A/N: Okay I've figured out this story and where it's going. It's gonna vaguely follow the plot of HBP but still be majorly different. Remember, I'm writing this as if Sirius never died, he was just badly enough injured that he nearly died and Harry still Hates Bellatrix Lestrange with a passion. Since Sirius didn't die, they're staying at Grimmauld Place rather than the Burrow like in HBP. Please review, I had major writers block and it took a lot out of me to write this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think, it'd be greatly appreciated!

MAJORLY IMPORTANT NOTICE: I have a special spot in my story for a character and I'm gonna make that character based on my 50th Reviewer. It's not just a random character I'm throwing in, there is a point to them, and they play a big role so please keep reviewing!

Disclaimer- I don't own HP

Reviews:

The Egyptian Sand Quill: You were the only one who reviewed my last chapter :( Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you like my story!

Chapter 11- An unexpected fall

Arianna reluctantly followed Harry, Ron and Hermione down to the kitchen. Fred, George and Ginny had decided to stay up in the girls' bedroom. Probably trying to figure out how to prank me, thought Ari. She trailed a good few meters behind the other three and they entered the kitchen before her. As she turned the corner and took in the kitchen's dark, dank appearance, she noticed that there were already a few people sitting around the wooden table in the centre of the room. Among them, she recognised her mother, Tonks, Lupin, Molly Weasley and…him. She was painfully aware that every eye was turned to her, but it was a while before anyone spoke.

'Ari! Ugh… did you sleep well dear?' Anna said in a falsely cheery voice.

'Yeah… whatever, mum.' Arianna muttered back.

'Have a seat dear.' Interjected Mrs.Weasley, bustling over and dragging Ari over into a chair beside her mother and across from Harry. Mrs. Weasley placed a plate of toast, bacon and eggs in front of her, but she just picked at the food, not hungry. She finally decided that the plate of food could not be any more mashed up than it already was and started paying attention to the people around her. Tonks and Remus were having a heated discussion on some muggle band, Harry, Ron and Hermione were having a whispered conversation, shooting her glances every now and then and Anna and Mrs Weasley were chatting vividly about household healing charms. After watching them for a good ten minutes, Arianna reluctantly turned her head slightly to observe the one person at the table she had been determinedly ignoring the entire morning. She was surprised to see Sirius already watching her. Blushing furiously, Arianna turned her attention back to the mess that had once been edible food.

'I need a distraction.' She thought, 'Oh well, might as well get a head start on the prank war.'

Slipping her wand out of her pocket, Ari carefully aimed it from under the table and whispered, 'Tarrantellegra,'

Immediately there was something similar to an explosion on the other side of the table. Harry let out a small gasp of shock as his legs started to flail wildly. Hermione and Ron, who had been sitting on either side of him, dived out of the way to avoid being hit. Harry attempted to regain control of his flailing legs, but accidentally overturned the table in the attempt. Everybody who had not gotten out of the way quick enough was immediately covered in eggs and coffee. Using the mayhem as a diversion, Arianna slipped out of the kitchen. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going, she just ran. Out of the kitchen, through the hallway, up the stairs… She went up several stories than she had been before and set of running along an unfamiliar hallway. She chose a random door and burst through it, slamming it behind her, and locking it.

She immediately wished she hadn't. Standing in front of her was a fully grown hippogriff, and it didn't look happy at the rude interruption. Arianna quickly tried to open the door, but it was too late. The hippogriff lunged at her and she was forced to roll out of the way to avoid having her head ripped off. The hippogriff let out a startled shriek and charged at her again. Ari jumped out of the way, but she knew that she was in trouble. Hippogrif's were very proud creatures and very easily offended. This one probably wouldn't rest until it had taken quite a large chunk out of her. Ari rolled out of the way again and her elbow connected with solid wood. A quick glance told her that she had run into an old wardrobe. It was made of heavy, dark wood but Ari thought she could probably push it if she tried. She jumped to her feet (narrowly missing the hippogriff's snapping beak) and positioned herself to the left of the cupboard. The hippogriff wheeled around and lunged at her. With a swift push, Ari tipped up the cupboard and sent it flying forward. The hippogriff dodged out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed.

'Damn,' thought Ari, 'that was supposed to trap it or knock it out! Now it's just even madder at me! Oh shit it's coming again…' She realised with a groan that she was now trapped in a corner with the furious hippogriff blocking her only way out. She retreated even further back into the corner, and then she realised, the door was not her only way out of the room. Right beside her was a wide open window. It was small and grimy, but she could probably squeeze through if she tried. Ari didn't have any longer to evaluate the situation. As the hippogriff lunged at her, she threw her self sideways, out the window. She realised too late that she was on the fifth floor. Panicking, Ari started to swing her arms around wildly, desperate to catch hold of something that could save her life. Her fingers closed around something long and slender, yet rough and she held on for dear life.

Once she had persuaded herself to open her eyes, Ari realised that her saviour was one of the top most branches of the very same tree she had been sitting underneath earlier. She realised with a sickening jolt that the branch she was holding onto was very thin and would not hold her wait for long. She had to move. One hand after the other she started to inch towards the much sturdier trunk. She was not afraid of heights, but being five stories of the ground and dangling from a branch that was likely to snap at any minute was enough to make anyone's head spin.

