Chapter 35
The third task was upon them. By that tomorrow night the tournament would be over. Harry sat in the common room looking in to the fire. He wondered if he could actually do this.
He had been practising all week his charms and his spells. Ron, Hermione and especially Sirius had all been great with him and had helped him no end. But there was always going to be that seed of self doubt he thought to himself. He was the youngest champion. He was not ready for this he thought to himself. He wished he had just had a normal year more than anything else. Why was it just him who had to have a huge drama every year? By his side he felt a presence come to him and kiss the top of his arm.
"I thought you'd gone." he said to her. It was his Ariana.
"I convinced Aberforth to get me in the morning." she said to him.
He nodded, and he was glad of it.
"How did potions go?" he said.
She had sat her last exam that day. She had worked as heard as she could for them he knew. She had put her heart and soul into every one. Whatever she got he was going to be so proud of her. He knew she was so worried over her results. She had come in shaking after she had sat her transfiguration exam.
She shrugged.
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is you get through tomorrow. You're ready aren't you?" she asked and he nodded.
She rose her hand to his neck and begun caressing it. Slowly her hand worked round to his cheek and turned his face to his. She kiss him before sinking into his arms and snuggling in to him..
"Yes." he nodded. He was ready.
"I'll be waiting at the finish for you." she said to him. "I'm not going tomorrow. And nothing you can say to me can make me go to my brother."
She had a fresh determination in her voice he didn't think he had ever heard and he knew it was pointless to argue.
Harry wasn't sure how long he sat there, holding his girl close. But all he knew was that had been what he had needed. When he had needed her the most she had been there. He would always remember that.
-
"Why are you being like this? Sister please come home with me." said Aberforth to her. They were by the gates. Gates she usually walked so willingly thought with him but that day she refused too.
"I have walked away from this school twice before when he has needed me but this is the last task. And I love him. I know you think this is a school girl thing but it isn't. I love him. And I can't walk away today." She was a passionate young girl and there was no denying it.
"And what if something happens." He knew in his heart that this argument was not going to work in same way it had in her first term. Her illness had stopped hurting and scaring her. She wasn't going to let it rule her anymore. It had hhad enough of her life. She had wasted nine years.
She was never going to get them back.
"I am ok. I'm not sick any more. I am never going to be normal and I am never going to stop struggling with my work and I know for a fact things are never going to be easy for me but I am ok. I am going to that task. . Come with me if you want to . Let it be like the Yule Ball. But I am not leaving him. Not today." Her heart as ever he believed was in the right place. She wanted to do the right thing.
She had made her mind up the previous evening and he didn't think he had ever seen her so determined. He didn't think there was much he could say that was going to change her mind and so he took the only path of action he could.
"Before you go into the task arena you are to wait for me to come in with you, do you understand?" he asked and she nodded.
"I will. I promise." Her eyes were aglow with love. For once he had to accept it was not for him. Turning, she run back into the castle to tell Harry she was staying.
-
Since she had been in the future Ariana had heard little of the Dark Lord. She remembered when Harry had returned from the Quidditch World Cup that something had gone on their vaguely. But they hadn't really spoken about it. Any of it, it just hadn't had an impact on their relationship.
But she begun to realise as she sat at Harry's bedside that it was going to start effecting them. In a big way.
How had they ended up here? The task had meant to be a good thing. It was meant to be his chance to shine and then they were meant to end up happily. And it had ended up with him sick. And Voldemort back.
Taking his hand in her she sighed. She loved him. So much.
Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley, the twins, Sirius and Aberforth were all there with her and Albus. His family were about him he realised.
He had a family and they were not about to abandon him.
But Cedric. He was dead. He was dead and he had done nothing wrong.
"I saw him die." he said to Ariana and she nodded. She hadn't seen the body. Aberforth had rushed her away. He hadn't wanted her to see it.
She had screamed at him though. She was there for Harry and she was not going to leave him now. Nothing could make her turn from him.
"I know you did but that does not mean his death was your fault." she tried to soothe him.
"He's back."
"Yes. And everything is about to change." she nodded.
There was no use pretending any different.
