A cold chill snaked its way down Arielle's spine as she pressed her cheek against the window inside a compartment of the Hogwarts Express. Spring holiday was over and the students that left Hogwarts were returning to resume their studies. It was that time of year when Hogwarts students began feeling the surmounting pressure of their upcoming examinations. Sirius sat beside Arielle reading the fifth year Charms textbook and mummering spells under his breath. The raven-haired girl smirked into the window when she heard Sirius curse. A loud thud eradicated the silence in the compartment. Arielle peeled her cheek from the window and glanced down at the Charms textbook that was now on the floor. She reached down to pick up the book when her hand grazed the warm flesh of another. Quickly retracting her hand, Arielle folded her arms across her chest. Regulus picked up the textbook and handed it to his brother. Sirius sighed in annoyance, snatched the book, and resumed his studying.
Over the course of the Spring holiday, the Black brothers had set aside their discords and came to some sort of understanding. Arielle found the situation utterly alarming. Seeing the two brothers engage in small talk irked her. Watching them sit across each other willingly in the same compartment on the train to Hogwarts spooked her. When Arielle questioned Sirius about his sudden tolerance of his brother, he would shrug his shoulders and say Regulus was helping him study for his O.W.L's. Regulus, however, was less forthcoming with information. When Arielle questioned him, the Slytherin git told her to stop nosing in on "family business". Despite this newfound civility between the brothers, they both assured her that they would be going their separate ways once they arrived at the wizarding school.
Arielle stepped off the train and took in a large breath of fresh air. She loved the smell of Scotland which ironically reminded her freedom— given the Muggle history surrounding the Highlands. Over the short holiday, Arielle thought a lot about Dumbledore and her lessons in wandless magic. She was ready to begin this dangerous journey; it was just the type of time consuming task that she needed to distract herself. Now that she knew for sure she could keep Dumbledore from knowing that her family was in league with the Dark Lord, she was ready to take full advantage of the old man's wisdom and guidance. Despite her family's disdain for the old man, Arielle admired Dumbledore—even though she did find him a bit eccentric. He was the most powerful wizard in the known wizarding world. If Arielle had any hopes of navigating the upcoming storm and keeping her family safe against the Dark Lord or against Dumbledore, she needed to learn how to control her magical outbursts.
"Arielle."
Arielle whipped around and faced the intruder who pulled her from her thoughts.
"What do you want?"
Regulus took Arielle's bag out of her reluctant hand and began walking slowly behind the crowd of students who were walking to the castle.
"We need to talk."
"We did at the wedding." Arielle sighed with annoyance as she walked beside the Slytherin prince.
"I mean about what happened on the astronomy tower…." He began hesitantly remembering the night on the astronomy tower when he almost, for a moment, connected fully with the girl who haunted his dreams.
"Oh that. " Arielle spat. "Let me save us both the dreadful awkwardness of this conversation by keeping it brief. I've decided, and I've thought long about it Regulus, that you and I...well to put it frankly and simply… we are toxic together. It will never work between us...a lion and a serpent. I know we come from similar backgrounds but we are fundamentally different in mind and spirit."
Regulus huffed in exasperation. "How long did it take you to construct that melodramatic soliloquy? I've also thought long about this Arielle, and I think we are inevitable. I think that you know that. I think you're scared. Bloody hell, I am. I'm ready though. Perhaps you're just not mature enough for a real authentic relationship."
Arielle stood frozen in rage. Mature? She wasn't mature enough?
"Fine. You asked it for you pretentious bastard." Arielle growled when the other students were out of earshot. "When I am with you, I am consumed in your darkness….wandering around in an endless tunnel with no light. Your presence has only ever brought chaos into my life. I don't need or want that."
Regulus scowled. "How easy it must be for you to push all your problems onto me. Typical, really….to blame me for everything that's gone wrong. Let me tell you Princess Arielle, I may have poked and prodded you here and there but all the terrible things you've said and done over the years, that was all you….NOT me."
"When I look at YOU all I feel is DISGUST and REGRET." Arielle yelled.
Regulus grimaced and stood silently for a few moments, giving Arielle enough time to recognize the impact her words had on the young Slytherin.
"Perhaps the reason you are so disgusted when you look at me Arielle is because you see your own reflection. I see you for who you truly are...darkness and all. Unlike you, I never pretended to righteous or good. I have dark thoughts, impulses….and if you want to play pretend and lie to yourself for having that same darkness then that's your business."
Arielle stood rattled by Regulus's words. For what seemed like a lifetime, the two wizards locked eyes neither daring to say a word. Lie to yourself. Lie? Was she lying to herself?
"There you are Regulus, I must have missed you when you got off the train." A sweet giggly voice interrupted. Lucienda appeared out of nowhere and placed a gentle hand on the arm of the Slytherin prince. Arielle wondered how much of their conversation Lucienda overheard. A small part of her hoped the pretty brunette had heard it all.
"Accompany me to the castle?" Lucienda said batting her eyelashes innocently.
"Of course." Regulus obliged. He dropped Arielle's bag onto the ground and continued to walk to the castle.
"Are you coming Arielle?" Lucienda called in a sing-song voice glancing back at the Gryffindor girl.
