'Lo guys! The next chapter is finally here. Sorry it's not that long, but a lot happens! Hee hee! Our story is on the fast track now!

Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! I have 43 -almost 50- reviews! That's about five for each chapter! I'm hoping that we can get up to 53 before I update again, but that is up to you guys! So, please review!

Enjoy!

Warning: I may role-play as JK Rowling, but I am not actually her. Damn.

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"What?" My voice cracked, breaking the eerie silence that had fallen. "You have got to be kidding me." I was right to have worried about Kristy. She had obviously lost her mind.

"Oh, come on Aria!" she snapped at me. "Don't act surprised. You've known it all along! That's why you warned me!"

"Kristy, you're quite upset. You're being delusional. Everyone knows what you are saying is insane." I glanced at Sirius, who was watching the whole fiasco with a curiously blank expression. "Come on, Sirius. Tell her she's wrong."

"Sorry, no can do." His voice was neutral, but his eyes were roiling with hidden emotions.

I whirled on him. "Why the hell not?" Anger was bubbling in the pit of my stomach, and for once I didn't push it away.

He stepped closer, looking into my eyes. I froze. There was something very scary in the way he was looking at me. It couldn't be… "I can't deny it because it's true. Hadn't you guessed?"

So that was it. That was the emotion in his eyes. Not love, but… I couldn't describe it. A mixture of devotion, affection, and wonder. He liked me.

All the puzzle pieces were falling into place. Why he had practically stalked me. Why he had tried so hard over the years to free me from my Slytherin upbringing. Why he had spent so much time with me, especially this year. Sirius Black didn't do that for just anyone.

How could I have not noticed? I prided myself on being observant, but I hadn't even seen this. Kristy had seen it. The other girls had seen it. Why else would they be so happy to know I hated him? I bet James had seen it too. That's why he had pushed us together so much.

I was shaking my head, back and forth, my hands fisted in my hair. No, no, no, no!

I was backing away, getting away. I turned and the crowd parted so I could pass through. I was speeding up. I need to get out. I was jogging, then running, and then sprinting.

There was no question where I was going. I always went there. If anything went wrong, Cissy would take me in.

"Being a Gryffindor is harder than I thought. I don't know anyone, Cissy!" It was the first day of school, at lunchtime. Suddenly, being different wasn't so fun.

Cissy patted my hand. "If you ever need anything, come down to the Slytherin Common Room. It'll be just like home there!"

I hugged her tightly. "Cissy, what would I do without you?

I had known that answer then, and I knew it now. I'd fall to pieces. And all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't have put me together again.

It was hopeless, Sirius's whole campaign. My Slytherin façade was a drug. When I was in the Slytherin Common Room with Cissy and Nyx, my emotions were sedated and dull. I could be like one of them again. Nothing hurt because I had armor. Invincible armor. Without my armor, I was nothing. I needed it was surely as I needed air, food, water. It reminded me of home. They were home.

My dad didn't notice for days I was back. My mum noticed all too soon.

"Look at you. What are you smiling about? Have I taught you nothing? You are a rock. A rock. Solid and unshakeable. Emotionless."

Like a portrait, she told me what was wrong with me. "You let your hair curl again. Straighten it out and wear it properly, with your combs. You are much, much too tan. You'll have to stay inside for a few weeks before you are presentable. You stand like a boy! Feet closer together." She poked my stomach. "And you've gained weight. You'll have to go on the diet. Again."

After a while, I stopped protesting. I'm just a doll. Her puppet. I've got to be perfect. Always perfect. If you're perfect, you don't get hurt…

The password flew through my lips. I burst into the common room, racing to Cissy's dorm. She wasn't there, and I flung myself on her bed. I lay, tearless, wallowing in my own sorry life.

"You never address me that way! Never! Insolent child!" A hand slapped my cheek. "Will you never learn?"

I cried out in pain as my mother's spell lashed my skin open from the back on my neck down to my collarbone. It was the first time she had ever used her wand on me.

Ironically, it was the only time it left a scar.

