Chapter 1
"Sirius Black! If you walk out that door tonight don't you ever step through it again!" The women shouted with uncontrollable anger, seeing the man stop in mid step she had hope that he would of have choose her and their daughter over them.
That hope shatter as the man continue his way out the door, not once did he look back on the women who was now in labor alone on the floor.
On that night of Hallows eve Aria Hydrus Winter was born into the rejoicing wizarding world for the fall of Lord Voldemort, she was welcome with grief, loneliness, and abandonment.
Not long after that Hollow night Sirius Black was capture by aurora for the death of the Potter, along with Peter Pettigrew and thirteen other people's. Without a trial he was imprisoned in Azkaban.
5 Years Later
"Again Aria, concentrate, clear your mind. Legitimist."
Images, memory surge into the thought of the five year girl on the floor; with all her concentrated effort she was able to shield her mind, leaving a void to the intruder in her mind.
"Better, go practice your piano. It can't be worst than your Occlumency shield."
"Yes mother." The child retreated from the room weaving her way out her of the room in a daze. Soon the house was drowning in peaceful sound of music, but behind the peaceful sound you can hear the sorrow and sadness, the cry for help.
Later that night the child sneak out of the house in secret, avoiding the ward around her house she made her way to the forest behind the isolated house. "Uncle Regie!"
"Aria! How have you been child, let me look at you. You definitely inherited the Black family trait, your grandmother would have been proud; she always wanted a daughter to look after."
"Really?"
"Of course, here open your present it's not every day that a young girl turn five."
"Thank you uncle Regie." The child hugged the man as hard as she could, then concentrate her magic to the gift box breaking all of the wards around the box. When the protective ward fell the gift unwrap itself revealing a silver bracelet engrave with the Black family coat of arms. "It's beautiful uncle Regie! I love it!"
"I'm glad you like it child. So tell me what you have been doing since the last time I saw you."
"Mommy has been teaching me Occlumency, and I have been learning how to play the piano. I also finish reading the book you gave me last time."
"Already? I wonder where you get your book wormish trait from, neither your father nor mother were avid reader even if they were smart in their own right. Keep this up you might end up like your grandfather talking his way out of anything."
"Really?"
"Of course little Aria. Now is getting late before I send you back to bed I need you to remember something. No matter what happens in the future you are a Black by blood, shall you ever need help a Black will always stand with their family. Now I set up a vault for you in Gringotts for you to use…"
"No, I only want to stay with uncle Regie." The child clung tightly to her uncle in fear.
"Listen Aria I'm just going away for a while."
"No, you not, other wise you wouldn't set up an alternative resource for me to fall back on. If you…"
"No worries Aria I'll be back, or at least I'll die trying."
Little did he know he had died trying to return, but Aria had already foreseen his death, and the event that followed.
6 Years Later
Aria Hydrus Winter had long change her name ever since she fell into the muggle orphanage custody after her mother had pass five years ago. With no other immediate family she could or want to turn to, she had changed her last name to Aria Hydrus Water. Because of the name change she was mistaken for a muggle born when Hogwart deputy headmistress appear before her showing her the way around Diagon Alley, not that she needed her hand being held she respectfully decline the aid that Hogwart provide.
The key that her Uncle Regie had given her was still in her possession, over the years she had sneak away from the orphanage to visit the Black's family vaults. She couldn't remove anything from it but she had stumble across a book that had a spell for duplicating text for a limited amount of time. With each visit she duplicate as many book as she could with wandless magic and return to the orphanage with them when she finish reading them or when they disappear she return and duplicated few of the countless text within the Black's vault.
This time her visit to Gringotts would be for a different reason. This would be the first time she will be actually withdrawing from the trust fund that Uncle Regie had set up for her. Making her way to an open counter she waited till the goblin had completed his business before speaking, such manner was lost to most wizard and witches today.
"What can I do for you today Miss Water?"
"I could like to withdraw from my vault please, here is the key." For goblin time is money, don't ever waste a goblin's time on pleasantry. "Afterwards I would like to speak to Winter's account manager, please make the proper arrangements."
The cart ride was fast, I dread going into the vault that Uncle Regie had set up for me. For me to going in it would means that I had to face the truth that Uncle Regie wouldn't be going with me to shop for my school supplies, it would mean that I had actually seen his death six years ago.
