Chapter 1 - The Hogwarts Express

The room was dimly lit and the air was gritty with dust. The walls of the room were lined with books and display cases that showed various strange instruments and bobbles. Portraits filled the high vaulted ceilings and the individuals depicted within scattered to and fro, moving from frame to frame to gossiping among themselves in quiet whispers.

Ariana strolled around the room, inspecting gadgets here and there and lifting books from the shelves for further inspection. The tittle When Apparitions Go Horribly Wrong caught her eye in particular. She stood on her tip-toes and wrestled it from its perch on an overly crowded shelf and thumbed through it. It told gruesome stories of when witches and wizards apparated into solid objects, like pipes, moving trains or miles above the ground. In one case a man apparated in the middle of a duel, which ended in two particularly horrible deaths.

She was soon so engrossed by the book that she did not notice she was no longer alone. She didn't know how or when he got there but she was shocked to see Albus Dumbledore was seated in his office chair flipping through the scattered letters on his desk. He seemed not at all surprised she had figured out how to enter his office and made no mention of it, which disappointed her slightly, as she was quite proud of herself.

He glanced at her over his half-moon spectacles and gave a small smile.

"Are you nervous for the start of the new term, Ariana?"

"No." she lied. She was very nervous. She was about to meet hundreds of students and she didn't know a single one of them. She felt impossibly alone, although that was her usual state. She glanced down at her gloved hands and avoided farther eye contact. The gloves; she hated them. Extremely over-sized, they hung a few centimeters off the tip of her fingers and were made of dark, worn dragonhide. They were forcing her to wear them and every time she looked at them she seethed with hatred. They were like shackles on a prisoner. She forced her attention away from the gloves and was suddenly very interested in the ornaments along the wall.

"I'm sure you will meet many students much like yourself. Would you prefer to be sorted now and begin to move your luggage into your dormi-" "Can I ride the Hogwarts Express in?" she interrupted.

He smiled and nodded understandingly.

Late at night on August the 31st, Ariana was standing at Hogsmeade station, a completely empty trunk behind her. She was concerned about blending in with the other students, yet didn't want to go through all of the trouble of hauling her belongings through the journey from Hogsmeade to Kings Cross, then back to Hogsmeade yet again. She was already dressed in her robes although since she wasn't sorted yet she had no sigil and no house colors, despite the fact that she was fifteen years of age as of a month ago.

Around her the towns people were busy preparing the quaint town of Hogsmeade for the return of the students, who would be coming in the next day. The Hogwarts Express stood before her, tall and menacing with steam billowing from its chimney. She took a deep breath and heaved her trunk on board along with her.

She sat on the train for some time, watching the hills rolling through the countryside as it became dark. The Honeydukes Trolley lady Ariana would meet later was nowhere to be found. She sat alone for very long hours staring through the window until the rocking noises of the train lulled her to sleep. It was a deep but restless sleep, she flipped around and kicked at imaginary specters. In her dream she saw her fathers face and she called out to him but no words came. He slowly faded away and she saw Dumbledore, grinning softy at her over a large tome in his hands. It made Ariana angry and she couldn't explain why.

In no time at all, her eyes were fluttering open and she had to shield them from the harsh rays of morning sun. The Hogwarts Express's horn sounded to signal their presence they approached Kings Cross. Ariana pushed herself off of the surprisingly comfortable seats where she had unwittingly spent the night and the journey to Kings Cross Station and eagerly gazed out of the window. A multitude of families were milling about on the platform. Mothers were hugging their children, some laughing and others with tears in their eyes. Fathers were patting their children's heads and giving warm goodbyes and younger siblings were looking on gleefully. Ariana watched, eyes wide with wonder, fascinated by the many wizarding families.