If I had been my normal self, I would have scolded myself for moaning about past injuries. But Kristy's slap had dredged up the past wounds. I hadn't gotten it nearly as bad as Narcissa had, or probably Sirius. Cissy's parents were even stricter than mine, and did not hesitate to hurt. Cissy had multiple scars, mostly hidden by her concealing robes.

I don't know how long I waited on Cissy's bed. It might have been hours, or mere minutes. When she came, she was silent as always, quietly rubbing my back as I began to cry.

I couldn't figure out why I was so upset. Kristy had just been mad; she hadn't betrayed me, or backstabbed me, or anything of the sort. Sirius's confession, while startling, would not induce this sort of reaction in me. As I sobbed even harder, I figured it out. Despite all my efforts, Kristy had been hurt. Even worse, she had been hurt because of me. If Sirius had just broken up with her, I would not be so upset. But he had broken up with her and told her he had loved me the whole time. Kristy would be fully justified to hate me.

Eventually, I cried myself to sleep.

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I didn't return to the Gryffindor Common Room that night. I slept on Cissy's bed, while she slept on an extra bed she'd had the house elves bring up. In the morning, I didn't leave Narcissa's dorm. Nyx got food and brought it up for both us, then tactfully left. We ate in silence, a little uncomfortable. We were used to healing each other after beatings, or crying about Cissy's engagement to my cousin, but this was new. This was an actual conversation about feelings. Needless to say, we hadn't had one of those before.

It remained that way the whole day. I moped in silence, occasionally crying again, while Cissy stayed and kept me comforting company. I stayed the night again, this time staying in the spare bed.

Monday morning, Cissy woke up early and went out to get breakfast. We ate quietly for a few minutes, and then she threw her fork down.

"Okay, Aria. Enough is enough. What is your issue?" The words were said bluntly, but it was a relief to see Cissy with some kind of emotion on her face. Worry mixed with anger. It was more comforting than her silence had been.

"You heard about the fight." It wasn't a question. All of Hogwarts would have heard.

"Yes."

I sighed. "He broke her heart. And he put me in the middle of it."

Cissy walked over to sit next to me and began brushing my hair. It was a task she'd always loved. "Sirius is a boy, Aria. They're selfish and inconsiderate. Whether he admits it or not, he has Slytherin in him. He's bound to be a little more blunt and careless when it comes to girls. You've seen what he's done to other girls. And to you, if I'm not mistaken."

I turned to look at her, eyes wide. "How'd you know?"

She shrugged, and began plaiting my hair. "I guessed. I also guess you tried to warn Kristy, failed miserably and think their break up and Kristy's heart break is all your fault."

I laughed softly. It felt good. "Cissy, you read me like a book."

"Hmm… I should be able to. I've known you for years." She undid the braid, brushing my hair out again. "And I'm going to take another wild guess and say you're only here because you think we'll solve all your problems. You can come here, and get rid of your emotions and just not care anymore."

My voice shook. "Cissy, that's a little spooky."

"Aria…" Cissy shook her head. "I've seen you do just that year after year. You hide behind your heritage, your family, even your friendship with me." She turned me until she could look me in the eye. "Aria, this isn't right for you. Slytherin never suited you. Why do you think you are a Gryffindor?"

"My name," I muttered.

"What?"

"My name." I looked at Cissy mournfully. "Your name means lion, so I think you better be a GRYFFINDOR. That's what he told me."

Cissy laughed. Actually threw back her head and laughed. I stared at her in amazement as she roared with laughter. "Ari, you've got to be kidding me." Her eyes sparkled as she grinned at me. "The Sorting Hat wouldn't put you in Gryffindor for your name. He merely used it as a segue. He saw you, Ari. The wonderful, charismatic, brave, selfless girl you are, and knew just where you belonged. You belong there, not here, no matter how much I wish I could have you with me." By now she had sobered, and her smile was sad. "I think maybe it's time you let go. I've held on for much too long. It's time for you to be free."

"Cissy…" My eyes were watering. I could feel the truth and conviction in her words. "Oh, Cissy!" I flung my arms around her and started sobbing. But I wasn't the only one. She was crying along with me.

