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: Ebony's back, by the way. For this story at least. I think it's because I forced myself to write the last chapter, actually. Also, yes I know there's not been much Harry/Draco action. I will get to it, I swear. Finally, thanks go to reba for her idea which I will be using in this chapter. It's a wonderful idea and part of the reason why I'm able to write this chapter.
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Draco had gone out onto the grounds shortly after dinner that night with a pensive look on his face. Half an hour later, Harry caught up with him where he was aimlessly wandering around.

"Draco, is everything okay?" He asked.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, everything's fine. I was just thinking about something my father told me once," Draco admitted. "He used to say that we were Malfoys and Malfoys always get what they want no matter how much gold or curses it would take. So I was thinking, you've got more gold than the Malfoys, this castle is proof enough of that, so why not buy the Prophet? Or at least a majority share? That way they can't print any lies about you at all without starting a new newspaper. And even if they do you could get a really good Law Wizard and sue for slander. Which, really, you should've done back in forth year. Anyone would've been willing to work for you then. But you already know that the Quibbler won't print that shit about you and Hermione and if you own the Prophet, they won't either."

Harry was silent a moment. "Draco, you're a genius!" He grabbed hold of Draco's face, kissed him quickly, and dashed of into the castle.

Draco took a moment to process what had just happened but once he did he was left feeling slightly light-headed, like someone had knocked his breath out of him, and confused. Now, feeling light-headed wasn't something Draco had ever expected to feel, it just seemed like an undignified feeling. Confusion, on the other hand, he had felt before and he hated it. He hated not knowing what was going on. So, he resolved to figure out both of these feelings by recreating the situation that caused them. At the next possible opportunity, he would kiss Harry again.

He followed Harry into the castle and stopped when he saw him talking animatedly to Hermione, Bill, Charlie, Pansy, and Blaise. "So if I can just buy the Prophet we shouldn't have any more problems with them," He was saying.

"You might with Wizarding mags though, Harry," Bill stated.

"True, but Draco says if that should happen that I should sue them for slander."

"I hate to be the downer of this party, but the Ministry may not let you buy the Prophet. They're very corrupt, Harry, you know that. Then they could turn you trying to buy the paper into some sensational story as well, " Hermione said.

"Damn it! I hadn't thought of that," Harry sighed.

"Disguise your identity, Harry. Claim to be the son of some wealthy American wizard who has just moved to the U.K. and wants to prove to his father that he can run a business so you're buying the newspaper. Keep your real identity a secret for at least a month; then spring it on them at some meeting or another. Or even better, a press conference," Blaise suggested.

"And before you say anything, Blaise, Draco, and I will go with you. We'll be your 'people'. It makes people like them respect you when you come in fully prepared to do just about anything like that," Pansy added.

"Pansy, we would only need a publicist and Law Wizard that his father hired for him," Draco stated.

"What, no charming and beautiful but dim-witted socialite fiancee? I'm insulted," Pansy turned up her nose at the two Slytherins.

"Harry, what do you think?" Blaise asked.

"I think that could work actually. But Pansy, we should give you a really obnoxious name."

"I know, I've resigned myself to that idea, already," She sighed dramatically.

"Okay then, if that's the plan, I'll Floo Minnie and Sev to help with the glamours, okay?" Hermione asked.

Harry and the three Slytherins looked at each other. "Thanks, 'Mione. I guess we'll come up with names then," Harry spoke.

Hermione turned and left the room. "Yours should be slightly obnoxious too, Harry. Like add 'the fourth' at the end or something," Pansy stated.

The four of them sat together in the sitting room, trying to come up with names. It was also decided that Draco would be the Law Wizard and Blaise would be the publicist.

"And, Harry, you'll refer to Blaise and me by our first name, but we'll address you as Mr. whatever your surname is, got it?" Draco asked.

"Yeah. Now we just need to figure out the glamours," Harry responded.

"You're all insane, you know that, right?"