Some students began bustling onto the train, others waited with their families for their last few precious moments with them until the holidays. Ariana was too impatient, she left her compartment and filed onto the platform against the grain of the others. There were thirty more minutes until the Hogwarts Express left, so there was plenty of time to explore. She roamed through the crowd, inspecting everyone she saw. Some students were already in their robes, and she familiarized herself with the different Hogwarts Houses. Despite being raised in the wizarding world, this all seemed so strange to her. Certain groups stood out in particular. She saw what she assumed was the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, all with brooms and Quidditch gear on their trolleys. She saw a doting mother, father and son, all with brilliantly glowing blond hair that was almost white. The son was already wearing his Slytherin robes and she watched as another adult greeted them cheerfully and Ariana heard the surname 'Malfoy'. She saw Harry Potter and an adult with violently red hair enter the platform through the barrier. And moments after she saw two red headed children, one young girl and a tall gangly older boy who wore a Head Boy badge, although on closer inspection she stifled a laughter as she saw it read 'Bighead Boy'. She turned back towards the gleaming red Hogwarts Express and return to her compartment. A first year girl had joined her and before the train left she was joined by another younger Hufflepuff student. They sat in relative silence until the train sounded its horn one more time and began moving. The younger two students began giggling and chatting amongst themselves as Ariana began watching through the window again. Soon after departure it began to violently rain, beating harshly against the window and the doors to their compartment opened as the cheerful trolley lady arrived. She made a large sum of money on their compartment. Suddenly realizing her hunger, and in awe of the strange variety of treats, Ariana alone bought 3 Chocolate Frogs, a Cauldron Cake, Pepper Imps, Fizzing Whizzbes and Droobles Best Blowing Gum. She enjoyed the treats for the rest of the train ride. The Chocolate frogs were slightly disturbing and she was terrified when she began levitating after eating a Fizzing Whizzbe. She was too scared to try the Pepper Imps for a very long time until the curiosity was killing her so she ate it. Both of her compartment mates were used to Honeydukes sweets or at least knew of them. Ariana however, had no idea what to expect but breathing fire was far from it. Later she would spot the label on the sweets, 'Breath fire for your friends', and she would be very ashamed. She nearly screamed as the first licks of flame escaped her mouth and the two younger students burst out laughing, albeit lightheartedly. She covered her mouth and smoke began to billow out of her nostrils. Just then the compartment doors slid open and two twin boys stood there, both with the same bright red head of hair she had seen on three others already today.

They glanced around the compartment and one asked, "Have any of you lot seen Lee Jordan?"

Ariana couldn't hold her breath any longer and she couldn't breathe through the smoke in her nostrils. She took a deep breath and a large puff of fire burst from her mouth.

Completely stone-faced, one of the boys responded, "Well, doesn't seem like she's in a good mood right now, George." "No, not at all. How 'bout we come back later then?" And they left. Ariana was mortified her face was beet red and her compartment mates were roaring with laughter. After a few moments of cautious laughter, to be sure the effect had worn off, Ariana was began laughing bashfully with them.

The train began to slow and Ariana believed them must have already arrived. The wind and rain suddenly seemed very loud as all else became silent. The lights began to flicker. The entire train was silent excluding hurried whispers in some of the compartments. Ariana poked her head out of the compartment, like many others. The train suddenly came to a complete stopped and Ariana's empty trunk fell heavily on the first years head and the lights suddenly went completely out. Ariana was about to use the Lumos charm but she remembered the effect her gloves had on her ans refrained. She fumbled around until she found her Pepper Imps, in case of an emergency. The train was eerily cold and a lot of students were panicking including the two younger students with Ariana, who were now whimpering in the dark of their compartment. She took out her wand and pointed it towards the door and a Pepper Imp in the other hand, for any good it could do. There was a loud bang followed by a flash of light from the opposite end of the train. Everyone stood in silence for a few moments until the lights began to flicker and turn back on. The Hogwarts Express began to slowly move again and get back on its way. The whole train made a sigh of relief but then just as quickly began buzzing with rumors like 'dementor' and 'Potter fainted'. A chorus of this was being shouted through the hallway by a particularly annoying blond haired boy, the one she had spotted earlier with his parents at Kings Cross station.

Ariana and her companions spent the rest of the train ride indulging in such gossip. Soon enough they arrived at Hogsmeade Station and everyone disembarked. It was already dark. If she had known how long the train ride would be she would have packed a meal. Ariana was starving. Dumbledore said if she arrived hungry the Start-of-Term feast would be the best she ever had and she was sincerely looking forward to it. A massive man in a mole-skin overcoat was waiting for them and as soon as the train stopped he began booming, "Firs' Years! Firs' Years! Over here! Fullow me!" He repeated it over and over again, receiving a few scornful or reproachful looks from some students around him. The first years stared at him in disbelief. Knowing she had to follow Hagrid to be sorted, Ariana fell in line right behind him. Whereas she, a fifth year, looked like a giant among the first years, Hagrid looked colossal. Ariana found it funny that Hagrid, the Groundskeeper, and soon to be Care of Magical Creatures teacher in charge of dangerous killer animals and lover of monsters was in charge of escorting these treacherous and dangerous first years. Many of them looked as if they were close to crying or losing their lunch. She caught a glimpse of the two red-headed twins, George and Someone, approaching them, walking in the flow of students that lead towards the carriages with a friend of theirs and she assumed they did eventually find 'Lee Jordan'. She shielded her face and ducked behind Hagrid to avoid them.

