A/N: New chapter! Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
After Christmas, Grimmauld Place seemed like a funeral home. Everyone seemed so depressed, and no one knew but Ara. She noticed her dad was retreating to Buckbeak's room and he rarely came out. Whenever he did, he was always bitter. When Ara had enough of the dread, she marched straight up to Buckbeak's room and turned the doorknob. It was locked.
"Dad. You better open this damn door!" Ara yelled.
"No!" Sirius said like a rebellious teenager.
Ara rolled her eyes and kicked the door open with one foot. The room stank. There were rat bones on the floor and some hippogriff droppings. Buckbeak and Sirius were on the bed, Sirius brushing Buckbeak's fur.
"Can you stop being so sad? It's really annoying." Ara said.
"No. When you leave, I'll be here alone with only Buckbeak and Kreacher for company." Sirius said grumpily.
"Well, you can always visit Hogsmede." Ara suggested.
"I tried taking Harry to King's Cross but that Malfoy git figured out who I was."
"You're a wizard, for Merlin's sake! Use your wand! Change your fur! Change the breed! And I thought you were a Marauder."
"I so am a Marauder! Fine. I'll do it. Just make sure you get me some food when we meet."
After Ara's talk with her dad, Sirius started to get out of the room more. He was making conversation with Remus and Harry, telling Harry about the Marauder days. The last day of the holidays arrived and Mrs. Weasley prepared a big dinner. Ara ate until she was so full, she had to unbutton her jean button.
"I don't think I'll ever eat again." Ara said, rubbing her stomach.
"You know that's not true, Ara." Ron said. "Later, you'll be asking for dessert or something."
"Whatever, Ron."
A day before they were to go back to Hogwarts, Sirius and Ara were playing poker in the kitchen.
"Four aces." Ara said and showed him her cards.
"Damn!" Sirius said and Ara laughed evilly. "How'd you learn this?"
"I lived in an orphanage. The people there play poker everyday." She said smugly.
The fire in the fireplace roared and a tall man with greasy black hair and a hooked nose stumbled out of the fire.
"Where is Potter?" he asked.
"What do you want, Snivellus?" Sirius asked.
"I have a letter from Dumbledore." Snape said. He scanned the room and his eyes landed at Ara.
"Oh! Look here. You have a mutt, Black." Snape said.
"Oi! Watch what you're saying, butt trumpet!" Ara said.
"Looks like she got your temper too, Black. Wonder if she'll be just as big headed as you." Snape sneered.
The door opened and Mrs. Weasley came barging in. "What's with the fighting? Oh. Severus. What do you want?"
"Potter."
Mrs. Weasley nodded and closed the door behind her.
"Why is your mutt here?" Snape drawled.
"Because I live here, you idiot." Ara said. "And I'm part of the Order, if you didn't know."
Snape raised his eyebrow. "Part of the Order, eh? Who initiated you? You're no good father?"
"No. Dumbledore did. And I know why you're here."
"Think you know everything, huh? Try it then."
"You're here to tell Harry he needs to take Occlumency with you, and you'll start on Monday."
Before Snape could say anything, the door opened and Harry came in.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Sit, Potter."
Harry did as he was told. Snape told him about the Occlumency lessons he was about to take. Sirius was outraged.
"Snape, if I hear a word from Harry that you're using these lessons to hurt him-"
"Don't worry, dad. I'll be there." Ara said.
"No. I will not allow-"
Ara took out her wand and casted Muffliato so only Snape and Ara could hear each other.
"I know about your past, Snape. How you met Lily by the swing and you fell in love with her. When you met James and my dad on the Hpgwarts Express, they started calling you Snivelly. How heartbroken you were when Lily got sorted into Gryffindor and you to Slytherin. I know that you called her a 'mudblood'. I know that you were the one Voldemort sent to listen to the prophecy. You asked Voldemort to spare Lily but she wouldn't move so he killed her. Your patronus is also a doe, just like Lily's." Ara finished.
Snape, if it were possible, turned paler. His lips were quivering and tear threatened to fall from his eyes.
"How—did—you—know?" he said through gritted teeth.
