disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella. Hope you all like it!

Snape's Grudge

No one in Gryffindor Tower slept that night. Everyone knew that the castle was being searched again and the whole House stayed awake in the common room, waiting to hear whether or not Sirius Black had been caught. Arabella sat on the steps to the girls' dormitories, in the corner, watching everyone. No one talked to her or Neville, but that did not stop them from glaring at her like she had a hand in it. In fact, they kept their distance and kept whispering about her. She could tell, she always could. Many students asked Ron to recount the story many times and he was the center of attention for the time being. Hermione sat with Neville, reassuring him that it wasn't all his fault. And Harry… he barely looked at Arabella.

Around dawn, Professor McGonagall came back telling them that Sirius Black had escaped once again. No one went back to bed after that. Security got tighter that day. As Arabella was heading towards breakfast, she could see Professor Flitwick teaching the front doors to recognize a large picture of Sirius Black.

She entered the Great Hall as the whispers increased, this time with everyone pointing at her. She tried her best to ignore them as she took a seat next to Ron, who was recounting the story once more to a couple fifth years.

"… I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise…"

Harry took one look at her and left quickly, marching out of the Great Hall. Ron looked at him for a moment, not stopping his story.

"… I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft…"

Arabella looked at her eggs and then got up, following Harry feverishly. Ron looked at her retreating back as well, but did not stop to follow them. On her way out of the Great Hall, Arabella caught Hermione's eye for a second before she put her head back down on her food. The whispers were almost deafening as Arabella exited out of the Great Hall. Harry was about to walk up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower when she finally caught up with him.

She grabbed Harry's shoulder, forced him to turn around and face her.

"What, did you forget I was Sirius Black's daughter?" Arabella nearly demanded of him.

Harry looked at the wall instead of her. He didn't seem angry, but he wasn't pleased to see her either.

"So what?" asked Arabella. "We're back to not talking to each other and not being in the same room and pretending that we're not friends because of him, right? Despite… everything we've been through together. Like the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets and those dementors. You're just… you're just going to… is this it?" she finished quietly.

Harry finally looked at her. His eyes scanned her face for a moment and his face softened before he looked her directly in the eye. Then his face hardened and he looked angry. Arabella turned and walked away, feeling the lump in her throat threatening to suffocate her.


Security got tighter as the day went on. Filch was suddenly bustling up and down the corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan had been fired with his portrait being taken back to its landing on the seventh floor. The Gryffindors rejoiced when the Fat Lady returned. She was still extremely nervous and only agreed to return with extra protection. Surly security trolls had been hired to guard her and they paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their clubs. The statue of the one-eyed witch on the third floor remained unguarded and unblocked.

Ron had become an instant celebrity. For the first time in his life, people were paying more attention to him than to Harry, and it was clear that Ron was rather enjoying the attention and experience. He was still shaken by the events, but was happy to tell anyone who asked what had happened with a wealth of detail.

"…. I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft… I woke up and one side of the hangings on my bed had been pulled down… I rolled over… and I saw him standing over me… like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair… holding this great long, knife, must've been twelve inches… and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scampered…"

Arabella scrunched her eyebrows.

"Why, though?" Ron asked. "Why did he run?"

Arabella wondered the same thing. Why had Sirius Black gone to Ron's bed instead of Harry's? Why did he not kill Ron? Did he try to see her, but couldn't get past the enchantments on the stair?

Neville had been disgrace completely by the school. McGonagall was so furious with him that she had banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, given him detention, and forbidden anyone to give him the password into the tower. Neville was forced to wait outside the common room every night for somebody to let him in, which the security trolls leered unpleasantly at him. But the worst was yet to come. Two days after the break-in, Neville's grandmother sent him a Howler during breakfast.

Neville had choked on his sausage when the large barn owl landed in front of him with a scarlet envelope in its beak. He seized the envelope and sprinted out of the hall, while the Slytherin table exploded with laughter at the sight of him. The Howler exploded in the Entrance Hall as Neville's grandmother shrieked about how he brought shame on the whole family.

Arabella felt bad for Neville as everyone sniggered and laughed at his misfortune.

That night, there was a new notice up announcing a Hogsmeade trip next week. Everyone gathered around, whispering excitedly, and for a moment, Sirius Black's break-in was forgotten.

Arabella turned to find Hermione sitting at the table right behind the group with a wall of books hiding her. She went over and peeked over the wall.

"Hogsmeade trip next week," Arabella said quietly. "Fancy going with me?"

