Author's Note: Happy Friday, everyone! I would like to thank the people who read this story. It means a lot to me!

Chapter Three
Mondays Are the Worst

As the two walked out of the Great Hall and towards the Gryffindor common room, Ariadne noticed that it wasn't just the first years looking at Harry and whispering. Of course, people were always looking at Harry but it was different this time. Instead of looking at him with awe, people were now wearing frightened looks on their faces.

The Triwizard Tournament had ended with Harry carrying the dead body of Cedric Diggory and, on the afternoon everyone was set to go home, Dumbledore announced that Voldemort had returned and killed Cedric. Ariadne knew that it was for this that the Daily Prophet was portraying Harry and Dumbledore as nutters but she hadn't expected this many people to buy into it.

"What do you think about Umbridge teaching here?" Ariadne asked Harry, hoping to keep his mind off of everyone staring at him.

"She wasn't exactly pleasant at my hearing," Harry told her as they came up to the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Oh, bugger!" Ariadne groaned. "Do you, by any chance, know the password?"

Harry shook his head as the Fat Lady loftily told them they couldn't enter without it.

Luckily, Neville jogged up to them excitedly saying that he might actually remember the password this time since it was the name of some plant. Neville was absolutely horrible at remembering the passwords and was often forced to stand in the corridor until another Gryffindor came along to let him in.

With the reminder of Harry's hearing fresh on her mind, Ariadne instantly bombarded him with demands to know what had happened with everyone this summer. Leading her to a back corner, Harry told her everything: Dementors had shown up around his house and, to protect himself and his cousin, Harry had to cast a Patronus charm. Unfortunately, he was then contacted by the Ministry that underage magic was illegal and he was to attend a hearing with the Wizenagamot. Mad-Eye Moody then showed up at his house and took him to Sirius Black's house, which was the headquarters to a group called the Order of the Phoenix, which was devoted to stopping Voldemort.

"Luckily Dumbledore showed up at my hearing to defend me and they didn't expel me," Harry finished.

"But Umbridge was one of the ones pushing for you to be expelled and have your wand destroyed, right? I'd watch out for her, Harry."

"How was your summer?" Harry asked in attempt to change the subject.

"Boring compared to yours, that's for sure. I just hung around, mostly. My parents didn't get to come for their visit but that's nothing new."

"Sorry that we didn't ask you to stay with us. If we had known your parents weren't going to show up - "

"It's fine, Harry," Ariadne smiled. "I'm just glad we're all back."

"I'm definitely happy to be back," Harry said. "I think I'm going to go to the dormitories. Goodnight, Ariadne."

"Goodnight," Ariadne called after him.

Not long after Harry had left, Ron and Hermione entered the common room with a small group of frazzled looking first years.

"It took you two all this time to get to the common room?" Ariadne asked once the two had reached where she was sitting in the corner.

"One of the boys kept wandering off," Hermione told her with a sigh.

"And all the other ones kept asking about Harry," Ron said irritably.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Ariadne asked curiously. "I know the Prophet's been trying to make him come across as a complete nutter but what exactly have they been saying?"

"That he's some attention-seeking person who's under the delusion that he's a great tragic hero," Hermione told her. "They've gotten quite nasty on occasion. Obviously, they keep denying that You-Know-Who's back and that Dumbledore's only insisting that he is because he believe what ever Harry tells him."

Reaching the empty girls' dormitory for her year, Ariadne sat on the bed that her trunk had been put closest to. When she had left to go up the stairs, Hermione was keeping an eye on the Weasley twins and Parvati and Lavender were sitting together, most likely gossiping.

At the end of the feast, Ariadne simply wasn't too sure about Umbridge, but after hearing about her actions during Harry's hearing she was positive that her classes would be an absolute nightmare. Ariadne only hoped that fifth years didn't meet first thing tomorrow so she would be able to ask someone in another year how their lesson went before walking into the lion's den.

While her mind was on the subject of classes, Ariadne also began to wonder what her schedule would be like. She was taking the seven core classes required until N.E.W.T year as well as Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy with Hermione; Ariadne had dropped Divination after third year also like Hermione but she had waited until the end of the year to tell McGonagall that she no longer wished to continue on with the subject. Divination was a subject that, really, you couldn't study for. Simply reading your book and doing the homework didn't assure that you would pass and that's what Ariadne hated about it.