"I'm from the future. Books were written about Harry's life to rebuild the Ministry after the war."
Snape agreed to let her into the lessons and then he left.
The day to go to Hogwarts arrived. Ara's suitcase was all set and she dragged it down the stairs quietly compared to her grandmother's shrieks. Fred and George accidentally knocked Ginny on the head, which got Mrs. Weasley into one of her famous shouting fits. After thirty minutes, Harry, Mrs. Weasley, a disguised Tonks, Ara and Snuffles were outside. Before they left, Tonks transfigured Snuffles into a Poodle, so it wouldn't be obvious. As they walked, Ara watched as Sirius enjoyed his freedom. He chased squirrels up trees and bark at passing cars, which made Harry and Ara laugh. As they entered King's Cross, Ara started to get butteflies. She was excited, too excited to go to pass to Platform Nine and Three Quarters instead of going to the muggle one that the muggles put. She was excited to see the Great Hall, the Gryffindor common Room, the whole castle in fact instead of the one in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida.
"Okay. We're here. Ara and Snuffles go first." Mrs. Weasley said ans they stopped in front of the barrier between platfroms nine and ten.
Ara and Snuffles casually walked through the barrier. It was completely dark. Ara continued walking straight then finally, she was in the platform. It was magical. Owls, cats and toads were making their noises around the area. Families were saying their goodbyes. People were helping each other get their trunks into the train.
"Come on, Ara. Let's get a seat." Harry said and they both went inside the gleaming scarlet train.
The hallway was packed with students. Most were trying to find their friends and others were trying to get compartments.
"Here! Got one." Harry said and went into an empty one. They put their luggage in the rack and went back down to meet the res tof the group.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Mad-Eye and Lupin were with Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and Snuffles.
"We got a compartment." Ara said.
"Okay. Now, Fred, George, no funny business." Mrs. Weasley said.
Ara tried to hide a smile. She knew about their departure after Dumbledore leaves. She wanted to help them plan it, to make their departure grander. The warning whistle blew and everyone gave each other good-byes. Ara took a long time petting Snuffles and juped on the train as it started moving away form the platform. She waved back at the small group until they became specks in the horizon.
"Come on. Let's get to our compartment." Harry said.
Ara and Harry bid good-bye to Ron and Hermione as they were going to their prefects' meeting. While waiting for them to return, the two talked about what they could teach the D.A. for the next lesson.
"How about the Patronus charm?" Ara suggested.
"Do you think they'll take it?" Harry asked.
"Yeah! Mouldyshorts had dementors in his side. We need to learn how to defend ourselves against those things."
"Good. What else?"
There was a knock on the door. Ara looked and frowned. She was a girl with black hair. She had a blue and bronze sweater on and she looked Chinese.
"Cho!" Harry said gleefully.
Ara groaned inwardly. Honestly, she didn't like Cho because her relationship with Harry was a rebound one and she got jealous of Harry and Hermione. Seriously? Harry and Hermione are like siblings!
"Hi Harry." She said then looked at Ara. Ara gave her a look then Cho looked back at Harry. "You can sit with me instead, Harry. You don't have to sit with the newbie."
Ara glared at her. How dare she call her a newbie. "Well, Cho. In case you haven't noticed, Harry and I were talking." She said the last words slowly, as if teaching a toddler how to speak.
"Well, he is my boyfriend." She retorted back.
"Well, he is my godbrother." Ara said, mimicking her tone.
"Ara, Cho! Seriously?" Harry said. His face was priceless! It was pale and he looked like he was watching woman's wrestling and didn't like it. "Cho. I'm sorry but I'm talking about stuff for the D.A. with Ara."
"Fine! Pick her then!" she said, slammed the door and walked away.
After she left, Ara couldn't help but laugh.
"Why are you laughing?" Harry asked.
"It's funny! She gets so jealous easily! And you're face was priceless!" Ara said.
"I'm going after her." He said and exited.
"Oh Harry." She said when he was gone. "Rebound relationships never work."
After a few minutes of solitude, Ara got bored. She went out of the compartment and searched to find Fred and George or Ginny. She peered inside every passing compartment to see any sign of flaming red hair when she bumped someone. The person fell with a hard thud.
