Chapter 5

The month was nearly over and Ari was enjoying the late September breeze. The air was cool and the grounds were slightly damp from the storm the previous night. Walking calmed Arianna, she rarely got a chance to just think to herself since school had started and today was her first Saturday with no homework. She pulled her iron wood wand out and conjured a few black birds to keep her company.

"Nice spell work," A voice sounded and startled Ari. In one quick move she had pinned the voices owner to the ground and held her wand tip to his throat. Her eyes were momentarily blinded by fear and she let a shiver run down her spine. "Arianna, it's me. It's ok," Harry said softly and pushed her wand tip gently away from his Adam's apple.

She looked down at the older boy and her grip relaxed. "I'm so sorry Harry," she whimpered and sat down hard in the damp grass. "I'm just a little skittish, I didn't mean to." The three stars branded into her collar bone flushed with embarrassment.

"It's ok, I understand," Harry said and pushed back his black hair to reveal his scar. She understood, meeting with the dark lord left people skittish more often than not. "What are you doing out here by yourself?" he asked and looked at her a little more sternly then he meant to.

"I haven't had much of a chance to be by myself, I wanted to see the grounds." Ari answered and pulled her long brown cloak around her. She noticed Harry was wearing his scarlet Gryffindor quidditch robes. "where you on your way to practice?"

"What?" Harry asked as her questions snapped him away from his daydreams.

"Were you going to practice?" Ari asked again and searched his eyes for signs of distrust.

"Oh, no." Harry answered, "Coming back from it. But I saw you and wanted to make sure you were ok."

Ari nodded and her long red hair was caught in the autumn's breeze. It blew wildly sideways and the long braid slipped loose. Harry caught the golden leaf pin midair and handed back to her. "Thank you, she murmured and slipped it into her robe pocket. They looked at each other for a few long moments, memorizing each other's pain.

Harry lost himself in her deep grey eyes and traced her graceful waves of auburn hair that were falling out of the loose braid. She was not a plain girl by any means, just a different kind of beauty. Her slim body was lean and muscular and her skin looked as if it had never been touched. She had an expression of searching on her face and her eyes didn't blink even once. He wanted to reach out and take her face in his hands. He had the strange and sudden compulsion to hold and comfort her, but he held back.

Arianna looked at him and let her eyes focus in on his every feature. His brilliant green eyes were giving her a confused look and this disturbed her, his messy black hair suited him but she still wanted to reach out a smooth it down. He was tan from flying all summer and his skin was pulled taunt over his muscles. She felt her gut pull her towards him and quickly shook her head to release herself.

The two teens suddenly felt very uncomfortable with each other. Ari leapt to her feet and looked away from Harry. "Thanks for checking on me," she mumbled and turned around. "I need to go and do…something. Bye." Ari moved quickly towards the castle, leaving Harry on the ground.

That night, Ari sat at her desk while dandy brushed her long hair. The house elf combed out the silky strands and hummed a calming tune. She knew her mistress was upset, but it was not her place to ask why. Ari let a stream of confused tears stain her transfiguration paper and eventually gave up on the blotting and went to bed.

Dandy tucked her in and crawled under the bed into her own bunk with the other two elves. Luna had not come in that night. She had fallen asleep in the astronomy tower and no one had bothered to go and get her. Ari cried herself to sleep that night. Confusion, fear and loneliness poured into her silk pillow case long after she had fallen asleep.

Over in Gryffindor tower, Harry potter was sitting with Hermione and Ron. Ginny had gone to bed early, quidditch practice had worn her out. "have you noticed those scars burned into that new girls coller bone?" Harry said, easing into the topic.

"who?" Hermione asked without looking up from her book.

"Arianna, from the train." Harry said and scratched his nose absent mindedly. "She has three little stars branded into her collarbone."

"your in love with my sister, why are you looking at other girls collar bones?" Ron said and stopped playing with Hermione's hair.

"I wasn't, they just happen to be noticeable!" Harry sighed and wondered at Ron's question. " I saw her walking out by the lake by herself and I went to go and check on her." Now Hermione had sat up. She was looking at him oddly.

"why did you go check on her, did she look hurt?" Hermione asked and brushed Ron's hand off her shoulder while she put down her book. She was leaning forward and looking concerned.

"no, I don't know, she just seemed kind of sad." Harry said and was now itching his nose with more vigor than needed. "Well, I guess I must have surprised her because she flipped me over and pinned me before I could react. She looked scared to death for a second, it was strange. Then she just went blank and took off." He finished and looked to his friends for an answer.

"Tonks told us not to surprise her," Hermione said and patted Harry on the shoulder.

"yeah, what are you doing checking on strange girls because they look lonely anyway?" Ron said and Harry straightened his shoulders defensively. Hermione shot them both stern looks .

"It was nice of you to check on her Harry," Hermione said and set a calming hand on Ron's leg. "But I'm not sure if Ginny would like you checking on other girls well being. I won't say anything, but you should know."

"no she wouldn't, " Harry said quietly and stood up. "I think I'm going to bed now," he stretched his arms up over his head.

"goodnight Harry, we'll see you at breakfast." Hermione smiled and went back to her book. Ron's eyes followed Harry up the stairs and his brow furrowed.

"well, he's sure acting odd. Don't you think?" Ron huffed and Hermione kissed his cheek affectionately and laid her head in his lap. "I love you," he said and leaned back on the arm of the couch.

"I love you too," Hermione said and closed the book for the night.

Harry slept fitfully that night and for many nights after that. Dreams of piercing gray eyes invaded his mind. Her graceful walk and amazing speed fascinated him and turned his stomach with confusion. He often saw himself running his fingers through her coal bright hair and over the silky crème skin. The dreams woke the sleeping green monster in his gut. It paced in confusion and unrest when he saw Ari and even at his own, Ginny.