Chapter 16

As the desserts disappeared Professor Dumbledore rose and the whole hall fell silent.

"Ahem, just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." He said, his twinkling eyes looking directly at Fred and George.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Also Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." He concluded, Arianna's mouth dropped, Harry laughed for a minute but then realised that the professor was serious. Then as if to change the mood, Professor Dumbledore had the school sing the school song. Arianna laughed and tried her best to sing along.

"Arianna! Your voice is beautiful! You should join the choir, I'll talk to Professor Flitwick for you, he is in charge of choir." A third year Gryffindor named Jenna, told her, Arianna blushed, quietly thanking her and saying shyly that she would like that.

"Ah Music, a magic far beyond all we do here. Now bedtime, off you trot!" Professor Dumbledore said, Arianna chuckled and stood, walking with Hermione to the Gryffindor Dormitories.

Once they arrived at the portrait, Percy, who was a school prefect and head boy, told the fat lady the password, making sure all the Gryffindor's knew it as they went into the dormitory. When they were all inside, Percy directed the boys towards the boy's dormitories on the left and the girls to theirs on the right.

Arianna was pleased to find out that she would be in the same room with Hermione, as well as three other girls. The girls all changed and got into bed. The next day they would be receiving their schedules and classes would begin.

Arianna pulled out the book that Professor McGonagall had given her, and read a few chapters before she too went to sleep, excited for the morning.

Arianna woke to the sunrise as always, and got up and ready, being careful not to wake the other girls in her dorm. They halls were empty and silent as she made her way down to the great hall, trying to remember the way they had taken the night before. Luckily she remembered her way and was soon entering the Great Hall, noticing that she was the first student to arrive.

There were only a few teachers in the hall, including Professor Dumbledore, who was the only one who seemed to notice her. Quickly finding her seat, she took out her book, and began to read. She wasn't quite ready to eat yet, back at the farm, she would do all of her chores before she could even think about food. Usually she was given any scraps from the Winters, and any fruit that she could find in the forest.

She was so engrossed with her book that she didn't notice the clicking of heels coming down the hall a few minutes later.

"Miss Winters, you're here early." Minerva said to Arianna as she stopped beside her. Arianna jumped and looked up and Minerva and smiled.

"I'm quite the early bird." She replied.

"I see that." Minerva said with a wink, and began to walk towards the staff table, thinking how differently she acted around Arianna.

"Thank you!" Arianna called after her. Minerva turned and walked a few steps back to Arianna with a confused look.

"For?" She asked.

"The book. I never really got to thank you. I love it! I can hardly put it down." Minerva smiled, "good, you're very welcome." She said, and finally made her way to the staff table, sitting on Albus's right hand side.

"Good Morning, what was that about?" Albus inquired about the little chat Minerva and young Miss Winters had just shared.

"Can I not speak to one of my students without you asking what it was about?" She asked defensivly, "but for your information she was thanking me for a book I bought her." She said turning to the food in front of her and choosing some haggis to put on her plate.

"Minerva-" Albus began, "Albus she has never owned a book in her entire life. I thought it shocking and bought her a book, that's all." Minerva interrupted. Albus sighed. A large group of students had began to flood the hall, and Miss Granger emerged from the crowd and after spotting Arianna, she rushed over and sat next to her.

"Have you been here this whole time? We all woke up and you were gone!" Hermione said settling into her seat. Arianna nodded.

"I'm an early riser, I didn't want to wake any of you, I'm sorry if I did." she said.

"You didn't, we were just wondering where you went. I am so excited for classes to start!" Hermione said bouncing in her seat.

"Me too! I can hardly wait." Arianna agreed, putting her book back into her bag, then putting some food onto her plate and beginning to eat.

Minerva watched as the two girls chatted excitedly. She sighed, a look of sadness in her eyes. Suddenly felt a hand over top of hers, making her jump.

"Minerva, you must let this go. It isn't our Arianna. It can't be, that was much too long ago." He said his eyes, filled with pain, pleading her to let this go.

Minerva shook her head, "you don't know that." She said getting up from the table, and going down to hand schedules out to the students.

Classes had started and Arianna proved to be an excellent student, succeeding in all of her classes. Hermione and herself were the top of their year. During the first transfiguration lesson, both girls had managed to turn their matches into pointy, silver needles on their first try. Much to the displeasure of the other students, Ron especially.

And as the weeks passed she quickly became a favourite of many of the teachers, excluding Professor Snape.

Minerva had been looking for something that would prove to Albus that Arianna was their daughter, but with very little luck, though she refused to give up.

It was the day of Halloween and in between classes all of the students were chatting excitedly about the upcoming Halloween feast. Arianna and Hermione giggled as the entered the charms classroom and sat down.

Once class had started they learned that they would begin performing the levitating charm, Wingardium Leviosa. The students began casting the spell without much luck. Arianna was about to cast the spell when she heard Hermione stop her partner for the class, Ron.

"You're saying it wrong. It's LeviOsa not LeviosA." She corrected.

"If you're so smart then you do it!" Ron spat out frustrated. Hermione sighed and turned to her feather.

"Wingardium Leviosa." She spoke and the feather rose instantly.

"Oh Look here everyone! Miss Granger's done it! Oh well done!" Professor Flitwick squeaked. Hermione smiled and Ron looked angry. The class continued and Arianna, like Hermione got the feather to levitate of her first try.

After class the two were walking behind a group of boys consisting of Harry and Ron and a few others. Hermione was about to say something to Arianna when they heard her name coming from the group ahead of them.