When Hagrid was satisfied he had rounded up as many students as he could, he led them down a path to small boats in which they all clambered into. They made their way onto and across the great glassy Black Lake and towards the base of the great stone castle and onto a platform with a very weather beaten door. Soon they were all lined up to enter the Great Hall and be sorted. Ariana was suddenly regretting not being sorted before her trip on the Hogwarts Express. She was four years older than the first years and stood behind them all, towering over them. All too soon, they filed into the Great Hall stood awkwardly around the Sorting Hat, waiting to be called. The first year's faces shone with terror as they awaited their sorting. Despite this the Sorting Hat always shouted their house confidently. Ariana was one of the last left standing but at last her name rang throughout the Great Hall, "Ariana Flamel!" She couldn't help but notice a few hushed whispers sounding all around her. Mostly because it was rare to get a new student who wasn't a first year, but Harry, Ron and Hermione upon recognizing the name began discussing her. "It HAS to be some very distant relation if any at all!" exclaimed Hermione, "I mean..Flamel was what? ….six hundred years old, right?"

Ariana ascended the few stone steps leading to the Sorting Hat. She glanced at Dumbledore and his eyes twinkled at her a little. She turned and sat squarely on the stool and placed the Sorting Hat on her head. She kept her face calm and confident. Truly she didn't care which house she got into, as long as the students let her keep to herself.

'Hmmmm...you're determined, won't let anything stand in your way and you would do anything to get what you want...hmmm but you also thirst for knowledge. You love to understand and to know. Which would you prefer? Slytherin or Ravenclaw?'

Ariana did not want to answer. She did not want to affect the results of her sorting in any way.

'Not going to answer? Well that decides it, doesn't it?'

"RAVENCLAW!"

One of the center tables erupted in cheers, although halfheartedly as they were very eager for the fest to begin. She passed the hat to Professor McGonagall and briskly walked between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables until she found a vacant seat. Across from her sat a girl around her age. She was tall and willowy and she had a mocha skin tone with dark black hair neatly about her shoulders. She had bright green eyes below her row of bangs. She was very pretty and made Ariana wonder about the state of her own appearance. Ariana ran her gloved fingers through her brown hair and pushed it way from her face. It fell messily around her shoulders. Ariana and the girl exchanged glances just as a third year Ravenclaw boy approached her and leaned on the table beside her. He must have been thirteen years old. "Hey! Welcome to Ravenclaw. I hope you like it!" He was all smiles and Ariana was too hungry to bother with him. "Thanks." she tried to be polite without being inviting so he would scurry away before the feast began. She had full intentions of devouring this feast in the most unladylike way.

The boy chuckled and started to chit-chat again "I'm John by the wa-" "Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..." Dumbledore was at his podium and so began his speech. John did in fact scurry back to his seat before a Prefect could berate him for being out of his seat while Dumbledore was addressing them. Ariana was all too happy. Dumbledore went on to say that dementors were to be stationed throughout the grounds and that no students should leave the school without permission. He also announced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin and new Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Hagrid.

"Well, I think that is everything of importance," said Dumbledore, "Let the feast begin!" and on that note all of the golden plates before them filled with exquisite looking food.

Dumbledore was right. This was the most delicious meal Ariana had ever experienced. There were roast steaks, and honeyed pork, and most importantly a great variety of deserts. There were tarts and fruit pies and chocolate cakes. Everything was delicious. Ariana dug in so quickly she soon had to slow down and remind herself to breath or she might lose consciousness. Not long after the food arrived the persistent boy, John, reappeared at Ariana's side. Ariana didn't have the nerve to tell the poor boy to get lost and leave her to this precious food. John said, "Sorry, I had to go back to my seat earlier, what I was saying was -" "The Bloody Baron is headed your way." John looked across the table at the green eyed girl then he looked down the length of the tables and sure enough, the Bloody Barron was headed his way, gore and all. A look of terror crossed his face and he glanced back at Ariana and said a quick and quivering goodbye and headed back to his seat. Ariana looked at the green eyed girl and they both laughed. "Thanks." "Sure." Then both went back to their meals for a while until the green eyed girl asked, "What year are you?" Ariana glanced up from her plate, "Fifth." "Me too. We'll be in the same dormitory. I'm Susie."

