Chapter 24
"Well if it isn't our very own Romeo!"
It wasn't like Hermione to part take in teasing whether it was light hearted or not but Sirius, her and Ron seemed not to be able to help it when they saw Harry.
He had a stupid grin on his face.
"Watch it Hermione." he smiled.
"Oh wow that was threaten." said Sirius rolling his eyes.
"Do I take it this new found happiness is down to our miss Ariana."
Again with the stupid grin.
Sirius shook his head. He had never seen the boy his happy and it was good to do so. He just wondered how long it was going to last. With the two of them there was always something going wrong and he dearly loved them both. Harry was his god son and yet with out Ariana he wouldn't be there for him. She had filled the cell in Azkaban which held Peter.
He just hoped there happiness was real.
Looking at Harry it was.
"You know you don't want the wind to blow or your face is going to stay that way."
"I don t know if I care if it does." he said to him.
Sirius laughed fondly.
"Do you want to come in and get a cuppa tea you three. I can put the kettle on."
The three nods told him that was a very good idea. One after the other they retreated to the safety of Sirius's apartment at Hogwarts.
It was a real bachelor pad thought Hermione. It was his home. Perhaps the first real one he had ever had.
He had never been happy when he had been at home with his family as a kid. Then he had told them how he had gone to the {Potters. He had got this look in his eyes that told her he had really loved it there. But it had been almost too perfect for him. After so much unhappiness as a child she had got the vibe he had never really settle down with James and his parents, no matter how much he had loved it. Yet he had made this place his own.
The black leather sofas were surprisingly stylish, and the Gryffindor red walls revealed how much affection he still had for his old house.
Harry collapsed in not the sofa. When he was not in class or with Ariana it was here he spent much of his time. His godfather to him was the first adult apart from Hagrid he felt he could turn to no matter what the problem was. Especially since the beginning of the tournament. They still didn't know who had put his name in that goblet. He really wanted to know who had put all this grief on his shoulders. This should have been the best year he had yet had at Hogwarts.
But the tournament was wrecking it for him.
Yet still he had a family about him. People who he loved and who loved him in return. That was something he was so grateful for, he could not put it into words he thought as he looked into the fire that warmed the room his godfather lived in.
When he was done making the tea, Sirius came into the living room and ruffled his god sons hair. It was good to be home indeed.
-
"I have feed the goats." said Ariana as she came into the pub. Aberforth looked up and smiled at her. Good as her word she had come to see him on New Years day.
"Thanks sis." he said to her though he knew she enjoyed it.
"Can I get a butter beer barmen?" she teased as she took up one of the stools.
He nodded and indulgently got her one.
"So, did you make a new years resolution." he asked her.
"Yeah. To try and be a better sister to you and Albus, and to try and stop giving you so many head aches." she said to him as if it was obvious.
"I like the sound of that."
"Some how I thought you might." she said to him. "and what about you. What's yours?"
"To try and give you some more freedom. I know it isn't easy me being your over bearing big brother." he shrugged.
"Not all the time, but at others I like it."
"I thought that I was smothering you too much."
"No your not." she said to him.
"You sure?" he said as he came round the bar.
She nodded.
"Aba I may be growing up but I still really need you."
That was all he had needed to hear. Lately she had so been growing apart from him he felt. Cupping her face he looked at her and stroked her face.
"My baby sister. So beautiful."
She beamed and leaned in o him inhaling him. "Don't leave me alone. Don't back off. Don't ever leave me."
"Wild horses aren't going to drag me away. You should know that by now." he muttered.
She nodded and shut her eyes.
"I am sorry I didn't come for New Years."
"Its ok." he said to her.
-
The day passed and the New Year brought with it the new term. Lessons resumed in the castle.
Ariana found herself back in the potions dungeon looking out the top of the window. The snow had turned to rain, pouring down in miserable showers which did nothing to keep peoples spirits up after the joys of the holiday. In the common room she had heard two of the first year muggle borns swamping stories of how wonderful it had been to go home. They were obviously home sick as they got to grips with their first year.
"Miss Ariana are you going to join us today?" she heard Snape say to her.
She hadn't even noticed him coming to her side.
"Yes. Sorry professor." she said feeling embarrassed.
"If you are going to catch up with your fourth year friends, first you must keep up with your first year class mates."
She nodded.
Ariana found herself still cringing from the incident when she met up with Harry for lunch.
"Don't you worry about that miserable old git." he said as they walked in to the hallo hand in hand.
"Its easy for you to say. I don't want them to think I am not trying."
"No one could think that," he said to her.
"Really."
"Yes." he said as they sat down at then table.
"Harry is right Ariana. Snape has a go at every one, it is his hobby." said Ron to her.
Neville nodded at his comment.
"We're right,." he said as he looked at her doubtful face.
"Ari just concentrate next lesson. You'll be fine." Hermione chipped in and she nodded.
-
"Professor Snape was talking to me today."
"Oh."
Reading and writing had commenced. Albus was glad. He had been busy over the holidays and he had barely touched based with his sister.
He had watched her from afar though and he thought she had handle the holidays splendidly. She had really thrown herself in to the celebrations. She had her own group of friends now. She was not simply the new girl of his sister any more.
She had her own identity about the school.
"He told me about how hard you were working in class today."
"Sarcasm I take it Al." she asked.
He gave her 'the' look.
"Oh I know I know. I am just finding it weird being back in class after so long having fun." she said to him.
His eyes twinkled behind his spectacles.
"My dear I am teasing you." he informed her.
"Your kidding." she laughed.
Laughter…her laughter… the sweetest sound though Albus to himself.
"You had a great Christmas?"
"Nearly the best." she said to him.
"Why wasn't it the very best?"
"Al, I understand there dead. But it doesn't mean I don't think about mama and papa. I miss them still….wish they could have been there."