Even though she wasn't brilliant at school, Ariadne actually liked it. This was something Ron often poked fun at her for and said that he thought it was possible for her and Hermione to be long-lost twins and is she sure she wasn't adopted. Unless Hermione was the one that was adopted, Ariadne was positive that the two weren't related since Ariadne had inherited several of her grandmother's facial features.

"Ariadne, it's time to wake up," Hermione's voice called, bringing Ariadne out of her slumber.

"What time is it?" Ariadne asked groggily as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.

"Nearly time for breakfast to start! We don't want to be running late on the first day of term."

"I wouldn't mind," Ariadne replied a bit grumpily. She never had been a morning person and often had to rely on Hermione to wake her up.

"Just hurry up!" Hermione demanded as she left the dormitory.

Ariadne sighed and slowly walked to her wardrobe for her uniform. After putting on her skirt and buttoning up her shirt, Ariadne stood in front of the mirror to make sure that everything looked wrinkle-free enough to not cause Hermione to nag at her.

She also took this time to study her features to see if she looked as if she had only just woken. Her large, round blue eyes stared back at her before moving down slightly to her other features. Yes, Ariadne had definitely inherited most of Lucretia's sharp facial features: strong jaw line, high cheekbones, Roman nose. However, Ariadne had broad shoulders while Lucretia had more rounded shoulders. Ariadne turned to the side to see her body's profile. She wasn't exactly what one would call slender but she had never considered herself to be chubby.

Stop worrying so much, Ariadne told herself, gathering her book bag. It's useless.

Ariadne trudged down the stairs, her feet feeling heavy. She was waiting by the portrait hole when Ron and Harry came down from their dormitory, Harry looking angry.

"What's the matter?" Ariadne asked as Hermione caught up with the three of them.

"You look absolutely – " Hermione started upon seeing Harry up-close but she became distracted by a sign on the bulletin board that had been put up by Fred and George advertising for 'simple, part-time, virtually painless' jobs.

"We'll have to talk to them," Hermione told Ron as they all walked out of the portrait hole towards the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Why?" He asked, alarmed at the possibility of him having to attempt to punish his older brothers. They would absolutely slaughter him, Ariadne knew.

"Because we're prefects," Hermione told him matter-of-factly. "Anyway, Harry, what's wrong?"

"Seamus reckons Harry's lying about You-Know-Who," Ron answered when Harry didn't.

"Yes, Lavender thinks so too," Hermione said a bit sadly.

"Yeah? Having a chat about what an attention-seeking prat I am?" Harry asked vindictively.

"No, I told her to keep her fat mouth shut," Hermione told him calmly. "And I do wish you'd stop biting our heads off, Harry. In case you haven't noticed, we are on your side."

Hermione had told Ariadne last night before Parvati and Lavender had come up that Harry was incredibly moody over the summer. In fact, he had yelled at the two of them for not telling him about the Order of the Phoenix sooner when he met them at Sirius's house.

"Try not knowing for the entire summer," Ariadne had muttered.

"Forget about school unity, let's just go for house unity," Ariadne lamely joked as a way to diffuse the awkwardness after the four of them had continued on their way to the Great Hall but was only met by a glare from Harry and a slightly exasperated look from Hermione. Looking to her left, though, she saw Ron trying to hide a grin.

They made it to the Gryffindor table without any further incidents and began eating their breakfasts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione began talking about something but Ariadne had tiredly spaced out almost as soon as she had sat down. Sure, Harry had every right to be angry with the people that refused to believe him but to go after his own friends? He had to have known that they, of all people, knew he was telling the truth.

"Ariadne? Are you paying attention?" Hermione called from across the table.

"Yes," Ariadne lied as she tuned in to the end of their conversation on why Hermione still subscribed to the Daily Prophet.

"How about today? Any new false developments in the ongoing tale of Harry Potter, the Boy Who Seeks Attention?" Ariadne asked Hermione dryly.

"Not a thing."

Before anything else could be said, McGonagall walked over to the four of them and handed over their schedules. After studying it thoroughly, Ariadne groaned and began complaining with Ron.

"History of Magic and double Potions before lunch! This is the worst first day we've ever had here."

