Disclaimer: Nope, not mine! Only aforementioned original characters are mine...

Enjoy!

We left off:

What is your mother's name?"

"Arilyn. Arilyn Reese. Chase was her mother's maiden name, Reese is her dad's surname."

"Oh God. Oh my God..."

"Professor? You're looking at me weird. Why?" She felt she already knew the answer.

"Arilyn Reese and I married just before we graduated and moved to London. I attacked her. I send her what money I can every month..."

"You mean... you're my father?"

"Arianne, I–"

"You what? You never wrote to me, never flooed to the States... What do you want me to think now that I know?" she asked angrily.

"Well, I was hoping you'd be a little more understanding. You talk about this whole thing as if it doesn't mean anything to you."

"It does, I just put on a brave face. It's been hard telling people for as long as I could remember that I don't know who my father is, but he sends me stuff a few times a year."

Lupin sighed. "I know I haven't been there for you, but I've done the best I can. It's not easy being a werewolf and trying to hold a job, especially with the decree the Ministry passed not too long ago."

"As for not flooing or writing to you, Arilyn asked me not to. I think she wanted you to find me on your own, to discover me your own way rather than have me put in front of you and be told 'He's your dad'. You know she's like that, or rather, she was."

Arianne lost her hard look. "She still is. Professor...?"

"Yes?"

"Did you... did you suspect..." She lost her voice.

"It was hard, in the beginning. I didn't know Dumbledore had invited another student here from America, so I was quite surprised when he introduced both you and Saralyn. It took time, but I had my suspicions after a week or two when I saw the assignments you were handing in. Your mother's reluctance to tell me your name didn't help, either. Then at dinner a few nights ago, Hagrid asked me if it was just him, or did you have a strange resemblance to me? I realized then that it had to be you, not Saralyn that I had invited here."

"Why did you?"

"Invite you? I wanted to meet my daughter. I missed out on a good part your life, Arianne. I can't do anything about that, but I can be there for you in the future." He leaned forward in his chair.

"I need to apologize to Cedric and go to bed. It's late." She stood. "I can't call you 'Dad' yet, but I will soon, if I decide I really like you," she told him as she gave him a quick hug and left.

Once again the next few weeks were full for the seventh years. There were essays to be written, homework to be done and those on Quidditch teams had practice on top of it. Saralyn got more detentions for her foul mouth and half-done homework. Arianne stayed blissfully unstressed, as she somehow managed to balance everything, and visits to her father on top of it all.

One night as she was getting back in from Quidditch practice, she heard someone call her name. Looking up, her gaze met Cedric as he came down the stairs. She sighed and crossed her arms; that was every night so far that week.

"Arainne, how was practice?" he asked her.

"You know all I can tell you is that it was good. What is it tonight?"

"You're angry."

"I'm annoyed. Every night you me meet me here. Why?"

"I like you."

"You show affection by annoying people?" Arianne knew she was being rude, but it felt necessary.

Cedric frowned. "No. But you didn't tell me before that I was annoying you, so I thought it was ok. You should have said something."

"Maybe I should have. Next time I'll know to." She moved to try and go upstairs, but he moved to block her.

"Arianne, you've been avoiding me ever since that night I invited you for a walk. You suddenly have no time for anything but schoolwork and Quidditch. I'm Captain of my team, and I still make time for friends. What happened?"

"Nothing that would concern you."

"It does since we were getting to be friends a few weeks ago and suddenly all we are is study partners.

She sighed loudly. "Meet me in the kitchen corridor in ten minutes. I'll explain."

Arianne hurried up to Ravenclaw Tower to change out of her practice robes. Billie watched her change in a flurry and asked,

"Where's the fire?"

Arianne began to laugh. "I thought only Muggles knew that phrase."

"Yeah, well..." She shrugged.

"I have to go meet Cedric."

"You're finally going to go out with him?"

"Nooo... He wants me to explain why I haven't made time for him since I found out who my father is." Arianne had only told Saralyn and Billie about her discovery, and had them promise to tell no one.

"Oh, I get it. You shouldn't have to tell him anything though. But have fun anyway." She turned back to her homework.

Arianne hurried down to the corridor where the kitchens were. She knew that the Hufflepuffs were down in this corridor so she looked for Cedric. He was standing in front of a painting of a huge bowl of fruit.

"Cedric!" She jogged up to him.

"I thought maybe you were playing me," he told her.

"I keep my word, unlike most."

"So, you were going to tell me something?"

She leaned against the wall. "I found my father," she started.

"Wait a minute. What?"

"Let me explain. I came here on the request of my father, who's name I didn't know, and who said he was teaching here. So I did my work, looked for clues from every teacher to see if I could figure it out. That night you tried to get me to walk with you, I was heading to Professor Lupin's office. I told him a quick bit about my mother and found out that he's my father."

"He's your... he's your father!"

"Yes. I'm not getting into why he left us, as it's not something of importance right now. But I've been going to him as often as I can so I can learn about who he is and so he can get to know about me. I'm sorry I haven't really talked to you outside of class Cedric. I've just been..."

"Overwhelmed?" he provided.

"That sounds about right. I'll try to do better."

Cedric began to chuckle. "You sound like you're making an excuse for bad homework."

She was silent for a minute, then said, "So what are you going to do about it?"

"About what?"

"Your crush on me."

Cedric turned bright red. "I... I..."

"You can ask me to go to Hogsmeade with you in a few days on Halloween. You know, so we can talk to each other and not have to worry about school."

