Never Say Never Chapter 2: Ariele's Arrival, a harry potter fanfic

After Rose was out of sight, Hermione turned around to face forward

Author's Note: I'm extremely sorry for posted the story more than once…I did not do it on purpose, but my computer kept saying 'System Busy' when I clicked it, so I didn't think the story went through. Obviously is did! J But as soon as I can, I'll remove the unnecessary ones! Thanks for reading! ~Moondream

After Rose was out of sight, Hermione turned around to face forward. Had Rose just been in a bad mood? Was she right about them not seeing each other enough? Rose came over practically every day during the summer. And what did she mean by 'Never say never'?

When Hermione's house finally came into sight, she broke into a run. At the doorway, she pulled off her old shoes and opened the door, slamming it behind her. Life was so unfair sometimes. When she reached the kitchen, her parents were discussing patients that came into their dental clinic. Hermione rubbed her tongue over her braces as she entered. What a pain braces were!

"Are you ready?" She asked, interrupting their conversation.

Mrs. Granger glanced up. "Hermione, you're just in time! We were about to come get you! Go get your trunk, and let's leave…We wouldn't want you to miss the train!"

Hermione shuffled out of the kitchen and upstairs to her bedroom and grabbed her trunk by the handle. It unlatched and opened. On top lay a pad of stationary, and an old letter from Rose. Hermione dropped to her knees and picked up the note from Rose, which was written on cream colored paper, and bordered with strawberries. The top said

center Rose Amanda Harris

3102 Treetop Lane,

England

The letter began,

I Dear Hermione,

Today's the first day of school, but you weren't there to sit by me at lunch. I can't believe you've been excepted into a school called Hogwarts…It's amazing, but I'm lonely, and I wish you were here. /I

She continued to talk about the weather, sports, the most recent gossip, and the latest crisis in her life. Then it said,

I I miss you so much. I won't survive without anyone to talk to! Sure, Monica's still around, but whenever I try to talk to her, she starts blabbing on whoever she has a crush on, and stuff of that sort. /I

Hermione paused. Monica always I had /I talked nonstop about boys. They'd really never gotten to know her, even though she was extremely popular, being that she was from France. Hermione breezed through the letter, then read the last paragraph.

I Well, I'm sorry that I've been talking so much about myself…Write back and tell me everything! I miss you more than anything… /I

center Love, Rose

Your 1^st year at Hogwarts, September 4^th.

Hermione sighed. Rose really I did /I miss her when she was away at school. Then she heard a voice,

"Let's GO, Hermione!" It was her father. Hermione shoved the letter inside the trunk and slammed it shut. She grabbed the handle and began to pull it down the stairs.

"Sorry," She said when she reached the floor, "My trunk came open and some stuff came out." She didn't mention her argument with Rose, or the letter. Her father nodded and carried the trunk outside, Hermione close behind him.

*~*

When they finally reached King's Cross Station, Hermione knew immediately that she was late, because there weren't any swarms of students near the barrier. Hermione kissed her parents goodbye and promised to send an owl when she got there. Then she ran through the barrier, pulling her trunk behind her. Hermione climbed onto the train, and pulled her trunk behind her. She was putting it away, when the train began to move, and she ran to find a seat. Leaving the baggage car, she was surprised to find that most of the cars were full. She went through the first one. Full. She entered the second car. Full. The third and fourth were the same, as were the fifth and sixth. There was no sign of Harry or Ron, either. In fact, the cars seemed full of fifth through seventh years. The seventh car was full of younger students. It was in the eighth car that she found Harry and Ron…and someone else. A girl--about Hermione's age--was sitting on one of the train benches. Harry was sitting behind her, talking, and Ron was on the bench in front of her, turned around so her could converse also. The car was empty otherwise. Hermione walked in and said,

"There you guys are, I've been through half the train looking for you!"

All three looked up. The girl was about Hermione's size, with sandy hair that was slightly below her shoulders. She wore oval shaped classes with wire rims. She looked nervous about the attention she was receiving, and would have probably have enjoyed herself more if she'd been alone.

Hermione stepped forward.

"Hello!" She said in a friendly voice, "I'm Hermione."

The girl gave a small smile and stood. She said,

"Hello, I'm Ariele."

Harry glanced at Hermione.

"Ariele is a fourth year," He explained, "She's transferring from another wizarding school. Dumbledor thinks she'll be able to catch up." He ran his fingers through his black hair and pushed up his glasses.

I When did he start doing that? /I Hermione thought, I He never ran his fingers through his hair last year. New habit? /I

"Pleased to meet you," Hermione said, forcing a smile, "I'm glad you're here. What house are you in?"

"She hasn't been sorted yet," Ron spoke up, "She'll be sorted with the first years."

"Well for Wizard's Sake, let her speak for herself!" Hermione frowned, then turned to Ariele. "Are you excited?"

Ariele nodded, then said quietly, "Harry was just telling me about the time he saved Ginny Weasley's life, and the times he fought Lord Voldemort, and the how they got into the Whomping Willow, and--"

"That's great," Hermione interrupted, casting a confused look in Harry's direction. The train was going at a quick pace. Hermione went and kneeled on the bench Ron was sitting on.

Ariele continued, "And how Ron thought that your cat ate Scabbers--"

"Crookshanks!" Hermione gasped, "I left him at home! I'll have to send Mum and Dad an owl. How horrible of me!"

Ron put on a high, squeaky voice, "Oh yes, how terribly horrible! Guess we'll have to go without him this year!"

Hermione glared, and Ron turned pink, for he must have noticed that Ariele was watching in amusement.

"What's your last name?" Hermione asked Ariele, "Mine's Granger."

"Clearwater," Ariele answered, "Ariele Clearwater."

"Really?" Ron asked in amazement, "I didn't know Penelope had a younger sister. I'm Percy's brother. Penelope is his girlfriend…" Ron blushed at a shade that matched his hair.

Saving Ron from embarrassment, the car door opened, and the snack vendor entered.

"Would you like anything?" The witch asked, "I have Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Cauldron Cakes, and lots of different juices. Apple, pumpkin, grape, cranberry…" She went on and on. They decided to each buy some things and split them. Ariele had never had any of them. Both Ron and Harry offered to buy her a box of cauldron cakes, but Hermione reminded them that they'd buy different things split them. Ron bought Bott's Beans, Harry bought Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties, and Hermione bought Chocolate Frogs. Ariele bought everyone the juice of his or her choice. Then they all sound down and munched. Ariele reached for a Chocolate Frog and pulled it open. Inside was the first Chocolate Frog card she'd ever seen. It was Midwick, and Australian wizard who'd once taught Potions at Hogwarts. ( I "Wish we still had him, /I Ron said, I He's gotta be better that Snape."/I )

As they munched, Hermione became curious.

"Which wizarding school did you come from?" She asked Ariele.

Ariele swallowed and replied, "Dremwick. I was a Dragonmyff."

"How interesting!" Hermione said excitedly, "I'd read about that in the book "Histories of Magic". Fascinating!"

Ariele nodded, then the train pulled to a stop.

"Oh gosh, we're at Hogsmeade station already." Hermione gasped, "We'd better throw our robes on!" They beat the rush to the baggage car and pulled out their robes, pulling them on over their clothes. Minutes later, they're arrived at Hogwarts. As they jumped off the train, Ariele left with the first years to be sorted. Hermione, Ron, and Harry followed the rest of the fourth years.

"She seems friendly," Hermione said, looking pointedly at Harry and Ron, who shrugged.

"She's very nice," Ron agreed quietly, although Hermione knew that he wasn't telling everything, and his ears pinked again.

Finally, the castle was in view. She was home.