A/N here's chapter 2! Sorry it took so long! Hehehe!! Writers block! Ok.
enough of me talking! Enjoy the chapter! PLEASE review!!! And btw, jkr owns
everything except the plot and Ariana!
Chapter 2
*Harry's POV*
It's been a couple months since Ariana's suicide attempt. It's been hard on all of us, especially her. But I think knowing that we love her ultimately is what is helping her stay strong. She is almost back to her old self. But there is still the emptiness and pain in her eyes. I wish I could make it go away, but I can't. I know that. All I can do is be there for her.
I walked down the stairs from my dormitory into the common room. I smiled. There she was, lying on the couch, asleep with a book in her lap. Sometimes she and Hermione are too much alike. I walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. "Ari, wake up."
She opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi, Harry." God, I love her smile. It's good to see it again.
I looked down to see her Arithmancy book open in front of her. "I knew it! Arithmancy is as boring as it looks." I chuckled.
She slapped me. "It is not! I'm just tired." She giggled.
"I know. I was teasing."
"I'm sorry. I didn't sleep well last night. I guess I'm a little short- tempered this morning." She smiled weakly at me.
I wrapped my arms around her in a big hug. "It's ok. I understand. You've been under a lot of stress recently." I kissed her on the forehead. "You are bound to be short-tempered."
She smiled at me. I looked at her. She had become more beautiful (if that is at all possible). After everything happened with Blaise, she fell apart. She cut a few more times, but I was able to stop her before it got bad. She would collapse in my arms, sobbing. I would hold her, comfort her, and speak soft words of love to her as she cried. Eventually she stopped cutting. She started to become the old Ariana that we knew and loved. But something changed in her. She started to become more bookish, like Hermione. She spent less time talking with Ron and Hermione, and more time talking to me. Before everything happened, Hermione and Ari were inseparable. Now, Ari and I are inseparable.
"Let's go to breakfast. Dumbledore said he has an announcement to make this morning." I stood up and took her hand, hoping she'd follow. I knew that she had a tough time during meals and classes, but maybe, just maybe that would change soon.
"Ok, Harry. I'll go. But only because Dumbledore is making an announcement." She stood up and followed me to the great hall.
We sat down at our table, our backs facing the Slytherins. I could tell that she hadn't seen Blaise, and I was happy for that. I don't think that she could handle that right now. I don't think I could handle that right now.
"Good morning, students! I have an announcement to make. This year at Hogwarts, we are going to have a Christmas Ball! It will be for everyone from fourth year up. The only condition is that you must come with a date! Dress robes are required. The ball will take place on Christmas day. It will start at 7:00 in the evening. Thank you! Now you may eat! Enjoy the wonderful breakfast!" Dumbledore sat down, and the rest of us began to eat and talk about the upcoming ball, which was two weeks away.
"Hermione?" Ron said.
"Yes, Ron?"
"Will you be my date to the ball?"
"Of course!"
"Ari, who are you going to go with?" Hermione asked.
She looked at her plate, and was playing with her food. "I'm not going to go." She mumbled.
"What? You have to go!"
"I DON'T WANT TO!"
"Geez, sorry. I'll drop it."
"Hey, Ardens, want to go to the ball with me? Oh, wait, never mind, I don't like you! I went out with you because of a bet! Ha!" Blaise and Malfoy walked by, smirking at Ariana.
"Why, I oughtta." Ron started.
"Ron, just let it be. Violence won't solve anything." Ariana murmured. I could see tears in her eyes. "Excuse me. I'm not hungry anymore." She got up and ran from the Great hall.
Hermione started after her. "I'll go see if she's ok."
I grabbed Hermione's arm. "No, Mione let me go."
"Ok, fine. Just fill us in."
I walked out of the Great hall looking to see where she was. I didn't see her right off. I thought for a second about where she might have gone. Then I thought about it. She went to their place. She went to the garden where Hermione found her. The garden that she shared with Blaise.
I ran there, not wanting her to be alone for too long. I had a feeling that she would loose it as soon as she got there. I didn't stop until I reached it. I found her destroying the garden. "I MUST GET RID OF HIS MEMORY! I HATE HIM!" She was sobbing as she did this.
I came up to her and grabbed her shoulders. She looked at me, grief stricken. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. She held me so tight I could barely breathe. She sobbed into my shoulder. "Shh. Its ok. Everything will be ok. I'm here. I won't let him hurt you again." I stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.
We stood that way for a few minutes until she calmed down. "I don't know why I let him get to me, Harry. I know he isn't worth it. But every time I see him, I can't help but think of the things he said to me, the way he touched me, the way he made me feel love and special! But it was all a lie!"
"It's understandable, Ari. You gave him your heart and he ripped it into tiny shreds." She looked at the ground. I took her face in my hands. "Look at me." She looked into my eyes, and I'm not sure what emotion I saw. It looked like a mixture of grief, anger, and love. That was confusing. "Ari, you need to move on. You need to show him that this didn't ruin you. You need to show him that you are strong. Only then will he leave you alone. And then you will be happier, when you can look at him and not feel the pain so intensely." I thought for a minute. "I know what we are going to do."