"No," came Hermione's voice, her head bent over a thick book. "I've got too much work to do. Sorry." She looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, "Do you think Harry's going?"

"Dunno," said Arabella, shrugging. "Why don't you ask him?"

Harry and Ron entered the common room, both looking excited at the new notice. Hermione's face darkened.

"Harry!" she called out towards him. Harry turned as Hermione continued, "Harry, if you go into Hogsmeade again… I'll tell Professor McGonagall about that map!"

"Can you head someone talking, Harry?" growled Ron, not looking at Hermione.

"Ron, how can you let him go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you! I mean it, I'll tell –"

"So now you're trying to get Harry expelled!" said Ron furiously. "Haven't you done enough damage this year?"

Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but with a soft hiss, Crookshanks leapt onto her lap. Hermione took one frightened look at the expression on Ron's face, gathered up Crookshanks, and hurried away towards the girls' dormitories. Arabella shook her head at both their foolishness and walked away as Harry looked away from her.

On Saturday morning, Arabella went down to breakfast. She was fully prepared to spend time at Hogsmeade by herself. As Filch ticked her off in his list (glaring at her the whole time), Ron then came to her side, walking towards the village together.

"I thought you were going to spend the day with Harry," Arabella said quietly.

Ron scrunched his eyebrows, pretending to look surprised. "Nah, he'll be in the common room."

Arabella snorted. "You're a terrible liar, Ron. And Harry's not going to be happy at you if I'm there."

"Oh, come on, it's not your fault," said Ron, dismissively. "Harry's not mad at you, anyways. Come on, let's get a quick butterbeer."

Arabella was convinced that Harry would be furious with her appearance, but said nothing else on the matter. She was happy enough to spend her trip to Hogsmeade with Ron and not herself. They went to the Three Broomsticks first, grabbed a couple butterbeers to go and headed towards Honeydukes. Arabella looked around the store, trying not to bump into too many people. She bought a couple of Chocolate Frogs and Ice Mice and met Ron outside the shop.

"Got everything?" asked Ron. "Let's get going then…"

"Wasn't Harry supposed to meet you soon?"

Ron hesitated for a moment and then said, "He's here." He then indicated towards his right and then his left. "I don't know where, but he's here."

Arabella looked from Ron's right and then to the left. She said nothing as they set off up the High Street.

"Where are you?" Ron muttered out of the corner of his mouth. "Are you still there? This feels weird…"

Arabella sighed and said, "Just pretend you're talking to me, Ron. Harry's not going to say anything around me. Haven't you heard? I'm Sirius Black's daughter."

Ron looked visibly uncomfortable as they went to the post office. Ron checked the price of an owl to Egypt so that Harry could look around. They then went into Zonko's, which was packed with students. Harry gave Ron whispered orders and passed him gold under his Invisibility Cloak.

"Where to next?" asked Ron, his pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, and Nose-Biting Teacups.

"Three Broomsticks is full," said Arabella, glancing at the shop. "Won't be able to get a drink in there."

"What about the Shrieking Shack?"

The climbed a slope towards the Shack, the most haunted house in Britain. It stood a little way above the rest of the village. Even in daylight it was slightly creepy with its boarded windows and overgrown garden. Arabella walked towards the fence, looked up at the house, letting the wind blow through her hair and against her cheeks.

"Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," said Ron. "I asked Nearly Headless Nick… he says he's heard a very rough crowd lives here. No one can get in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed shut…."

Arabella squinted her eyes, staring at the dark windows of the Shrieking Shack when she heard voices nearby. Someone was climbing toward the house from the other side of the hill. Moments later, Malfoy had appeared, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle. It was Malfoy who was speaking.

"… should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm… about how I couldn't use it for three months…"

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered as Arabella rolled her eyes.

"I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself… 'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest –'… that hippogriff's as good as dead –"

Malfoy suddenly caught sight of Arabella and Ron. His face split in a wicked grin.

"What are you two doing here?" Malfoy then looked up at the Shack behind them. "Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleeping in one room – is that true? Or are you two house shopping for yourselves? Thinking of living together? Husband and wife, huh?"

Arabella seized the back of Ron's robes to stop him from leaping on Malfoy.

"Don't," hissed Arabella. "He's not worth it."

"Leave him to me," Harry whispered in Arabella's ear.

Arabella heard Harry's soft shuffles as Malfoy said, "Listen to your wifey, Weasley. Don't want to get into trouble like Longbottom, do you, and get a Howler." Crabbe and Goyle howled with laughter. "We were just discussing your friend Hagrid. Just imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his hippogriff's –"

SPLAT.

