Disclaimer: Seriously this site is called FANFICTION… I wouldn't be writing on here if these characters were mine

HIDDEN CHANGES

Hermione Granger dreaded today. Ever year before this she rejoiced but now she did not want to board the train today. It was her sixth year and she had changed over the summer and not just in outward appearance; she couldn't live a normal life anymore. She had 'grown up' as some would say. She stared at the train quietly before boarding and finding her two best friends already in a compartment. She plastered a fake smile on her face and greeted them cheerfully giving them hugs.

"Harry Potter and RonWeasley! You are both so tall now!"

It was true the boys were now at least 6 inches taller than her.

Ron replied, "Well maybe you should start wearing some high-heels, shorty."

Harry laughed softly and said, "Our little Hermione in heels? No way."

"Hey, I do wear heels occasionally, but I would kill myself walking around a castle in them."

Ron just pinched her cheek saying, "Mione is so smart! Always thinking ahead and being a little bookworm!"

She swatted at his hand, "stop treating me like a kid!"

Harry just couldn't resist responding with, "But your height makes it so hard now!"

She proceeded to punch him in the arm making sure to leave a bruise.

"Holy hell, Hermione! Have you been working out or something!?" Harry rubbed the spot she just abused.

She ignored the comment and proceeded said, "I need a favor. You see I am experimenting on a potion to try and get ahead for N.E.W.T.S. and I am going to need supplies for it. Snape isn't going to let me use his stores so I am going to need to well… either sneak some from his stores or sneak off the grounds to buy some since I couldn't get to the store before we left."

Harry simply said, "I am sure the bat won't miss anything and if he does I really don't give a shit."

"We can get you the supplies if you want. I mean with Harry's cloak and the map we won't be caught, Hermione." Ron said simply.

"Boys the problem is we can't all fit under it anymore. Harry you have to crouch so your feet aren't seen, how are we all going to fit under it with all of the ingredients I need?"

"I see your point, well I guess you can go by yourself since you are the only one that fits comfortably with a bag. By the way what potion?"

Hermione dodged the question saying, "I also have to find a good room to brew it in."

Ron noticed her evading the question and decided to press on the issue, "Well it depends on what you are brewing…"

Damn Ron… when did he start to notice things… I am a shitty liar… Hermione thought. "It is sort of a secret for someone, so I am not at liberty to divulge that information currently to anyone. I would appreciate it if you kept this very hush-hush. I promise to tell you what it is later."

Harry noticed her becoming tense and decided to change the topic, "So how was your summer?"

"Oh it was fine, I am sorry I couldn't stay at the burrow this last week."

"Don't worry you didn't miss anything, except Fred and George spiking mum's tea with firewhiskey. That was a riot."

Harry imitated Mrs. Weasley's voice and stumbled around the compartment, "Imma gonna get those twins for this!!!" They burst out into laughter and settled down for the long train ride.

When they arrived at Hogwarts they greeted everyone and enjoyed the opening feast as usual. Dumbledore announced all of the staff members as usual.

"You are to respect all of the teachers no matter what. The Forbidden Forest is as named, forbidden. Please welcome Professor Remus Lupin back to the staff." All of the students cheered except for a few Slytherins, but even most of them cheered.

"Let the Sorting begin!"

They welcomed the new Gryffindors with cheers and encouraged them by telling them about all of the teachers on the staff.

"Watch out for the Bat of the Dungeons!" Seamus was warning the first year students.

"He is terrifying! He eats brains and the souls of babies!" Dean added in.

Hermione scolded them both when she saw the absolute terror in a few of the new Griffindor's eyes, "Cut it out, he is just a mean old man who favors his house. He doesn't eat children… He just bites the heads of live bats off their bodies!" She saw the fear in their faces and laughed before apologizing and telling them she was lying.

Fred jumped in saying, "Hermione knows what all of the teachers do in their spare time cause she is a suck up."

Hermione shot him a glare and continued to eat, while Ron was loading up a third serving of food.

Lavender Brown was busy explain about Divination to some of the younger students and how excellent it was while Parvati Patil was busy telling them about the dreamy but sometimes dangerous Professor Lupin.

When the feast was over they all retreated to the common room and got ready for bed, except for three students. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were busy plotting. The boys were going to wait for her in the common room until she was back from her 'quest to the bat's lair.'

She carefully avoided everyone and made it to the store room with no problems. She did run into a slight problem on the way back. Professor Snape and Professor Lupin were doing their rounds together. They were too busy bickering to notice Hermione's labored breathing. That bag was a lot heavier than expected. Hermione hurried to her common room and assured Harry and Ron she was fine and had no troubles at all. She quickly excused herself before they began to ask what she was making.

It was around 2 AM when Severus Snape stormed up to the Headmaster's office.

"Albus, we have a problem."

Albus Dumbledore did not like being woken up in the middle of the night unless he was expecting it, and he wasn't expecting this. "Well, what is the problem then?"

"Well, I was in my store room getting ingredients for a Lupin's wolfbane potion when I noticed some of my items were missing. Lupin and I agreed that I would make his potions and he was with me earlier tonight so it couldn't of been him. As I realized what I was missing I decided only one conclusion was possible considering…"

"Severus, out with it!"

"We have another Werewolf on the grounds…"

AN: Should I continue? If I do who should she be paired with? Please review!