"Hi Minnie," Harry smiled at her as she entered the sitting room. "Where's Sev and 'Mione?"

"They're coming. She Flooed me first," She explained. "Have you spoken to your godfather about this idea of yours, yet?"

"No. I will when he and Remus get back inside. They're out wandering the grounds to make sure it'll be okay for us to run around out there this full moon," He explained.

Minerva narrowed her eyes at the young man. "The three of you need to keep him away from everyone else. Even though he's taking his wolfsbane, the other witches and wizards in the area will still try to take him down."

"We know," Hermione spoke from the doorway, Severus behind her. "Have the four of you chosen your names yet?"

The four of them told them their new names. Severus and Minerva did most of the work on their glamours, only calling for Hermione's opinion.

"You'll have to take out your piercings and make sure your tattoos are always covered on your own though," Minerva informed them.

"And Harry, don't make any extreme changes right away. If you must, fire Marietta, but let them print a couple more articles about you. You wouldn't want to tip anyone off too early," Severus explained.

"Fair enough," Harry shrugged. "And Pansy, the two of us will have to come up with some sort of background story, if you're supposed to be my fiancee."

"Relax, we'll figure all that out. I'm sure the Prophet would want to write an article about their new owner at any rate," Pansy stated. "In the meantime, Draco and Blaise, owl order some Armani robes for all three of you. I know you two know exactly what to ask for," The two of them nodded and set off to find an owl that wasn't Hedwig as she was too recognizable.

"Has Rita owled you back yet?" Harry asked Hermione.

"She has. She can be here tomorrow at 11:30 am," Hermione answered.

"Perfect. Have we heard back from Luna and her dad yet?"

"Yes, and Luna will be here tomorrow during the interview, just like last time."

"Good. I'm going to go write to Hagrid then turn in. Hermione, do you want to write with me?" Harry asked.

"Sure," The two of them ascended the stairs together and walked to Harry's desk. They sat side by side and began the letter to Hagrid.

Hagrid,
Hi Hagrid! After the article that came out today, 'Mione and I thought that we should write to you.
You don't really believe what that woman printed about us, do you Hagrid? You know us better than that, right?
Part of it is true though. We are friends with Draco, Blaise, and Pansy now. But you're the one who told me that I shouldn't judge people without getting to know them first, right? So we did. After I left the Dursley's, which I did because I got my inheritance early, we spent a day in London with them. And, surprisingly, we had a lot of fun.
Ginny and Ron don't understand that because they were taught that Slytherins are all evil and it really sucks that they think that way.
Anyway, Hagrid, just please read the article coming out in the Quibbler soon. Please? We really do still want to be your friend.
Love from,
Hermione and Harry

Hermione took the note up to Hedwig to mail off to their friend. Harry bade her goodnight from his doorway. Before he could close the door, Draco rounded the corner and called out to him.

"So you wrote to Hagrid?" He asked.

"We did. Hermione's mailing it off now, actually. What did you need?" Harry stepped back into his room and Draco followed.

"It's about earlier, actually," Harry had turned around when he walked into his room and so, was surprised to turn to Draco and find him mere centimetres from himself. "I told myself I would figure it out," This part was said so quitely that Harry was sure Draco was talking to himself.

Without another word, Draco put a hand on either side of Harry's face and kissed him. Harry's body responded automatically, without thinking about what was going on. He wrapped his arms around a thin waist and deepened the kiss. Draco hummed low in his throat and wrapped his arms around Harry's neck, pulling him closer. Harry licked Draco's bottom lip and the blond parted his lips instantly. Harry slid his tongue into Draco's mouth and licked over every tooth and crevice on the roof of his mouth before stroking over the Slytherin's own tongue. Draco moaned low in his throat and followed Harry's tongue back into it's own mouth.

The two broke their kiss, breathing deeply, but not letting go of each other. "Draco, what was that?" Harry asked.

"Not what I was expecting. It just left me more light-headed and confused than last time," He admitted. "But it felt right," Again, he spoke so softly that had Harry been a little further away, he wouldn't have heard it.

