Chapter 11

Ara and Connor went to breakfast late on boxing day. They were in the middle of eating scrambled eggs when the post arrived and to Ara's horror there was a picture of her on the front page.

The only problem was that it wasn't just her, but it was a picture of dancing with Charlie and kissing him.

"shit," she said quietly, her eyes glued to the picture "shit shit shit shit shit."

"Ara?" Connor said, leaning forward in hopes of seeing what she was reading.

Ara's eyes moved down to the article and she grew angrier with every word she read. How it was possible that Rita Skeeter even saw them, she wasn't sure.

"Ara what is it?" Connor said again, this time louder.

Ara crumpled up the paper and slammed it down onto the table, running her hands through her hair. Connor picked it up, his eyes widening at the picture.

"Това е глупост!(this is nonsense)" he said loudly.

Ara gripped her hair tighter and looked over to the Gryffindor table. People all across the hall were holding the paper and pointing towards the picture. At the Gryffindor table she caught Charlie's siblings with a mixture of looks on their faces. Ginny looked worried, Ron looked disgusted, and Fred and George simply looked surprised. When she looked up towards the staff table she found Charlie looking equally horrified at the picture landing in the paper.

She didn't wait, she grabbed her stuff and bolted from the Great Hall, heading back in the direction of the ship.

"Ara stop," Charlie said, running after her out of the hall.

"No," Ara said when Charlie grabbed her arm, a hint of desperation in her voice.

"I know we didn't want people knowing yet – "

"you don't get it Charlie! Your family may be disappointed, but they'll still love you! Nothing bad will really happen… but did you see what it said about me? Did you read the article?"

Charlie grimaced and looked away from her face.

"they think I slipped you a love potion or that you are under the imperius! They think I'm using you to get ahead in the tournament… so I can win!" she said bitterly. "I just need some space," she said before she turned on her heel and walked back to the ship.

It was nearly dinner when Ara finally rolled out of bed with a groan. Her friends had been doing their best to get her to talk to them, but she simply ignored them, choosing instead to stare at the ceiling thinking of all the horrible outcomes of that damn article.

Ara stood up and stretched, she figured it wouldn't do her any good to lay around all day. She was nervous, but she didn't know who to talk to. No one would understand what she was going through.

She was about to leave when her door opened and Anna came in, looking determined.

"we need to talk," she said when she saw that Ara was up.

Ara sighed and sat back down on her bed. She loved her friend but she really didn't need some sort of lecture.

"getting past the part where I'm hurt that you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend, Connor has said that the guy is nice and good for you so I think you should not let this article get to you and you should keep with him."

The words came out in a jumble. Ara looked at her with exasperation. "it's not that simple Anna," she said angrily.

Anna huffed in annoyance "yes it is Ara, not everything has to be so difficult! It's okay for you to be with someone your family doesn't like! They'll come around eventually."

Ara sneered "how the bloody hell would you know? You know nothing of the way this wizarding world works. It's because you're a bloody half-blood and you've had a bit too much influence from your muggle mother!"

Anna took a step back "my mother isn't a muggle!" she shouted "you just make everything so dramatic… you try to piss off your aunt and uncle on a regular, but then over react when they do get mad!"

"just fuck off Anna," Ara said before storming past her roommate and leaving the ship. She hesitated only briefly, glancing at the castle, before bypassing it and heading to the beuxbatons carriage.

She knocked briefly on the carriage door before it was opened by a brunette girl.

"Is Fleur here?" she asked softly.

The girl simply looked at her questioningly as though she couldn't understand why she would possibly be here.

"Ara," Fleur said with a bright smile. It seemed that she had heard her name. "Come in," she gestured her forward.

Ara followed Fleur as she was led through the carriage. It was much larger on the inside, bigger than the ship even. There was a beautiful living area that seemed like it should belong to the queen for it was covered in everything magnificent. Beautiful couches, chandeliers, expensive art. Down one of the hallways there was a small kitchenette with fresh fruit and pastries. There was also another small sitting area with tables.

Along the other hallway were the bedrooms. Fleur led Ara into hers, it was a beautiful room with a large bed in the middle.

"You have your own room?" she asked surprised.

"yes of course," Fleur said with a smile. "As ze champion, I was given it."

Ara nodded, that made sense. She figured had another student become champion for Durmstrang, they would have also been given their own room, but because it was her, Karkaroff didn't particularly care.

"I saw ze article," Fleur said with a small smile. "I want you to know zat I don't believe a word of it," she said passionately.

