Fourth Book

September1st, 1994
Sixth Year

Ara fell into the train compartment that the twins and Lee Jordan were sitting in, rather happily at that.

She'd been looking for them.

The whole wizarding community was still, rightfully, on edge due to what had happened during the World Cup. Ara couldn't stand to sit with the Slytherins in her year, who wouldn't stop talking about it— The Ministry is overreacting! The blokes were just having a bit of fun!

Unbeknownst to most Slytherin house members, Ara strongly believed that the Ministry was underreacting. She'd passively chosen to let her opinion stay secret, slipping away from her colleagues insured that she wouldn't accidently reveal her unpopular beliefs.

Perhaps I am a coward?

"Ar," Fred stood up immediately and hugged the girl tightly, Ara giggled and hugged him back.

"How've you been?" George asked, embracing the girl afterwards.

The trio had nearly forgotten about Lee, who watched them from his seat. He made no move to hug Ara like the twins had.

"Good," The blonde of the four nodded; upon noticing Lee, she gave him a warm smile, to which he complimented her new haircut.

Although Lee and Ara were courteous towards one another, they weren't very close. Which is why the boy found it a bit odd when Ara fell into the seat next to him. Fred and George sat down across from the pair.

The four chattered to each other in quite an animated manner. Lee had always found Ara amusing, especially when she was with the twins, and Ara had always found Lee funny. It was tragic that they were not friends. Or, at least, not close ones.

"So, how's it feel to be out of a job this year?" Ara asked teasingly, looking directly at the boy beside her. Lee snapped his neck towards her; he looked very confused.

"Excuse me?"

Ara laughed her loud laugh and leaned against the window of the train compartment, she crossed her arms and gave him a smirk.

"You were Quidditch announcer? Right?"

Lee gave her a concerned look, before looking over to the twins, they seemed just as confused as him.

"I am Quidditch-"

"Stop!" Ara gasped, looking very amused, Lee gave her a shocked look, "-Don't tell me you don't know?"

"Know what?" All three boys asked.

Ara smiled wickedly and began laughing again.

"Of course you three don't know! Law abiding citizens, your families are," Ara teased, "-No matter, I'll go talk to Ced about it, you know what he and his father are like, Amos has surely told him,"

She proceeded to get up and brush her robes off.

Students technically weren't supposed to know yet.

"You're such a tease," Fred shook his head. He couldn't wipe the amused look off his face as Ara raised a daring eyebrow.

She was not a tease, but as she admired Fred's sharp jaw, amongst other things, she found herself thinking that for him, she definitely could be.

"Whatever are you talking about?" The blonde asked, giving Fred an innocent look.

She'd always been quite good at pretending.

Ara, who was still standing, looked down at Fred, which was an unusual occurrence. The coy act she was playing was enough to make the gingers mouth dry up.

The boy snapped out of his daze nearly as soon as he'd fallen into it, he shook his head, but did not dare to take his eyes off of Ara.

"You came in here with that planned, didn't you?" Fred asked while proceeding to stand up in front of the girl and cross his arms.

He knew Ara too well.

The blonde looked up at Fred's now towering figure with a look that told him he was definitely right. She shrugged, and even though she'd been clearly caught, looked as smug as ever.

"Perhaps," Ara pursed her lips and glanced towards the compartment door, "-But don't worry, you'll find out soon enough, Freddie,"

"I will, because you're gonna tell all three of us," Fred nodded, Ara gave him an amused look.

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"I think you're wrong,"

"Ar'-" Before Fred could stop her, Ara weaved around his bigger body and was at the compartment door.

George and Lee laughed at the boys slow reaction time.

"It's probably for the best, if you three had known, you would've spent the whole summer trying to figure out how to age yourselves up," Ara said smugly, sliding the door open.

Before she could walk out, and surely have Fred run after her since he'd never been one for cliffhangers, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell, and Angelina Johnson strode into the compartment.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" Katie Bell asked, eyeing Ara. The blonde shot Fred, George, and Lee an amused look.

"Just leaving Bell, they're all yours, don't worry," Ara said, her tone was sweet enough to make one feel sick.

"They are," Alicia said, sounding very territorial. Angelina gave Ara a nearly sympathetic look.

"Definitely," The blonde nodded smugly.

Ara shot Fred one last sly look, knowing that the girls had come at a perfect time. They wouldn't let him go running after her without throwing a fit; the redhead knew this. Fred gave the female Gryffindors a slightly irritated look when they began fawning over him and his friends.

Ara slipped out of the compartment smugly.

Lee would be out of a job, and the twins would not be playing Quidditch this year, because Quidditch was cancelled.

Thank Merlin Oliver graduated last year, or he would've died at the news.

You see, for the first time in a very long time, the Triwizard Tournament was being held. It would therefore overshadow inter-house Quidditch.

