A Hogwarts Story

Book I

~ Arian ~

(Corresponding to HP: Book III)

~ DISCLAIMER ~

This story is set at the same time as the third book, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". I did not write that book and do not own any of these characters, except Arian and Flower. They are mine. I wrote this entirely for fun, not for profit or publication. I apologize for any errors or inconsistancies to canon or within the story! (Please forgive me and please, please, please comment in the reviews if you catch something! Thanks! ) In some places, I have deliberately and directly copied Ms. Rowling's words from her book. This is only in order to clarify the connection between my plot and hers. Once again, I credit Ms. Rowling with creating this world. I am adding another character and storyline in that world, but I am not stealing it. Also, my favorite character is Severus Snape, so look forward to a lot of interaction with the Potions master!

The sun was just slipping away when Professor McGonagall heard a light tapping noise that could have been a knock coming from the enormous double doors at the end of the corridor. There was a short silence, and then a light silvery voice called out: "Hello? Is there someone there?"

Skirts swishing, Professor McGonagall hurried to open the doors. Before her stood a young girl, no older than thirteen it seemed, and behind her, a small pile of luggage. She was rather pretty, but in a childish way. Her huge eyes conrtrasted her fair skin. They were deep and so dark that they were nearly black and had no reflections. Her face was framed with fine brown hair that hung straight to the middle of her back. She had long, sweeping lashes, a small nose, and a shy smile.

"This is Hogwarts… right? Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" she asked, nervously glancing around. Her white dress was soiled and torn and she was obviously tired from long traveling.

The woman in the doorway, a teacher presumably, was wearing a long gown of black and emerald green materials. Behind her glasses, the grey eyes were kind, concerned, and confused. "Yes, this is Hogwarts," she answered with a slight nod. "What is your name, child?"

"Arian," said the girl. "I'm… I'm looking for a Professor McGonagall."

The woman regarded her silently, but not unkindly. Arian thought she was very elegant. "Well, you've come to the right place. Do come in, dear," the teacher said, coming out of her pensive thoughts and stepping aside.

Arian quickly snatched her two bags and slung a third and odd-looking case over her shoulder. She moved with quick and nervous actions, like she had been running for a long time, and she had finally arrived at a place where she could rest.

"I am Professor McGonagall," the woman introduced herself as she lead Arian inside. She was a stern-looking witch with square spectacles and her hair pulled in a tight bun. She was growing increasingly puzzled. Who was this girl, Arian, and why was she here on this, the thirty-first of August? The little girl beside her did not speak a word.

"What is it you carry?" McGonagall inquired by means of starting a conversation.

Arian's eyes were alight at once. "It's my harp," she answered happily.

"And have you come very far?" prodded McGonagall when the other did not elaborate.

She tipped her head. "I don't know. It's been maybe two weeks since I left home."

This made no sense to Professor McGonagall. She made a soft, worried noise. "My dear," she began in confusion, "You didn't come on the train?"

"What train?" said Arian blankly.

Again, McGonagall made a soft noise of distress. "Why! The Hogwarts Express, of course! The train left this morning at eleven o-clock! Students are not to be arriving until tomorrow night."

At this, Arian stopped short. "What?" she breathed, clearly mystified.

"You did receive a letter of acceptance, did you not?" McGonagall wanted to know.

"Yes. I mean… that's why I came here," stammered the girl.

McGonagall sighed. "Come along," she said. "Take your things and follow me."

Arian did as she was told, and as they walked, marveled at the building. The school was an ancient and mysterious castle, strong and grand and lit with torches. They went up stairs and down halls until at last, they arrived at a painting of a woman who demanded a password.

"Pheonix," the teacher replied. A door opened in the wall and they went into a large room filled with comfortable furniture. There were rugs on the floor and candles on the tables.

"This is the Gryffindor common room," explained Professor McGonagall. "I felt it would be a more relaxing place to discuss things than in my office."