Ara smiled and sat in the armchair next to Fleur's bed while Fleur sat on her bed.

"Do you like 'im?" she asked.

Ara smiled sadly "of course… he's so sweet and funny and not easily flustered… he doesn't care who I am or where I come from," she said "but he's a blood traitor," she said the last part bitterly, shaking her head in frustration.

Fleur sighed "he's a pureblood?"

Ara nodded "he's a Weasley."

Fleur looked surprised "and your uncle disapproves? Zey are one of ze last noble families."

Ara nodded "unfortunately being a pure blood means nothing if you associate with muggle borns… it might even be worse. They see them as turning on their own kind."

Fleur rolled her eyes "even France has zeir fair share of pure blood extremists. It seems ridiculous."

Ara nodded and sighed.

"you know… ze veelas weren't all zat righteous either," Fleur said with a small smile. "I 'ad a great aunt who would use 'er charm to maneepulate people. Eet is how she became wealthy," she said with a grimace.

Ara looked at her surprised "I thought the Veelas were hunted? Don't you have a community? A safe haven of sorts?"

Fleur laughed "you did your research… yes Veelas were also 'unted… Witches and wizards wanted to use zeir charm for zeir own uses. If zey didn't get what zey wanted, ze wizards would lie about zem… I wouldn't zay eet has been much different for you?"

Ara shook her head "I haven't been hunted."

Fleur paused "no maybe not, but people lie about you. Zey treat you 'orribly.

Ara shrugged "it doesn't matter Fleur, honestly. I'm not trying to feel sorry for myself, I just don't know what to do."

"What is it zat you are afraid of?"

Ara shrugged "my families disapproval."

"Will zey 'urt you?"

Ara looked at her quickly and shook her head "no of course not."

"So it wasn't zem who left ze scars?"

Ara sent her a small smile "Of course not… My aunt genuinely cares about me. My uncle may hate me, but he'd never lay a hand on me."

Fleur nodded "well I zink if you really lie ze boy, you give it a shot. If you're family disapproves, you cross zat bridge when it comes… you decide which relationship is more important."

Ara stayed silent. Fleur was right, but Ara already knew the answer. Her relationship with Charlie was far more important to her than her relationship with her uncle. The only one she didn't think it was more important than, was her relationship with Draco.

"thanks Fleur," she said, sending her a small smile.

Much to Ara's surprise, Fleur came and sat beside her on the chair, basically sitting on her lap. Ara stiffened when Fleur's arms came around her and she kissed her forehead.

"what are friends for?" she asked, "I give excellent advice, zat is what I've always been told… and don't act so uncomfortable, you will 'ave to get used to ze affection."

Ara snorted "alright alright… I should probably head up to the castle." She said before shoving Fleur off her lap.

Fleur walked with her to the grounds and back towards her ship.

"'ou can talk to me about anyzing, so you know," she said kissing Ara on both cheeks.

"Thank you," Ara said genuinely. While she didn't know Fleur well, she had truly grown to trust and care about the girl. She had a feeling she would be in her life for a long time.

Ara went back to her room and was glad to see that Anna was gone. Anna may have been right with some of the stuff that she said, but she was still frustrated with her.

She sat on her bed briefly before grabbing the make up bag that was sitting on her night stand and making her way back to the castle. There were a few students out and about, they whispered as she passed, giving her dirty looks for what she could only assume was because she 'drugged' a Weasley… a fairly well-liked family.

She ignored them and made her way to the Potter's living quarters. She thought briefly about going to see Charlie, but part of her wanted support from someone else before she saw him. Part of her wanted reassurance from Lily. She shook her head while she walked, reassurance was never something she needed before, at least not like this.

She knocked briefly on the portrait hole, the little girl was now sitting in the grass making a daisy chain.

When the door opened Ara was surprised when yelling hit her ears. James stood there with a grimace on his face. The grimace softened when he saw who it was. He glanced back behind him before stepping into the hallway.

Ara took a step back "is everything alright?" she asked worriedly.

James sent her a crooked smile "of course…" He glanced back into his living quarters "you're welcome to come in… I just worry you might be dragged into the yelling."

Ara frowned.

James sighed "The Weasleys are here and I'm afraid Charlie's facing some questioning."

Ara scoffed "Are they yelling at him for dating me?" she asked angrily.

James sighed and rubbed his hand over his face "They don't know you."

Ara threw her hands up in frustration "It's Rita Skeeter and her bloody articles."

