I unfortunately do not own the world of Harry Potter.
I would just like to say a quick thanks to je ne suis aucun ange, FlameingFire, Princess-Lazy-Chan, Celeste Belle, Juno1225, Allen Pitt, panneler-san, narniagirl18, PrimiGrl, Loonynamelass, LadyGrimR., Halo2405, XxAll. You. Need. Is. Love. xoxo, PlasmaDragon007, and fffJuno1225.
This is my first fan-fic. Hope you like it! (And if you haven't guessed by now, reviews are greatly appreciated!)
Just so you all know - I am also writing two other fan-fics - Mysterious Last Name (my second), and Caught Between Worlds (my third). I would really appreciate it if you would check them out. Thanks!
Okay, so a reviewer pointed out that I tend to end a lot with something along the lines of "and she blacked out". I went back and realized that this is true. I'm sorry if this is getting annoying, and will try to use it less often. Thanks!
Chapter 26:
News: Both Good, Bad, and Somewhere in Between
When Ariella woke up, she had a pounding headache, that was slowly fading as she opened her eyes, only to close them again against the harsh light. She opened them again and starting to sit up, looking around. She was obviously in a Slytherin dorm, if the silver and green decorations were any indication. She stood up...or started too. She tripped, and put her hand down just in time to stop herself from falling. As she stood up, this time successfully, she heard a cold, drawling voice behind her saying,
"Soo...you're awake...finally." Ariella whipped around to face Draco Malfoy. He was leaning against the doorway.
"Come on, Snape's called a meeting. Needs to tell us something important." Ariella nodded. As she glanced around again, noting that they were the only ones in the room, she found her voice,
"You brought me here, didn't you," she asked him. His smirk faltered as he nodded, speaking again,
"Yes, I did. It was my fault you blacked out. I - I didn't realize that your mark would react to my touch..." but trailed off as a shocked Ariella put her hand up to stop him. Was he apologizing to her?!
"Don... - Don't worry about it. You didn't mean to hurt me this time, am I correct?" he nodded slowly, "then you have nothing to apologize for. But thanks anyway...and" she paused, before continuing, taking a few steps toward him,
"I - I -.... Draco? Thank you." she said softly and hesitantly. He looked surprised as he nodded, before turning away from her and leading the way downstairs, out of the dormitory, (which Ariella now noticed was the boys dormitory. She blushed a bit at the thought,) and into the common room, where Snape stood, a sneer on his face as always, waiting for everyone to join the group of Slytherins. A few more students trudged in behind them, and Snape made his announcement.
"Sirius Black has broken into Gryffindor Tower. The Headmaster wants to conduct a through search of the building. As such, we will be gathering in the Great Hall, where everyone will be staying for tonight." The Potions Master then turned on his heal, and swept out of the common room, his cloak billowing out behind him, and let the grumbling Slytherins down to the Great Hall. When they got there, Professor Dumbledore started speaking.
"I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."
Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing…"
One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.
"Sleep well," said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him. The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly.
"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" shouted Percy. "Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"
"Stupid Weasley, git," Draco muttered as he stepped foward, and grabbed a sleeping bag, pulling it off to an empty space with his friends, forgetting all about Ariella, who was, herself, looking around for some place to go. She finally spied an empty corner, and dragged a lone purple sleeping bag over there, and lay down in it. Was she a bit worried about Black? Yes. Was she overly worried? No. She knew Hogwarts was safe. However, there were other things that were more harmful to her that were on her mind. But nothing could be done about that, now could it? Unless...yes, she would go in the morning.
Before falling asleep she leaned up against her arm, and took a look around. People were in little groups of twos or threes, or in even bigger groups, most people discussing how Black had gotten in to begin with. Their answers were weird. If they knew anything about Hogwarts, then they would know that would have ruled out about three-quarters of their opinions immediately. Rolling her eyes, she rolled over, and fell asleep to a starry ceiling, and the low murmur of the students, ghosts, and teachers of Hogwarts' voices.
