Season of Change by: Elsbeth There were only a few things in Harry Potter's life that never changed, he was the son of Lily and James Potter and that he was born a male. What happens when he discovers the truth.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all of it belong to J.K Rowling, I am just playing in her sandbox for a while.

Authors Note: AU: Its not my first fanfic but its my first Harry Potter, so I hope you enjoy it. The story starts at the end of the 5th Book.

Late into the night, outside Wiltshire, England, a dozen heavily armored Witch and Witches Apparated into a field just outside the family wards of Malfoy Manor.

"Excellent, there are the last of them." Urgrog, the chief goblin in charge of this night's work gave a feral grin as they began to approach. "Here are the documents of eviction; you will see they are all in order."

Amelia Bones Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, even without standing outside Malfoy Manor, knew this was more than a simple ejection, however for it to be a success it might all be legal.

"I assume the owner was given a written Notice to Vacate?"

"Unfortunately, the 'former' owner resides in Azkaban. According so, we have been informed by the new landlord that the current occupants are nothing more than squatters."

"You have the writ of Possession."

The goblin rolled his eyes, snapping his fingers at another goblin, who stepped forward to hand her the document.

"What about the items inside the home?" Madam Bones asked before returning the writ.

"We also possess a Writ of Garnishment, so all of the Malfoy possessions will be seized and most likely sold at a later date."

Nodding as she checked through the documents once more, she finally motioned the other group forward.

"More Hit-Wizards?" Gabba Smyth, Captain of Aurors, whispered to his boss.

"Don't complain, Gabs." Madam Bones said as she moved to intercept the group. She had amazingly managed to amass close to an Auror division for this night's work, unheard of only a month ago. However, the additional forces were more than welcomed.

"Evening, Amy.' A tall red-haired Hit-Wizard greeted the group.

"Arnie, I'm surprised Malcolm isn't here. I thought the two of you were attached at the hip."

Arnold "Arnie" Peasegood gave a good-natured laugh. "You'll most likely see him tonight. He and his lads are in the woods up north and will be going in with us as soon as the wards are down."

"Isn't she short for a Hit-Wizard?" Madam Bones overheard one of her Aurors comment as an armored Witch stepped though the line.

"Good evening, Urgrog. I assume everything is in order."

"Everything is going as planned, Milady Black." The group overheard as one of the goblins passed the young woman a few documents to sign.

Amelia tried not to laugh at her fellow Aurors expense when she heard the identity of the 'short' Hit-Wizard. "I assume you won't be Apparating into Malfoy Manor with the Hit-Wizards, Alya."

The raven-haired beauty smiled at the head of the DMLE. Alya had met with Tonks' boss a number of times already, finding her both tough but very personable. A lot like her niece Susan Bones.

"Aunt Andi would have my hide, so instead tonight I'm going to be your ward-breaker." Alya smirked at the incredulous looks she received around the clearing.

Instead of refuting her claim, she simply raised her hand, revealing the House of Malfoy signet ring.

Argus Munroe, the great grandson of Lyra Munroe nee Black, shifted uncomfortably in his dark green Custos robe. Although built like a fighting man with his wide shoulders and broad chest, the tall Scotsman was anything but.

Of course, the lack of decent Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts didn't help. For the last two years, he had been an apprentice to one of St. Mungo's resident potion makers. Because of that, he had been more than a little surprised when his father informed him that he would be the Custos for the new Head of the Black family for a few days.

Since her sudden appearance, he had learned much of his family history. How Phineas Black, disowned from the family for supporting the rights of the Muggle born, had left London after the death of his wife Ursula Black nee Flint.

According to his great grandmother, her father continued his work while living in Edinburgh, Scotland until his recent death. After graduating from Hogwarts, she married his great grandfather Angus a Muggleborn, who he was named after.

What no one in the family expected was for a solicitor named Edward Tonks, apparently a cousin of some sort, to approach his great grandmother offering to bring her and the family back into the powerful House of Black.

Because of his work, he missed the initial meetings with their new Head of House but last week he had stopped at the family mansion to find Alya Black visiting.

Immediately, he felt like a fool stammering at the introduction. He had to admit she was beautiful, but she was far too young. Moreover, he was a simple potions master's apprentice. Alya Black would eventually marry some Scion of an Ancient and Noble House, or some foreign prince. However, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Angus said realizing someone was talking to him.