Malfoy's head jerked forward as mud hit him. His blonde hair was now dripping in muck. Ron began laughing at the sight, clutching his sides, as Arabella held onto him. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle spun around stupidly on the spot, trying to catch Harry. Malfoy was now wiping his hair clean.

"What was that? Who did that?"

"Very haunted up here, isn't it?" said Ron, casually.

"I agree," said Arabella, smiling.

She took particular pleasure in the terrified looks on Crabbe and Goyle's faces. Malfoy, on the other hand, was staring madly around at the deserted landscape.

SPLATTER.

Crabbe and Goyle was caught this time. Goyle hopped furiously on the spot, trying to rub it out of his small eyes as Crabbe waved his hands in front of his face.

"It came from over there!" said Malfoy, wiping his face and staring at a spot ten feet in front of him.

Crabbe lunged forward, his long arms outstretched. A stick was now floating and clubbed the back of Crabbe's shoulder. Crabbe did a sort of pirouette in midair, trying to see who had thrown it. The only person he could see was Ron and Crabbe made his way towards him, but he suddenly fumbled, tripping over something –

Crabbe's huge foot caught the hem of the Invisibility Cloak and it slid off Harry's face.

For a second, Malfoy stared at him, then he yelled, "AAARGH!" and pointed at Harry's head. He turned and rain, speeding back down the hill with Crabbe and Goyle right behind him.

Harry tugged up his cloak, but the damage was already done.

"Harry!" said Ron. "You'd better run for it! If Malfoy tells anyone – you'd better get back to the castle, quick –"

Harry tore back down the path towards Hogsmeade as he pulled his cloak over his face, disappearing completely.

Arabella and Ron looked at each other and then set off down the slope back to the village. They were halfway through the High Street when Ron caught sight of Zonko's.

"Zonko's!" cried Ron. "Harry's got them in his pocket and the map! If Malfoy told anyone what happened – we have to go!"

Ron grabbed Arabella's hand and they both made a run for it back towards the castle.

But would Malfoy believe what he had seen? Would anyone believe Malfoy? No one would believe about a floating head, Arabella was sure of it. But why was she coming to help Harry? Ron was pulling her with him, but after a couple minutes, he really didn't need to. She ran willingly with him, past all the people moving out of their way and yelling at them to slow down. She ran until her sides felt as though they were going to burst into flames and out of her body. As the castle doors came into view, she realized that she still considered Harry a friend, even if he did not consider her one.

Arabella and Ron ran through the front doors, past Filch's empty post, down the corridor and then paused for a second, trying to catch their breath.

"Where – where – is – he?" gasped Arabella.

Ron was breathing very heavily. "Come – come – come – on –"

They sprinted towards the dungeon and towards Snape's office. They burst through the office door, both completely out of breath, and stopped just short of Snape's desk. Ron kneeled over the desk, clutching the side of his chest, while Arabella fell against a chair, wheezing.

"Gave – gave – Harry – that – stuff," choked Ron, trying to speak. "Bought – bought it… in Zonko's… ages – ago…."

Arabella looked up to see Snape, Harry and Remus staring at both her and Ron breathing. She was confused as to why Remus was there at all.

"Well!" said Remus, clapping his hands together and looking around cheerfully. "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" He folded up the map that was on the desk and tucked it inside his robes. "Arabella, Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my vampire essay – excuse us, Severus –"

The four of them walked all the way back into the Entrance Hall before speaking. Then Harry turned to Remus.

"Professor, I –"

"I don't want to hear explanations," said Remus shortly. He glanced around the empty Entrance Hall and lowered his voice. "I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map," he said as Ron and Harry looked amazed. "I don't want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however, amazed that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And I can't let you have it back, Harry."

"But, Remus –"started Arabella.

"Arabella, enough. I will not hear anything more on the matter," said Remus sternly as Arabella turned red and looked down at her shoes.

"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?" asked Harry.

"Because…" Remus hesitated, "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They'd think it extremely entertaining."

"Do you know them?" said Harry, impressed.

Remus looked at Arabella and said, shortly, "We've met." He then turned back to Harry and said, "Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them – gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks. And you," he turned to Arabella, "you should have told me about this map the moment you saw it. Your mother suffered at the hands of Bellatrix and the others. Did you want the same thing to happen to Harry as well? I'm disappointed in you, Arabella."

Remus walked away, leaving Arabella feeling worse than she ever did. She looked at Ron and Harry and then turned on her heel, walking out the castle doors.