He looked at her gratefully. As ever she had cut out the crap and she was not going to lie to him.
"Go to sleep Harry." Sirius advised as he felt the tears well up in his eyes. He was back. This couldn't be. Not again…not so soon, he didn't think he could go through it again. He didn't have it left in his heart too.
He had lost his best friends last time about. He couldn't lost his godson this time around. Harry was the best thing he had in his life, the very best thing which had ever happened to him. The year he had spent with the kids at Hogwarts had been so full of hope. It had been all about looking to the future. But the past had come back to haunt him in a way he had neither expected or wanted it too.
He had to get in contact with Remus. The Order had to reform. There was so much to do but his head was with Lily and James, the past, that was where his heart was. It was where he still wanted to be. With James at his side. He had felt safe last time because he had had his brother there for him. When they had fought they had fought together. And they had been unstoppable. But this time it was his job to protect others while no one was there watching his back.
All he could see was Harry and Ariana though. Her hand in his. Looking into each others eyes desperately.
Lily and James weren't gone. They were right there.
"Go to sleep," she nodded in agreement. He had told Dumbledore everything that had gone on. Sirius had heard everything. He could rest now.
He had had his dreamless sleep potion..
"Stay with me tonight."
"Wild hippogriffs couldn't pull me away." she nodded. "I'll be right by your side."
She wasn't going any where. Not for anyone.
-
"God Albus why is this happening now? When the two of them were going to just have a chance to be happy with all this coming to a close." Aberforth asked.
He and Albus were in his office. The elder of the two brothers knew who his real allies were. If the chips were down then they were going to be there for one another. A new united had been formed between them. All of them knew it was not the time for disharmony.
"I don't know. And we don't have time to ask questions at the gods right now." he said to him. "I need you to help me reform the Order."
Aberforth nodded.
"Go to the old guard, ask them to rejoin. Only the loyal." he nodded.
"You know I will." he said as he stood up and got ready to go.
Albus looked at him with admiration. For all, the trouble that had been between the two of them he was still fighting for him, and willing to help him when things went wrong.
"Thank you brother."
Aberforth nodded and went on his way. The Order didn't have time on their side. They had to move quickly.
He had something to fight for this time round he thought to himself.
He had to protect his sister.
"Check on Ari some time tonight." he asked. She wasn't the one important in all of this he knew. No that was Harry. But she was the only thing important to him.
"Of course I will." he nodded.
It was three before he got down there but when he did he found she was still there as she said she would be but she was the only one who was. Sirius had headed off to tell Remus, assorted Weasley's and Hermione had all nodded off.
When she saw her brother enter though she went to wear he was standing a few beds down. They didn't want to disturb the others.
"Things are about to get a lot darker sister." he said and she nodded. She knew this in her heart. But him saying it. Albus, who knew everything made it real to her.
"I am ready for this."
"No darling, none of us are. Don't be foolish. You weren't here last time. You don't know what's going to happen," he said to her in a moment of weakness. "People died, Harry's parents…" he sighed as he looked at the bed.
"And people will die this time." she nodded. "is that what your saying brother?" He confirmed it with a nod.
Harry, Albus, Aberforth, Sirius.
He had four very easy ways to break her heart. This, Dark Lord, whoever he was she begun to understand had the ability to take everything from her. And then who was she going to turn too? Who was going to look after her? And who was going to look out for them if she was gone. The siblings found there hansd joined together. This was in fellowship.
"You have courage in your heart." he said to her. "You don't know how much little sisters. But you will find out in the days to come."
"I wish I had no need of it." she replied.
"And I wish you didn't either my dear. But sometimes we have no choice. We mist accept fate and face it head on."
"As you have been doing your whole life."
"As we both have." he said stroking her cheek.
"Stay with me. Brother I need you." she said. She couldn't lose him.
"I will be with you forever. Your imprinted on my heart as well as my skin. We're in each other sister." It was then as much as any time she understood that they were never really apart. They were siblings. She felt a hand on her shoulder. They were together always her and Albus. In the same way Percival and Kendra were always with them.
She nodded. And then he turned.