'Relax,' she told herself, 'This is just another stupid ropes course at that stupid summer camp mum insists on sending me to…' CRACK. The branch split, and Arianna swung sickeningly. She was holding on to the barely-connected branch by the tips of her fingers and the branch was slowly ripping away, separating from the tree trunk. Arianna did what any other person in her position would do. She screamed bloody murder.

'MUM! TONKS! HEEEELLLPPP! GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE AND HELP ME! I DID NOT JUST ESCAPE VEING MAULED BY A FRICKIN' HIPPOGRIF JUST TO GO SPLAT ON THE GROUND! GET YOUR LAZY ASSES OUT HERE AND HELP ME!'

Thirty seconds later, the front door burst open and a person came running out.

'Okay, Black what do you w-' Started Ginny, but she was interrupted.

'GINNY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GO AND GET MY MUM OR SOMEONE ACTUALLY CAPEABLE OF GETTING ME DOWN FROM HERE!'

Ginny started to snicker but she soon realised the seriousness of the situation and the blood drained from her face.

'Bloody Hell, Black. How did you get up there? Are you crazy?'

Arianna wanted to strangle her but decided that letting go of the branch probably wasn't the smartest option.

'Look, Ginny, Just run inside and grab the first adult you can find! And do it quickly 'cos in about another minute I'm just going to be a mangled pile of flesh right where you're standing!' She screamed. Ginny quickly nodded and sprinted off. She returned thirty seconds later with... him.

He looked upwards and he paled as he saw her dangling there.

'Shit…' She heard him mutter, 'I left my wand inside…'

'WELL THAT'S JUST DANDY!' she screamed down at him, 'NOW HOW DO YOU PROPOSE GETTING ME DOWN WITHOUT A WAND?' He seemed to think for a moment before replying.

'I'll catch you.' Ari was so surprised she forgot to shout her answer.

'What?'

'Look, just let go of the branch, and I'll catch-'

'ARE YOU BLOODY INSANE?'

'Well it's either that or you can fall to your death, and personally, I don't think cleaning up my daughter's mangled body is likely to be a lot of fun!' He snapped back. Arianna stared at him.

'y-your daughter?' She stuttered. Sirius' gaze softened.

'On the count of three then.' He muttered, stretching his arms out to catch her, 'One, Two, Three!' Arianna reluctantly let go of the broken branch and started falling through open air. For one terrifying moment she thought she was going to hit the ground, but strong arms caught her. Arianna quickly freed herself of her father's grasp.

'Well… Uhh… thanks, I guess.' She muttered; once she had both feet safely back on the ground, 'I'll just be going…' She turned and tried to head back to the house, but she felt a strong hand on her shoulder.

'Care to explain why you were dangling from the top of a tree?' said Sirius, a slight smirk on his face.

'Well after I jumped out of the fifth story window there wasn't a lot of option of what to grab hold of!' She snapped, glaring at him. He looked suddenly angry.

'Why the hell did you jump out of a fifth story window?' Sirius demanded, 'Do you have a death wish or something?'

'Well jumping out a window and hoping I'd be ok seemed preferable over staying and being mauled by your stupid pet hippogriff!' She spat at him.

'Buckbeak? Why were you up there with the stupid hippogriff?'

'Running out of the room after I jinxed potter seemed like a pretty good idea at the time 'cos if I'd stuck around mum would have dam well killed me for ruining her perfect little fairy-tale ending! Unfortunately for me I chose a pretty bad room to run into!' Sirius blinked, and then a smile slowly spread across his face.

'That was you who jinxed Harry? God that was hilarious! Why did you do it though?'

'Prank war.' She muttered, staring at the ground.

'You've only been here for half a day and you've already gotten into a prank war? Who with?' He laughed.

'The minions of death from hell.'

'Care to elaborate?'

'Ginny, the twins, Ron, Hermione, Harry…' She trailed off.

'Hermione agreed to take part in a prank war?'

'Well… The others kind of dragged her down with them.'

'Hmmm… Well I don't think that's fair! Six on one?'

'Well that's the way the cookie crumbles. Mum's hardly gonna help me prank them is she?'

'I'll help you.' Arianna looked up at Sirius in surprise.

'You'll help me?'

'With the prank war! Six on one is hardly fair!'

'Neither is six on two.'

'Yeah, but it's better than six on one.'

'Oh… well okay. But don't tell anyone. The whole reason they kind of hate me is 'cos I blew up at you last night. The last thing I need right now is friends.'

Sirius gave her a confused look.

'Why don't you want any friends? Anna told me you're moving here permanently so making friends seems like a pretty good option to me.'

'Uhh… well… I can't exactly wage war on friends can I?' She inwardly groaned. Not exactly a Paige-worthy excuse. Sirius seemed to accept as an answer though.

'Right you are. So, what's the plan?' Arianna smiled to herself. Maybe her short stay in England wouldn't be as bad as she had expected.

A/N: Okay what did you think of chapter 11? Please Review! I love hearing what you guys have to say! Remember, 50th reviewer gets a special spot in my story!