One step at a time I approach the open vault, inside was a decent amount of gold was set aside for my years in Hogwarts. A bottomless, and weightless trunk sit among the piles of gold's, silvers, and bronzes. Inside was filled with Uncle Regie's school books from his Hogwarts years and more. There was a few minor difference in the prints and major difference in Defense against the Dark Art book needed but overall I didn't need to spend much on my Hogwarts books. Withdrawing the maximum amount of money she is allow she made her way to the Black's family vault to copy her new text which was added to her trunk.
When everything within the vault was taken care of she made her way back up to Gringotts main floor to meet her mother's account manager.
"Master Steelclaw."
"Miss Winter or should I refer to you as Miss Water now?"
"Miss Water, I would like to know if there is a way for me to be emancipated before I'm of age."
"You are the last of two noble line, it would be no trouble for your magic to emancipate you shall you prove that you can fulfill either of your family's requirement."
"How?"
"You have a limited amount of time after you put on either of your family's heir ring."
"Can you show me the ring of the Winter's family? Sirius Black is the Black's family head even if he is rumor to have been disowned."
"Very well, here is the family ring. The requirements are to show that you can manage the family fortunate by providing a steady deposited of at least a thousand gallon per year into the family vault. You are to start and run a business in the family name as well as managing half of the existing ones till the family ring accepts that you can handle the affair of being the head of Winter's family."
"I see." Fingering the ring in the palm of my head I had decided long ago I would claim the Winter family seat first before confronting the Black family, without a doubt I slide the ring on my right ring finger to signify the commitment. Of course I glamored the heir ring is far too noticeable for a muggle born I claim to be. The ring accepted my Winter blood to be consider as a heir for now. "Master Steelclaw if you would accept I would like for you to continue being the family accounted."
"Of course. Miss Water."
I deposit ½ of the gold I had just withdrawn from my trust vault onto the table. "I would like to please 50 gallon on the Falcon's next quidditch match, 25 on the Arrows for the game after. And I would like a list of business that had applied for an investment by the end of the week."
"Those bet's odds are against you."
"It would be fine, I would like the wins of the bet be place on a separate account accessible to only me under the name Water. You are to make sure that no one, I mean no one knows about it. That would be all for the day. I like the result of the bet be sent to me as well Master Steelclaw, have a golden day."
The next order of business is to acquire a wand, meaning Ollivanders.
"I don't believe I meet you before Miss, but you look so much like another I seen walk through that door."
"You have seen many walk through that door Mr. Ollivander, after all you are the only wand maker in Britain." Legally anyway.
"Aaaa yes that is true. What is your name my dear?"
"I'm no one's dear for a long time, my name is Aria Water."
"Miss Water. Let's begin shall we? Which arm?"
"Either." Measuring tape suddenly flying around me, nothing was harmless I stood still for it to do as it supposed to.
"Try this one Cherry wood and Unicorn hair 9 ½ inch good for healing." As soon as it touches my hand it felt wrong and it was immediately snatch out of my hand. "No, not this one. Try this one Birch wood and Vela hair 10 inch an unusual combination." This one didn't feel any better than the last; it was snatch out of my hand immediately.
By the end of the hour the pile of rejected wand grew in leaps and bound, but Ollivander was just getting more excited with each passing wand. Luckily I had come early so there was no one else in the shop to see the disturbingly merry wand maker. Finally after two hour I found my wand by myself, hearing its call, Peach wood and Basilisk venom 12 inch.
7 gallon lighter I made my way to Flourish and Botts for my disturbing defense against dark art require school books. Just in time to hear that Goldilock the useless announce that he was teaching defense. I didn't bother to hear the rest; my attention was solely on the boy who lives, rather the boy who my father abandons me for.
"Bet you enjoy that didn't you Potter? Can't make it through the book store without making to the front page."
"Leave him alone."
"Look Potter you got yourself a girl friend."
Glade that I haven't introduced myself in front of my snot of a cousin, I left before I could do something I would regret later. Forgetting my useless books I went to get my school robes quickly and left for the orphanage.
Ever since my trip to Diagon Alley I spent my time in the orphanage going through all of the school books, there were hardly anything in it that I haven't known before. When September 1 finally arrived, I left the orphanage before anyone was awake taking a cab to the train station. Luckily Uncle Regie had explain how to get on the platform 9 ¾ because McGonagall certainly forgot. I claim an empty compartment in the back of the train warding it to prevent any other student entrance, then I fell asleep till the train stop arrive to Hogsmeade.
