On my third day of Hogwarts, I had made a few friends. Not many, but that's ok. Lily, who I am becoming quite close to. Alice, who I have learnt has a boyfriend named Frank. Although I still have to meet him. Marlene, although we haven't spoken much, seems friendly enough with me to be called a friend.

I haven't seen much of Sirius or James recently. James must have taken Lily seriously, since he hasn't been to see her. Not that I've seen anyway.

Arriving at our potions class, Professor Slughorn tells us to take out our potions book and turn to page 94. He orders us to brew the potion, and to follow the instructions exactly otherwise it would have "very severe consequences".
I'm halfway through the potion when Sirius and James rush into the classroom.

James pants as he tries to catch his breath. "Sorry..we're late."
Slughorn just shakes his head at them. "Turn to page 94. Follow the instructions. Quickly now, boy! We don't have all day!"
They take their seats across from Alice and I.
"Hey, Aria! Where's Lily?"
Sirius rolls his eyes. "Really, James? The first thing you ask is about Lily?"
James looks helpless. "What am I meant to say?"
"Oh, I don't know. How about asking how Aria is and stop obsessing over Lily for five minutes!"

James gives me a sheepish smile. "Sorry."
I laugh. "It's fine, she's over there." I point towards the back of the classroom where Lily is trying to help Marlene with her potion.

Adding the last part of the potion into my cauldron, bubbles start floating out over the top.
"Well, Merlins beard! See everyone! See how it's done!"
Everyone turns to look toward me and I look down at the table. I've never liked being the center of attention. Slughorn tells everyone to go back to their own potions and comes over to me.
"You know, Aria, you've only been here for three days and you've already mastered this potion! That's more than what the rest of your classmates have achieved. Well done!"

He pats my back and goes over to a Ravenclaw who is struggling.
"Will you make my potion for me?"
Sirius' eyes are pleading with me.
"Erm, no! You have to work it out yourself."
He huffs and goes back to reading the book.
Alice completes her potion a few minutes after me, but not before Lily. I see James try to catch Lilys eye, but Lily is blatently trying to avoid eye contact.

Sirius and James decide to walk with me back to the common room. Along the way, the both decide to take a little pop quiz. And the subject is me.
"So, Aria, how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"What's your favourite colour?"
"Purple."
"Think James has a shot with Lily?"
Laughing, I reply, "Not a chance."

James looks down-heartend by this. "James, I've been here three days. I don't know you well enough to know if you've got a chance with her."
He perks up at this and starts bombarding me with questions again.
"Favourite animal?"
"Raven."
"A raven? You are one weird girl."
I don't know wether to take offense to this or take it as a compliment.
"Thanks?"

They don't hear me, as they have gone onto more interesting topics. I ignore their conversation and make my way up to the girls dormitory when I hear James shout, "Oi, where are you going?"

I climb back down the stairs and make my way over to James and Sirius, who have flung themselves onto the couch by the fire. Sirius tells me to sit down when he sees me standing at the edge of the table.

I take my seat opposite them, and when none of them speak, I look down at the table and clasp my hands together.
There is an awkward silence, which breaks when a small, pudgy boy with blonde hair comes running over to Sirius.
"Oh, Sirius! I've been looking for you everywhere!" The boys voice sounds like it has a slight lisp, and has too much saliva in his mouth. I find it hard not to laugh at this thought.

Sirius rolls his eyes. "Peter, you're always looking for me. What do you want now?"
The boy, Peter, braces himeself on the arm of the couch as he tries to catch his breath.
"Professor McGonagall found your secret stash of Firewhiskey! I wanted to warn you before-"
Peter was cut off by the Professors voice. "She found you?" She finishes for him. "Well, consider well informed. Follow me, please."

Proffesor McGonagalls eyes widen when she sees me sitting across from James.
"Oh, Aria, I have a message from your sister. She was insistent that I not read it."
She hands me a red envolope with my name written across the front in Leahs handwriting. A wave of guilt washes over me when I think of Leah. I haven't seen her since the night we arrived.

The Proffesor and Sirius leave, and I tear open the letter.
Inside I find a note which only has three lines.

Full moon tonight.
Perfect night for flying.
Want to join me?

Leah x

"Whats it say?"
I jump when I hear James' voice. I put the letter in my pocket and rise from the couch.
"Nothing."
I turn to leave, and then change my mind when I realise I haven't introduced myself to Peter.
"I'm Aria. Nice to meet you."

He stares, and doesn't stop until James kicks his shin, causing Peter to howl out in pain.
"I'm Peter."
I turn and walk away, but not far enough that I can't hear what they are saying.
Peter is grumbling under his breath and James is teasing him that he has a new crush.
Great.
-x-

I meet Leah at the edge of the forest, covered by the trees. When she spots me, she runs towards me and engulfs me in a hug.
I hug her back. I realise at that moment how much I missed her without even realising it.
We change into our animal form, and we fly. Leah was right; the night of a full moon is the perfect night to fly.

It illuminates the lake below us, and the trees cast shadows all around. It looks as if the shadows are reaching towards the lake, dissapering just before reach.
We're flying back towards Hogwarts when I spot them.
Soaring over the Whomping Willow, thanks to my enhanced vision, I spot James, Sirius, Peter and a boy I don't recognise walking towards it.

What are they doing?
They're going to get themselves killed!
Soaring towards the ground, I release a throaty call and they all turn to look at me. Well, not me. The raven. I land on a nearby branch and they all look up.
"Is that a raven?"
"Yes, now lets go! We don't have time to stand around looking at pretty birds!"
They follow the boy I don't recognise, but Sirius stays for a few more seconds. I lose interest in what they are doing.

Not wanting to keep Leah waiting, I try to fly away. But my left wing gets caught on a small branch, and I squawk. I frantically flap my wings in an attempt to get free. But that only makes things worse. I feel the branch dig through my arm, and I feel panic rise up in chest. And the next thing I know, Sirius is pulling me away from the branch.

The pain eases as he pulls the branch out, but I can tell that it's bleeding.
Sirius shouts, "Guys! I have to go back!"
"What? Sirius, we need you down here!"
"Sorry!"

Sirius walks with me out of the forrest, and tries to hide me beneath his cloak as he walks back to the common room. Oh god, what is he doing? I can't stay like this forever! And what about Leah? She's going to be waiting for me!

Sirius knocks on the girls dormitory. Wait, the girls dormitory?
The door creaks open, and there stands Alice. With Lily and Marlene behind her.
"What do you want, Sirius?"
He reveals me from behind his cloak. "Is Aria in there?" He's looking for me.
Marlene shrieks and retreats to inside the room.

"She's not here. She got a letter from her sister and left straight away. She hasn't been back since." Lily pauses, and then says, "Sirius, why do you have a raven?"
"I found it by the edge of the forrest," Lies. "it was injured, and Aria said she liked ravens. I thought she might be able to help it."

Sirius takes me back outside and down to Hagrids hut.
He places me behind the small hut, and strokes my feathers, causing one to fall out.
He plucks it from the ground and places it inside his robes. What is he doing?
The sound of Hagrid inside the hut draws his attention, and he quickly turns to leave.

And that is where I stay for most of the night.

Hey, so I didn't get any reviews for my last chapter..or the one before that. If you don't review, I'm going to assume you don't like the story and I'm just not going to update anymore.
Thanks to the five people who follow my story, and to the one who favourited :)