Arianna was silent as she walked behind Minerva to the hospital wing. She felt horrible for lying about what happened, even if it was to protect someone else.
When they got to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey repaired her arm, but Arianna was to stay the night so Madam Pomfrey could make sure her arm began to heal properly.
The next morning Arianna woke in the hospital wing, all of her things that she would need for the upcoming day had been brought down for her.
She got ready for the day, being careful of her wrapped arm.
"Now, you'll need to keep that wrapped for a few days. During breakfast I'll bring a potion for you to drink to help the healing process." Madam Pomfrey told her. Arianna nodded and headed down to the great hall.
"Arianna! How's your arm?" Her minor asked her as she sat down next to her and across from Harry and Ron.
"A bit sore but much better." She said as Madam Pomfrey came into the hall and gave her a potion.
"There you are dear, now make sure you get something to eat as well." She told the girl upon seeing her empty plate. Arianna nodded and began to put some food onto her plate as Poppy went over to the staff table.
"How is Ariana?" Minerva immediately asked her friend as she took her seat.
"Fine, Minerva, a broken arm but nothing more. It should be fully healed in a day or two." Poppy replied, Minerva nodded and looked over to the Gryffindor table. She looked at every one of her cubs, but her eyes lingered a little longer on Arianna.
Classes that day had gone well, and everyone was asking Arianna about her arm. They had all heard about what happened with the troll, and wanted to know more.
She was heading back to the common room with Harry, Ron and Hermione after dinner that night when the staircase they were on began to move. The four of them gabbed hold of the railing so they wouldn't fall. When the staircase finally stopped the three stood normally again.
"Let's go before it moves again!" Ron said and they walked up the stairs and through the only door ahead of them.
Inside the room it was dark, and as they moved pillars with bowls of liquid lit up with fire.
"I know where we are! This is the third floor corridor! It's forbidden!" Hermione told them, panic rising in her voice. They all turned to leave when Mrs. Norris came through the door.
"It's Filtch's cat! Run!" Harry said pulling them all back deeper into the corridor.
The could hear Filtch coming into the corridor talking to his cat.
"Quick in there!" Harry whispered as he pointed to a door ahead of them.
"It's locked!" Ron panicked as he tried to open the door.
"Oh move over! Alohamora!" Hermione whispered and the door opened. The four of them rushed is and shut the door behind them, quietly listening as Filtch came closer and then left.
"Phew! Why would that door have been locked?" Ron asked once they were in the clear.
"For good reason." Harry said looking straight ahead. They all looked at Harry in confusion before looking in the direction he was looking.
Arianna froze in pure fear, standing in front of them was a giant, three headed dog. She remembered all those times at the Winters' farm when she had to feed the dogs, and all the scratches and bite marks she would have for weeks after. Dogs were definitely her worst fear.
The three headed dog began to growl and then bark, Ron, Hermione, and Harry screamed and ran from the room, but Arianna didn't move. She stood petrified, looking at the dog.
Hermione turned around just as they were about to shut the door and saw her standing there.
"Arianna!" She screamed, suddenly Harry lunged forward, grabbing her arm and pulled her backwards with such force they both fell to ground. When Arianna was out, Hermione and Ron ran, shut and locked the door.
"Are you alright?!" Hermione asked Arianna. She looked up at her three friends, she was still shaking and felt foolish for not moving away from it. So she stood and ran from the corridor.
She bolted down the stairs, not really watching where she was going. Suddenly it became clear to her that Harry, Ron and Hermione were her friends and that they wouldn't hit her for being afraid, nor would they make fun of her for it, as Arianna could remember, they were quite afraid themselves.
Arianna was so lost in thought about how stupid it was to have run, and how she could feel her arm bruising from where Harry had grabbed her, that she didn't notice a certain professor standing in the corridor, his back to her, until she ran into him and fell over.
She looked up and gasped. Black robes dramatically flew out as the professor turned around and Arianna met the black eyes of Professor Snape.
"Miss Winters," he said as she slowly stood up, "it is after hours, why are you not in your dormitory?" He asked, taking a step towards her.
Arianna's heart was racing, "I, um I, I'm lost sir." She said realizing that she didn't know exactly what part of the castle she was in. Severus narrowed his eyes, not sure whether to believe her or not.
"Well, let me escort you to my office where you will await your head if house to come and get you," he said as he created a Patronus to call Minerva to his office, "oh, and 50 points from Gryffindor for being out past curfew." He said as they began to walk towards his office.
"Do you think she's alright?" Hermione asked Ron and Harry as they sat in the common room, "I didn't see which way she ran off to, I thought maybe she would just come back here... You don't think she got hurt do you?" She continued with concern. Ron shrugged.
"I'm sure she is alright, she knows just about every spell thats ever going ti be taught to us this year!" Harry said and they a went up the stairs.
"What do they think they're doing? Keeping a thing like that locked up in a school!" Ron said as the got to the girls dormitories.
"You don't use your eyes do you!? Didn't you see what it was standing on!?"
"I wasn't looking at its feet! I was a bit preoccupied with its heads! Or maybe you didn't notice, there were three!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "it was standing on a trap door. It wasn't there by accident. It's guarding something."