"I, uh, well, willyougotoHogsmeadewithme?" he asked quickly.

"Sure. I got homework to do. I hope you don't mind if I go and finish it."

"Nah. I have stuff for McGonagall that's due tomorrow that I have to do. So I'll see you in a few days?" They didn't have DADA for another few days.

"Yup. Night."

Halloween dawned bright and chilly. Arianne knew that Lupin wasn't going to the village, as it was getting near the full moon and he needed the potion that Professor Snape was brewing for him. Her monthly restlessness had come upon her as she had gotten ready for bed the night before. She just hoped Cedric didn't notice anything.

She dressed carefully, wanting to make a good impression. She wore a dusty blue polo shirt with very short sleeves and a deep v-neck. Under that she wore a light blue tank top to cover her exposed cleavage. She put on a pair of bootcut khakis that hugged her hips and black combat boots. Her hair was held back from her face and held back with a folded black bandanna. She grabbed a hoodie to ward off the chill and headed down to breakfast.

"Wow, Arianne, you look great!" Billie told her friend as she sat down.

"Thanks. So you want to meet somewhere later?"

"What about Saralyn?"

"She has detention. Again."

"She always has detention."

"Well, last she knew, McGonagall told her if she gets too many more, Dumbledore is declaring her a hopeless cause and they're going to send her home."

"That bites. Hey, maybe we'll see my sister in the village."

"I thought she had training," Arianne remarked as she finished her breakfast of yogurt.

"She has today off and she told me she might come here."

"Nice. Hey Sara." The other girl sat down.

"I hate detention."

"Then why do you half do your homework and talk back?" Billie asked.

"The Healers back home told me they don't know what it is, but Dad took me to a Muggle doctor and they said I have an attention problem. My talking back is the result of hanging around with one of my uncles. I can't help it."

"You have to try. Don't make me come after you," Arianne threatened. "You saw me hex that Slytherin last week."

"Yeah..."

They chatted for another few minutes before Professor McGonagall reminded Saralyn of her detention with Snape. Arianne and Billie had to go anyway, as it was time to leave for Hogsmeade. Cedric met them in the entrance hall, and smiled when he saw Arianne. Billie whispered something in her friends' ear, and walked over to a waiting Ravenclaw boy.

"You look great," Cedric told her.

"Thanks. You do too," she said, looking at his open forest green shirt and dark blue undershirt over black jeans and white sneakers.

They passed Filch, then made their way down the path past the dementors. Cedric put his hand lightly on her shoulder and asked,

"Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know Hogsmeade like you do. I've never been here before. Why don't you show me around?"

"Alright. Quality Quidditch Supplies, here we come." He laughed.

They spent well over an hour and a half looking at Quidditch supplies, Cedric more so since his first match of the season was the next week. Arianne bought herself a new pair of gloves, Cedric bought new gloves and boots. They went from there to Zonko's, where they ran into Billie and a seventh-year named Bill. They looked at all of the things on the walls and ran into the Weasley twins trying out products in the store. The twins followed the two groups out into the street and promptly tried to use a prank powder on them to no avail, having been hexed by Arianne; they were running down the street with fur growing all over their bodies.

Billie and Bill, a redheaded boy with glasses, headed off to Madame Paddifoots (sp?), a couple's teashop, so Arianne and Cedric could be alone for a while. They walked into the Three Broomsticks, and Cedric ordered their butterbeer while Arianne chased some third years away from a table. They sat in silence for several minutes sipping their butterbeer.

Cedric finally broke the silence by saying, "You know, I wasn't lying in the carriage. You know, what I said."

"I honestly don't remember what you said."

"You're very pretty."

Arianne turned a light shade of fushia. "I don't know what to say except for... thank you." She began to restlessly toy with her glass.

He put his hand over hers. "You're welcome. For the past few weeks... I've been trying to pluck up the courage to ask you here... to ask you out, actually."

"I know Cedric, but–"

"You've been very busy, I know. It's ok." He paused. "Arianne, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Nothing."

"Rubbish. You won't syop fiddling with your glass and you keep looking out the door every time it opens. That, and... what's wrong with your eyes? They're not grey... Arianne–"

"I'm sorry." She hurried out the door into the street. She turned left and headed towards the large house known as the Shrieking Shack. The hurried footsteps behind her made her run faster.

"Arianne! Wait! You don't know where you're going!" Cedric caught up with her and turned her around. "What is wrong?"

"You wouldn't understand!"

"Why don't you try me?"

"No! I can deal with it myself!" She turned back around and continued toward the house and its grounds.

Cedric sighed. He liked a challenge, but not like this. "Arianne! Please!"

"Cedric, no! You'll be getting in over your head. Just–"

He caught up with her and she finally stopped running. "Don't tell me to forget about you. Maybe I can help."

"You can't. It's something I've dealt with for almost eighteen years."

"Is it–"

"I... I... I'm part... I'm part werewolf!"

"You're..."

"Yes!" she cried. "That's why I'm restless. That's why I kept looking at the door; I need to be outside. And that's why my eyes aren't grey; they're amber. This is as bad as it gets, but..."

Cedric moved forward to put his arms around her and hold her while she sobbed. "That's all? Arianne, let's just go back to the castle and just talk. It's just a shame that your first trip out here happened near the full moon." He heard he stifled laugh. "Come on. I'll grab you another butterbeer and we'll sit by the lake."

I wanted to get more in here, like Sirius attacking the Fat Lady, but I got caught up with Arianne and Cedric. I'll try to do more next chapter.

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