Finally, we let go of each other. I kissed her cheek. "Good bye, Cissy." We weren't ending our friendship, exactly, but we were letting go.

" 'Bye, Ari." She tugged a piece of hair. "Go rock their world."

I bounced up and gave her a tearful grin. "I will. Promise!"

With that, I ran out of the Slytherin Common Room. As I ran, the bonds holding me there broke, one by one. My family, my cousin, my heritage, my upbringing, Nyx, Cissy… I was leaving them behind. Snap. I was finally free.

The first bell had just rung, and people were filing through the corridors to get to their classes. I ran through them, and people stared as I passed. After all, I hadn't been seen since my huge fight with Sirius and Kristy.

"LILY! RAYNE!" I bellowed at the top of my lungs. They spun around, eyes widening when they saw me, running and out of breath.

"Aria!" Lily's voice was filled with relief. "Where have you been?"

"I'll explain in a minute!" I panted. "But for now, you've got to come with me!"

"Huh?" Rayne looked bewildered as I grabbed their hands and started dragging them down towards the castle entrance. Unfortunately, I ran right into Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Aria!" she gasped sternly. "Where do you think you are going?"

I straightened up and looked her in the eye. "I'm currently in the process of kidnapping Lily and Rayne so we can ditch class, jump in the lake, and go prank the Marauder's dorm. Which means lots to do in so little time. Bye Minerva!" I started flat out running down the stairs, Rayne and Lily coming with me. McGonagall stood frozen on the stairs, too shocked to say a word. I exited the castle and welcomed the warm October air. Freedom sure did taste good.

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In the deserted Common Room, I told them everything. All about my childhood, my parents, my issues, ending with the Sirius incident in 5th year. Rayne contributed on that one, telling her side. I think it was fair to say I had permanently widened their eyes. Their mouths might never shut again.

"Oh Aria!" was the first thing Lily said after hearing my story. She hugged my tightly and Rayne joined in. Soon enough, we were all holding each other and sobbing.

"I wish you had t-t-told me!" Lily blubbered. "I feel hor-r-rible!"

"Don't feel bad Lily!" I squeezed her tighter. "It's all my fault!"

"Wah!!!" We all cried out and burst into new tears. We failed to notice the Common Room entrance opening and all the other Gryffindors entering, to see us crying our hearts out in the middle of the floor.

"Aria?" We all looked up to see Kristy, standing uncomfortably in front of us. I could tell from her expression she was sorry.

"Kristy!" We jumped up and hugged her tightly. "Come join our sob fest!" I invited in a loud, tearful voice.

"I'm so sorry Ariiiiiii!" She wailed, wrapping her arms around me. "I didn't mean it!"

"Don't cry Kristy!" I sobbed. This set us all off again, until we were managing to laugh and cry at the same time. Quite a feat.

"Umm…" I turned around to see James standing nervously behind us. "Is there anything I can do?"

I latched onto him. "Come join our sob fest, James-ie!" I pulled him over to the others. "Unleash your feminine side!"

"Argh! No! My manliness would wither on the spot! We can't have me going gay! What would my Lily-flower do?" James was pulling away, shouting loudly. At this point, we were crying because we were laughing too hard.

Lily got up and spoke through peals of laughter. "But what –gasp- about –laugh- me? I need –sobbing sound- your comfort –snort- in this tough time!"

James stopped resisting so suddenly that I toppled to the ground, landing on Kristy. Apparently we hadn't run out of laughs yet, because we started laughing even harder. People were edging away from us.

"Wah!" I jumped to my feet. "Come on, laughing sisters mine! Let's go conquer the world with our giggles and bunnies!"

We linked arms, Kristy, Lily, Rayne and I, and promptly skipped out of the Common Room. It marked a new era in the life of Aria Colette.

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Sorry there wasn't much Sirius! There will be more of him in the next chapter! Because… now he's free! And Aria knows he likes her! And Sirius is going to flirt like heck! Yay!

Review please, please, please! Remember 53 is our goal!

Thanks for reading!