Circumstances of Change

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, not mine. Nor is the title. Thanks to Meagan for that!!
Warnings: Selective Weasley and Dumbledore bashing; Severitus
Beta'd by: Meagan! Thanks so very much!!!!
A/N: Okay, I didn't realize when I wrote it down, but 3,000 galleons isn't much at all. Thanks to ZooArmy for pointing that out to me. So, let's just pretend that Mr. Smith was actually really bored with the paper and just wanted to get rid of it. :D
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Harry, as Charles, went back to the Prophet two days later with Blaise, as Joshua, for the interview he had promised them. Pansy and Draco stayed behind. Marietta Edgecombe had, of course, been fired. The article came out the very next day.

Prophet has new owner
That's correct. The Daily Prophet currently has a new owner. Charles Emerson Winchester the fourth bought the paper three days ago. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Winchester yesterday so we could all learn more about the man.
"Mr. Winchester, why exactly did you buy the Prophet?"
"My father wants me to have business experience before I take over his business back home. This paper seemed like the perfect thing," He answered.
"Will you sell the paper again when it's time for you to move on?"
"I doubt it. I like the idea of having the paper where my father has no influence."
"Now, you told me earlier that you have been reading up on our politics and such here in England. I was wondering about your opinion on our Potter situation?"
"You mean you want my opinion on the fact that you're demonizing the one person you expect to be able to save you from a psychopath? I think it's sad and pathetic. Sure, in the US we cut down a lot of our celebrities, but we aren't expecting them to save us from a madman."
"And what of the fact that he's been seen in the company of a known follower of said madman's son?"
"I think children shouldn't be judged by their parents. Sure, sometime's it's deserved and sometimes it isn't. This time, it looks to me like it isn't."
Deciding it was best to change topics, I asked about his finacee. "Her name is GracieLou Freebush, is it not?"
"GracieLou," He smiled. "She was so very excited when that muggle movie, 'Miss Congeniality' came out. She's a half-blood, and her mother took her to watch it. I'll never understand muggle movies. But apparently she and the main character share her name." Mr. Winchester laughed.
"Well, congratulations on your engagement. I do wonder, are you going to change anything about the paper?"
"At this moment in time, no I'm not."
It seems to me that this change will work for the Prophet and all of it's readers.
-Alicia Gibson

Harry and Pansy were at the head office at the Prophet after the article was printed. Abbey McKay walked into the office after a few quick raps on the door. "Mr. Winchester, Miss Freebush," She nodded to both of them. "Sir, I was wondering if Mr. Smith had you officially sign everything over? It's rather simple, all you do is press a drop of your blood to the handle of the top drawer of that desk."

"No, he didn't," Charles looked at GracieLou, slightly concerned.

"I understand completely if you would rather wait, Mr. Potter."

"I think I wi.... What did you just call me?"

"Mr. Potter. Or is it alright for me to call you Harry?" She arched an eyebrow. "It's alright, I won't tell anyone here. Besides, they would never believe me anyway," She waved her hand dismissively. "Who is GracieLou though? I haven't been able to figure that out," She turned to face her.

"Pansy Parkinson," Pansy dropped the accent. "How did you figure us out?"

"I was a Ravenclaw, and my father was a Slytherin. I learned how to observe these things. I remember the way you answered Alicia about yourself," Abbey informed Harry. "And I think it's about damn time you stepped up to do something about the idiots at this paper. I take it Mr. Smith had no idea who you are?"

"No, why?"

"He believes everything Marietta printed about you. I, however, read Rita's article. Which reminds me, are you bringing her back here?"

"Yes, to replace Edgecombe."

"Wonderful. Well, have a good day then," She inclined her head, with a smile, and left the office.

"That was... interesting," Harry stared after her.

"Good to know though. After all, now you know exactly how to sign everything over to yourself," Pansy stated.

"Come on, let's go home and tell the others," Together, the two of them left the office and Apparated back to Dunluce castle.

"So wait, she doesn't care?" Hermione asked. Harry had gathered everyone in the sitting room to tell them what had happened.

"Seems that way. She even told Harry how to sign the office over into his name. It's blood, not signing his name to anything," Pansy stated.

"Let Blaise and I check it out before you do, Harry. We wouldn't want anything to go wrong," Draco insisted. Harry nodded his agreement.

"Hagrid wrote back today, by the way. He only said that he was wondering if someone could come to get him. He'll be at the Shrieking Shack by 5pm today," Hermione said. "Charlie's already volunteered to go."

"Thanks, Charlie," Harry smiled at him.

"No problem," The redhead shrugged.

"Fleur, what did your parents say about the wedding?" Harry turned to them.

"We are 'aving it at their 'ome," Fleur responded. "It is still zee same day."

"Wonderful. Oh and 'Mione, we need to owl Rita again. She's going to get her job back at the Daily Prophet."

"Don't let her know it's you, Harry. Write to her as Charles," Draco suggested.

"She'll be angry when she finds out it's really you," Hermione stated.

"She'll understand though, and then she'll get over it," Harry shrugged. He summoned parchment, quill, and ink and began writing to Rita Skeeter. He was sure to praise her recent work that Luna's dad had published instead of the stuff she had done before.

Five minutes after 5pm that evening, Charlie walked in with Hagrid. "Harry, Hermione," He grinned at both of them and swept them into a bone-crushing hug. "How are ya?" He asked, releasing them.

"We're good, Hagrid," Harry answered, rubbing his ribs.

"Good. Now, what were ya sayin' in yer letter?" He asked.

"Hagrid, you know everything that Ron and Ginny have been saying about us," Hermione began.

"That? Codswallop in my opinion. You two would never do that. Well, make friends with Slytherins sure, but yer not evil," Hagrid stated.

