Chapter 33
Ariana and Harry left the castle together. With the weekend coming with the next task tomorrow the two had deciding they needed five minutes alone, especially considering she was going back to the puub the next day as well.
"You know I want to be there with you." She said to him. She honestly felt awfully that she had to leave even if it was not her choice but her brothers. She just felt so guilty.
"I know you do but you know what happened last time. We can met up after."
"I want to be there."
"But I want to keep you safe and on the right side of your brothers." said Harry. It was important for him to keep their trust where it came to her now he had gained it. It made all their lives so much easier and simpler.
"I can wrap the two of them round my fingers if you want me too." she giggled back at him.
"No don't be bad." he laughed as they walked down to the lake holding hands.
"I want to be there with you though." she said. It was something she felt strongly about he knew. But it just couldn't be.
"And I know you are." Harry said to her, kissing her cheek.
"This task is going to be a hard one for you though." If she could help him anyway possible then she wanted too.
"It's a task of course it is going to be hard it is designed that way."
"But."
"No Ariana. We are not going to have a repeat of last time."
"And when did you get so mature pray tell." she asked.
Shrugging, Harry and Ariana continued on there walk. It was a cold day but the sun was high in a clear blue sky. The last of the snow was fading.
What a magical winter it had been. but with spring new tidings come.
"I am going to be so much happier when all this is over. When I know you are going to be safe."
"Then that's makes two of us sweetheart." Harry said to her turning to look at her as they slowed down.
Coming to a complete stop he put his fingers sunder her chin and raise it up so he could kiss her.
"Next year is going to be better than this one." he said to her
"Promise?"
"Promise."
________
"Headmaster is every thing ok?" asked Sirius.
He had been in with Dumbledore for a while and the teacher did not seem to be his head.
Albus nodded carefully but it was obvious there was something on his mind.
The truth was that the ministry was despite there assurances at the beginning of the year were starting to ask awkward questions about his sister. How she had come to bee here? And why they were not working on sending her back?
But the truth was sending her back to there was the worst thing for her. He knew what was waiting for her . He was. And no way was he ready for the responsibility. No it was best she stayed put where her brothers were really able to look after her.
"Ariana is getting on well here wouldn't you say?" he had to hear it from some one out side of there family. It was not like the head master. To need so much reassurance but then he didn't normally have her to think about. Normal he sighed. When had things ever been normal for Albus Dumbledore. And what was the definition of normal.
"Yeah of course she is she is doing better and better." Sirius said joyfully. "not only that but she is making Harry happier than I have ever seen him. The last six months have been the best time of both their lives."
Dumbledore nodded. Maybe he was right.
"Why do you say that?"
"I am not used to raising a child. Overseeing them all at school it something I can do, but bringing one up."
"That makes two of us. After all I cant say I have really had any experience of all this."
"So what if we get it wrong. What if I get it wrong again."
"I don't think we can think like that."
Dumbledore fell silent. If he was getting this wrong...
Was he ever going to stop thinking like this?
All that mattered was he protected her from outsiders. People who wanted to take her away.
It was funny he thought how the things that had obsessed them so long ago. His mother had been terrified someone was going to rob them of her.
That fear hadn't gone.
He had begun to wonder if it was ever going to go when it came to his sister. He never knew what was going to come next with her and so he could never really let go of her. Not if she was going to need him.
----
"Come on then you." said Aberforth. He had come to the school gates to pick his sister up. It was the day of the second task. They had decided she would return with him to the pub. It was the best place for her while it was all going on.
Harry despite knowing he had to get down to the lake to do whatever was waiting for him, he had to had gone to see her off.
"You are going to do great. I know you will." she said ignoring what Aberforth had said and knowing they had to say good bye, he backed off for just a moment. This was their moment before he went off to face what was ahead. It felt as if they were parting for a week, when in reality she was most likely just going to be gone till the morning or not even that long.
"Are you going to be back tonight?" he asked her.
"I don't know. Depends what my brother has planned. But if I am not then you'll see me in the morning ok?"
Even Aberforth had to say it was almost touching how the two were always there to support one another and back the other up. The bond that was there between them obviously ran deep now.
Harry nodded and smiled.
"I love you Ari." he whispered to her and she nodded.
"I love you too."
Again he found himself wishing more than anything it was going to be her watching him that day ass he went in to the next task but they both knew it just couldn't be.
"Ariana come along."
She nodded left and followed behind her brother, leaving Harry to the task.
-
Sirius and Harry stood side by side the lake. The task was over and Harry had won when he had saved his god father from the creatures in the lake.
Looking down at what he had just done, he felt a smile spread across his face because he knew his god father was smiling too.
Harry had done it, thought Sirius to himself and he was holding his own in the competition.
The youngest competitive to.
"If only James could see your right now. He would the proudest father in the world."
Harry nodded.
That was what he had needed to hear. That if he could be then his father would indeed be there for him.
Having Sirius about had made him come to terms with how much he had needed a dad and how much he had been denied. His god father was all the only sort of parent he had ever had and now he had a central part in his life. He was the one he went too when he was in trouble and he was the one who could give him advice.
There was nothing he would ever keep from his god father. He found it so easy and natural to talk to him and turn to him.
They were more than god father and son, or parent and kid. They were mates as well. That was what was so great about their relationship.
Over the past six months the turn around in Harry's life had been phenomenal. And it was all for the better.
Harry looked forward to every new day.
And he had every reason to do so.