Arian stood still, looking around her with wonder in her eyes. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her. McGonagall had the distinct impression that this girl was very sensitive and would startle easily.

"Do sit down," she invited.

Arian sat carefully down on the nearest chair.

"Now, you had better tell me everything."

Arian stared at her for a little while. Her eyes were wide and gentle, and her expression was soft and dreamy. When she spoke, it seemed to break a connection she had formed.

"What do you want to know?" She looked away quickly, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

McGonagall smiled. "Your full name for one, and how you came here," she replied.

The girl sat up very straight with her hands still folded. "My name is Arian Marie…" she trailed off. "My parents' name… but they weren't my real parents."

"Oh?"

"I don't remember them. They died when I was six. I remember the house. It was in ruins, and…" She covered her face with both hands. "They were dead. I remember their faces. I buried them, and then I ran away."

Professor McGonagall was struck by the calm terror that filled this child she was inclined to like instinctively. She wanted to comfort her, but: "Where did you go?" was all she said.

"A muggle family found me and raised me," answered Arian. "They were farmers, simple and caring people. They didn't mind when I would… well, do things."

McGonagall was wondering what sort of "things" she was talking about, but Arian rushed on. "They died too. Their faces were just the same, but I don't know how they died. I buried them."

"And then?"

"I came here," sighed the girl. Despite the fact that her adoptive parents had been killed only two weeks ago, she kept her voice steady. "I found this letter and… and… I didn't know where else to go!"

Her voice quivered and raised an octave, and she looked like she was on the verge of tears. She had hid her exhaustion well, but she obviously needed rest.

"Let me see the letter," McGonagall requested, standing up.

So, Arian scrambled out of the chair and opened the largest of her suitcases. An envelope was tucked inside an inner pocket, and she took it out and handed it to the older woman. McGonagall read it gravely.

"It tells me to come here by the end of August," Arian summarized from where she was sitting on the floor. "There's also a list of things I'd need." She continued hurriedly, sounding proud. "I got them all."

She opened the large suitcase wider and Professor McGonagall was pleasantly surprised to see a couldron, the formal robes folded nicely, a narrow box which she knew to be the wand, the required study books, as well as other volumes, and many individually wrapped packages that most likely contained the required potions ingredients. All was packed neatly into the black case. She turned her attention back to the letter.

"I must admit," she muttered, "this is curious." She looked over the top of her glasses at Arian. "This is in my hand-writing and it is a letter of acceptance, but…"

She turned the letter over in her fingers, slowly, bewildered. The problem was that she had never sent it!

She stopped herself short when she realized that the little girl in front of her was now blinking back tears. The girl had nowhere to go, no family… She had just been through a trauma, and she seemed to have magical potential. There was no better place for her to be than Hogwarts, and McGonagall had no intention of sending her away, now!

But the girl was already about to run again.

The hopeful light in Arian's dark eyes went out. "I… I'm sorry," she stuttered, clearly ashamed of a mistake she thought she had made. "I'll go now. I was misinformed." Her face clouded with sad confusion, she turned away.

"Miss. Arian, I did not dismiss you," Professor McGonagall said firmly, sounding very much like a school teacher. Arian froze, and turned slowly back with a look of absolute curiosity.

"It is dark now, and you must be tired," she added softly.

Arian blushed.

"You… you don't happen to have anything to eat, do you?" she asked timidly.

And she didn't know how the food got there, but there it was on platters set out on the tables. The smell was overwhelming. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was. She ate rapidly, and politely too, for all her hunger.

When she had finished (the food and drink simply disappeared), McGonagall asked her what sorts of "things" she had done while living with the Linksis family. Arian looked extremely uncomfortable.

"I didn't mean to do it," she exclaimed apologetically.

"Do what?" prodded the other.

She looked at the her feet. "I was angry," she muttered. "I broke the windows, all of them, just by thinking about it."

"Is that all?"

