Flaming Red
By corset-rebellion-follower
Disclaimer: I don't own HP
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Chapter 10- Platform 9 ¾The summer was ending faster than anyone wanted. It was July twenty-one, and Ariana was sitting at the kitchen table when it happened. A tawny owl swooped in through an open window and perched on the chair across from her. It had a thick parchment envelope in its beak. She took the envelope and the owl immediately took off. She read the front.
Ariana WeasleyCottage in the countryside
England
She flipped it over. The Hogwarts seal was on the back. Her eyes widened.
"MUM! DAD! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!"
She heard pounding footsteps, and Hermione and Fred appeared in the kitchen. "What is it? Is everything alright?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"I got my Hogwarts letter!" Hermione and Fred broke out in grins.
"That's brilliant, sweetheart!" Hermione exclaimed, running over and hugging her daughter.
"Go on and open it, then," Fred encouraged. Ariana ripped the envelope open once she was released from her mother's hug.
"Dear Ms. Weasley, we are pleased to inform you that you've been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Ariana screamed. "This is so cool! I can't wait to go to Diagon Alley and get my stuff! I'll need a wand, and books for my lessons, and some potion-making stuff, and…" Ariana rambled on while her parents watched.
"This is why she reminds me of you, Hermione," said Fred.
"Mum, Dad, when are we going to Diagon Alley?" Ariana asked excitedly.
"Um… that's a good question," Hermione muttered.
"We could take her today," Fred suggested.
"But I have work," Hermione reminded him.
"Then I'll take her when you're at work," Fred answered.
"But I want to come. It's a special experience, getting your Hogwarts things," Hermione argued.
"Then take the day off. You work all the time on weekends, so you deserve it," Fred insisted. Ariana nodded in agreement. Hermione sighed in defeat.
"Alright. But if I get fired, I'm blaming it on you, Fredrick Weasley," Hermione said, pointing a finger at Fred. Ariana giggled.
"Let's just go," Fred said quietly, blushing a deep red. They all Apparated to Diagon Alley. The street was buzzing with people and other creatures, and just like the first time, Ariana was mesmerized. She was still clutching the envelope in her hand.
"What's on your required list of books?" Hermione asked, taking the envelope from her.
"Probably all the same books we used. I seriously pity Ariana, since she probably will have Professor Binns for History of Magic," Fred whispered.
"Who's Professor Binns?" Ariana asked, snapping out of her trance.
"He teaches at Hogwarts. He's the only Professor there who is living impaired," Fred explained. Ariana's eyes were wide.
"He's DEAD?" she asked. Hermione hit Fred on the arm.
"Don't scare her to death before she even gets on the train," she scolded. Fred grinned at her and shrugged. Hermione shook her head and looked down the list of books. They made their way to Gringotts, where money from both Hermione and Fred's vaults were taken. After they reappeared in the sunshine, Hermione looked back to the book list.
"We should probably go to Madam Malkin's to get Ariana robes first, then we'll go to Ollivander's," she decided.
"What do they sell at Ollivander's?" Ariana asked, following her mum down the crowded alley. "
They sell wands. That way, you can cause mass destruction with your own wand instead of having to steal someone else's," Fred whispered.
He received another hit from Hermione. They walked into Madam Malkin's, where they were promptly greeted by Madam Malkin herself.
"Here for Hogwarts robes?" she asked hastily. Ariana nodded happily. "Come to the back then, to be measured." Ariana left her parents in the front of the store and followed Madam Malkin. "Step up here," Madam Malkin prompted, pointing to a stand. Ariana climbed up. "Arms up." Ariana rose her arms up. A tape measure immediately began measuring her, while Madam Malkin took down the numbers. After a few minutes, the tape measure was still measuring and Ariana's arms were getting tired. "Step down." The tape measure stopped moving, and Ariana got off the stand. They walked to the counter, where Hermione and Fred were waiting for her. Once everything was paid for, they left the shop.
"Torture for your arms, wasn't it?" Fred asked quietly, not wanting Hermione to hear. Ariana nodded. Then she saw a dark shop with a sign over the door.
Ollivander's. Makers of fine wands since 382 B.C.
Ariana looked back to her parents. "You want me to go in there?" she asked, looking at the shop in fear.
"Don't worry, there's nothing to be scared about. It's just a little dark and musty," Fred soothed.
"We'll wait for you out here," Hermione said, handing her a pouch of money. Ariana nodded unsurely and walked into the shop. It appeared to be empty.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" she called nervously. An old man suddenly appeared on a rolling ladder.
"May I help you?" he asked in a somewhat wheezy voice.
"Um… yeah. I need a wand," Ariana replied quietly.
"Then you're in the right place. I am Mr. Ollivander. Come up to the counter, child, don't be scared." She reluctantly walked up to the wooden counter, which was littered with open books and assorted wands. Ollivander had pulled a dusty old box from the shelf and opened it, revealing a shiny black wand. He handed it to Ariana. "Give it a wave, we'll see how that one works for you."