First thing the next morning, after everyone was dismissed, Ariella went straight to the library. She decided to start in the defense section. After about twenty long minutes of searching, she brought back to a table five promising books. She started with the first one, and opened it. She was in luck. It told her exactly what she wanted to know: how to conjure a Patronus. The first thing it said was exactly what Professor Lupin had told her - that it was very advanced magic. Secondly, it told her the levels on a Patronus - a weak one would be a silver mist shield, but a very strong one would take the shape of an animal - that was unique to each individual. Smiling, she went up to Madame Pince, and checked out this book. On her way back to her dormitory to drop of her other books, she noticed that a lot of other third - years seemed very excited. Ariella could only guess what that was about. When she got to the common room, and saw the cork board, she was correct - the next Hogsmead weekend was in this weekend. She had known about it, but never really paid any attention to it - after all, it wasn't like she could go, now could she? She sighed, and trudged upstairs to drop off/pick up her books. On the bright side, then would be a perfect time to start learning how to produce a Patronus.
As Ariella walked into Defesnse Agaisnt the Dark Arts the next afternoon, she was surprised to find that behind the desk stood, not Professor Lupin, but Professor Snape instead. Confused, she sat down, and waited for class to begin. Despite Hermione, (and the rest of the class') protests, Snape went right ahead and started teaching them about werewolves, which they weren't supposed to cover until the end of the year. She knew that he didn't like Lupin, but she couldn't see why he would specifically choose werewolves, unless it was simply to through the class off track, (but Ariella didn't think that was the sole reason.)
The match of Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff, (a last minute change due to Draco's still "unhealed" injury prevented Slytherin from playing,) was soon upon the school. The weather outside was dreadful, and most people were bundled up tightly as they made their way down to the pitch. The game was going really well. Both Cedric Diggory (Hufflepuff's Captain and Seeker) and Harry were neck to neck when suddenly, a cold feeling came over her. She looked down...and saw Dementors moving onto the field. She tried to resist it, but then she started to hear voices begging again, before she fainted in the stands.
When Ariella awoke, she found herself in the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomphry came bustling over to her at that moment, giving her a small slab of chocolate. Ariella took it. When done, she asked,
"May I go now?" The medi-nurse sniffed, but nodded. It was at this point that the young witch noticed a commotion at a bed not to far off. Something about falling and a broom. As she passed quietly, she got a peek at the bed, and realized that it was Harry. She gave him a small smile, and waved. He grinned back at her. And she left, leaving some very confused Gryffindors staring after her.
The Hogsmeade weekend came up quickly, and Ariella watched from the main entrance, everyone leave, wishing she could go along with them, then realizing there wasn't anyone she could really go with in the first place, so what difference would it make? She sighed turning...and nearly crashed into someone.
"Sorry!" she said quickly, only to have her eyes meet the green ones of none other than Harry Potter, who's gaze immediately turned back to his departing friends.
"Er..hi Harry!" she said, suddenly feeling a bit awkward.
"Oh, hi Ariella." he said sullenly, still looking at the last of their disappearing classmates.
"Are you alright? You apparently fell pretty far."
"Yeah, I'm fine from that..."
"You want to go to Hogsmeade really badly, don't you?" she asked gently. He finally looked at her, spoke
"Yeah, I do. How'd you guess?"
"Well, one...you're staring off after your friends. Two; you have this kind of sad look in your eyes, and three...I want to go to."
"Why don't you, then. You can still catch up with them." Ariella shook her head.
"I didn' get permission...nor am I going to unless it's absolutely necessary - and I mean life and death situations - that I will get permission." She shrugged, and out of the corner of her eye, noticed the Weasly twins coming towards them. Shouldn't they be on their way to Hogsmeade? When the two brothers finally arrived where Harry and Ariella stood, they looked slightly uncomfortable, probably because of me, she guessed. So she took it upon herself to just leave.
"I'll see you later, Harry. And don't worry. It'll work out. These things always do. Hi Fred, George!" She said, suprising both the twins, and giving a short wave, left up the main enterence stairwell, and went directly to her room.
"That was..." Fred started.
"totally..." George continued.
"weird." they finished in unision. Harry just shrugged.
Thanks to all who are reading, and liking it. If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please feel free to review/private message me. Also, if you have any ideas at all, or would like to see something happen, let me know, and I'll consider putting them into a chapter. Thanks! ~ Leanora