"No," she answered miserably. "I talk in my sleep a lot, and things would happen at night. Storms would come out of nowhere and go away when I woke up. They said there was a light flashing on and off in my room."

"Anything else?"

She nodded. "I accidently made all the locks come alive. They wouldn't lock or unlock unless you told them a joke. It was terrible. It took three days before they went back to normal!." She smiled a little slyly. "But I can do some things right," she offered.

Professor McGonagall went to the wall and opened it. "I'd be very interested to see. Wait here, child. I'd expect Professor Dumbledore will be equally as interested."

She was almost gone when Arian called softly after her, "Who's he?"

She turned back with a smile. "Headmaster of Hogwarts School and a fine wizard."

Her skirts swished, and the wall closed.

"She was raised by a muggle family," McGonagall was explaining as they hurried through the torch-lit halls. "She doesn't have many memories of her childhood, but she has extraordinary talent. I'm considering accepting her, despite the circumstances."

"Based on what you've told me," replied Dumbledore calmly, "I would be inclined to agree."

"You don't think I should tell her yet?" Minerva wanted to make sure.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Give her time."

For long hours, Arian demonstrated most everything she knew. She gestured to the candles, and with the word "sansfeuco", the flames went out. She gestured again with the word "feuconbri", and the candles were lit again. She spread her hands and spoke images into existence between her palms. She turned a notebook into a feather (but couldn't turn it back), and placed various charms on various object, and all the while the night grew darker and deeper.

Finally, she dropped her arms to her sides. "That's all I can think of," she said, looking pale and drained.

"Impressive," Professor Dumbledore commented.

Minerva McGonagall leaned forward. "There are a few questions I'd like to ask you." The girl nodded, but otherwise did not move. "Who taught you all of this?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "It must have been before my parents died."

"How old are you?"

"Twelve, just turned," she answered promptly.

"I see," mused Dumbledore. He gave an encouraging smile to Arian. "I have a question of my own," he added. "Where is your wand?"

Her face fell. "It's in there," she mumbled, pointing vaguely to her luggage.

"Get it out," he instructed gently. "I want to see what you can do with it."

She obediently retrieved the box and removed the slender black wand, but she held it with a tentative grasp. "What do you want me to do?"

To begin with, she was to repeat her demonstration of lighting the candles. She protested, saying it wasn't a good idea, but they insisted. Reluctantly, she pointed the wand at a candle and whispered, "Feuconbri." Instantly, the entire table was engulfed in flame.

"Sansfeuco! Sansfeuco!" she cried, dropping the wand and holding her palms towards the table. The fire went out.

She bit her lip. "Sorry."

McGonagall then decided to teach her the simple first-year levitation spell.

"Wingardium leviosa!" Arian tried and at once, most of the furniture lifted off the floor. "What do I do now?" she wanted to know.

"Ponere," Minerva told her.

"Ponere?" she repeated, and the hovering items settled back into place with a slam.

She rushed to put the wand back in the box and shoved it away into the suitcase.

"Minerva, might I have a word with you?" Dumbledore asked her quietly. They left the room quietly, and Arian was glad to be alone.

"There is no question about it," Albus Dumbledore was saying. "She must remain at the school. She has incredible potential."

"I agree, Albus," said the other, "but her lack of control with the wand is discouraging."

"Minerva," he said to her, his deep eyes serious, "the added energy of the wand to her own powers is overwhelming her. I only wish she remembered something from her childhood that could tell us more about her capabilities."

"You want to her to enter classes here?" concluded McGonagall.

"Naturally."

She shook her head thoughtfully. "She is a little too old to enter with the first-years…"

"And far too experienced," Dumbledore imterupted. "I'd say she should be in her third year already." He held up a hand to stop Minerva from voicing more concerns. "She's a fast learner. She'll do fine."

"Oh, very well," sighed Professor McGonagall at last. "If she gets sorted into Gryffindor, I'll see to it that Miss Granger will help her study."

