AN: Welcome back everyone! I'm sorry it took me so long to get this out to you! I underestimated how difficult summer courses would be! Thank you all for being so lovely and so patient!
Now then, SHOUT OUT TIME!
Shout Outs go to: Cynder2013, LilyMoon, KageNoSakura, Snowgirl7589, Random Guest, and Francis! Thank y'all for reviewing :D
Reply time:
Cynder2013: Yes it was the first floor girls' washroom in the books (I am writing this story based off of the Book!Cannon. The first floor girls' washroom is Myrtle's washroom.
LilyMoon: Thanks for reading, sweetie! 3
KageNoSakura: Thank you so much! Sorry for not updating for a while, I've been busy with classes and the like. But WE'RE BACK ON TRACK NOW! (though another break might be in the future, as I am enrolled in another 6 week course…)
Snowgirl7589: Thank you, lovely!
Guest: Sorry, I hope my little mini-update answered your question! Thanks for sticking with Arden and I!
Francis: Here it is! (Btw, if your name is actually Francis, awesome! But did you see Deadpool?)
So, let's get on with the chapter!
November finally came around, and the weather was finally how Arden liked it, cold. She reveled in her ability to wear her Weasley jumper (the same shade of blue as the Ravenclaw house colors, with an A knit in bronze). She wondered how Molly got them to be so warm. She wore it with pride whilst lounging around the castle, doing homework and reading.
Minnie had refused to allow her to play Quidditch, wanting her to wait a bit longer to rejoin the team. "You have ten classes, Arden," she chided one evening in her office, "The free time you say that you have should be delegated to relaxing."
So, as Arden had free time, she spent much more time in the library than would be considered innately healthy. She finally had time to research more dark magic. So, it was back to scouring the library and Grandpa Albus' personal book stores for interesting reads. It was almost as if she was in her first year all over again. Sure, she longed to play Quidditch, but she had missed reading dearly.
The first Saturday of November was the start of the Quidditch season, and the first match of the year: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Arden, of course, would be rooting for Gryffindor. As she ate breakfast, she noticed that Professor Snape walked into the Great Hall with a limp, quite unusual for a physically inactive man. She made a mental note to keep an eye on that.
While she nibbled on her toast, contemplating the multitude of ways that he could have injured his leg, the Mountain Troll on the forefront of her mind, "Arden!" a voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She spun, her dark brown hair flew behind her, and she locked eyes with Fred.
"Hey," she greeted, bits of toast crumbs escaping her mouth.
George came up behind his brother, "You better keep an eye on us out there. We've been training to kick Ravenclaw's butt this year!" they teased in synch.
Arden smirked, "You wish, Weasel Brains! Ravenclaw's going to dominate once again, prepare for utter obliteration," she easily declared, sipping her breakfast tea at the end for emphasis.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor - what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too -"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor."
Arden giggled, Lee was doing the commentary for the match. She was astounded that Harry Potter, of all people, was the Seeker for the Gryffindor team. She knew that his father was a Seeker as well, from reading the plaques in the trophy hall. She kept an eye on how he played, analyzing his flying patterns.
"Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger - sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which - nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle…"
Arden watched as Fred glanced at George, their silent communication pattern honed over the years. She knew that they weren't going to do anything –they never did – but Lee not being able to tell who was who hurt them. She sighed, being one of the few who could discern between the twins was painful at times, as she could see the inkling of anger beneath their smiles every time someone mistook one for the other, and then brushed off their separate identities as unimportant; as if the twins were just that, one unit and not two separate beings.
As the match continued, the Slytherins played dirty, Flint nearly knocking Harry off of his broom being just one instance.
"So - after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-"
"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall.
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul-"
"Jordan, I'm warning you -"
"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinner, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."
Arden smiled, knowing how much Lee loved to test McGonagall's nerves. She had done that plenty of times throughout the years, and it never ceased to amuse her.
As she turned her attention back to the sky, her heart dropped to her stomach. It looked as if Potter's broom was trying to buck him off. His broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch. He gripped the broom tightly with both his hands and knees. Arden knew that Flint couldn't have done that, no student could have. She looked towards the Professors' stands and saw Snape and Quirrell both muttering something below their breath.