She didn't wait for James but walked through the portrait hole. She could hear the raised voices from the entry way.

"Mum enough!"

Ara walked into the room as Charlie yelled, banging his fist onto the table. Arthur was sitting between his wife and his son, Molly was on her feet. Lily stood off to the side, clearly trying to stay out of it while still showing Charlie support with small comments.

It had been only seconds, but Charlie started getting to his feet and Ara had seen enough. With a fling of her arm, both Charlie and Molly were pushed back into their seats. They looked towards her in surprise.

"What on earth are you lot doing?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Ara – "

"No, shut up Charlie," she said firmly. "Where on earth is this loving family that I've heard so much about? You honestly are starting to look like my family." It wasn't completely truthful, her family handled disagreements much differently, but the statement seemed to have the desired effect as both Molly and Charlie looked slightly abashed.

"Charlie, I appreciate you standing up for me, but where do you get off yelling at your mother?"

Charlie looked appropriate apologetic, even if there still was some fight left in his eyes.

"and Mrs. Weasley," She turned towards the Weasley Matriarch "I understand that you don't like me and don't trust me and don't want me to have anything to do with your son, but I can assure you I don't mean harm to him or any of you," she said almost desperately. "Everything that Rita Skeeter writes is a lie. I realize my mum was a horrible wretched person, but I'm nothing like her. I don't even remember much about her! The only memories I have of her aren't happy ones. The only person in my family that I truly care about is Draco."

"From what I've heard Draco Malfoy isn't a very good person either." Molly said, softer than before.

Ara sighed roughly "No he's a spoiled brat and arrogant as can be, but he has a good heart. Anyone who truly knows him knows that… but he's had my uncle as influence and I'm sure you all know how horrible of an influence that is!"

"How is it that you turned out differently if you had the same influence?" She asked, this time genuinely curious, even if a little suspicious.

Ara laughed "I was never as spoiled given that my uncle never wanted me… but I was just as arrogant... the difference was my uncle shipped me off to Durmstrang. Durmstrang may have a horrible reputation because of Grindelwald and Karkaroff, but they aren't nearly as judgmental there. People didn't care what family I came from, they knew little of me… I made friends and they were a good influence," she said with a shrug "Draco was at a disadvantage, he knew so many people before coming to Hogwarts, he already had friends… then on the train he and Harry got into it and that just set him in his arrogant Slytherin ways… he's really not a bad kid though."

"Look, I'm not asking you to like me or to suddenly be okay with me and Charlie dating, I am asking that you try to get to know me before deciding you hate me." She pleaded.

"Mum," Charlie said, standing up and walking towards Ara. "I'm twenty-two years old and I'm going to date her with or without your permission… but I'd really like you to try… to give it a chance," he said softly.

Ara sucked in a breath at Charlie's statement, that he was willing to date her no matter what, said a lot. It reaffirmed her decision to do the same.

"Molly, Ara really is nothing like her family," Lily said, moving towards where the others were sitting. "Do you really think I would trust her so much if she was a potential threat?"

It was clear that there were more to Lily's words than Ara realized. Molly sighed sadly and nodded "you're right Lily… Of course you wouldn't."

Molly stood up and turned towards Ara "I suppose if you're free the next Hogsmeade trip, maybe we could get a spot of tea."

Ara let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding "that would be lovely," she said with a large smile.

Molly nodded as Arthur stood up. He came and shook her hand, offering her a kind smile. "we're going to get going, we've been here long enough." He said, pulling Charlie into a brief hug.

Molly hugged him next, hers lasting a bit longer.

"Sorry for yelling mum," Charlie said quietly.

"you should be," she whispered, making Charlie laugh.

With that the two of them left through the Floo.

"well that was enough excitement to last a life time," James said with a crooked smile.

Lily walked over and hugged Ara "with that, we are going to let you both have some time to talk," She started pulled James towards the kitchen, but he paused by the couple.

"Keep your hands to yourself Weasley," he said, poking Charlie in the chest.

Ara found it rather comical seeing James go from happy to serious, it seemed Charlie did to.

"I don't want any funny business," he said before winking and following his wife into the kitchen.

Charlie settled onto the couch before pulling Ara down next to him. Ara turned and crossed one leg under her body so she could face him.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier," she said.

Charlie simply smiled and shrugged "it was understandable," he said.

"You're parents came awfully quick after the article."

Charlie grimaced "mum wanted to see Lily, see if the news was true."

Ara nodded.