"It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!" Ron said, Hermione looked hurt and on the verge of tears. She ran ahead and purposely knocked into Ron as she went by.

Arianna quickly went after her stopping before she passed Ron.

"That was mean Ron. And besides I am her friend. But I don't know if I'm yours anymore." She said and turned to chase after Hermione.

She finally found her in the girls bathroom, locked in a stall. There were a few other girls around the stall with confused looks on their faces.

Arianna shooed them away and once they left she walked up to the locked stall.

"Hermione?" She called, no one replied but the girl in the stall quieted her sobs to listen.

"Don't listen to him, he doesn't know anything. And besides he was wrong you know. I'm your friend. And nothing will ever change that." Arianna said as the stall door unlocked. Arianna smiled and walked in to comfort her friend.

Minerva looked out over Gryffindor table, her eyes searching for two people, one more particularly than the other. After Pomona had informed her that two of the best pupils in her house had missed her class, Minerva had become worried.

She couldn't think of any reason why Arianna and Hermione would miss a class unless they were injured or severely sick. And as she scanned the table more times than she should have had to, her worry became far worse. The two weren't at the feast.

She was about to ask Albus if he knew anything when Professor Quirrel came running into the great hall in a panic.

"Troll!" He screamed, "troll, in the dungeon! Thought you'd want to know." He said an fell to the floor. Minerva looked at her husband worry etched all over her face about her missing cubs as the hall broke into chaos.

Albus silenced the hall and gave the prefects orders to take their house mates to their dormitory while to the teachers would follow him to the dungeons.

Harry and Ron were walking i the back if the group back to the dormitories when suddenly Harry remembered something, he stopped Ron and looked at him.

"Arianna and Hermione! They've been in the girls bathroom all afternoon, the don't know about the troll!" He said and the two rushed off to the girls bathroom, but it seemed the troll beat them to it.

Hermione was finally calmed down and the two were just exiting the bathroom stall when they noticed the troll.

The two stopped dead in their tracks, slowly craning their necks to look at it then ran back into the bathroom stall and ducked just as the troll swung its club.

They crouched further to the ground as they heard the wooden stalls being smashed into pieces that fell agains heir backs.

"Arianna, Hermione, move!" They heard someone cry, the two moved out of the way as the giant club came swinging again.

Hermione grabbed Arianna and then ran from the stalls and towards the sink, but not quick enough. The troll's club came down, smashing against Arianna's outstretched arm.

Arianna screamed as she heard the crack of her bone and then felt the pain. She fell to the floor and cradled her very broken arm, hot tears staining her cheeks.

The troll raised its arm to swing again, Arianna looked up fear painted on her face, but then Harry ran at the troll and grabbed hold of its club.

The troll went to swim his club again Harry let go and landed around its neck. The troll looked confused and swung around trying to see what was in him

Harry was desperately trying to hold on and because of that his wand went straight up the trolls nose.

It grabbed Harry from its neck and held him out. Then it began to swing at Harry.

"Do something!" He yelled to Ron

"What!?" He asked and Hermione reminded him of the levitating charm.

"Swish and flick!" She told him from her position under the sink. Ron nodded and cast the spell. The trolls club was kept in the air as he went to swing. This coagulated the trolls realty and it looked up as Ron released the spell and the club fell into its head.

It let go of Harry and began to sway, Harry backed up out of its way just as it came crashing to the ground. As the dust began to settle Hermione came out from under the sink and helped Arianna to her feet. after making sure she was okay other than the obvious broken arm, she turned to the boys.

'Is it dead?" She asked. Harry stood up and grabbed his wand from the troll's nose.

"I don't think so, just knocked out." He said and Arianna whimpered and held her injured arm closer to her, just then Professor McGonagall came running into the room followed by Professor Snape and Professor Quirrel.

She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the scene. Then she gasped and clutched her chest.

"What On earth were you thinking!? you're lucky you weren't killed! why were you not in your dormitory!?" She demanded looking at the children in front of her.

All four of them hesitated for a second before Harry began to speak but was interrupted by Hermione.

"They were looking for me Professor." Hermione said but before professor McGonagall could say anything Arianna spoke.

"Us. They were looking for us." She said and looked at Hermione.

"Miss Granger, Miss Winters! How could you think of doing such a thing?!" She asked looking shocked at the two.

"We read about them and thought we could handle it." Hermione said.

"Is this true Miss Winters?" Minerva asked Arianna and she nodded carefully avoiding eye contact with Minerva.

"If Harry and Ron hasn't come find us. We'd probably be dead." Arianna continued. Minerva's shock soon turned to anger.

"Five points will be taken from the two of you, for you absolute foolishness. As for you two," she looked at Harry and Ron, "five points will be given to each of you, for sheer dumb luck. Not many first years can defeat a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, you may go, the students are finishing the feasts in their dormitories." She said and they quickly left after one lay glance to Hermione and Arianna.

"Professors, if you dot mind heading off as well I would like a word with the girls privately." She said turning to Arianna and Hermione who gulped. After the other Los left Minerva led the girls into the hall and away from the unconscious troll.

"Now, the two of you had better not ever lie to me like that again. I will not tolerate it. Now I don't want to know how or why you came across that troll but if you ever knowingly put your lives in danger like that again you will have to answer to the headmaster. Is that understood?" Minerva asked sternly looking from Arianna to Hermione as the both nodded, Arianna still clutching her arm.

"Good, now Miss Granger, please head back to your dormitory while I escort Miss Winters to the infirmary." She said moving to Arianna Hermione nodded and quickly set off for the Gryffindor's quarters while Minerva and Arianna went off the Hospital wing.