"Oh sorry- Hey Neville!" she said and offered a hand to pull him up.
Neville looked disheveled. When he stood up, he gave a timid 'hi' then pushed passed her.
"Am I that scary?" she said to thin air.
"Yes. You are actually." Said a voice from behind.
She turned and saw the two identical smirks and flaming red hair.
"Shut up." She said.
"Anyway," George said. "We were planning for you to be in our plan to get back at the bloody pink toad"
Ara smiled. "What is it?"
"Well, you'll need to turn into-" Fred dropped his voice. "-a dog."
Ara laughed and helped them plan. She returned to her compartment two hours before arriving and found Ron, Harry and Hermione.
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked.
"Fred and George. Prank." Ara said and sat down beside Harry.
Hermione glared at Ara. "You know, I'm a prefect."
"Yeah."
"As a prefect, I think you shouldn't do this." Hermione said quite pompously.
"Come on, Hermione! Don't be such a buzzkill!" Ara said.
"Fine! If you get detention with Umbridge, then it's your fault."
The train arrived at Hogsmede Station. Ara's butterflies were intensifying. As they were passing through some trees, Ara tried to pear through the branches to get a glimpse of the castle.
"Ara, you won't get to see Hogwarts like that." Harry laughed.
"Well, there's no harm in-HOLY CRAP!" the trees were gone and a magical castle stood on the mountainside.
Nothing was ever as beautiful as Hogwarts. The whole thing gave off an aura of magic. As they went down form the carriage, Ara stared at everything, opened mouth. They went into the Great Hall and Ara was in tears. It was beautiful! The ceiling was a dark blue with stars spattered all over it. The floating candles gave a warm feeling inside and the sound of chatter made it feel like a home.
"Come on, Ara." Harry said and she followed them to the Gryffindor table.
Ara officially met Seamus and Dean. They had fun talking about the holidays until a sickly cough stopped them.
"Ehem."
Ara turned and saw the pink toad.
"Ah! A boggart! Riddikulus!" Ara said, pointing her wand at Umbridge.
The spell hit her and turned her into a frog with a pink bow on it's head. The Great Hall erupted with laughter as the toad hopped to the Slytherin table were a seventh year turned her back to normal.
"And who do you think you are?" she demanded.
"Hello there! I am Ara Black, you're worst nightmare." She said, looking down at the small witch.
Umbridge's eyes widened at the name Black. "Detention, tonight after the feast." She said and walked back to her chair.
Ara sat down again as murmurs erupted from the other tables.
"Ara! That was wicked!" Ron said.
"You actually talked back at that toad!" Dean added.
"That was amazing!" Seamus said.
After the sorting, the feast started and Fred and George called Ara to transform. She stood up, walked out the door and came back in as her dog form. Most of the students didn't mind her since they were too busy talking to their friends, catching up and telling them stories of their holidays. As Ara walked up the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff table, Fred and George winked at her as a signal. Ara barked and ran to the teacher's table and bit Umbridge's fat foot.
"Ahh! Get this dog off me!" she squealed.
Everyone but the Slytherins were laughing. Ara bit harder as Umbridge tried to shake her off. Ara finally let go and ran out the Great Hall and hid in the toilet to avoid suspicion. When she heard the sound of people going out, she exited and tried walked to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. She didn't ask anyone for directions since she remembered the way from the book.
"Ah. Good Evening Miss Black." Umbitch spat the word Black out.
"Hello, you toad." Ara said.
Umbridge glared at her and gestured her to sit. Ara did and glared at the woman in pink.
"What would you like dear? Coffee? Tea? Cocoa?"
"I'll have a tall caramel frap. Make sure it's decaf."
Umbridge glared at her.
"Fine then!" Ara said. "I'll get tea."
With a flick of Umbridge's short wand, tea appeared in a cup she was holding and handed it to her. Ara put it to her lips but made sure none entered her mouth.
"Good. Now, tell me. Where is Sirius Black?" she asked.
"Don't know." Ara replied.
"Why don't you drink some more."
This was going to be a long night.
A/N: Here it is! Hope you liked it! Reviews are nice.