"What?"
"You and I are best friends, right?"
"Right."
"We have a good time together, right?"
"Right."
"Ok, then. Ari, will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the ball?"
She avoided my gaze. "Harry, I don't know if I want to go. I don't want to see him in the arms of someone else. I."
I put my finger to her lips. "Shh, Ari. The only way to get over him is to go out and have fun. That's what we'll do. We will have so much fun that he'll be pissed that you aren't unhappy. Come on, Ari. We'll have a great time. And you'll be with one of the most good-looking guys in the whole school!" That got a smile. "What do you think?"
She sighed. "Ok, Harry. I'll go with you." She paused. "But promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"If it gets to be too much for me, will you bring me back to the common room?"
I smiled at her. "Of course, Ari. If you look miserable, I will bring you back to the common room. I'll even stay with you so you aren't alone."
"Harry, you're the greatest."
"I know." I chuckled.
"Harry, you're so full of yourself."
I pretended to be hurt. "I am not!"
She smiled. "Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being my friend, for not walking away, for caring, for making me laugh, for making me feel special again, for loving me."
"Oh, Ari. I will always be here. I will always be you friend. I will always care. I will always do my best to make you laugh and feel special. I will always love you."
She gave me a sad smile. "I know Harry. But I'm afraid to love, to be loved. Last time that happened my world was shattered, and so was my heart. I don't know if I want anyone to love me." She wiped a tear from her eye.
"I know, Ari. I know. But I can't help it. You are a wonderful person, even if you don't see it yet. I just want you to know that I am here, and I won't pressure you about anything. If you ever feel you are ready to move on, I will be here. If you never feel ready, I will still be here, as your friend. Ok?"
"Harry, I don't want you to wait around for me. I don't think I will ever be ready. Find someone else. Please."
"I'm not ready to look for anyone right now. Please understand that. I want to stay by your side right now. Maybe, in a few months, if you still aren't ready, I might start to look, but I won't now."
She sighed. "Ok, fine. Harry, I'm tired. I want to go take a rest before the Hogsmead trip."
"Ok, I'll walk with you."
"You don't have to, Harry. I can get back by myself." She started to walk off.
I reached out and grabbed her hand. "I know, but I want to walk back with you."
"Ok."
We walked back to the common room, and I hugged her. "Things will work out, Ari. You know that. Sleep well. Do you want me to wake you before we go to Hogsmead?"
"Please. Since I have to go to this blasted ball, I need to get dress robes."
"Ok." I kissed her on the forehead and she walked up to her dorm to rest. As I watched her go up the stairs, I vowed that I would do anything to make her happy.
Chapter 2
*Harry's POV*
It's been a couple months since Ariana's suicide attempt. It's been hard on all of us, especially her. But I think knowing that we love her ultimately is what is helping her stay strong. She is almost back to her old self. But there is still the emptiness and pain in her eyes. I wish I could make it go away, but I can't. I know that. All I can do is be there for her.
I walked down the stairs from my dormitory into the common room. I smiled. There she was, lying on the couch, asleep with a book in her lap. Sometimes she and Hermione are too much alike. I walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. "Ari, wake up."
She opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi, Harry." God, I love her smile. It's good to see it again.
I looked down to see her Arithmancy book open in front of her. "I knew it! Arithmancy is as boring as it looks." I chuckled.
She slapped me. "It is not! I'm just tired." She giggled.
"I know. I was teasing."
"I'm sorry. I didn't sleep well last night. I guess I'm a little short- tempered this morning." She smiled weakly at me.
I wrapped my arms around her in a big hug. "It's ok. I understand. You've been under a lot of stress recently." I kissed her on the forehead. "You are bound to be short-tempered."
She smiled at me. I looked at her. She had become more beautiful (if that is at all possible). After everything happened with Blaise, she fell apart. She cut a few more times, but I was able to stop her before it got bad. She would collapse in my arms, sobbing. I would hold her, comfort her, and speak soft words of love to her as she cried. Eventually she stopped cutting. She started to become the old Ariana that we knew and loved. But something changed in her. She started to become more bookish, like Hermione. She spent less time talking with Ron and Hermione, and more time talking to me. Before everything happened, Hermione and Ari were inseparable. Now, Ari and I are inseparable.
"Let's go to breakfast. Dumbledore said he has an announcement to make this morning." I stood up and took her hand, hoping she'd follow. I knew that she had a tough time during meals and classes, but maybe, just maybe that would change soon.
"Ok, Harry. I'll go. But only because Dumbledore is making an announcement." She stood up and followed me to the great hall.
We sat down at our table, our backs facing the Slytherins. I could tell that she hadn't seen Blaise, and I was happy for that. I don't think that she could handle that right now. I don't think I could handle that right now.
"Good morning, students! I have an announcement to make. This year at Hogwarts, we are going to have a Christmas Ball! It will be for everyone from fourth year up. The only condition is that you must come with a date! Dress robes are required. The ball will take place on Christmas day. It will start at 7:00 in the evening. Thank you! Now you may eat! Enjoy the wonderful breakfast!" Dumbledore sat down, and the rest of us began to eat and talk about the upcoming ball, which was two weeks away.