Amelia Bones smiled. "I was saying that you were in my niece's house at Hogwarts were you not."

"Yes ma'am." Angus was curious to see Alya Black's reaction to him being a Hufflepuff. His great grandmother had been in Slytherin, like most of the Blacks, however, she never seemed to care what house they were in at Hogwarts.

He was relieved to see her smile and give him a simple nod. Unfortunately, he found himself blushing.

Suddenly a glowing white horse came out of the woods with news that the Hit-Wizards were having trouble on the second floor and starting to take heavy casualties.

"Alya, where are you going?" Madam Bones asked her voice full of worry when the young woman pulled out her wand.

"My Aunt's over there." Looking towards her Custos, she barked. "Third floor."

"Shite." Angus Munroe exclaimed as his new Head of House Apparated away.

Earlier in the night, standing in the bowls of the Ministry, he had stood listening to the last minute details to the attack on Manor. The Hit Wizards would be Apparating onto the second and third floors, while the Aurors would come in from the ground floor.

Surprisingly, Milady Black had detailed notes and maps on the manor so it came as no surprise when he successfully Apparated into the large storeroom. With wand drawn, he stepped through the broken door to find the first Death Eater on the ground killed by what look to be a Cutting Curse to the chest.

As he passed several bedrooms, he knew what to find if he looked inside each of them. The orders were to Stun, and then use a Bone-breaker Curse to either the legs or the pelvis. With each of the occupants' wands retrieved as well, he knew that even if somehow they woke up they weren't going anywhere.

As he turned a corner, he found Alya Black leaning over the corpse of a Hit-Wizard. From the lack of wounds, he must have been the victim of a Killing Curse.

"We spoke to one another before the meeting this evening." She whispered while looking down at the man. "He has two daughters, one eight the other a firsty at Hogwarts. He was telling me how proud he was that she was sorted into Ravenclaw like he and his wife."

Angus was sure she said "No more" as she tenderly closed the man's eyes. "Milady, I'm not a fighter, I barely got an 'A' in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Alya just nodded still looking down at the man. "You work at St. Mungo's, correct."

"Yes, but in the potions lab."

"But you still went through the basic healers training, right?" Alya looked up causing Angus to almost step back seeing the fire in her eyes.

"Yes Milady."

"Good, I'll take care of the fighting. You're in charge on of any wounded we come across. They have Portkeys around their necks which will transport them directly to the Healers."

"What about wounded Death Eaters?"

"Fuck them." The Head of House Black gave a very unladylike growl. "Just stun the the little shits and keep on going."

Taking a half a dozen steps forward, she suddenly turned around and smile. "Oh, and by the way, Angus. Please call me Alya."

After passing a few more rooms, coming across neither dead nor wounded they reached the top of the stairs. Signs of battle were everywhere, including the remains of two Death Eaters.

Stepping over the dead men, Alya continued forward looking around a corner with caution. "Can you hear that?" she motioned the young man forward.

"Aye." The obvious sounds of fighting were close.

Once through a large set of double doors they halted in front of a large room. Inside two groups were trading spell fire back and forth. The walls and furniture in the room were also heavily damaged; however the exit, a wide set of doors however were untouched.

Alya immediately realized someone had warded them.

"Blimey, there not enough room to swing a Kneazle in there." Argus stepped back as a sickly yellow spell took a chunk out of the door frame.

After quickly passing a Wizard, who lay unmoving in the entrance of the room, the two managed to dodge incoming spells before quickly making their way towards a group of Hit-Wizards taking cover behind a large china cabinet that had been knocked on its side.

"Aunti!" Alya yelled, reaching the older woman who was kneeling off to the side.

"Alya you can't be here." Capella Sinclair groaned as her nice dropped down in front of her but not before dodging a Bombardia that took out part of the wall.

"You're hurt."

Ignoring her niece's concern for a moment, the older woman turned to speak to another Wizard. "Malcolm's going to be fine, we just Portkeyed him back. However, unless we can regroup with Arnie's team we will have to retreat. Take Terry with you and see if you can work around-"

Interrupting the discussion, Angus suddenly lifted the Hit-Witch and placed her protectively against the far wall. Ignoring the her protests, he knelt down and began to cast several diagnostic spells. "Seems to be some sort of Dark Cutting curse."