"So… I don't really want to make any assumptions, but is it safe to assume you aren't dumping me?" Charlie asked with a smirk.

Ara laughed "no… I'm not, not as long as you still want me."

"Of course, I do," he said, pulling her closer to him.

Ara melted into his arms gratefully.

"What about your uncle though?" he asked.

Ara sighed "I don't know… I guess we'll cross that bridge when it comes."

Charlie smiled and leaned forward, kissing her softly.

"I said 'no touching!'" the shout came from the kitchen causing both Charlie and Ara to laugh.

Charlie shook his head and stood up, pulling Ara with him. "let's get out of here… too many prudes."

"I am NOT a prude!" James shouted, clearly having listened in on their whole conversation.

The two of them waved goodbye to the Potters before heading back to Charlie's room.

Charlie and Ara had spent the evening and morning of the next day in bed. It wasn't until Lunch that they managed to leave, going their separate ways to get a bite to eat.

Ara headed for the Slytherin table, plopping down next to her cousin. She was glad to see that many students had opted for eating at other times, or different locations. It seemed that some had even returned home for the remainder of the holidays.

Ara stared at Draco until he looked up from his food. "When were you going to tell me?" he asked quietly, looking back down at his food.

Ara grimaced at the hurt in his voice "I didn't think you'd approve... I know how much you hate the Weasleys."

Draco sighed and looked at his cousin sadly "he's why you've been so happy right?"

Ara simply smiled in response.

"I think Ron is a prat and father hates Mr. Weasley… but I don't really hate the others," he said quietly, glancing around hoping no one would here. "the Twins actually have some funny pranks and I don't know the girl Weasley at all, but she doesn't seem horrible…"

Ara let out a relieved sigh that didn't last long.

"Father won't approve."

"I know… I didn't want him knowing, but… well I'm hoping this is something he can get over. Charlie is a pureblood after all."

"and if he can't? if he disowns you?"

Ara sighed "I'm seventeen, nearly out of school. It's not like it'll matter much, I still have my Lestrange inheritance."

"But you won't be able to come back, and he won't let me see you," Draco said almost desperately. Ara realized his concern was the same as hers, not being able to talk to each other.

Ara sighed "well maybe I can convince him otherwise," she said, "Charlie is a pureblood and I can say that he is different than the rest of his family."

Draco looked unconvinced that it would work but nodded "maybe."

It was nearly 24 hours later, three days after the dance, that the letter Ara had been expecting arrived. It came from an unusual owl, rather than the family owl so it briefly caught Ara off guard, but when she opened the letter, she found her uncles usual elegant writing.

Ara –

As I'm sure you know the paper came as quite a shock. I can't say everything I'd like to through this letter, please meet me and your aunt in front of the school at 9 tonight.

Uncle Lucius

The letter didn't give any hint as to how angry he was, but Ara knew he would be furious. She wasn't sure what he had planned, but she was certain that it was likely he would try to curse her. The only thing she had going was that her aunt would be there to help calm him down and the fact that Ara was twice as powerful as him and could deflect nearly anything he could throw at her.

She wasn't afraid of him.

As the sun went down, Ara got dressed and left the ship quickly, ignoring her friends calls to her. She walked through the grounds through the entrance hall of the castle and out to the front of Hogwarts. She found her uncle sitting on a bench next to the walkway. He didn't make any sort of movement when she approached, but after a while he motioned for her to sit.

"Where's Aunt Cissy?" Ara asked.

Lucius shook his head "she decided not to come."

Ara nodded knowing full well that he probably talked her out of it.

"What the bloody hell do you think you are doing?" he asked quietly.

Ara shook her head "he's not like the others – "

"He's a blood traitor."

"no, his father's a blood traitor –"

"Don't argue Ara," he said harshly, standing up and rounding on her. "you will break up with the boy and date someone more respectable. I don't care what you have to say to explain the picture, say that he forced you, that he took advantage, that he slipped you the love potion, but you will fix this."

"I'm not doing that!" Ara said standing up as well. "He's done nothing and doesn't deserve it. Besides, I like him," she said softly, not wanting to admit something like that to her uncle.

"I don't care if you like him," he said firmly "Marriage isn't about love, it's about status."

"He's a pureblood," she insisted.

"Pureblood means nothing if you are a blood traitor," he responded taking a step towards her and pulling out his wand.

"What are you going to do Uncle, if I don't do it?" she asked with a scoff.

"you will, trust me after tonight, you won't want to be with him."