"Hermione?" Ron said.
"Yes, Ron?"
"Will you be my date to the ball?"
"Of course!"
"Ari, who are you going to go with?" Hermione asked.
She looked at her plate, and was playing with her food. "I'm not going to go." She mumbled.
"What? You have to go!"
"I DON'T WANT TO!"
"Geez, sorry. I'll drop it."
"Hey, Ardens, want to go to the ball with me? Oh, wait, never mind, I don't like you! I went out with you because of a bet! Ha!" Blaise and Malfoy walked by, smirking at Ariana.
"Why, I oughtta." Ron started.
"Ron, just let it be. Violence won't solve anything." Ariana murmured. I could see tears in her eyes. "Excuse me. I'm not hungry anymore." She got up and ran from the Great hall.
Hermione started after her. "I'll go see if she's ok."
I grabbed Hermione's arm. "No, Mione let me go."
"Ok, fine. Just fill us in."
I walked out of the Great hall looking to see where she was. I didn't see her right off. I thought for a second about where she might have gone. Then I thought about it. She went to their place. She went to the garden where Hermione found her. The garden that she shared with Blaise.
I ran there, not wanting her to be alone for too long. I had a feeling that she would loose it as soon as she got there. I didn't stop until I reached it. I found her destroying the garden. "I MUST GET RID OF HIS MEMORY! I HATE HIM!" She was sobbing as she did this.
I came up to her and grabbed her shoulders. She looked at me, grief stricken. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. She held me so tight I could barely breathe. She sobbed into my shoulder. "Shh. Its ok. Everything will be ok. I'm here. I won't let him hurt you again." I stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.
We stood that way for a few minutes until she calmed down. "I don't know why I let him get to me, Harry. I know he isn't worth it. But every time I see him, I can't help but think of the things he said to me, the way he touched me, the way he made me feel love and special! But it was all a lie!"
"It's understandable, Ari. You gave him your heart and he ripped it into tiny shreds." She looked at the ground. I took her face in my hands. "Look at me." She looked into my eyes, and I'm not sure what emotion I saw. It looked like a mixture of grief, anger, and love. That was confusing. "Ari, you need to move on. You need to show him that this didn't ruin you. You need to show him that you are strong. Only then will he leave you alone. And then you will be happier, when you can look at him and not feel the pain so intensely." I thought for a minute. "I know what we are going to do."
"What?"
"You and I are best friends, right?"
"Right."
"We have a good time together, right?"
"Right."
"Ok, then. Ari, will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the ball?"
She avoided my gaze. "Harry, I don't know if I want to go. I don't want to see him in the arms of someone else. I."
I put my finger to her lips. "Shh, Ari. The only way to get over him is to go out and have fun. That's what we'll do. We will have so much fun that he'll be pissed that you aren't unhappy. Come on, Ari. We'll have a great time. And you'll be with one of the most good-looking guys in the whole school!" That got a smile. "What do you think?"
She sighed. "Ok, Harry. I'll go with you." She paused. "But promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"If it gets to be too much for me, will you bring me back to the common room?"
I smiled at her. "Of course, Ari. If you look miserable, I will bring you back to the common room. I'll even stay with you so you aren't alone."
"Harry, you're the greatest."
"I know." I chuckled.
"Harry, you're so full of yourself."
I pretended to be hurt. "I am not!"
She smiled. "Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being my friend, for not walking away, for caring, for making me laugh, for making me feel special again, for loving me."
"Oh, Ari. I will always be here. I will always be you friend. I will always care. I will always do my best to make you laugh and feel special. I will always love you."
She gave me a sad smile. "I know Harry. But I'm afraid to love, to be loved. Last time that happened my world was shattered, and so was my heart. I don't know if I want anyone to love me." She wiped a tear from her eye.
"I know, Ari. I know. But I can't help it. You are a wonderful person, even if you don't see it yet. I just want you to know that I am here, and I won't pressure you about anything. If you ever feel you are ready to move on, I will be here. If you never feel ready, I will still be here, as your friend. Ok?"
"Harry, I don't want you to wait around for me. I don't think I will ever be ready. Find someone else. Please."
"I'm not ready to look for anyone right now. Please understand that. I want to stay by your side right now. Maybe, in a few months, if you still aren't ready, I might start to look, but I won't now."
She sighed. "Ok, fine. Harry, I'm tired. I want to go take a rest before the Hogsmead trip."
"Ok, I'll walk with you."
"You don't have to, Harry. I can get back by myself." She started to walk off.
I reached out and grabbed her hand. "I know, but I want to walk back with you."
"Ok."
We walked back to the common room, and I hugged her. "Things will work out, Ari. You know that. Sleep well. Do you want me to wake you before we go to Hogsmead?"
"Please. Since I have to go to this blasted ball, I need to get dress robes."
"Ok." I kissed her on the forehead and she walked up to her dorm to rest. As I watched her go up the stairs, I vowed that I would do anything to make her happy.