"That it did," Harry gently kissed him again.

"Go to bed, Harry. You have an interview in the morning. We'll figure this out after that, okay?" Draco assured him.

"Yeah. Yeah, okay," Reluctantly, Harry released his hold on Draco and stepped back. "Goodnight, Draco."

The blond couldn't resist leaning forward for one more, quick kiss. "Sweet dreams, Harry."

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Rita arrived exactly at 11:30 the next morning to find Luna, Harry, and Hermione waiting for her. "This seems vaguely familiar," She rolled her eyes. "Alright, let's get this over with," She sat down across from the three teens and pulled out her supplies before beginning the interview.

The article was in a special edition of the Quibbler the next day.

Harry Potter, still our Saviour
I sat with Miss Granger and Mr. Potter to get their take on the Daily Prophet's horrendous article about them. "It's completely insane that anyone would think I would switch to Voldemort's side. He's killed my parents, among countless others, and keeps trying to kill me and my friends. Why would I go to him?" Mr. Potter asked and I had to admit that it was a good question.
When asked why their two ex-friends would've said such things about them, Miss Granger replied, "We're not really sure, but we think it's jealousy. Ron told me once; when the two of them weren't speaking in fourth year, that he felt like Harry did things just for the attention. And I know Ginny's angry that Harry's refused her advances."
"So you were never engaged to Miss Weasley?"
"Merlin no. I told her on more than one occasion that I could only ever see her as a friend, never more, and that I was gay. She just refused to believe me."
"Now, what of your Parselmouth abilities, Mr. Potter?"
"When I was a baby and the killing curse rebounded off of me, some of Voldemort's powers were transferred to me. No one's quite sure why. But his powers have helped me to defeat him in the past and I'm sure will continue to do so."
"And Draco Malfoy?"
"Draco, along with two of his friends, were disowned for not taking the Dark Mark this summer. I met them in London and actually got to know the real them instead of what I thought they were."
He refused to tell if there was anything going on, romantically, between himself and Mr. Malfoy. "About what Miss Granger said a few minutes ago, you've never sought attention?"
"Merlin, no! It always finds me. Voldemort is determined to kill me and comes up with more creative ways to do it. Even using Ginny to open the Chamber of Secrets in my second year."
"That was her?"
"Oh yes. Ronald and I had to go down into the Chamber and rescue her after Hermione had been petrified and Ginny was dying down there."
"You saved her life and still she says these horrible things about you?"
"Unfortunately."
"And the other things he's done to get to you?"
"In first year our Defence teacher, Quirrell, was possessed by him. Voldemort was basically sticking out of the back of Quirrell's head under the turban. He was after the Sorcerer's Stone for the immortality. I already told you about second year. Third year, Peter Pettigrew escaped and found Voldemort and intended to help him regain his body. Then fourth year he had Mad-eye Moody attacked by an escaped Death Eater. The Death Eater, Barty Crouch Jr., then Polyjucied himself to look like Moody. He put my name in the Goblet of Fire and made it so that I would get to the Cup first. It was a Portkey to a cemetery like I explained in my fifth year. Then fifth year was the Department of Mysteries when Ron and Ginny were both there to fight with me. And last year was actually the quietest year. He didn't outright attack me at all."
"That is a lot. And you've survived all of this?"
"Obviously. But I've always had help from my friends. Usually Ron, but not anymore I guess," He shrugged.
With any luck, Mr. Potter's friends will be able to help him save us all from the Dark Lord.
~Rita Skeeter

A/N: Yes, I'm leaving their names and appearances for a surprise in the next chapter. However, if you have a name suggestion, that would be wonderful and I would love to see them and possibly use some. Also, what about Hagrid? Should he believe Harry and Hermione, or Ron and Ginny? And yes, I wanted to bring up the Chamber of Secrets, just to piss Ginny off. :D Once again, thanks reba for your awesome idea! It was the buying the Prophet bit, for anyone who wants to know.