I spell my clothes on to join the other. The boat ride was memorable, scene of Hogwarts under the moonlight was breathtaking. McGonagall look no less strict than when she came to the orphanage. After her speech we were lead through the halls of the Great hall I was sorted into Slytherin.
After the feast the perfect lead the first years into the Slytherin common room, I was immediately single out, almost everyone in Slytherin have pureblood in them so they knew one of another. They knew that Water isn't a pureblood name, it was the reason why I changed it. Children's are so predictable.
The head of the Slytherin house walked in before anyone could said anything regarding my presences. He gave a speech on unity and etc… Squashing any objection regarding to my sorting, but it didn't stop the look in their eyes. That night I ward all of my possession, and bed heavily border line of illegal due to some of the ward retaliation.
Class was boring. Transfiguration was a joke match stick to needle, 15 inch on different transfiguration. Charm as fun as Flitwick trying to make it out to be, but it didn't pose a challenge. Potion was more like a chore similar to cooking I have to do in the orphanage. Dark art was well… one word Pathetic.
The first lesson was a quiz on Goldilock himself, I didn't even bother to write my name I just sleep through it. Well at least dueling club was worth attending just to see Snape blast Goldilock across the platform. It was a surprise when Potter reveals to be a pastlemouth. I wonder if that was why?
Three days later while I was sitting out by the lake through dinner I saw Potter again. He was ranting and passing disturbing my nap than notice my presence, he seem more concentrated in his escape from the rest of the Hogwart population's thought of him, rather his pastlemouth ability.
Finally I had enough of his passing after five relentless minutes of it. "Potter would you stop."
"What are you going to say I'm the next dark lord as well? Stare at me like I'm the second coming of Voldemort?"
How dare he had the audacity to glare at me after disturbing my nap, for the past week I been handling the Winter account making investment left and right just to performing duty as Winter's family heir, I barely had time to rest. "How dare you interrupt my nap? Then you have the audacity to yell at me? Who in the world do you think you are? I don't care if you are the Boy who live, or the next Dark Lord! You interrupted my nap!" He looked owlish for a moment before he begins speaking.
"Sorry, it's just that the whole school is being…"
"Foolish? Ignorant? Biased?"
"Yes!"
"The world is full of ignorant people, they believe what they want to believe. It doesn't help that you the Boy who live statues is attach, it's bound to attract attention, whether you want it or not Voldemort was fear. And you are far too young and naive to change that."
"I never asked for it. I never asked to be the Boy who lived! I never asked for my parent to die that night making me famous for something I don't even remember."
"You not the only who lost their parents that night." Mine abandon me for you, he choose you. "The world believed that you defeated Voldemort that night. Whether is the truth or not, whether you believed it or not. Voldemort disappear that night it made a lot of people happy and sad. It attracted a lot of attention. He is famous for being the heir of Slytherin, the talent parseltongue is unique to the Slytherin line. Every ability has a string attach, whether you choose to use it for good or evil the choice is always in your hand."
"You seem to be the first one to see it that way since the incident with the snake. Even my friends can't look at me straight in the eyes. What's your name?"
"It's not any of your business."
"Fine just trying to have a conversation."
"And I'm trying to sleep Potter."
"Harry."
"I don't care."
"It only seems fair to give me your name when you know mine."
"Not by choice." My whispers fell to death's ear. "You will likely forget it anyway I'm a Slytherin you a Gryffindor, there is a fine line."
"I don't see the difference."
"Neither do I, but then again I don't see why you refuse Slytherin when you suited for it perfectly." It's oblivious I wasn't going to get any more sleep where I am so might as well have an early dinner then turn in for the night. I was heading toward the kitchen till I realize that Potter was once again following me. "Why are you following me now Potter?"
"Just curious."
"Curiosity kills the cat, you know."
"Where are you going?"
"Dinner."
"Great hall's the other way."
Deciding to take a leaf out of Snape's book, "you observation is impeccable."
"Fine can you at least just tell me your name?"
"Aria." Tickling the pear to the kitchen the portrait swing open as soon as I step through the door I was bombard with house elfs.
"How can we serve Mistress Water?"
"Dinner would be nice, with a cup of water if you could."
"And Mistress friend?"
"Umm… What are they?"
