A/N: Chapter 9 is here! Sorry it took longer than usual to update but my computer crashed. I wrote the whole chapter out but then I had to type it as soon as my computer started working again. Pls Review… More reviews, faster updates!

Disclaimer: I don't own HP

Chapter 9 – Declaring War

Arianna slipped out of her bed before either Ginny or Hermione woke the nexr morning. She had been awake pretty much the whole night anyway because her body clock was all messed up. She quickly changed into a t-shirt, jeans and tracksuit top and through her hair into a messy ponytail. She then grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and slipped out of the room.

She tiptoes along the landing, down the stairs and along the corridor where she'd first glimpsed her father the night before. She took extra care to be quiet as she passed the screaming portrait. She silently opened the front door and hurried outside. Arianna glanced around the front yard. It was bare and ugly, but by the looks of it, so was the rest of the neighbourhood. She reluctantly settled herself under a dying tree that was situated right near the edge of the house. She took out her quill and parchment and began to compose her letter.

Hey Guys!

Hope your days going better than mine. I've only been here a few hours and I hate it already. I met him last night. It seems that someone conveniently forget to mention to him that I EXISTED! Doesn't matter anyway... he made it perfectly clear he doesn't want me, so this entire trip was a waste. There are some kids here too, but they are all complete idiots. They decided they hate me before I even started being bitchy! Not that that's a bad thing, I mean, I want them to hate me… It contributes to my goal of getting sent home soon. There's this one Ginny, Ginny, who had a go at me just for not letting him completely destroy my self esteem last night! As if it was MY fault! I'll fill you in better later. Please write back ASAP and don't forget to send Malfoy my love.

Missing ya heaps,

Ari

Arianna finished her letter and rolled up the parchment. Now came the hard part, finding an owl. Normally she'd use her mother's owl, but she had no idea where Anna was, let alone her owl! Absentmindedly, she leant back against the tree and stared up into its bare branches. As if her prayers had been answered, a snowy-white owl was perched on one of the topmost branches, gazing down at her. Arianna bit her lip. The owl's owner probably wasn't very far away; they might even be living in this very house! But she needed an owl, and this seemed like the only option. She would have to do it. And anyway, she wouldn't be stealing exactly… more like borrowing without permission…

She jumped to her feet and started whistling at the owl and coaxing it to come down.

'Here girl, come on, I won't hurt you.'

At first the owl did nothing, but eventually it flew down to a lower branch, just out of Arianna's reach. It was now or never.

'Hey there girl. I know I'm not your master but I really need to have this letter delivered ASAP and you seem like a very reliable owl. Do you think you could do me a favour?'

The owl seemed to consider this for a moment before sticking out it's leg and allowing Arianna to attach the roll of parchment.

'Take this to Kayla Robson and Paige Williams, Holcraft School for witchcraft and wizardry.' She told the owl.

After the owl had flown away, Arianna sat back down against the tree to think. She'd have to talk to Sirius at some point, even if he didn't want her. She growled to herself. All her life people had been comparing her to Sirius, but there was at least one way in which they were different. If she'd been put in that situation, finding out she had a long lost daughter, she wouldn't just reject her point blank. She might take a little time to accept it but – Wait! That seemed like a pretty cruel judgement seeing as she'd only given Sirius thirty seconds to process the information. Maybe that Hermione girl was right. What kind of name is Hermione anyw- SPLAT. A dungbomb exploded on Arianna's head. She jumped to her feet and started desperately looking upwards, searching for the culprit. Her eyes rested on the second story window just above where she had been sitting. It was wide open and she could here the unmistakeable sounds of laughter floating through it. Her eyes narrowed. Ginny Weasley and her minions. They had pranked Arianna Black and now they were going to pay the consequences, because no-one pranked Arianna Black and got away with it. They wanted a prank war they got one.

Arianna stuffed her quill in the pocket of her jeans and ran back inside. She didn't meet anyone on her way back upstairs. The adults were probably either still asleep or somewhere else in the house, and she knew exactly how the house's younger occupants were spending their time.

Arianna pushed the door of her room open. All six of them were in there. The tall gangly red head (Rob?) and Harry were both standing over near the window with slight smirks on their faces. The twins, who seemed to be slightly older than the others, were both jumping up and down on Ginny's bed screaming, 'Bulls eye!'

Hermione was lying on her bed looking slightly worried, and Ginny was rolling around on the floor, laughing hysterically. Arianna clenched her fists.

'What the hell was that for?' she demanded, directing the question at Ginny.

'Oh, we just thought we'd show miss high-and-mighty that she isn't queen of the universe!' replied Ginny, giggling slightly.

'Well, Ginny dear,' said Arianna sarcastically, 'you seem to have hit me whilst aiming for yourself! Who knew, you really are as stupid as you look!'

'Hey!' snapped one of the twins angrily, 'Watch what you're saying ,Black! That's our baby sister!'

'Oh I'm sooooo scared! The red-headed freaks are gonna be mad at me! You know, normally I'd take that prank you just pulled as an insult to my intelligence, but in this case, I'll take it as an insult to yours! A dungbomb! Honestly, is that the best you could think of?' The twins were spared from answering by Mrs Weasley, who chose that moment to enter the room.

'Breakfast is ready and your Hogwarts letters are here, so you better get downstairs quick.' For the first time, she caught site of Arianna.

'Oh hello, dear. You must be Arianna! I was just talking to your mother and she told me – What is that smell?' She rounded on the twins.

'Fred! George! You'd better not have anything to do with this! You might have finished school, but I can still punish you!' She gave them both suspicious looks. The twins shifted restlessly under their mothers gaze, sending constant glances at Arianna, afraid she'd rat them out. Mrs Weasley gave them each one last suspicious look before turning back to Arianna.

'I'm Molly Weasley, dear. Would you like to come downstairs for your breakfast now?'

'Yes thankyou Molly.' Arianna couldn't help but like this woman, and beside, it couldn't hurt to be friendly to some people… could it?

'But could you allow us a few moments to finish our conversation?' She gestured to the six other teenagers behind her, 'We were just discussing the similarities and differences between Australian and English magical schools, and it was really quite fascinating!' Molly smiled warmly at her.

'Of course, dear. The others will show you down to the kitchen when you're ready.' She turned and left the room, shutting the door behind her. Arianna turned back to face the others.

'So what do you say? A prank war. All of you versus me. Or are you scared?' she smirked slightly when she saw the disbelieving stares she was receiving. Finally the tall, gangly one spoke.

'You are challenging all of us, including Fred and George to a prank war? Are you insane?'

'Clinically.' The twins shot each other a quick look. They seemed to have reached an agreement, because the one on the left spoke.

'Agreed. Whoever manages to prank the opposing team the most before midnight tonight wins.' Arianna smirked.

'Let the games begin.'

A/N: So……… that's chap nine! Hehe… I have this story all planned out… Please review! Now I'm back in school, I don't have as much time to update, but Reviews inspire me, so get reviewing! No reviews, no chap ten for a month… at least!