Students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, two foreign wizardry schools, would be joining Hogwarts for the tournament. One student from each educational institution would be picked to compete in, and possibly win, the competition.

Ara wanted to believe the tournament was a good idea, but she'd only be lying to herself.

Although it was supposed to be an exciting event, the thought of it put Ara on edge. Many students had died while participating in the tournament and that's why it had been prohibited by the Ministry for however many years.

But, after taking many precautions, such as enforcing an age limit, the Triwizard Tournament was being reinstated. With the new age restriction, possible participates had to be over seventeen to enter, which Ara couldn't help but be grateful for.

You see, George, Fred, and Ara all had birthdays after the new year, meaning there was no way they'd be able to risk their lives entering the tournament.

That helped her nerves significantly.

Unfortunately, Cedric, having been born in autumn, would be able to enter. Ara couldn't help but realizethatit'd be very hard to convince the Hufflepuff not to risk his life in the tournament if there was nothing, like rules or age, holding him back.

"Potions? Yeah, just up those stairs-"

"He's lying to you," Ara sighed, overhearing the conversation as she walked by.

She rolled her eyes at Fred and then stepped in front of the tall boy, she gave the First Year asking for directions a warm smile.

"Go that way, take the first left and follow the staircase down, it'll be the first door," Ara pointed down the winding hall, "-And you should hurry, Professor Snape hates when students are late," She teased.

Ara crossed her arms as she watched the First Year run in the direction she'd described. Her warning had been useless, the eleven year old was already late.

Apart from Fred and, fortunately, Ara, the pre-teen had been the only one in the corridor.

Ara heard Fred let out an exaggerated sigh from behind her and she chuckled. Fred then proceeded to do the most peculiar thing. The redhead reached one arm around Ara's neck, almost like a strangely placed hug, and pulled her closer to him, he pressed her back into his chest. The girl tensed up from the proximity.

"Shame, Peeves has been in the mood for some fresh meat," Fred murmured into Ara's ear, his voice was raspier then she recalled it being. The Gryffindor snaked the arm of his that was not around Ara's neck, around her waist.

The blonde, for a split second, couldn't help but feel flustered. She spun around to face Fred and gave him a curious look, but did not pull away from his embrace.

"H-has he?" Ara asked, lamely, she didn't know what else to say.

She found herself transfixed by the boys lips as he towered over her.

"Yes, darling, he has," Fred laughed softly, he'd never seen Ara seem so flustered, so out-of-it.

He quite liked her like this; it felt like payback for all the times she'd effortlessly made him feel the same way.

Unfortunately, Fred's liking towards the girl in this state was ruined rather quickly. Ara was pulled back to reality instantaneously. She got her near-arrogant confidence back.

"Darling?" Ara asked, with her eyebrows raised, "-I thought Angelina was your, darling," Her voice was soft, but teasing.

She'd heard the rumours swirling around about the two Gryffindors. Fred was yet to confirm, deny, or even bring up the gossip, although Ara supposed she couldn't expect him too.

After all, she hadn't told him about Oliver.

Fred looked a bit uncomfortable under Ara's questioning, yet amused, gaze. He looked away from the blonde, who was still in his arms, and cleared his throat quietly.

That was only once. A while ago too.

Ara, after staring at the redheads sharp jaw for a few moments, brought her hand to his chin. Her elegant fingers gently forced Fred to look down at her.

Upon realizing how much control she had over the redhead, and therefore the situation, Ara smirked.

"Freddie..."

She leaned in closer to the boy. Fred's lips parted ever so slightly and he bent down significantly so that Ara wouldn't have to stand on her tip-toes to reach him. Their lips were mere centimeters apart.

"Yes Ar'?"

There was a pause.

If it had been anyone else, Fred would've leaned in and kissed them by now, but this was Ara, his Ara. He didn't want to risk messing anything up. So, he waited.

Cross the friendship line Ar', I'm begging you.

"You're late to class, love," Ara said suddenly, and pulled away from Fred completely.

Without a second thought, Ara left the redhead in the middle of the empty corridor alone.

hellooooo!

so, this chapter is a few hours late, my apologies! anyway, i hope you all enjoyed reading it! it was a bit shorter compared to my usual updates, so you folks might be in for a little treat later this week ;)

also! a bit of a weird question. are any of you into astrology? i, personally, think its pretty fun but i dont take it very seriously/base my life & choices around it. im asking because we actually get a glimpse into what Aras zodiac sign may be in this chapter (born after the new year of 1978, but before sept 1st 1978) and i was wondering if you guys had any thoughts? id like to base her sign off her personality/relationships with others, but im finding it a bit difficult to decide! i'll probably chose by next chapter, incase its something any of you are interested in!

alright, make sure to leave a review if you'd like! i'll see you guys soon, bye!