"Guarding something?" Harry said trying to think of what it could possibly be guarding.
"That's right. now, if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed, before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed or worse expelled!" Hermione said and walked into her room.
"She needs to sort out her priorities!" Ron said and he and Harry went into their room.
Minerva had just finished her patrol duties and was all set for bed when a Patronus came through the wall and stood in front of her.
"Minerva, one of your cubs is out of bed. Lost, she says. Would you come and escort her back to her dorms." It was Severus's voice, Minerva sighed. 'Which one is it this time?' She said to herself frustratedly as she put on her dressing gown and headed to Severus's office.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the door to Severus's office. Arianna jumped as he got up to answer it, Severus saw this, but wasn't confused. Minerva had told him, as well as the rest of the staff about her past when she first came to Hogwarts before school had started.
He decided to make his movements slower, so as not to scare the girl. Deep down, though he would never show it, he had a soft spot for the girl, having a difficult past himself, he sympathized with her.
"Which one is it this time Severus?" Minerva asked impatiently as he opened the door.
"Look for yourself." Severus said opening the door for Minerva to enter. Arianna didn't turn to look at Minerva, she knew her professor would be disappointed with her and she didn't want to see the look on her face when she realized which student it was.
"Miss Winters?" She asked shocked, "what is the meaning of this?" She asked. Arianna, who was still shaking slowly turned around, but looked at the floor.
"I, I got lost Professor." She said hoping Minerva wouldn't see the lie, but she did.
"Ah well then. If you will come with me Miss Winters I will escort you back to your dormitory." She said, shocking Arianna. She nodded and stood and walked towards the door.
"Thank you Severus." Minerva said as she left the office.
"Miss Winters, we're going to stop at my office to talk about the real reason that you are out past curfew." Was all Minerva said until they arrived in her office.
Minerva motioned for Arianna to sit down before she sat down in the chair behind her desk.
"So, would you like to explain why you were out of bed? And then why you lied to me, again." Minerva asked softly, Arianna gulped.
"Um," she began but stopped and sighed. She though it would just be better to explain what happened than to lie to her again, since she could practically see right through any lie that was ever told.
"I was headed back to my dormitory, when the stair case moved, while I was on it. When it stopped I ran off so it wouldn't move again. And I ran into the only door on the corridor," she began, using the word I, to make it look like it was her alone, so her friends wouldn't get into trouble.
"At the time, I didn't realize it, but it was the third floor corridor. And when I did finally realize it, I went to leave right away, I swear it, but then Mrs. Norris came into the corridor and I know that Mr. Filtch wouldn't be far behind, and I really didn't want to get into trouble so I ran to the first door, and unlocked it and slipped inside." She said, tears coming to her eyes, remembering every detail and almost coming to her worst fear. She began to shake.
Minerva saw this and she knew Arianna was telling her the truth and she felt her heart drop at the girls reaction, but let her continue.
"I waited until I was sure Mr. Filtch was gone, and then I realized wh-wh-why the d-door w-was locked," she stuttered, her shaking increasing, Minerva was about to tell her she didn't have to say anymore but Arianna continued.
"There was a giant three headed dog in the room and after, after," Arianna tried to get out but tears came running down her face.
"But after what the Winter's did to you, you're terrified of dogs, I understand, you must have very scared." Minerva said gently and she stood to comfort the crying girl.
She knelt in front of the chair and rubbed Arianna'a arm.
"It's alright, you don't have to say anymore, it was an accident that you went to the third floor corridor. I think Professor Snape has taken enough points from our house, and I think you have suffered from the experience enough." She said slowly pulling her into a hug rubbing circles on her back.
"Why don't you stay here tonight? I'll have a house elf make up the guest room. Is that alright?" She asked and Arianna nodded. Minerva pulled out of the hug and held Arianna out at arms length.
As she was wiping her eyes, Minerva saw Arianna'a locket and her mouth dropped.
"Where did you get that?" She asked quite harshly, Arianna looked at her confusion and shock on her face, "it, it's very pretty." Minerva recovered.
"Thank you, I've always had it, I think my parents, whoever they are gave it to me." She said through sniffles. Suddenly Minerva knew, for sure that this Arianna was her daughter.
Minerva smiled, she felt tears welling up in her eyes, "lets get you set up in the guest room, it's late and you have classes tomorrow." Arianna nodded and leaned into Minerva as they walked into her quarters.
She tucked Arianna in and was about to leave the room when a small voice stopped her.
"Professor," Arianna called quietly, and Minerva turned around.
"W-would you stay, until I fall asleep?" She asked shyly.
Minerva smiled and nodded, "of course I will." She said and sat down beside Arianna and rubbed her back.
She smiled as she watched Arianna sleep. She had her daughter back, whether Albus accepted it or not. Minerva heart was filled with joy, as a year of happiness fell down her cheek.
That night Minerva didn't sleep. She sat beside Arianna all night watching her frail little body move with each breath.
Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter took SO long to get up! I have it written on another site so I had it, but I couldn't upload it because my computer broke! So I got my dad's and I hadn't figured it out! And I moved, so getting ready for that didn't leave my much time to write. But it's here now, and I have the next chapter finished, so I might post that today as well. Hope you like it :)