"That was low," Arabella whispered to herself as tears came to her eyes. "That was so low…"

She had no idea where she was going, but she just needed to get away from Remus, Ron, Harry and the castle. To even suggest that she wanted Harry to suffer the same faith as Kassandra was just… she couldn't believe that Remus said those words to her. Arabella practically ran towards the Quidditch stadium, moving in autopilot, headed for the school's broom shed, quickly grabbed one, and set off.

Perhaps it was easier to cry for Arabella if she was up high rather than on the ground. The broom was wobbly at best and didn't seem to like to turn left, but she'll take anything at this point. The wind hitting hard against her cheeks and drying up her tears felt good, and the feeling of the world expanding under her feet lifted her heart for a second. But her mind was racing as she thought back to the night Bellatrix entered her house and tortured Kassandra. Arabella tried her best to put those thoughts away, but all she could think about was Bellatrix laughing in glee, the screams, the red light, the green light and Kassandra lifting her head towards Arabella in horror... But it wasn't Kassandra's face she saw, it was Harry's….

Arabella stopped the broom in midair, her hands shaking, and then headed towards the ground. Her feet touched the grass lightly and she headed back towards the shed, her mind pounding. She stopped short just a few feet from the shed when she saw something that made her head turn over – a great big, black dog.

Arabella's head was pounding against her ribs as the pair of gleaming eyes met hers. The dog's head turned to the side for a second before walking towards her carefully. It was a rather shaggy looking dog. No one must be taking care of it very well. The dog stopped two feet from Arabella and stared at her face.

She was unnerved. The only other dog she had seen on the grounds was Fang, but he was usually in Hagrid's Hut or with Hagrid himself. And the dog kept staring at her. It was unnatural.

"You better get going," Arabella told the black dog. "I don't think we're allowed to have dogs in school. I don't know what they'll do to you if they find out you're here. And I'm already in enough trouble as it is. Come on, leave. Leave before Hagrid finds you. He's a big man, you see, and McGonagall's scary enough as it is."

Arabella waved her hand towards the dog, but it did nothing except stare at her. She then started wave the broom at it, but nothing.

"I'm warning you, you shabby little thing," Arabella said sternly. "You better get going before someone else finds you. Come –"

But there was a rustle behind her and she could hear whispers coming her way. Arabella gripped the broom tightly as three boys came into view and she knew each of them. They were the same boys she first met on the train to Hogwarts during her first year. They were talking to each other and laughing, but stopped the moment they saw Arabella. Derrick, the taller one of the three with a long forehead, gave her a big smile that held no warmth in them.

"Well, if it isn't Sirius Black's daughter," he said viciously. "What are you doing out here? It's getting late. Don't want Potter to worry, do we?"

Arabella clenched her jaws as Bole and Pucey, both shorter and bigger than Derrick, laughed. It was just like the first time she met all of them and they were laughing at her, as though she was worthless, like she didn't have emotions or feelings that were being shattered at this very moment. She hated them, she hated Sirius Black and she hated Harry.

The great, black dog stood up straighter and growled loudly. The boys stopped laughing and looked at the dog, puzzled and worried.

"We're not allowed to have dogs at school," said Bole inanely.

"Oh, really?" asked Arabella sarcastically. "Do tell me more, Bole. Your investigative skills are extraordinary, or can you not tell that this dog is merely a stray. I'm sure you can put your head together with Pucey and form an intelligent thought, or is that too much to ask for?"

Derrick's eyes flashed maliciously, clearly not pleased with the way Arabella was speaking to them.

"You think you're some sort of hot shot, don't you, Black?" he snapped. "Well, hate to break it to your fragile ego, you're not. You're nothing. And don't think we don't notice the fact that Potter doesn't even speak to you anymore. He finally came to his senses, did he? Finally realized that you're probably going to turn out exactly like your father, right? Come on, tell us. Tell us why Potter finally decided to drop you like the sack of dirt that you are –"

Suddenly Derrick tripped forward, taking Pucey with him. Bole looked around wildly and saw Harry twenty feet behind him, his wand still in the air, pointed at him.

"Take him and leave," Harry said firmly, indicating his wand at Derrick. "It's a simply Leg-Locker Curse and if you don't leave right now, I'll tell Professor McGonagall that you've been harassing Arabella. Go. Now."

Pucey and Bole held Derrick up as they made their way towards the castle, sneering at Harry as they passed by. Arabella watched their retreating backs and then looked around. The dog was gone.

"Did you – did you see –?"

"What?" asked Harry.