Ara saw the spell coming before it hit her and blocked it with ease. She shot a few curses of her own back towards him, missing her mark.

"Honestly, why are we doing this?" she asked exasperated. "you haven't been able to beat me in a duel since I was thirteen."

Lucius smiled, a smile that sent a shiver down Ara's spine. It was a smile she had never seen before, not from him. "Darling Ara, I know how powerful you are, I know that you can beat me in a duel, its why I'm not alone."

Ara didn't have time to react before she felt something being wrapped around her head. She sent out a shock wave, hearing one final yell before the world around her went black.

When she woke up, she found herself tied with rope to the wall. She recognized the rope, it helped control powers in children. She had it used on her a number of times when she was younger. She was in a classroom within the castle, although she wasn't sure which classroom.

Lucius sat calmly in a chair in front of her. There were at least two hooded figures in either corner of the room, but the room was dark and she couldn't tell if there were more.

"Now Ara, my beautiful niece," he said, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees. "Sources have told me that you not only are dating the Weasley boy, but you have also befriended the Potters and Black… Why on earth would you do such a foolish thing?"

Ara struggled against the bonds, still tired from whatever knocked her out. "they're not as horrible as you've suggested Uncle."

Lucius shook his head "Maybe this is my fault, maybe I didn't pay enough attention to you growing up."

Ara looked at him confused, she knew he was trying to manipulate her, but he was right. Had he paid more attention to her, she may have looked up to him more.

"They don't love you Ara, they could never love you."

"you're wrong," she responded firmly.

The spell wasn't spoken out loud, but Ara felt it before it hit her. In only a moment she was screaming in agony as every muscle tore. The spell was brief, the pain gone as soon as it started.

"I'm not wrong Ara… they couldn't love you, not after what you did," Lucius said, moving closer to where she was standing.

"well?" he prompted her.

"screw you," she spat.

'crucio'

Ara barely heard the world leave his lips before she felt every muscle, every bone on fire once Ara began slumping against the ropes once more.

"Don't you remember Ara? Come on think back to when you first met the Potters."

"What?" she asked, genuinely confused.

"You were four years old, your mother took you to a park. It had a carousel and a tire swing."

Ara remembered it, barely. She remembered her mother telling her to go and help a young girl that had fallen off the tire swing. The girl was barely older than her and had shocking red hair.

"no," she whispered, remembering the girl. It was the girl from the portrait that she had walked through only two days ago.

Lucius smiled "Alaina Potter was her name… you became friends with her… played with her every day then one day you were invited into her house," he said slowly, letting the words register with Ara.

She remembered going to the house, it was a beautiful home. Modest in size, but had a one of the largest play rooms she had seen, bigger than even her own.

"you carried a necklace with you that allowed you to communicate with your mother…"

Ara was shaking her head adamantly now, tears springing to her eyes.

"It allowed your mother to hear James say the location of the house."

The meaning of what her uncle was saying hit her like a ton of bricks and she was finding it harder and harder to breathe.

"You are the reason the Potter's lost their daughter and you really think it's possible for them to love you?" he was standing right in front of her, his eyes sad, although Ara knew he wasn't.

"no," she said again, struggling to accept what he was saying.

Lucius turned his back on Ara, but she was his with the cruciatus curse twice more. Her screams echoed of the silencing charm, reminding her that no one could hear her. She yelled until her voice was raw and her legs had completely given out. It was only the binds that held her.

"As for Charlie, Ara Lestrange… Dump the boy. He does not deserve you."

Ara shook her head and was hit with another curse. Lucius waited until her screams died out before continuing.

"You are the most powerful witch to walk this earth," he said slowly "and I managed to capture you and torture you… what makes you think I can't do that to your precious boyfriend?" he asked, and it was then that Ara recognized the threat. That Ara found the worst thing that could happen, the one thing she hadn't considered when thinking of her uncle's wrath. He'd go after Charlie.

The binds were released, and Ara fell to the floor.

"Do you understand me? You will dump the boy, or I will get to him."

The statement was final, and Ara knew there would be no more argument.

The curse happened again and again. She writhed on the floor in agony, this time her voice to horse to scream. It didn't take long until she felt unconsciousness creep up on her.

When the spell was finally lifted, Lucius pulled her face close to his "make this right," he said one final time before he disappeared through the door, leaving her to her shaky limbs on the ground.

Ara couldn't get her limbs to move, couldn't get her mouth to speak, and couldn't get her wand to perform any kind of spells. Instead she laid there until unconsciousness claimed her.