al "Al and I are going out, we're sorry we didn't tell you sooner." The reactions were better than Carter had expected; Rose stopped eating her bacon ( a rare occasion indeed) and the mouthful of pumpkin juice in Scorpius' mouth was sprayed all over the table.

"What?" Rose and Scorpius asked simultaneously surprised.

Before Al and Carter could laugh, James jumped up onto the Gryffindor table and said to Fred (well he pretty much yelled) "Ha you lose! 20 GALLEONS TO ME!" Reluctantly Fred handed James the 20 galleons, and Carter and Al burst into laughter, and the four of them looked really confused.

"You are so gullible!" choked Al with laughter, while Fred caught on, the other three were still clueless.

"Ohhhh" said Scorp finally catching on, and he didn't look that amused.

"We- are- not- dating" said Carter in syllables as it was the only way for James and Rose to understand "We got you!" Scorp, Rose and James looked hurt.

"Dude give me back my 20 galleons and an extra 20 galleons from the bet James" demanded Fred.

"Never!" yelled James running away and Fred chased him.

Within the next few days it seemed like that everyone had forgotten the awkward situation that had occurred with the couch. Up until Al got a letter from his dad that said:

Al,
You know your brother, and your cousins, did you really think that we wouldn't find out?
Al, I suggest pulling a trick on James with it (for payback), and if it happens again do it somewhere more private than the Common Room, so it's more likely that any of our family won't find you so easily. I know from experience and if you want ask Mum, she knows too well.
Dad
P.S. Lily is driving us insane, and practically begged me to say hi for her.

"So your Dad finds it amusing, huh?" said Carter "and I am going to point out that you two think similarly." Carter said as she passed the letter back to Albus. "I have a feeling that we will never live it down"

"Knowing my family, that's true" stated Al.

Author's Note: That's the end of Chapter 13, it's sort of a filler until I have the results from the poll. Please vote and leave a review to let me know that people are still reading or a favourite or a follow, you can also PM me. Thanks to reviewers Cheyannerose13 and BananaLollypop.