"No." Regulus said firmly. "She prefers to walk alone."
Lucienda seemed to accept this answer and shrugged nonchalantly. Arielle, on the other hand, understood the message clearly. By pushing Regulus away, Arielle would be forced to navigate this new dark world alone and he wanted her to know that he would not be there to catch her if she fell.
Dinner in the Great Hall failed to improve Arielle's mood. Arielle watched on as Chloe Chalice swiped her danity index finger along the whipped cream on top of the pumpkin pie and placed it seductively into Sirius's mouth.
"Thanks Chloe, none of us wanted any of that pie." Arielle said sarcastically. The blonde witch was too smitten to respond.
"Oops. You've got a little bit…" Chloe smiled gesturing at her lips.
"Oh do I?" Sirius smirked.
"Yes…" Chloe said as she leaned in to lick the frosting off Sirius's face which turned into a mini makeout session.
Arielle mocked the two lovebirds by pretending to gag which elicited a few smirks from Remus, Peter and James. On the walk back to the common room, Remus tried to feign interest in Arielle's holiday by asking about the wedding. Sensing the awkwardness, Arielle quickly steered the conversation to Remus's recent transformation.
"Yes. It was all right. Went to the Whomping Willow again with James and Peter. The potion you brewed really did help make it all smoother." Remus rambled.
"Did it? That means I must have brewed it correct then!" Arielle said enthusiastically. Remus eyed her cautiously.
"I mean, of course I would never of given the potion to you if I wasn't absolutely sure it would work." Arielle quickly added. The truth was she had no idea if the potion would work or not. Wolfsbane Potion was notoriously hard to concoct. When she asked Severus to brew the potion for Remus, he outright refused. Although her Slytherin friend did subtly mention a couple of tips on how to stir the potion and adjust the ingredients slightly when Arielle declared she would brew the potion herself.
"Right." Remus said with a raised brow.
"Cherry-sprinkled marmalade." Arielle announced as they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. The picture swung open and the Marauders, Arielle, Chloe and her posse entered the room.
Arielle glanced around the common room hoping to catch a glimpse of a familiar shade of ginger hair.
"She's probably at the library...studying for her O.W.L's with that slimy git." James said with a pout that rivaled a toddler's while stomping over to the big red sofa chair by the fire.
Lily and Severus...so that was still happening...Arielle thought.
"All right gather around, gather around." Chloe called as she stood in front of the fire. She playfully pushed Sirius onto the couch next to Remus. Arielle chose to sit on the armrest of the chair James occupied.
"In honor of my beau's return to Hogwarts…" Chloe began.
Arielle rolled her eyes. A week. They were gone for a week. Seven bloody days.
"The other fourth year girls and I, Arielle excluded, have planned an Angels and Devils party for this Friday night!" Chloe squealed. "Costumes are not optional, and of course the party is invite only."
"Of course you're all invited." Chloe said sweetly eyeing the Marauders. "And you too…"
Arielle plastered her best fake smile at Chloe's bitter kindness.
"So babe what are you? A saint or a sinner?" Sirius smirked pulling Chloe into his lap. James let out a loud chuckle.
"Chloe? With her radiating skin? I can practically see the halo already." Arielle baited.
"Just as I can see cute little red horns sticking out of your hair...oh wait I think that might just be your abnormally large ears." Chloe quipped.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" James yelled out as he doubled over with laughter.
Arielle stood up abruptly from the armchair fists clenched and ready to hurdle the next insult at Chloe.
"Arielle!" Lily shouted from across the common room. The red headed witch practically skipped over to her fellow Prefect and pulled the raven-haired Gryffindor in for a hug.
"Dumbledore would like to see you in his office." Lily said letting going of her friend.
"In trouble already? You are quite the devil Arielle. You may even rival Satan himself..." Sirius chimed in causing the Marauders and Chloe to roar with laughter. Arielle twisted her face into an indignant frown and Lily looked at her fellow housemates like they were all barbarically mad.
"You would know being the devil incarnate yourself." Arielle spat.
"OOOOOOOOOO!" James shouted once again.
"I think you've mistaken Sirius for his brother Regulus again, just like you did the night of Witch Weekly event." Chloe said through rigid lips. "I guess I can make an exception... only for you of course... and allow one snake into the party."
James and Sirius were practically on the floor with laughter at this point. Remus was starting to look uncomfortable. Peter sniggered sneakily in a rat-like sort of way.
"You two will make quite the devilish pair." Sirius smirked fully enjoying the embarrassment he was causing his friend.
"Invite him or don't. I don't care. And for your information, I'll be dressed in white. After all I am a prefect...a job that you lot failed to get on account of wickedness no doubt. For Merlin's sake, Dumbledore appointed a fourth year before considering any of you." Arielle said before whipping around, her black hair flying over her shoulder.
"She's looks like an angel….walks like an angel…..talks like an angel…." Sirius sang as Arielle headed for the door.
"But I got wiseeeeeeeeee…" James and Peter joined in.
"She's the devil in disguise."
The door slammed shut as Arielle left the common room.
Leave YOUR thoughts (: I miss this story! I will be updating a lot this month. I am shooting for at least once a week. Motivate me with your reviews ;)