"Ah, Hermione," Dumbledore said fondly to himself, his eyes twinkling.

They went back some time later to explain their decision to Arian. It was nearly dawn, and the poor girl was curled on a couch fast asleep an open book still in her hands.

Minerva sent her back to Diagon Alley the next day to exchange her books and purchase what she needed as a third year student. Since her adoptive parents were dead, Arian had taken whatever money she could find in what was left of the house. It was all she had. Fortunately, it was enough. By the afternoon, she actually had enough galleons left to buy a few of the things she wanted, including extra books, a pair of boots, and a tall glass bottle she'd seen in one of the shops. It was so pretty and sparkly. She couldn't resist.

When she returned, everyone was busy preparing for the arrival of the students and the beginning of the year. She'd caught glimpses of people, but she didn't know anyone, and was too shy to stop and ask them questions. She didn't want to be a disturbance. Instead, she wandered out onto the grounds and spent the afternoon outside in the autumn sun, exploring. She'd already been told not to go into the forest, and she didn't, but she went very close.

Later, she went back inside, walking around aimlessly until she was lost, and then walking some more until she was hopelessly lost. It didn't help that the staircases shifted under her or that some doors were locked and others opened on their own. The passages all looked familiar, but none of them were the same. Some ways were blocked, others went in circles. When she'd turn around to go back, the way she'd just come had closed. The entire castle was enchanted. She had uncharacteristically lost her sense of direction almost at once. North, west, east, and south were non-existent, and even up and down got confusing after a while.

Luckily, around night-fall, Professor McGonagall found her. She had somehow made her way half-way up the astronomy tower, and was just turning around to come back down when she heard running steps coming towards her. McGonagall looked flustered, and when she spoke, her tone was rushed and rebuking.

"There you are, child. Where have you been?" she demanded impatiently. She was wearing a pointed hat and solid black robes, and looked perfectly neat. "Come along," she sighed, seizing Arian's wrist.

Instinctively, she jerked backwards, yanking her arm free with a cut off cry. Her eyes were unfocused. She looked as if she had seen a monster.

Minerva stared at her. She had felt, before Arian pulled away, a burning sensation like an electric current running through the child. That was a reflexive defense in wizards, but she didn't understand what Arian was defending herself against!

"My dear, are you all right?" she inquired gently.

Already, Arian was blushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, Professor," she answered, holding her hand out meekly. McGonagall took it with no further questions and dragged her down to the main level to greet the new students.

They came up the stairs in a chattering group, and the noise of their whispers and footsteps echoed off the walls. Arian was at once terrified and filled with excitement. Extremely introverted, her first reaction was to withdraw from so many strangers, but she was overcome with sudden happiness. These weren't her classmates, but they were students, and this place was a school. It was beginning to seem real, now that there were other kids. She was going to Hogwarts School to study magic.

She was thrilled.

It got even better when the huge double doors to the Great Hall were opened, and she saw the four tables set for the feast, and the hundreds of students with their pointed hats, and the floating candles. The sparkling room was dazzling and bright. She walked with the first-years to wait in front of the High Table during the sorting ceremony.

Name after name was called, and her eyes strayed. She turned back to look at each of the tables, thinking of what she had been told about the houses. Ravenclaw was for wisdom, Slytherin for cunning, Gryffindor for bravery, and Huflepuff for loyalty. She looked at each table in turn. She wondered who Hermione was, because Dumbledore had said that Hermione could help her get started.

Then, at the far table, she noticed a young man, about her age it seemed. He had icy blue eyes, fair skin, and slicked blonde hair. He also had an air of arrogant confidence about him. He sat at the Slytherin table and looked kind of mean, but she didn't care.

He looked up right then and caught her staring at him. For a few seconds, he stared back at her, haughtily. Then he gave her a half-smile and went back to talking with his friends.

"Miss Arian."