"House elf's they take care castle and the occupants inside, some are probably yours. Just tell them what you want." I occupied my favorite seat at the back of the kitchen, Potter unwelcomely joined me.
"What do you mean they're mine?"
"A few I saw wears the Potter crest on their clothes, meaning they belong to the Potter family. No belong isn't the right word, more along the line of serving the Potter family."
"What does it have to do with anything?"
"Don't you know anything Potter? How in the world are you going to manage the Potter estate, fortune, seat, and anything else that is your duty as the head of Potter family?"
"What do you mean?"
"It means that you need to open a book regarding to your family history that should be in your family vault. Anyways, house elf's magic are drawn from the family they serve, they serve to make their master happy. You free them by giving them clothes, but since they still wear the Potter coat of arm that means no Potter have yet to free them. It's likely that your magical guardian sent them here as a compensation, but they are going to die soon."
"What do you mean they're going to die?"
"House elf draws magic from the family they serve, while they still serve that family they can serve no other, if the family head is change then their magic have to be renew to the heir, if not then once the magic from the previous head is gone after all use up then without any magic to draw on they simply died. House elf is one of the closest magical creature to magic, so they're quite sensitive." Tired of explain I dug into my dinner with every intent of finish soon as possible so I can escape Potter while he is still confuse.
While Potter was occupied with his dinner I made my escape to my room and turn in for the night. The next day I heard of the event that Potter run in with Mrs. Nores.
I had not believed Potter would have been mentally challenged until…
"Aria! Ariaaaa wait!"
Of course his call attracted the attention of the whole great hall's population that was eating their breakfast. With no choice due to the political mannerism I was raised with I stop outside the hall to wait for him to catch up. "What do you want Potter?"
"I wanted to say thanks for yesterday."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, but I believed I told you that there is a fine line between Slytherin and Gryffindor; you yourself have dance on that line quite a few times so don't judge me on the indifference that you afforded being return. Now I have to get to class if there is nothing else Potter."
"No there is nothing."
"Good." With that I left for my Charm class still confuse on why he was chosen over me. Suppose I'll just have to ask next year when he made his escape.
"Water."
The voice I dread almost more than anything, "Malfoy."
"Why did Potter call you out this morning?"
"That matter doesn't concern Malfoy, he was simply curious about something."
"And what is that?"
"That is none of your concern Malfoy, you might want to get back to your friends before they get some foolish idea that I want to be seen with some foolish snotty blond brat." A small blush escape his Slytherin mask, either in anger or embarrassment I could only guess, but never the less I took pleasure in the small victory even if I have to pay for it later.
"Watch yourself Water, or you may just have a little unfortunate accident." With that he turn and left.
"Well now I certainly have to watch myself with a promise like that," but it was worth it, taunting Slytherin's have been always interesting and a good way to relieve stress. Several of the risky investment I made failed miserably, despite my winning in the quitach match bet I'm still on the borderline of crashing everything I have been working so hard to obtain. I suppose is time I cut my losses and take an alternative in what I'm investing. Even if I have to take some drastic measure, and illegal or legal depending on the point of view to create certain papers.
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
It had taken two weeks to have all of the proper arrangement made, my first step were already in place the goblin were ensure that I would fail, but I have taken the challenge to prove them wrong along with everyone else. Without risk there would be no gain.
Another two weeks later the fruits of my labor finally bare, the investment I made in the muggle world finally heading toward the positive side. While I was looking over the report Potter once again approach me.
"Aria?"
"What is it Potter?" Knowing I wouldn't be able to finish reading the rest of the report I put it safely away in my self lock charm bag.
"I been looking up on the house elves but I don't understand most of it. There are some parts I have been looking also regarding to the family history; I never saw such a book in my vault."
"Do I look like a house elf to you Potter, whatever you don't understand I'm sure asking your own would be so much more informational than I, after all they're likely to have been in your family for few generations if not more. As for the book they are in your family vault that you should've visit when you enter Hogwart either the headmaster or the deputy mistress should of have inform you so that you can make arrangement to visit your family vault on a regular bases. The vault that you have seen with nothing but gallon in it is a trust vault that pure blood family usually set up for their child when they are born. Anything else?"
"How do you know so much? I heard from Hermione that you're a muggle born, some of the things you told me she doesn't even know."
"How I come to such information is quite simple, I open books and actually read them. As to why your mud-blood friend doesn't know about it is likely because she prefer spell books than politics."
"What's a mud-blood?"