"At least you don't have Divination today," Ron told her with a frown. "I don't know if I can take Trelawney on a Monday. I wish Fred and George'd hurry up with their Skiving Snackboxes. I'd definitely take one now given half the chance."

Fred and George came over to them, presumably after hearing their names, and offered Ron a cheap Nosebleed Nougat but he smartly declined after hearing his brothers had yet to develop an antidote.

"You can't advertise for testers on the Gryffindor notice board," Hermione told the twins, which they merely shrugged off.

"You'll be singing a different tune soon enough," Fred told her. "This is your fifth year. Give it enough time and you'll be begging for a Skiving Snackbox."

"What does fifth year have to do with anything?" Ariadne asked.

"Fifth year's your O.W.L. year, isn't it?" George asked, looking at her.

"So?" Hermione asked.

"So you've got your exams coming up," Fred said. "They'll be keeping your noses so hard to the grindstone that they'll be raw by the end of the year."

"Half our year had minor breakdowns. Tears and tantrums," George told them happily.

Ariadne was now beginning to become anxious and term had only just officially started. She had always managed to do well enough on her end-of-year exams but, according to Fred and George, O.W.L.s were given by Ministry officials and could cover anything you had learned for that class since first year.

"Is all that true about your O.W.L.s?" Harry asked after the twins had left.

"Bound to be," Ron answered. "What O.W.L.s you pass affect what jobs you can take after you leave. Bill told me that we're even getting career advice later this year to pick what N.E.W.T classes we want to take."

"Do you know what you want to go after we leave?" Harry asked as they got up from their seats to head to History of Magic.

Ariadne had absolutely no idea what she wanted to do after Hogwarts. Of course, she wasn't really sure what jobs there even were in the wizarding community. She had heard of Aurors from Ron and various other Ministry jobs. She had briefly read about the occupation of Healer and thought that that had sounded cool but she wasn't sure what O.W.L.s she would need to pass.

History of Magic was the most boring class in the history of the school. Ariadne wondered if it was because of Binns but knew that even a lively professor probably wouldn't be able to increase interest amongst the students, if only due to the way the textbook was written. She fought to keep awake but managed, knowing that if Hermione ever became upset with either Ron or Harry they would be forced to rely on her notes even though they were never as detailed as Hermione's.

Something interesting occurred while the four of them walked to the dungeons for double Potions, though. Cho Chang had spotted Harry while they crossed the courtyard from opposite directions and she started talking to him.

Ariadne and Hermione shared a happy look. It was so obvious that Harry had a crush on Cho and they both knew it was a good sign that Cho was talking to him despite what everyone was saying about Harry. She was obviously a sensible girl, Ariadne felt.

Their happy look turned into one of shock, however, when Ron intervened and began accusing Cho of only supporting some Quidditch team whose badge she was wearing on her robes because they had recently begun winning the league.

"See you, Harry," Cho said quickly, probably anxious to get away from Ron.

"Oh, you have no tact at all!" Hermione rounded on Ron once Cho had walked out of earshot.

"What? I was only asking if she supported the Tornadoes."

"Didn't you see that she wanted to talk to Harry on his own?"

"I wasn't stopping her."

"That's the bell," Harry told them when it rang, for Ron and Hermione had been arguing so loudly that neither had heard it. That didn't stop their bickering but they at least walked on so as to not be late to Potions.

"What is the matter with those two?" Ariadne asked Harry, watching Ron and Hermione walking in front of her with a wary eye. "I don't think they've ever bickered this much."

"I don't know," Harry replied tersely, still irritated at Ron for ruining his conversation with Cho.

"But hey," Ariadne began brightly, "at least we know that Cho's on your side. That definitely counts for something!"

"Yeah," Harry smiled.

All of the fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins entered the dimly lighted dungeon classroom, Harry and Ariadne sitting at a table in the very back between Ron and Hermione. Snape entered the classroom shortly after everyone had taken a seat and icily told them all to settle down but there was no real need since everyone had quieted upon hearing the door close.

Ariadne felt that if anyone other than Snape taught Potions she would like the subject a lot more than she currently did. Even Binns would make her like the class better. She found Potions to be fascinating; it was almost limitless in what you could accomplish with a simple potion.

