The next couple of months went quicker than I care to imagine. It also blurred together into homework, lessons, manipulation, even including fights.

We also had a Quidditch match. It was Slytherin against Gryffindor. Gryffindor didn't have a good seeker, leading Slytherin to win by a landslide.

During a Flying Lesson, Madam Hootch pulled me to the side.

"Are you sure you have been gone for five year's?"

I smirked, "Are you to question if I am really a descendent of Slytherin?"

Hootch looked shocked at my sudden accusation, but, I had the right to question it. "No, I'm not questioning that. I am personally impressed in comparison to most of the students who spent their lives in this world."

"Just what are you getting at Madam Hootch?"

"I think you could have what it takes to be a great Quidditch player. You have a lot of endurance, and a lot of determination."

"I spend the last five years constantly running, in fear of my adoptive father. When that happens for so long, you need to know when to sleep, and when to wake up with a lot of energy, which was very rare for me."

"I grieve for your past, but my point stands, you have the chance to become a great player if you take up the offer."

I smirked, knowing this could be a great advantage for me.

I skipped into the Slytherin Common Room, scaring everyone in there. I walked up to my friends, promptly terrifying them.

"WHAT IS WRONG? SHE IS NEVER THIS HAPPY!" Blaise exclaimed, leaving me to chuckle. "I am scared for our safety here!"

Everyone in the common room looked at Blaise as if they were agreeing with him about the situation.

I sat on the armrest of a sofa, making myself comfortable. "I was offered the chance to train, to become a Chaser for the Slytherin Quidditch team for next year."

"I am personally happy it's not Beater, you can kill someone without a second thought," Theo said, and we all laughed. I would say I agree with him. I am willing to kill or torture if need be.

"But a Chaser still has to be aggressive, the other houses are not safe by any means," Daphne pointed out, and it is true, but still. We all laughed again, it was funny. "You're going to train with one of the Slytherin Chasers?"

"Yeah, one is graduating this year, and he wants to teach me everything he knows before he leaves. This means, if I put my best foot forward, he will put in a good word for me before he leaves."

"WE ARE NOT SAFE!" Theo exclaimed as he ran around, arms flailing in the air, looking a little bit like a headless chicken.

"Correction, the other houses are not safe," Crabb said as he stared at me.

"They were never safe from Ariana, let's be real here." Draco proclaimed as he put his arm around my waist.

"By the way, I got three of the Weasleys to join my father," I said all excited, it was a big deal. "but, they are part of my army, not necessarily part of my father's."

I looked around, to see them socked. "First of all, Ronald isn't part of your army is he?" Draco questioned, he does have the right to know.

"Merlin no. It was his older brothers, the twins and Percy. I told them my story, which made them see Dumbledor's misgives and joined my side. I didn't necessarily manipulate them."

"You were truthful and that made them join?" Theo asked as I nodded my head. "Doesn't sound like manipulation to me."

"Second, what do you mean by the personal army?" Draco questioned, as I looked at him, wondering what he meant.

"It means that they will be devoted to protecting me. They will still be working for my father, but I'm their priority. They also wear a mark that is uniquely mine, not my father's."

"Interesting, does this mean that when we get the dark mark, we will get that dark mark, instead of your father's?" Draco questioned, as he looked directly at me.

"I would assume so. And if my father ever dies, properly, I would likely be able to claim the Death Eaters as mine, by changing their dark marks to mine."

"Onto another topic, what are your plans for Christmas this year?" I looked at my friends and knew they must have plans.

"I'm thinking of staying here, to set a trap for Potter. He is going to become my unknowing trump card in my little game." I smirked, as everyone looked happy.

"I'll likely stay as well, make sure your plan is running smoothly, and so you can get your presents." I looked at Draco and gave him a big, passionate hug.

"What trap are you setting for Potty?" Blaise asked as he stared at me.

"I want him to find the Mirror, that will give him the Philosopher's Stone. He can retrieve the stone, but he needs to know about it to get it. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but it will be so worth it."

"How many trump cards do you currently have in your hand?"

"Let me see, Percy, Fred and George Weasley. I have only gotten them in my hand right now, but they are still valuable." I got up from my seat beside Draco. "Sorry to end this conversation short, but I have something to discuss with the Weasleys."

"What do you have to talk to them about?" Theo questioned, as he stared right at me.

I smirked, as I looked at him. "Their value to me."

I walked up to the Gryffindor Tower, to see a portrait of a fat lady.

"Do you wish to speak with someone?" She questioned me, as she stared at me.

"Yes. Can you get Fred, George, and Percy Weasely, please?" she nodded and went through the portrait to the Common Room.

I waited for a few minutes before Fred and George came out.

"Hello, boys."

"Hello, you wanted to see Percy as well didn't you?" Fred asked as he looked around.

"Yes. Is he, by any chance, in the Library?"

"That he would be."

"Let's go then, and we can discuss this somewhere more private."

We walked away from Gryffindor Tower, knowing this plan was oh so good.

As soon as we made it to the library, I went behind a bookshelf, while Fred and George when and sat by Percy.

"You should know that I have a plan, that can change the course of this war," I said as I went to get a book, from the bookshelf.

"What is your new plan?" Percy inquired as he looked at his homework.

"I am going to have Potter look for the Philosopher's Stone. I want to give him the Invisibility Cloak, and also lead him to the Restricted Section."

"That plan is crazy..." Percy went to get another book.

"I love it!" Fred and George both whispers shouted, in complete and utter excitement.

