"Remus" I say, my voice muffled against his chest. "What are you doing here?"
"Farther, mother, what bring you to Hogwarts?" Draco also inquires of his parents. Remus sighs a deep sigh, but offers no explanation of his presence.
"Aria dear, welcome to the family." Lucius beams, he smile both charming and creepy at the same time. I feel bile rising in my throat and I look up to Remus. He closes his eyes for a second as if praying that this is all a dream.
"Ari love, I'm sorry I can't do anything for you, not until you come of age." I look at him, puzzled.
"Your mother, she anointed Narcissa your legal guardian when she gave birth to you, should anything happen to her, thus I am also part of that agreement as Narcissa's husband." The room spins and I grab onto Remus's arm to steady myself. He catches me and places an around my shoulder. I cling to him, afraid to let go.
"What does this all mean?" Draco finally breaks the silence that had befallen the room.
"Do try and use the wits I blessed you with." Lucius says dryly directed at his only son. Draco shrinks back a bit at his father's sharp tongue. "This means, that come summer break Aria will be returning to the manor with us." Lucius finishes off.
A sob rises out of my mouth. "Remus say this isn't true. Please." Remus simply looks down at me, his bottom lip trembling slightly. He hugs me to him again and I fight the urge to start balling right here in front of everyone.
"I'm afraid it is true Miss Seraphine." Interjected a sharp, shrill voice. Umbridge. I seethe in my mind. What a toad of a women.
"Where's Dumbledore? He'd never make me leave with these people." I spit.
"Now now." Lucius drawls. "Is that any way to refer to your new guardians?" he laughs a short laugh, it seemed forced and ugly. "That blood traitor has fled. No one knows where he is, he can't very well protect you from the shadows can he, not unless he wants to give himself in and he clearly cares about himself far more than his students."
I frown. That doesn't make sense. Where could he be? "Ari listen to me, I'm not allowed to take you back with me this summer, not any summer until you're of age and can decide for yourself where you want to go, but you will always have a home with me, you know that right." I nod, teeth clenched, not trusting my words.
"Oh blah blah, stop prolonging this and be on your way, matter of fact, I don't understand why you are even here, you have no relation to Aria and therefore have no reason to be present." I swallow back a colourful retort.
"Might I have a moment alone with my God Farther" I request through gritted teeth.
"mmm, no." Came Umbridge's short reply. "As Lucius pointed out you have no reason to be here and therefore are dismissed." She finished, aiming her response towards Remus.
"I just want a short farewell." Remus spoke, almost pleading.
"Absolutely not. Please be on your way Mr Lupin. An unsupervised visit with an underage witch with whom you have no relation to is not allowed." Umbridge's shrill voice pierced our ears and I felt sorry for Remus whose sensitive ears must be feeling tortured.
"Them I shall supervise." Came a calm and collected new voice. I turned to the doorway and saw a dishevelled McGonagall standing rigidly. Her demeanour screamed anger and she was still in her sleeping gown. "And speaking of inappropriate, holding an audience with a member of my house without my presence is completely immoral." She took a long stare at both the adult Malfoy's and then Umbridge. "Remus, you may say your farewell to Aria in my office. As her house leader I am more than qualified to act as an appropriate and legal authoritative figure." And with that McGonagall turned on her heel and walked out of the door. I didn't stop to think and followed suit. My hand held firmly in Remus's.
The walk to McGonagall's office was eerie. The paintings complained about the light illumining our path coming from McGonagall's wand but upon inspecting Remus's presence they all jeered, sharing well wishes and welcoming him back to the castle.
"I don't really want to intrude on this conversation, I feel it improper and therefore will be standing just outside." I nod, grateful to my head of year.
I perch myself on top of her desk and sigh a deep sigh, a sigh so deep and full of worry it didn't belong to someone of my age. Any innocence I had was snatched away and I suddenly felt old, haggard beyond my years. I put my hands in my face and pray to any omnipotent presence for redemption. I must have done something in a past life to deserve what I am now experiencing. Everyone I have ever loved is slowly being pulled away from me.
"Ari… all I can say is sorry." Remus sobs. I look up to him. I didn't want to see this. I didn't want to see him upset. It hurt me in my soul and I stand, closing the space between us and hugging him.
"Remus, I know non of this is your fault. You have nothing to apologise for. I mean it." I state in a final tone. Remus nods and hugs me tighter.
"I just feel like I've failed you mother… and you farther." Remus says, sighing.
"My farther?"
"Yes, even though you never met him, I knew him quite well. And I feel like I've failed him. Failed to protect his daughter."
A silence ensues. I'm not sure where to go from here.
