"So, did you like the movie?" Ariana's mother asked as she pulled out of the theater parking lot.
"Yes, mom, I liked the movie," she said, rolling her eyes. "It was meant for younger kids, though, wasn't it?"
"Not necessarily," said her father. "I think it was the best new release of the year."
"Really, dad? The Lion King was the best movie of the year?"
"Wasn't it your favorite?" her mother asked.
"It is the only I have seen this year. So yes, by default."
"That's true, I guess they don't show many movies at Hogwarts."
"They don't show any. Technology doesn't work there. That's why we have to use owls to communicate."
"Odd place," her father said, shaking his head. "But anyway, you like lions, don't you? You're a Gryffindor."
"Yeah, that's true."
"By the way, do you learn math and science at your school?" her mother asked. "Or only magic?"
"Pretty much just magic."
"I was afraid of that." Her mother sighed. "You're not going to have any of the knowledge your peers have of such things."
"Funny you should mention that," said Ariana. "Because this college an hour away is offering a month-long science camp for ages 10-13 starting next month."
Her father raised her eyebrows. "You want to spend most of July and August learning science?"
"Why not?"
"Sounds good to us," her mother said.
When she got back from science camp, it was already the middle of August, just a couple weeks before school was due to start up again. She didn't know how she was going to deal with another year of secret-keeping. To distract her from such thoughts, she turned to the new computer her father had gotten while she was at school. She still didn't quite understand how the internet worked. She frowned at the search bar. "Hogwarts," she typed.
Nothing came up.
She tried "Harry Potter" next.
Several results came back; evidently it was a common name. But nothing about her brother, as she had figured. The whole thing really was so secret. That whole world. It was kind of crazy.
"Ariana!" her father called. "There's an owl here to see you!"
She immediately jumped up and ran downstairs, wondering who would be writing her.
Ariana,
I don't know how long this will take to reach you, America is a ways away, but something pretty cool has happened. Dad helped Ludo Bagman out with something and now we have great seats to the Quidditch World Cup! Which I'm sure you know is next month, I told you about it a lot. So, my mum doesn't want to come for whatever ridiculous reason, and we have an extra ticket, if you want it. Harry will (almost certainly) be there too, so I don't know if that's too awkward for you, I'd understand. But if you want to come, you could come stay at our house for the few days after the match, and we'd handle getting you to school. If your parents are okay with it, that is. I know you all don't get to spend a lot of time together.
Please let us know what you decide, and when you'll be arriving. We can try to pick you up from the airport, but it might be easier if you find your own way; Mum and Dad will work the details out with your parents if you say yes.
Hope to see you soon,
Ginny
Grinning, Ariana showed the letter to her parents. "Can I go?"
Her mother shrugged. "I don't see why not. Sounds like a fun event."
"Don't we already have a flight planned?"
Her father nodded. "We do, but I can get a flight for this weekend, I think."
Ariana smiled. "Great!"
That Saturday night, they all boarded a plane to Heathrow, as usual, but this time they weren't done when they arrived.
"Where's our connection to?" Ariana's father asked as they ran through the airport.
"Exeter," her mother replied.
They found their gate and ran to their seats, and a little over an hour later they were in an airport Ariana had never been in before.
"Alright, so, we're looking for the village of Ottery St. Catchpole," her mother said. She pulled up a map. "It looks like it's about a half an hour by taxi, so let's go and get one."
"You know, I could probably go by myself from here," Ariana suggested. "No need to make things too complicated."
"Ariana, you're twelve," her father replied.
"Only for another week."
"We're coming with you," her mother said. She found the taxi booth and ordered a taxi to take them to Ottery St. Catchpole. The whole ride, all Ariana could think about was that Harry would be there. She'd be staying in the same house as her brother, going to this event with him, not saying anything to him...
"Where in town are you headed?" the taxi driver asked, breaking Ariana out of her reverie.
"Um," her father looked at the map. "The old church."
He dropped them off, and as her parents got out to pay, she looked around at the little building. She didn't know who exactly she was looking for, but she knew they would have red hair.
Sure enough, shortly after her parents joined her, a man Ariana had not seen before with long red hair in a ponytail strode up to them. He held out a hand. "Hello there. You must be the Clarks."
"Yes," her mother said. "And you are?"
"Bill Weasley. I'm Molly and Arthur's firstborn son."
"The one who lives in Egypt," Ariana remembered.
"Yes, that's right."
"Really? Egypt?" Her father raised his eyebrows.
Bill nodded. "I'm a curse-breaker for Gringotts. That's the magic bank."
Her father looked mildly impressed.
"You're welcome to come up to the house with us, but I can walk Ariana from here if you prefer."
Her mother frowned. "You'll be safe?"
"Of course, Mom."
"Wow, that is odd to hear," Bill remarked with a slight chuckle.
"Alright, well, goodbye then, dear. Be good! And safe!"
"I will, Mom."
"Everything your mother said." Her father gave you a hug. "Love you, sweetheart."
"Love you too, Dad. And you, Mom."
Her mother hugged her too. Then they walked into town, waving to Ariana as they left.
"You ready?" Bill asked.
Ariana shrugged. "Guess I don't really have a choice."
A/N: So here we are, another outing for Ariana and friends. This one might be a little bit different, though. See, I mentioned at one point that there would be either five or six fics in this series in total, and someone asked what might happen to Ariana that would prevent a sixth one from being made. The answer is that it's not about what happens to Ariana, but to the story. Specifically, just how much it diverges from canon. If it stays pretty close to canon, and Ariana goes to Hogwarts in Year 7, then the sixth fic would be pretty similar to the Hogwarts during Deathly Hallows fic I am already writing, and I don't feel like writing that again. If either Ariana isn't at Hogwarts during that year, or the story significantly differs from what happens in canon, then I will consider that fic necessary to be written. Sometime during this installment is when that will be determined, most likely, so any thoughts people have on what they might prefer will be taken into account. I basically have three general paths for this story: 1) Stays mostly like canon, Ariana goes to Hogwarts during DH, I don't write it; 2) Differs a bit from canon but not too much, Ariana goes elsewhere during DH (won't say where yet), or 3) Differs radically from canon. I won't say I'll definitely do what people suggest, because it will depend on where the story takes me, but I will consider suggestions. Whoops this was kind of long, but let me know your thoughts.