"Potter read something instead of bothering busy people like me. Mud-blood is a term that applies to muggle born, it means that they have dirty blood."
"TAKE THAT BACK! Hermione is not a mud-blood or any terms that you Slytherin use to describe muggle born."
"No I won't take it back Potter. I told you there is a fine line between Slytherin and Gryffindor, you the one that choose to seek me out for information, a Slytherin instead of a Gryffindor or any other house. You can't just make the world turn your way. If you seek out a Slytherin for information with nothing to compensate at least you could do is not be an opinionated fool that judge everyone and everything." With that I storm away leaving Potter alone, all intend to finish reading the papers regarding to my investment.
"What does Mistress Water want for dinner?"
"Tofu stew and cup of tea would be nice."
"Twinky will get it."
"Thank you Twinky."
The hyper elf pop away, I made my way to my usual table engross in my work not realizing someone have join me till Twinky return with my dinner. "What do you want now Potter?"
"I'm sorry."
At least he sound genuine. "Do you even know what you're apologizing for?"
"You were right I was dancing on that line."
"You play a game out of your reach; you're ignorant of the world around you. You have no idea of what is being kept from you, and you made no effort of finding out what is being kept from you. Your friend and the people you trust and around you made sure of that. What is worst is that you allow them."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Ron and Hermione are my friends."
"Friends that don't trust you? I know you're not that ignorant, don't you see that the Weasley is making you believe that Slytherin are evil, yet you approach me."
"You're different."
"How so?"
"You just are, you don't sneer or anything that Slytherin do."
"That's because I'm not expected to act as one, I still paid the price for it. Slytherin are out cast we have nothing but each other, even in classes you can see that even the teacher treat us as outsider. The only one that would stand up for us is Snape, but he is but one person."
"That doesn't change the fact that he still a git."
"In your eyes maybe, but in Slytherins he is the only one that would stand up for up for us. Ever wish someone would stand up for you, believed you? You did; no you still do but no one does. They believed that everything is just fine and nothing could go wrong because the Leader of Light assure them everything is fine when it's not."
"How?"
"I'm perspective."
"Or in the same situation."
"Perhaps. Now go away Potter I'm busy."
Luckily Potter knows when to be quite for the rest of the dinner was silent affair; both of us were drowning in our own thoughts. The next time I saw Potter he was with Ron Weasley under the influence of Poly juice potion fishing for information from Malfoy regarding to the Chamber of Secret. Not that he can offer much.
That night I foresaw what will soon take place in the Chamber of Secret, I squash my instinct to warn Potter and his friend of the incoming danger. But I knew better than to interfere with fate, for the event often turn worst than what it choose to reveal to me. So I waited for them venture down to the Chamber, after disillusioning myself I follow them.
The Weasley who were working diligently on removing the rocks for a clear path were easily dealt with a stunner, while the idiot who had been label as DADA professor for the year were a waste of magic if I have to stunned the idiot who already lost his mind. With a wave of my wand the stone path were clear, taking a bit more time the enchantment repair to prevent future encasement. When I finally made it to where Potter were he was battling a giant Basilisk that most of have been here since the time of the founders. Foolish Gryffindor to jump in without planning first, while he led the Basilisk away stealthily I made my way to the diary. The source of all the trouble.
During the reverse transfer spell Potter return with the Basilisk hot on his tail, quicken my enchantment I seal the diary after partial return of magic to the youngest Weasley. The young dark lord didn't go down without fighting luckily Potter was distracted by the Basilisk. Silently I made my way out knowing that the Phoenix would aid his healing process, but then again I'm hardly going to trust some light creature so I conjure a dozen chickens and set it on the Basilisk.
Leaving the Chamber of Secret turns out more difficult than coming in luckily I learn to enchant an conjure broom. The diary prove to be an interesting dark object, not once since I came possession of it did it stop alluring me to open its page and write upon it feeding it with my life magic. Luckily the ensnarement was easy to overthrown once I raise my Occlumency shield. With that dealt with I threw the diary to the bottom of my trunk's secret compartment after warding the lousy thing with dozen of strongest ward I knew of both dark and light and went straight to sleep completely drain of magic.
Next day I found Malfoy in one of his PMS mood for the lost of his house elf. Wonder how he have the face to talk about such humiliation is beyond me, but it made my day. At least the rest of this year will be quite and calm till next year, when everything will begin.