Alya noticed that young man's demeanor had changed, becoming more professional.

"Where's your healer." He asked.

Capella sadly pointed to the center of the room where a young Witch lay face down, her life's blood spread out around her.

"I'll be back." Ignoring the deadly spell-fire, the young man ran over and started to strip the woman of her healing kit. As quickly, he returned, taking a potion from the sack and passed it to the older woman. "You need to take that right now, it will replenish the blood you have lost."

"If you ever need a job, young man, come talk to me." Capella said impressed while he continued to work on her injuries.

"Ahh, thank you ma'am." Angus tried not to blush. "You really need to port to Saint Mungo's, one of the Healers will need to look that wound."

"By your leave, Alya. I'll check on everyone else." Angus nodded before running towards more wounded.

"Hitchcock." Capella finally called out to a tall man who knelt behind a large couch. "I'm handing command over to you. " Turning to Alya with a smile, she said. "However, you my dear will be coming back with me."

Before Alya could even reply, something hit the couch, sending several Hit-Wizards sprawling backwards, including Angus who was working on a wounded Witch.

Something inside the raven-haired Witch snapped. Rising from the ground, she strode forward into no-man's land. With her eyes glowing green, looking much like some warrior Queen of old, Alya contemptuously battered away a dark purple curse that melted part of the wall, before turning to face the warded door.

For those in the room, they would always remember this day. It wasn't because the young woman effortlessly used combat Transfiguration to block spells, nor that the Death Eater she faced literally stepped back as she looked at them. No, it was what happened afterwards.

In ages past, Alya knew that attackers used spells similar to Bombardia to damage castle walls and gates. The doors in the Malfoy manor however were not made of heavily fortified stone, or a magically reinforced wood.

She didn't know exactly where the knowledge came from but the incantation once known as the Trebuchet spell, immediately disintegrated the door and the wall surrounding it.

It also included a half a dozen Death Eaters that stood on the other side of the doorway.

For the Death Eaters that fought inside the Malfoy manor the night attack had been a complete surprise. Something that had not occurred often with the many sympathizers that work for the Ministry of Magic included Aurors inside the DMLE. Somehow, the attackers even knew of the Dark Lords plans to take most of the Inner Circle and meet with the leaders of one of the larger Vampire Clans.

So when the Hit-Wizards Apparated into the manor, the defenders were at their most vulnerable.

Still, the Death Eaters understood news of the attack would quickly reach the Dark Lord and when he returned he could extract his vengeance. All they needed to do was to keep the two Hit-Wizards teams from joining forces along with the Aurors that had entered the ground floor.

However, it wasn't the explosion that shook the upper floors that sent a chill down their spines of every Death Eater but what sounded like a familiar voice. A few knew that the one called Wormtail had disappeared but no one really cared; however, everyone knew Bellatrix Lestrange had vanished and that made them worry.

Since most had followed Bellatrix on raids, they had watched her slay Wizards and Witches alike with terrifying ease. Even those powerful Wizards in the inner circle were wise enough to give her a wide berth. It was rumored that the Dark Lord often used her to keep the peace among those same Wizards.

As the Dark Lord's right hand, she commanded the Death Eaters on the most important raids. Since she had disappeared, things had not gone well. Some however believed that she had returned to the Black family and not one of them wanted to face her wand if those rumors turned out to be true.

Fighting in the dark, exhausted and frightened from battle, the remaining Death Eaters were now concerned about the sounds of fighting above them. However, when that very nightmare stepped out of a hallway, downing two of their own with wand and knife they did something unheard of among Death Eaters, they panicked.

Then they ran.

As the panic quickly spread through the ranks, they started to trampled one another to get away from what they knew was certain death. Unknown to Alya Black, as she continued to dance around throwing curses, the consequences of her mistaken appearance would cost Voldemort dearly.

Because at that very moment, that panicky retreat turned into a full fledged rout.

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. My Muse mugged me with this one, pretty much forced me to write it at pen-point :) Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth

PS Dont worry my other stories haven't been dropped, just taking a break