Aria,
How are you, honey? We haven't heard from you or Leah since you arrived at Hogwarts! You must write more! Your father and I are worried about you. Have you made any friends? Any boys? Your aunt Louise visited with Scott earlier today. He has gotten so big! When will you be coming home to visit? We miss you! All our love,
Mum and Dad

I hadn't thought to write to my mother or father. With dating Remus, the confusing thoughts about Sirius and studying for upcoming exams, the thought never even crossed my mind.

Finding a spare envolople and a pen, I write out my reply.

Mum and Dad,
I'm sorry I haven't written to you since arriving here at Hogwarts. I've been so busy with catching up with school work. I have a few friends, Lily, Marlene, Alice, James, Peter, Sirius and Remus. You really shouldn't worry about me. How is aunt Louise? Scott must be two by now, am I right? I will probably visit when exams are over. I miss you too. Love,
Aria x

I take my letter up to the Owlery, and I go about my day. I decide not to tell my parents about Remus just yet. I have to decide if this is what I want.

I meet with Remus in the common room inbetween lessons, and we talk about unimportant things.
It's a normal day; no different than the others. That is, of course, until James runs into the common room waving The Daily Prophet up and down.

"Have you seen this?"
He slams the paper onto the table and everyone gathers round. The headline reads:
Several Muggle-borns killed in raid.

"It's been going on for awhile now. They call themselves Death Eaters. People are calling their leader He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Further down in the article, it tells the story of how they were killed. I don't want to read, but I can't look away. I can give them that, at least.

"The victims were caused very intense pain, which is undoubtbly the result from the torture curse, or otherwise known as the Cruciatus Curse."

I leave the common room and head to the girls dormitory. I can't bear to hear how those poor people were killed. I sit on the window ledge, and I hear the door creak open.
"Remus, I'm fine. Just leave me alone."
"How dare you! Remus isn't nearly as half as good looking as I am."

I turn to look at the doorway, and standing there is Sirius. "Sirius, leave me alone."
He walks over to the window, and sits down opposite me.
It's silent, and then Sirius says, "You know, it really hurt me when I found out you were dating Remus. I was under the impression that you liked me."

I look out the window. "What gave you that impression?" I say softly.
"The way you react when we're together," He moves closer to me. "How you blush when I look at you." Did I blush? Well, I was certainly blushing now.
I look Sirius in the eyes, willing him to challenge me. "Don't flatter yourself."

He grins and leans closer. "I know you like me. Remus is one of my best friends, and I don't want to hurt him. But why are you with him when you want to be with me?"
"What makes you think I want to be with you?" I retort.

He kisses me, quick and hard, then leaves. I try hard to calm my beating heart, to no avail. I'm in way over my head with these boys.

-x-

Remus tries to talk to me later that day. But all I can think about is Sirius. God, why did he have to do that? I was doing fine with Remus, and then Sirius had to uncover all of these old and confusing thoughts and feelings.

"Aria, is something wrong?"
"No," I lie. "Just thinking about the letter my mother and father sent to me."
"Are they ok?" It's sweet that he's worried about them when he doesn't even know them.
"They're fine. But, I miss them, you know? I didn't think I would, but I do."

He believes me, and goes on to talk about the Quiddich game between Gryffindor and Slytherin. I feel bad about lying to Remus, but I can't tell him about what happened with Sirius. I don't know how he would react.

The others join us in the common room, and I pull Lily upstairs to the dormitory.
"What are you doing?"
I pull her inside the dormitory, and I shut the door.
"I have to tell you something."

I sit down on the bed, and pull Lily along with me.
"Ok, Aria, you're scaring me. What's going on?"
And I tell her. I tell her every moment I've had with Sirius and how I felt. And how he kissed me.
"He kissed you? And you did nothing? What about Remus? You still like Remus, don't you? Or did you never like him?"

"Lily! Of course I like Remus. But I like Sirius, too."
She shakes her head at me. "Aria, you have to decide. You can't string Remus along like this. Until you decide, I think you shouldn't date Remus anymore."

"But..I don't want to let him go. Yes, it's wrong to string him along. Yes, it isn't fair to him. I just..." I sigh. "I don't know what to do."

-x-

Leah,
Did you get a letter from mum and dad? Are you going to visit them? I haven't seen you around school lately. Do you want to meet in the forrest tonight? We need to catch up and I have so much to tell you!
Aria x

I send the letter, and make myself comfortable in one of the chairs in the common room. When my mother wrote to me, she had enclosed some photographs. One is of aunt Louise and Scott. Louise still has her shining blonde hair, much like Leahs. Her eyes are as blue as the sea, and Scott is smiling widely from where he is sat on his mothers knee.

Louise had written a note on the back of the photograph. It read:

Have fun at Hogwarts! See you when you get back, can't wait to see you!
Louise and Scott xx

The next photograph was of my mother, Louise and uncle Mark. Uncle Mark is my mothers and Louises brother. Unlike his sisters, Mark has brown hair and brown eyes. I haven't seen Mark for years, but he still looks the same. There is no note on the back, but my mother, Louise and Mark are all waving in the picture.

A letter lands on the table, and I look around to see who brought it to me, but no one was there. I open the letter.

Aria,
I did get a letter from mum and dad. I don't know when I'll be visiting. We can't meet tonight. I have to go, I have things to do.

What could she be possibly be doing that's so important that she can't meet with me tonight? She normally always has time to meet with me and fly. She didn't even sign the letter.

She isn't even here and I can tell there is something wrong. And I'm going to find out what it is.

Hello! So, I have 15 reviews! That's so crazy! I didn't expect to get that many! Thank you! :)

akeppelgirl: What do you mean I stopped updating? I've updated everyday! Thank you for your suggestion, but I've planned out how this story is going to go already. Leah will be dating someone, but it won't be what you expect :)

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