"Ari… there is a reason I wanted a private goodbye." This peaks my interest and I take a step back to look at him. "Me…. I… I'm part of the order, the order of helping to prevent the rise of he who shall not be named. I never wanted you to be a part of this battle. Never in a million years. But circumstances have snatched that privilege away from us, this is bigger than us and bigger than what I want." Remus was rambling now and it was all I could do not to stare at him in confusion.
"So I'm sorry to be getting you involved in this, but remember this is only a request from the order and from me, you can decline. I wouldn't mind either answer honestly, your safety and mental health are paramount and I want you to know that the decision is all yours."
"Remus, stop." I say sternly. When he does, I smile. "Now breathe and take your time to explain."
After he inhales and exhales a few times he returns my smile before quickly turning serious again. "I am part of an order. As I have said, this summer when you go to the Malfoy manor to stay and subsequently every other school break between now and graduation you will be in close proximity to the direct enemies of the order. I was asked by the other members to request whether you would liaise with us any information that you manage to gather within their presence.
"I am sure you have gathered from you memories being re instated but let me reiterate. You see your mother, she was once betrothed to Voldemort. A women of immense beauty and even greater brains. There was not one man who did not lust after her. For that reason Voldemort wanted her for himself. But as I said you mother was a clever women and was not utterly brain washed by the pure blood society as the rest of her peers were, which is why our friendship existed in the first place." I smile at the fact that my mother was such a resilient soul. "She was however forced by her parents to enter into an arranged marriage like many pure blood society members however your grandparents were glory thirsty and offered your mother to Voldermort with no qualms. it is for that reason that all of pure blood society view you as the dark princess, here to avenge her father." I swallow a pit in my stomach. They will try to groom you and condition you, you will have to go along with that and fake loyalty to a group of truly evil people. It is in the interest of the wizarding world that you do this, for the sake of peace and I know I'm putting a lot of pressure on you by being so bluntly honest but time is off the essence… will you do this for us?" Remus finally finishes off.
It takes a moment of for me to process everything that has just been said. I gulp, unsure of what I've just gotten myself into. I don't think I can speak right now, so I just nod. Remus bundles me up into another hug.
"I know we can't stay here all night, but you know Harry? Hermione, Ron… they all know about what I've just discussed. Talk to them. Ask them to explain. I will write to you whenever I can, but I have a feeling once you enter the Malfoy manor that our mail will be intercepted and therefore communication will be unsafe. We will have to figure a way around that. Patience is key here I suppose."
"I am not the dark princess." I say out loud more for myself and reassurance than anything else.
"Of course you aren't love." I smile thinly at him.
"Who is my real father?" I inquire. It was starting to dawn on me that other people knew more about my life than I did and I won't lie this bothered me.
"That my sweet child is not for me to say. The right person will tell you at the right time." I sigh in response.
"Unacceptable!" we both here the shrill screams of Umbridge. Followed by banging on the door. "Open the door at once!" We hear her scream once more.
"Listen Ari." Remus harshly whispers. "I'm going to go now. Things will only get harder now, but remember the day is always at its darkest before dawn. We'll get through this, you will. I am unsure of why you agreed to help us but I have a feeling it has to do with your mother, and I just know that wherever she is, she is looking down proud, proud to have such an extraordinary young women as a daughter." I smile at him and hug him, a very muffled thank you greeting his ears.
The banging on the door is getting louder and I can hear the wood splintering. Of course McGonagall's office door is placed under expert charms that the average alohomora cannot subside.
"Remember, you're going to find out a lot about yourself. There is a lot of things you haven't been told because a lot of he who shall not be named's followers are equipped with the ability of legilimency and you have yet to be taught occlumency. But one day I will tell you everything, from beginning to end." He presses a hard kiss to my forehead and as he steps away just as the wooden frame gives and implodes on itself. I shield myself with my arm.
In the door way stand Umbridge. She looks positively ravaged and I cringe at the sight of her. She quickly corrects her posture and composes herself once more. "Mr Lupin, I shall escort you out seeing as you have had your good bye, your presences is no longer wanted." He gives her a nod. Turning back to me he smiles at me, it's a proud smile. Like he expected me to do the right thing and no less. He rubs the top of my head before taking a step towards the shattered remains of a doorway.
"Come home soon." Were his last words before he walked away, his departure left me feeling cold and alone. McGonagall doesn't seem to know what else to say in this situation and simply guides me back to my common room.
Upon reaching the entry way she simply squeezes my shoulder before turning to depart. Words were not necessary right now.
I enter the dimly lit common room, the shadows casted on the walls both daunting and mocking.
"Ari…" I Look up to see Harry and his two companions.
"I think we need to talk…" Hermione begins. I nod and take a place on the beaten up sofa. I say nothing and they begin. From the very beginning. First year in fact. They tell me everything.
I know it's a day early but I'm excited about really getting into the story, please review and thanks for reading so far