I smirked, as I got a book about Fifth Year potions, and I started to read it. "I thought you would. I have the cloak in my room, and I would like it if you stayed here for Christmas. This will make it easier for him to look into the Sorcerer's stone, and for him to get it."

They all smirked, and I knew they were for sure on board.

"I also have a proposition for you, Fred and George. If you continue to work for me and my father, we will give you enough money to buy what you need to fund your pranks. Once you graduate, we may also give you money to buy your own jokes shop. If you wish."

"THAT'S SOUNDS AWESOME!" They both shouted, and I put my finger to my lips and shushed them.

"I thought you would. Percy, when we take over the Ministry, we can guarantee you an excellent job in any department you wish."

"That is very intriguing. I will take that."

"Perfect."

I smirked, as I went to the front, and left, to leave no traces that would lead back to me.

I walked into my room and got a book on magical creatures. I felt oddly compelled to the sections on Veela's. I am sure there is a reason, but for now, I do not know.

I was truly engrossed in the Veela section, that I didn't even notice that it was two in the morning.

As I was closing the book, a piece of paper came out of it. I picked it off the floor and opened it, to an article on a woman name Georgine Léone Floriane Guillory.

As I read on, I noticed that she was a Veela, and was unlikely enough to die, at the hands of the ministry, on the same night her mate was almost killed, though not in the same incident.

I felt so sorry for her, and yet, her story seemed so familiar to me. I doubt I will ever truly know why. I was just crying my eyes out, knowing that she likely did not deserve such a horrible fate. The Ministry were the problem here.

I went to my table and wrote a note to Lucious. I asked him, to have him remove the tacking component on my wand, as it will easily ruin our plans.

I decided to leave sending it off, until tomorrow and tried to get more sleep.

Soon it was Christmas morning, and I was so excited. For once, I was able to spend the holiday with people who are so close to my family.

I woke up, got ready, and walked to the Great Hall.

It is was very quiet, as most people were home for Christmas.

I walked over to the Slytherin table, to be greeted by Draco.

He gave me a light smile, which I returned.

I looked at the food in front of me and got a poached egg, as well as some toast, and some fruit for after. I looked around the Great Hall, to see that almost no one was there.

I smirked as I started to eat my breakfast.

After around an hour, Draco, the Weasleys that joined my father, Harry and I were by the Christmas tree in the Slytherin Common Room. No one else was there, as most of Slytherins had a family to go back to.

I looked at the presents that were there, there were some that I should only open with Draco, or by myself, that were in my room.

I smiled a little, it felt weird to be celebrating Christmas with my friends and not being on defence. It felt nice.

I looked at Draco, who gave me a present from the pile.

I looked down, to see that it was from him. I smiled and opened the present.

When I opened it up, I saw a pair of diamond-encrusted, gold earrings, that formed the shape of a heart.

"Draco..." I could feel the tears coming, and they were true tears, not fake.

I then went up to him and gave him a big hug.

"This is too kind..."

"I got those not long after you disappeared. I got them, in hopes that you would be home soon, and I kept them since."

I started to feel the real tears coming down my face, as I hugged him tighter, and he put it on my wrist.

Another present I got was a handmade jumper with the letter H on it, from Mrs Weasley. After she found out her sons were here with me, she wanted to make something for me. And this was after she heard a lot of good things from her sons.

I was just smiling so much, all my other presents were so thoughtful, and though they may not all be expensive in any way, the thought was far more valuable than the money spent on them.

Then, I got the one for Harry, I picked it up, pretending to act confused.

"Harry, this one is for you." I passed him the present, to reveal the cloak that would change what this war meant.

I walked into my room, with Draco close by me.

I looked at one of the presents, which was rather large. I got a hold of it and felt something moving in there.

When I opened it, I saw a snake, larger than I imagined it being.

I brought my hand up to her head and smiled while I scratched them.

"Hello, Mistress."

I smiled, as I held the snake around my body.

"Hello, dear one."

I decided to give them the name of Virgo. I liked the idea of naming something after constellations in the sky, it made a lot of sense to me.

The snake seemed to agree, so from that point on, she was Virgo.

I looked at the tag on the box. It read:

'I hope you like this present, the Malfoy's have taken care of her while they awaited you, my dear. Severus brought her into your room.

Love you, my dear,

Your father.'

I smiled, Virgo was a gift from my father, and now she is officially mine.

Draco came up to me and scratched Virgo gently.

Later on in the night, Draco and I were sitting on my bed, laughing a little. Before something odd, came from Draco's mouth.

"Ariana, I'm sorry."

I looked at him. "The great Draco Malfoy is apologising to me? What for if I am so bold to ask?"

Draco looked down to the ground before he answered.

"For being a comical overprotective brother in your life. I don't want you to get hurt, but I know why you are doing this, and I do trust you, just not everyone else."

I teared up a little before I threw my arms around Draco.

"You don't need to apologise for you being protective of me. At some point, Father may ask for you to become my protector here. That case with Ronald doesn't help does it?"

We both laughed a little, remembering when he raised his hand to me, and how well that played out.

"The point is, there is no reason to be sorry. At first, I was angry, but we are good. Okay?"

Draco nodded his head and brought me into a hug, which I gently returned.

Draco then left to his room, and I got ready for bed.

I remember sleeping in all night, not care about the world.

A/N: Hey guys, sorry this chapter took so long to write. I have been really busy with other books, and my A-Level assessments were a high priority to me.

I am also excited to announce that I have more books coming on my Wattpad account, TigerRSS15. Check it out.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, it took so long to think of the plot for this one, but here it is.

See you in the next one!