Susie seemed very harsh and unapproachable, but so did Ariana. They smiled at each other again and finished their meals in silence. John did not pester Ariana again. Once the majority of students were finished with their meals Dumbledore spoke, he welcomed them one more time and sent them to their common rooms. The majority of the table raised and headed for the door. The Slytherin table headed towards the dungeons, the Hufflepuffs towards the kitchens and the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws began their long trek up the flights of staircases. Susie finished her plate, said goodbye and quickly disappeared into the crowd streaming out of the Great Hall. Ariana finished her plate and quickly left as well. She did not know where the Ravenclaw common room was, by the time Ariana waded her way out of the Great Hall most of the Ravenclaw students had disappeared. Gryffindors were streaming up the staircase slowly, happily chatting about their summer. Knowing their common rooms where the closest, she followed behind them. They went up one staircase, then two, three, four. It was on the fourth floor that Ariana realized the enormity of the castle and came to the conclusion that it would be best if she got used to getting lost. Glancing up the stairs she realized she was falling behind the Gryffindors, she sped up. Finally they made it to the seventh floor. Ariana knew the Ravenclaws also lived in a tower so when the Gryffindors turned east from the stair cases she turned west. She felt she was getting closer as she approached what looked like a library. Large book shelves lined the walls of a very large hallway. Comfy looking armchairs and flickering lanterns filled the room. She wondered around a bit, distracted by some of the books.

"Excuse me!? What are you doing out of your common room?" an irate voice sounded from behind her. "The Beginning- of-Year Feast is over, you should be in your common room."

Ariana whipped around quickly. It was the 'Bighead Boy'. He was wearing his Gryffindors robes and his shinny badge was back to saying 'Head Boy'.

"I'm looking for my common room. I thought it was near the Gryffindors."

For a moment he was very suspicious as she was not a first year, it took him a moment to remember her from the sorting earlier. He was still disgruntled yet he had apparently decided she was not looking for trouble. "Its two floors down. This is the North Wing."

Ariana turned back towards the Grand Staircase and descended back to the fifth floor. Percy the Bighead Boy watched her leave to make sure she was not feigning innocence. On the fifth floor she caught a glimpse of blue and silver rounding a corner to her left so she followed. She turned the corner and came to a hallway leading to a thin spiral staircase. The Ravenclaws she spotted moments ago were out of sight. She climbed the spiral staircase, eyes on her feet. She could hear the sound of two Ravenclaw students on the staircase in front of her. She climbed until an extreme cold overcame her. It felt as if ice water had been dumped on her, it was so strong she almost lost her footing and fell backwards but she grabbed on the railings and looked up to realize she was standing in the midst of the Grey Lady who had been descending as she was ascending. "Well!" the Grey Lady seemed offended by being walked through, although Ariana believed it to be a much more unpleasant experience for her. "Sorry." she said hastily. "You should hurry to the common room before Mr. Filch finds you." The Grey Lady floated down a few more steps and looked back at her new student. "Yes Ma'am." said Ariana. She turned and continued up the tiny spiral staircase. When she emerged she was face to face with a wooden door with a large brass knocker in the shape of an eagle. Seeing nothing else she reached out for the knocker. As soon as she touched it, it spoke, "What goes up when rain comes down." Ariana thought for a few moments. She ran the riddle over and over in her mind.

'What goes up when rain goes down...'

Admittedly it did take her a few moments however, when the answer came to her it struck her like a bolt of lightning.

"Umbrellas!"

"Excellent! You defiantly belong in Ravenclaw!" the knocker complemented her.

The door creaked open and Ariana walked in. She gave a fleeting glance back through the door and saw the Grey Lady quietly waiting in the stairwell to see if she could make it in. She gave her a small smile as the door closed between them.

Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed!

Next Chapter: Classes Begin