Just like Professor Binns had, Snape started off the class by reminding everyone that this was their O.W.L year. He expected everyone to pass their Potions O.W.L or else they would suffer his 'displeasure'; as he was saying that, Ariadne noticed Snape's gaze linger on Neville. He also mentioned that he only accepted the students with the highest marks into his N.E.W.T class and that this could possibly be the last year for some students; at this, Snape looked directly at Harry.

After his lecture, which Ariadne could not decide if it was Snape attempting to be encouraging or threatening, he told the class that they would be brewing the Draught of Peace, put the instructions on the board, opened the storage cupboard, and let them work except to announce how far everyone should be every now and then.

Ariadne's potion, she knew, was not anywhere near as perfect as Hermione's. In fact, it was a bit of a mess. Looking around at the other Gryffindors' cauldrons, Ariadne saw with relief that hers was definitely not the worst. The concoction was supposed to be emitting a silver vapor but Ariadne's vapors were more white and smoke-like.

"Tell me, Potter, can you read?" Snape asked after stopping in front of Harry.

He's not Crabbe or Goyle, Ariadne desperately wanted to mutter but refrained.

"Yes," Harry replied tensely.

Looking into the cauldron Harry had been using, Ariadne saw that his potion was emitting dark steam in such a vast amount that she was a bit surprised the whole room hadn't become foggy. Harry grudgingly admitted that he had forgotten an ingredient, which Snape said now made the potion worthless and caused the entire cauldron to empty.

"I can't believe Snape did that," Ariadne told Harry as she, Hermione, and Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table. Harry had already started his lunch since he had gotten a few minutes' head start; not needing to turn in a vial to Snape he had been the first to leave the dungeon once the bell had rung.

"It was really unfair," Hermione said sympathetically as she helped herself to Shepherd's Pie.

"Since when has Snape been fair to me?" Harry asked a bit sarcastically.

"I just thought it would be different this year," Hermione responded after a small pause and looked around to make sure no one was listening to the four of them before continuing. "I mean, since he's in the Order."

"Poisonous toadstools don't change their spots," Ron said. "I always thought Dumbledore was a bit mad for trusting him. How do we know he really hasn't stopped working for You-Know-Who?"

Ariadne inwardly groaned. She could tell by Ron's tone and Hermione's reaction that this was probably going to end in an argument between the two; there had been so many within the past few years that she was getting pretty good at sensing when one was about to start.

"Dumbledore trusts him," Ariadne interjected before anything else could be said in hopes that the conversation would stop. "That's good enough for me."

"Dumbledore probably has plenty of reasons to trust Snape," Hermione snapped, "even though he doesn't share those reasons with you, Ron."

"Shut up, the two of you," Harry said to Ron and Hermione as loudly as he could without drawing onlookers. "You two are constantly bickering and it's driving me mad. Give it a rest!" He grabbed his schoolbag and left the table, leaving Ariadne, Ron, and Hermione to watch his retreating figure.

"What's his problem?" Ron asked after a few moments.

"I hate to say it but he's right," Ariadne gently told her two friends sitting across from her. "You two have been bickering more than usual lately, although I don't think he went about telling you in the right way."

"You don't say," Ron replied.

"Even so, it doesn't excuse his recent behavior," Hermione said as she finished her lunch and grabbed her schoolbag. "I do wish he would stop taking his temper out on us. Ready for Arithmancy, Ariadne?"

"Yeah," she replied getting up from the table and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "We'll see you in a bit, Ron."

"What do you think's wrong with Harry?" Hermione asked her friend as they walked down the seventh floor corridor.

"He's angry," Ariadne wryly replied.

"I know that. What I'm asking you is if you think it's merely because of how everyone's been treating him or something else?"

"What else could it be?"

"Well," Hermione started, "it's just that I don't think I've ever seen him this angry before and, really, the only thing I can think of that's different is You-Know-Who's back."

"I'm not following."

"I can't say for sure, of course, but I think the two are connected. Somehow."

Ariadne pondered this as her and Hermione entered Professor Vector's classroom and took two seats in the front. Did You-Know-Who being back have something directly to do with Harry's sudden anger problem or was it the indirect fact of him being back causing people to turn against Harry that accounted for his temper?

Forlornhero: I'm not planning on going too far off canon. Obviously I'll have to a little bit since I'm adding Ariadne and her own subplots, but the major things are going to stay the same. Thank you for your review!