Ariana waved the wand. Fire spurted out of tip, setting a few books on fire. Once all flames had been extinguished, Ollivander snatched the wand from her hand. "No, I don't think that's the one. Try this," he said, handing her a light-colored wand. She waved it. A lamp on one side of the shop exploded. He took the wand from her and replaced it with another. They kept trying wand after wand, but nothing seemed to work. Mr. Ollivander tapped his chin.
"We could try…" His voice drifted off as he walked back behind the shelves of boxes. He emerged holding a scarlet red box. He took off the lid and pulled out a light brown wand. "Cherry, thirteen and a half inches, phoenix feather core, good for charms," he recited, as if the wand was his. Ariana took the wand. She immediately felt the tips of her fingers tingle, as if they loved holding the wand. She waved it.
Beautiful lights suddenly appeared all around the room, filling the musty shop with color. Ollivander smiled.
"Yes, I believe that's the wand for you, an excellent wand!" Ariana's liking of Ollivander instantly heightened. She paid for her wand and left the shop, now grinning.
"Looks like someone finally decided to come out," Fred teased.
"Sorry. We must have tried every wand in the shop before we found the right one," Ariana explained.
"What wand did you get?" Hermione asked curiously. She showed them the wand. "He said it was cherry, and it has a phoenix feather inside, and it's good for charms, I think," Ariana said. Hermione inspected the wand, smiling.
"It's really great, sweetie." The family proceeded on to the rest of Diagon Alley.
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Ariana looked at the brick wall before her. "I can't do it," she proclaimed.
"Yes, you can, sweetie. I've done it, and your father's done it, and you can too," Hermione soothed.
"Mum, I can't just walk through a brick wall. I'll crash!" Ariana insisted.
"Trust me, you won't. And if you don't go on your own, then I'll have to push you through," Fred teased. Ariana took a deep breath.
"Fine. I'll do it." She poised herself in front of the brick wall, looked to see if someone was watching, then ran through the wall and onto Platform 9 ¾. She looked around. People were going this way and that, giving their children hugs and kisses goodbye. A hand clamped down on her shoulder. She jumped, but heard a familiar chuckle.
"Dad, don't do that! It isn't funny!" she insisted.
"Sorry, love, but I'm a prankster at heart. It's my nature," Fred explained, releasing her shoulder.
Hermione rushed up to them. "Let's get your things on the train, sweetheart. It's almost departure time." When they were loading her luggage on the train, she clutched Averill's cage in her hand, unwilling to let the snow-white owl go. Both Fred and Hermione decided it would be best if she took it with her on the train. It was ten fifty-five when all of Ariana's things were on the train and she was ready to leave.
"Good luck, sweetie. Make me proud," Hermione said, giving her daughter a bone-crushing hug. Once Fred could pry Hermione off Ariana, he leaned down to her height.
"Promise me you won't let that prankster genius go to waste," he whispered. She nodded and hugged him.
The train whistle went off. "Time for you to get on the train," Hermione concluded, tears in her eyes.
"Mum, I'll be back at Christmas. It's not like I'm going away forever," Ariana whined.
"You're right, I'm sorry. Have fun sweetie." Ariana climbed onto the train and waved to her parents. Another whistle sounded, and the train pulled out of the station. The tears that Hermione had held back were now rolling down her cheeks. Fred wiped them away and pulled her into his arms.
"She'll be fine." Hermione sniffled.
"I know. But she's just growing up so fast," she whispered.
"Don't start that, Hermione. She's eleven years old, she still has a lot of growing up to do," Fred soothed.
Hermione nodded and leaned back against Fred's chest. "You're right. She does. I'm just glad that she gets to grow up with a father, too."
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Ariana slid open a compartment door. It was empty, and she couldn't have loved it better. Now she was on her own, without a mother or father to show her what's what. She put Averill's cage on the seat, closed the door, and sat down next to the owl's cage.
Pull yourself together, girl, you can handle this.
The compartment door slid open. A boy with messy black hair and green eyes stepped inside. "Can I sit in here? All the other compartments are full." Ariana nodded. "What's your name?" he asked.
"I'm Ariana Weasley." He smiled.
"I'm James Potter." Ariana's eyes got wide. "My uncle's last name is Potter! Harry Potter!" James's eyes were wide too.
"My mum's maiden name is Weasley!" They both grinned.
A/N: Dun, dun, dun! Yes, this is James Potter from the Epilogue in Deathly Hallows, I don't care if the timing's off. This story is AU anyway. Wait until Hermione and Fred find out about James! Plus, the first OC characters of my story in the next chapter! Yayyyyyy!
P.S. I might have a sequel just about Ariana. Review or PM me if you like the idea!