Arabella turned on the spot a couple times, opened her mouth and then shook her head. "Nothing. Just… nothing." She then looked at Harry and said, "What are you doing here? Thought you were mad at me. Or do you just pity me?"

A flash of irritation went through Harry before turning neutral. "I don't pity you. I would be insulting you if I ever did."

"Then what are you doing here? I didn't need your help."

"Didn't seem like it," Harry said calmly.

"Well, I didn't," snapped Arabella. "I didn't need your help then and I don't need your help now or ever. After all, you're not my friend, right?"

Harry remained calm as he said, "And what makes you say that?"

"You don't talk to me!" shouted Arabella, throwing the broom on the ground. "You don't look at me, you don't – don't – you can't even be in the same room as me anymore! Every time I walk into a room, you run the other way, and – and I thought things were going to be better after you got your Firebolt back but then – then – then he broke into the common room and – poof! You're back to hating me!"

Arabella picked up the broom and threw it inside the shed. She then began to walk past Harry towards the castle when Harry stopped her in her tracks.

"I don't hate you," Harry said softly, gripping her arm. "I can't… I can't hate you."

Arabella let out a small laugh, tears threatening to overflow. "Yeah, you certainly act like it." She then wrenched her arm free from Harry.

"I don't hate you," Harry said quickly. "Not even close… but…"

"But what?"

"But my parents are dead and Sirius Black is alive," said Harry simply. "I told you, every time I get close to a dementor, I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort, and my dad trying to take him on, give my mum time to run. Hearing them, just as they are about to be killed, you don't forget things like that in a hurry. And then hearing that the person that was supposed to be their friend betrayed them –"

He broke off, unable to continue as his throat started to close.

"You're going to kill him, aren't you?" Arabella asked quietly.

"I don't know," Harry said quietly. "All I know that the idea of doing nothing, while Black is still out there and free, is more than I can stand. I'm… I'm sorry, Arabella, for the way I have been acting towards you, but every time I look at your eyes, I see him and I think about my parents and how I never got to speak to them and I get angry. I'm sorry…"

Arabella shook her head. The anger she felt towards Harry over the last couple days vanished.

"It's… it's fine. I get it. It's not every day that you hear one of your friends saying that he wished your father was dead. If this was the other way around, I… I don't know what I would do." She let out a big sigh. "This year has been… tough to say the least. I can feel everyone hating me and whispering behind my back and pointing at me and wanting me to be banished from this school and then to have… to have you do the same…"

Arabella let out a small sob as the wind picked up, making her shoulders shake.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered.

"Me too," said Arabella quietly, wiping her cheeks furiously. She did not want to cry in front of Harry.

"Here," said Harry. He reached into his pockets and took out a handkerchief. He brought it towards her and said, "Take it."

Arabella took the handkerchief and the two of them set off back to the castle.

"I don't want you gone," Harry told her as they stepped over the threshold. "I don't want you to ever leave this school."

Arabella gave him a small smile and said, "Thank you."

"I think I'd miss you too much," he said even quieter.

Arabella's cheeks flushed at his declaration as they mounted the marble staircase, walking towards the corridor where the security trolls were pacing. Her heart was hammering as they approached the portrait hole only to have it swing open, revealing Hermione and Ron right behind her.

"Hagrid lost his case," Hermione said at once, her lips trembling. She was holding a letter in her hands. "Buckbeak is going to be executed. He – he sent me this."

She held out the letter and Harry took it. The parchment was damp and there were enormous teardrops that had been smudged with the ink. It was difficult to read.

Dear Hermione,
We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts.
Execution date to be fixed. Beaky has enjoyed London.
I won't forget all the help you gave us.
Hagrid.

"They can't do this," said Harry. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

"Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it," said Hermione wiping her eyes.

"Lucius Malfoy," sneered Arabella. "What did he do? Threaten them?"

"Oh, you know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope… Nothing will have changed."

"Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely as Hermione turned around to him. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help."

Hermione looked completely taken back as she said, "Oh, Ron!" and flung her arms around Ron's neck. She completely broke down, sobbing at his shoulder as a terrified Ron patted the top of her neck awkwardly. Arabella looked at Harry and saw that he was also uncomfortable. She shrugged and waited for Hermione to draw away.

"Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabber…" said Hermione, still sobbing and letting Ron go.

"Oh – well – he was old," said Ron, relieved that Hermione finally let go of him. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now."

Arabella smiled at his statement, but there was a small part of her that knew that Ron was not getting an owl from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. But the other part, the bigger part, felt as though she was finally getting all her friends back.

Thank you all for reading! Tell me what you think!