"Hagrid, you're the greatest, ya know that?" Harry stated, hugging the half giant again.

"Well, I dunno 'bout all that," Hagrid said awkwardly.

"Come on," Hermione said, grabbing one of Hagrid's arms while Harry grabbed the other. The two of them pulled him into the other room where everyone was waiting.

"Hagrid, that's Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson. Guys, one of my best and my first friend, Hagrid," Harry introduced them.

Draco, in true Slytherin form, approached Hagrid formally. "I just wanted to apologize for everything I've ever said about you, to your face or otherwise. And for everything I've done to you," He held out his hand.

In true Hagrid form, the half giant reached out and embraced Draco in one of his bone-crushing hugs. "Apology accepted," Hagrid responded. Every Gryffindor who'd ever made friends with the half giant, Sirius, Harry, Hermione, Remus, Charlie, and the twins, were attempting, and failing, to hide their smiles. It was what they'd expected from him.

"Hagrid, he needs to breath," McGonagall reminded him. She had arrived half an hour before Hagrid to check in on the group and make sure everything was going okay.

"Right, sorry," Hagrid released the blond Slytherin.

"It's okay," Draco assured him, rubbing his, now sore, ribs. Hagrid sat out back with everyone for a couple of hours before he had to go back to Hogwarts. He had told them not to tell him exactly where they were as he was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret from Dumbledore. After telling him that the old man already knew where they were, they all agreed not to tell Hagrid anything potentially damaging for them.

Before he left with McGonagall, Hagrid leaned toward Hermione and Harry, who had walked with them to the gate of the castle. "'Member, not every evil is imeadiately noticable. Some evil hides in plain sight. And sometimes what we think is the truth ain't at all," With those parting words, Hagrid and McGonagall Apparated away.

"That was interesting, to say the least," Harry said.

"I think he means Dumbledore, Harry," Hermione responded.

"Maybe. Let's find out what the others think," Together the two teens returned to the castle. Everyone was still out back. "Guys, Hagrid said something interesting to us just now. He said that not all evil is immediately noticeable, that some evil hides in plain site. And that sometimes what we think is the truth isn't," He told them all.

"I think he means Dumbledore, what do you think?" Hermione asked, picking up Ciara who had climbed out of Draco's lap and was silently asking to be picked up.

"It makes sense to me," Bill stated. Everyone gave some sort of agreement to the possibility that it could be Dumbledore.

"But keep your eyes open. It may not be him, it may be someone else," Remus cautioned.

"So now that that's taken care of, when exactly were the two of you planning to tell us what's been going on between you?" Pansy asked, arching an eyebrow and looking between Draco and Harry.

"And don't either of you say that nothing's been going on. Hermione saw you snogging on the beach two days ago," Sirius pointed a finger at Harry, almost accusingly.

After a shared look between the two of them, Draco answered. "We're not really sure yet. That's why we haven't told anyone."

"Except Severus. But that's because he caught us not too long ago," Harry added.

"And they made me swear not to tell. Obviously that was futile as they've found out on their own, haven't they?" Severus joined them out back, looking pointedly at his godson and his surrogate nephew.

"Hello to you too, Sev," Harry rolled his eyes. Severus flicked him in the back of the head.

"Fine then, since you don't know yet, we'll leave you alone for a while. Talk it out and figure out where you stand with each other," Hermione stated.

"In a minute. Was there any particular reason you came for a visit, Sev?" Harry asked.

"To find out how everything went with Hagrid, actually," He responded.

"Well, we can fill you in on that. Come on, everyone inside," Hermione insisted.

"I don't particularly want to go inside," Sirius stated.

"Come on, Draco," Harry grabbed the blonds' hand and pulled him into the castle with him. Together, they walked up to Harry's room. They sat side by side on his bed and were silent. For some reason, Harry started giggling and then full out laughing after a few minutes of the silence. Draco looked at Harry after he had fallen back on the bed and joined in the laughter, falling back beside the brunet.

Finally they relaxed and stopped laughing. "What was so funny?" Draco asked.

"I have no idea. I just started laughing for some reason," Harry shrugged and turned on his side to face Draco. "So what is going on between us, Draco?" He asked softly.

"I don't know. All I know is that I like being with you. When you're not around, I automatically search for you, or wonder where you are or what you're doing. I know that I keep getting light-headed every time you kiss me and as soon as you break away I want you to kiss me again," Draco said, not looking directly into Harry's eyes. "And I know this is bloody embrrassing, talking about my feelings like a bloody girl."

Harry grinned and bent to capture Draco's lips. Draco pressed into Harry's body, tangling a hand in messy black hair. Harry pulled away, far too soon for Draco's taste. "I understand exactly what you mean, Draco. I always make sure I know where you are and when you're in the castle, I always try to think of the fastest way to get wherever you are," Harry admitted. They were silent again, until Harry broke it. "Be my boyfriend, Draco?"

"Absolutely," Draco grinned and kissed him again. The two moved up to lay their heads on the pillows at the top of the bed. Harry kicked off his shoes and pulled off his socks as Draco did the same. Draco kissed Harry once more before curling against the Gryffindor, resting his head on his chest, and slowly fell asleep. Harry followed him to sleep not long after that.

And that's how they were found three hours later when Pansy and Hermione came looking for them. Hermione pulled a blanket over the two of them before she and Pansy ran downstairs to tell everyone what they'd found.

A/N: Timeline note- It's been 10 days since the beginning of the story. Yeah, I didn't realize it either. Unless there was a week jump in there that I missed, but I don't think so. At any rate, I THINK that the story may end before Sept. 1st. Possibly. We'll see.

For now though, that's it. Also, for those who don't read my other story, I'm going on vacation in two weeks. I'll try to have an update before that, but I make no promises.