That was her name being called, and it sounded odd because everyone else had had a first and a last name. She jumped, startled, but was instantly composed again. She turned, lowering her eyes shyly so as not to meet anyone's gaze, stepped forward, and seated herself on the stool. The sorting hat was placed upon her head, and she looked very small and childish because of it.

"Mmmm," mused the hat, but not for long, because almost immediately it seemed to have come to a conclusion. "Slyther…" it began, and stopped.

There was a pause before the hat continued. "I see," it said. "But I still think Slytherin for you. You're talented, and you have a quick mind."

Arian wanted to be in Slytherin, but she also wanted to be in the same House as Hermione. And she wanted friends, very close and loyal friends, and that desire was even stronger than her desire to learn.

"Very well, then. Gryffindor!" announced the hat.

Cheers went up from the other Gryffindor students.

At the far table, the boy seemed highly displeased.

Amidst the noise, the hat continued. "Be cautious," it muttered almost to itself in a low and nervous tone. "You have great and dangerous power, more than you know. You too have been touched by he-who-must-not-be-named."

But no-one in the Great Hall heard that comment. "Well, Gryffindor it is, then," said Professor McGonagall to Arian, taking off the hat.

The girl stood up and moved to sit with her classmates. There were gold plates and goblets, forks, knives, spoons, and platters laid out on the table. The long benches on either side of the table were filled with the students of Gryffindor House. She stepped over the bench, and sat down at an empty place towards the front of the hall.

The sorting ceremony continued, but was soon over, and then the new students were welcomed and the feast began. Arian didn't talk much. She was too busy trying to look at everything at once. The ceiling… it was fantastic! It wasn't there! And the food was dazzling, and there were so many people, and so much excitement!

Her eyes scanned the High Table, looking in turn from Professor Dumbledore to Professor McGonagall to a small man whom someone told her was Professor Flitwick, and so on until she spotted a man dressed all in black with cold black eyes and a grave expression.

"Please tell me that's not one of the teachers here," she whispered to the person sitting next to her.

He followed her quick glance. "Oh," he almost laughed. "That's Professor Snape."

"Great," she muttered. Professor of what, she didn't know, but he gave her the shivers.

The night passed far too quickly. She met a few people, falling in and out of conversations, but all too soon, the prefects began calling their houses. She followed the other Gryffindors out of the Great Hall to the shifting staircases. They were lead to the common room, and she already knew the way.

She thought about the boy she had seen during the ceremony, and wondered what his name was. She had wanted to talk with him but never had gotten a chance.

Just then, one of the students bumped into her. "Oh, sorry!" they both said at once.

"What's your name?" Arian asked courteously.

"I'm Ron Weasley," replied the red haired boy, a little breathlessly from trudging up the stairs. He motioned to his friends and introduced them as well. "This is Harry Potter, and…"

"I am Hermione Granger," interrupted a girl with thick brown hair, beautiful eyes, and an air of intelligence. It was obvious by the way she held herself and the way she spoke. She was smart, and she knew it.

Arian looked at the dark haired boy with the glasses. "Hello Harry," she greeted him simply. She turned her smile towards the girl. "So you're Hermione! I'm Arian."

They chatted all the way until they reached the common room. There, Harry and Ron waved goodnight, and Hermione took Arian into the girl's dormitory.

Arian found her things placed beside a beautiful four-poster bed beside a window. On a chair nearby was a set of clothes and a scarf displaying the house colors. She slipped her shoes off and crawled up onto the huge bed. She smiled. In all of Hogwarts castle, this was her spot, and it was lovely.

She bounced on the mattress, just a little, and then settled next to the window. It was a gorgeous night. The light of the moon illuminated her face and her silky hair. She wanted to bring out her harp and play it, but didn't because of the time. Everyone else was going to bed.

After awhile, Arian did change and go to bed as well, but it was a very, very long while. She was far too happy to be tired.