1993 (Third-year)
She smiled at the letters in her hand; they had been writing all summer. Mr Weasley had won a Daily Prophet prize draw and had taken the family to Egypt to visit Bill; Hermione and her family were holidaying in France whilst Harry was struggling to complete his summer homework under the Dursleys' noses. In their latest letter, Ron and Hermione had mentioned that they would be in London the last week before the term to pick up school supplies and wanted to meet then.
She couldn't wait for classes to begin and to see everyone again; she had gotten tired of pulling pranks on Filch with only Peeves as her accomplice. After all, it didn't take a genius to figure out who was behind the pranks if there was only one student around. On the upside he couldn't hand her detention since it technically wasn't a school term.
…
"You should've seen his face"
I rolled my eyes as the Slytherins around me erupted with laughter at Malfoy's exaggerated impersonations of Harry and his encounter with the Dementor. He had been running his mouth about it since they got off the train.
"Like you were any better" I muttered and my subconscious cheered. What better way to start the year than a row with my archenemy.
He sneered. "What was that, Montaine?"
I shrugged non-committedly. "I was only wondering who it could've been screaming for his mother earlier when the Dementors appeared"
Of course I was merely speculating since I hadn't actually been on the train but it wasn't difficult to guess what his reaction had been, given what a little coward he was.
He stiffened but recovered quickly. "Weasel or Longbottom I reckon. They look like the sort who'd be afraid of their own shadows"
His posse laughed at that, like the loyal shoe-shining suck ups that they were.
"Of course, that's why they were sorted into Gryffindor because we all know only the most cowardly are sorted there"
Someone sniggered and Malfoy fumed. "Shut up, Montaine"
"That's the best you got, Malfoy?" I scoffed, watching his jaw clench as he ground his teeth in irritation and I grinned inwardly to myself. And Montaine takes the lead 1-0, piece of cake.
I felt a nudge in my side and I turned to the Slytherin girl beside me. "Give us a break, Ari, we're barely past the Sorting Ceremony" Tracey Davis whispered. I feigned ignorance but did not press the subject. I held back laughter at their collective sigh of relief, probably grateful another war had been averted.
I turned my attention to Uncle Albus who was that Dementors were stationed around the school as a precaution against Sirius Black. He went on to announce that Professor Lupin and Hagrid would be joining the staff as our Defence Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures teachers. I spotted the former's familiar figure and he must have sensed eyes on him as he looked about. Our eyes met and I offered him a smile which he returned with an imperceptible nod. We had met on more than one occasion while my parents had been alive; he was one of our regular lookouts with the only exception during the full moons that came by every month due to his circumstances.
…
"Harry!" I called out, hurrying down the hallway.
The trio turned at the sound of my voice and stopped, waiting for me to catch up.
"Are you alright? I heard about what happened on the train" I asked worriedly. He was a little pale but looked otherwise unharmed.
"I'm fine, Ari. I've already seen Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey's about it"
"Oh, I'm glad then" I smiled sincerely. "Listen, there's something I need to tell you. Meet me in the library tonight before dinner?"
"Er, sure" Harry said hesitantly, no doubt curious.
"Where were you this morning anyway? We looked but couldn't find you on the train" Hermione said.
"Well, that's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. Just meet me there? Oh and bring Fred, George and Ginny with you too"
…
It's now or never, Ari.
Are you sure about this?
Not in the slightest.
There will be no turning back.
Yes I am aware, thank you for the superfluous reminder.
I snapped out of my monologue at the sound of footsteps and voices drawing closer. Within moments my friends came into view – Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and the twins and I motioned for them to take a seat. They all eyed me inquiringly but obediently took their seats without question.
"Harry says you've got something important to tell us" George spoke up.
"Yes, but first I need you to promise me that you will not breathe a word of what I am about to tell you"
"Beater's honour" Fred said drawing an X over his heart. The others merely nodded in agreement. I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling very afraid.
What if they looked at me differently?
You ARE different.
You know what I mean.
Well, consider it a test of their character. Do it.
"Ari?" a voice pulled me out of my reverie.
"Right, sorry" I cleared my throat. "Well, there's no easier way of putting this. My real name is not Ariana Montaine"
Silence ensued and I quickly pressed on before I lost my nerve.
"I was adopted into the Montaine family as a baby. When I was eight, they were murdered and I was brought here and raised by Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. And that is also why you have never seen me on the train, I live here in Hogwarts. I feel horrible for lying about it and I am sorry I did not tell you about it sooner"
"And you kept this from us because?" Harry prompted.
"There's more to this that you haven't told us, isn't there? Adoptions aren't all that unusual, it has to be something else" Hermione mused.
Curse her and her perceptiveness.
With a sigh I continued. "I was born to a Dark Wizarding family. She didn't wish for me to be raised in the Dark ways so my birth mother sought Dumbledore's help. There has been no news of her but my father and grandfather have been searching for me ever since. They murdered my adoptive parents when I was eight. My grandfather was apprehended at the time and locked away but my father escaped. He has been missing since but I know he is hiding somewhere, planning something. There is no doubt in my mind that he will come for me eventually"
"I still don't see why you had to keep this a secret from us" Harry said.
"The less everyone knew about me the better. There's no telling what lengths he would go to find me. And I suppose I was afraid you would look at me differently if you knew who I was"
I caught the glint of suspicion in Hermione's eyes before she asked "If you don't mind my asking, what is your real name then?"
"Grindelwald" I whispered quietly, staring at the floor knowing they had heard me nonetheless.
"You're joking" someone said.
"You aren't referring to Gellert Grindelwald, are you?"
"I think she is, Ron"
"Merlin's beard"
"Bloody hell" someone else muttered.
I continued staring at the floor, not daring to meet their eyes. I was greeted with silence as they took their time letting it sink in. I hardly noticed a tear slipping down my cheek until it fell onto my lap. Someone took my hand gently and I jerked my head up in surprise. Ginny gave me a reassuring smile as she held my hand. Someone else ruffled my hair and I turned to see Fred standing next to me. His hand slipped down my hair to cup my cheek and brushed away the stray tear. "Doesn't change who you are to me" he said gently.
"To us" George seconded.
"He's right, Ari"
Well that was easy.
Can't say I told you so.
"But you don't understand, it's in me, I feel it sometimes, a darkness. When my emotions get the better of me, I can't control it and you know what a temper I have when something really gets me going" I argued, caught between a feeling of relief and alarm that they were taking this so lightly.
"Have you misused or abused your abilities to harm anyone?"
"No"
"You plan to then?"
"Well, no. But-"
"I think there is a little darkness in all of us. But someone once told me that it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" Harry said.
I cracked a smile. "Dumbledore said something along those lines to me once too"
We fell into an amiable silence until Ginny's stomach let out a rather unladylike growl. We laughed as she turned a bright red that matched her hair. She linked her arm through mine and we made our way to the Great Hall together and I felt like a burden had been lifted from me.
…
He waited several minutes after they had left the library, one could never be too cautious when eavesdropping, before he emerged from his hiding place behind the shelves. He had been trying to sneak into the Restricted Section earlier on a whim when he had come across their little group.
Silly girl, forgetting something as simple as a Silencing Charm. You'd think for someone so brilliant she would've thought of it before spilling a secret like that.
Well if she had you wouldn't have found out now, would you?