She stood up and snuck her way behind the bleachers, weaving her way through the crowds and up behind the Potions and DADA professors. Yet, when she arrived, "Hermione, what are you doing?" she whispered.
The bushy-haired brunette flinched and turned around, "Hi, Arden, fancy seeing you here…" she replied, hastily putting her wand behind her back.
Arden quickly put the dots together, "Were you trying to cast a spell on Snape?" The first year knew she couldn't fool her, so she looked away. "It's Quirrell you have to worry about, not Snape. He's a good guy," she reassured.
"If he's such a good guy, then why is he jinxing Harry?"
Arden pinched the bridge of her nose, "He's not, he's counter jinxing Quirrell's jinx."
"How do you know? Do you have any proof?" Arden bit her lower lip and scratched at her left wrist, knowing that if she said anything, it could out her connection to Snape, thus causing the dominos to fall. Hermione nodded, "That's what I thought." She turned her attention back to where the edge of Snape's billowing black robes hung just below the bleachers. She muttered a spell almost inaudibly and blue flames shot out of the tip of her wand, starting a fire on Snape's robes. The two girls held hands and ran out of the stands before they could get caught.
Hermione let go and ran back to the Gryffindor stands, eager to watch the rest of the match. Arden, on the other hand, took her sweet time, knowing that Gryffindor would likely win. She wanted time to reflect on what had just occurred. Hermione was, likely, now suspicious of Arden's origins, what with how she let it slip that she knew that Snape was a good man. That was close, too close. She would have to be much more careful with her secret. She could not let it be known that she was Minerva's goddaughter, else someone would accuse her of getting favorable treatment and try to take advantage of her relationships. She knew that Cho and Marietta would especially be upset, and she didn't even want to think about how Fred and George would feel.
She finally made her way back to the Ravenclaw stands just in time to see Harry spit the Snitch out into his hands.
Several Weeks Later
"Ready, Arden?" Fred asked the merlin on his forearm. She chirped in reply, the Marauders'' map held in her claws. "Alright, when he comes around the corner, you know what to do," the Weasley nodded and tossed her carefully into the air.
She soared to the roof of the school, transfiguring back when she found a stable place. Unraveling the map, she took out her wand, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Arden then searched the map for their victim, Professor Quirrell. She saw that he was about to turn the corner, and fired off blue sparks from her wand.
Fred and George took note and spelled their snowballs just in time to beat the back of the newest professor's turban. The twins maneuvered him, skillfully into position.
Arden grinned, "Perfect. Iguamenti!" and aimed at all the snow that had piled on the roof of the castle, causing a slushalanche (as the twins liked to call it) to fall right on to their timid professor. Arden quickly tapped the map, "Mischief managed," and back transfigured. She took the map and flew off before Quirrell could notice that she was there.
Later, Arden met back up with the twins, who couldn't stop praising her and her performance.
"Really, Arden, having an animagus like yours is brilliant!" George grinned, throwing an arm around her shoulders, "Ever since you completed the training, our pranking capabilities skyrocketed!"
Fred smirked, "You're amazing, love!" and threw an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Arden blushed, "It's not just me, you two come up with the ideas. I just aid in making them a reality."
Fred shook his head, "You do so much more than that! Don't belittle yourself!"
The brunette shook her head and, not wanting to get into a 'who's better' argument, quickly changed the topic, "So, are you both going to the Burrow for the holidays?"
The twins exchanged a look and simultaneously said, "No, mum and dad are taking a trip to visit Charlie in Romania."
"But," George started.
"Mum is sending all of our presents with Errol," Fred continued.
George nudged Arden, "And by 'our' we do mean you as well. Mum remembered how much you love her fudge." Arden took mental note to send Molly and Arthur something as well.
"And Ginny is going along with them," Fred trailed off.
"By the way, we will need your help sending our lovely baby sister her present," George mentioned.
Arden smirked, she could only imagine what they had up their sleeves this year.
AN:
Well that's the chapter! If you would please leave a review, that'd be absolutely amazing!
Well, see you all in the next chapter!