Ara and Teddy ran through the field and to a tree that sat by itself in the middle.
"Bet I can climb it first," Teddy grinned.
"Nu uh," Ara said and jumped, catching onto a branch; she swung herself slightly until she could kick her feet up enough to haul her body onto the branch. Teddy jumped, trying to mimic her movements, but couldn't quite swing high enough. "Need a hand?" Ara asked, reaching her arm down. Teddy sighed but grabbed onto her and Ara helped Teddy up.
"Alright," Teddy said, "you won this time."
Ara giggled as she maneuvered herself on the branch, getting into a position so she could lie down. She sighed, letting out a content breath, as she looked out through the branches and at the sky.
"Teddy," Ara said softly.
"Yeah?" Teddy asked from the branch next to hers.
"Would you still be my friend if I was sorted into Slytherin?"
Teddy was quiet for a moment before he said, "Uncle Harry said a very brave man came from the Slytherin house. Albus was named after him."
"There was an Albus in Slytherin?" Ara asked.
Teddy laughed, "no, his other name, Albus Severus. A man named Severus Snape was a spy for the Order during the war. Uncle Harry says he was one of the bravest men he had ever met. Uncle Harry says that no matter which house you're in, there is pride and glory to be found. So yes, Ara, I would still be your friend even if you were sorted into Slytherin."
"But you'd rather I wasn't," Ara said quietly.
"Well of course," Teddy said, "I'd rather you be in Gryffindor, like me, so we could see each other more. Are you worried you'll be in Slytherin?" Teddy asked curiously.
"Kind of," Ara mumbled, "my dad was a Slytherin and I feel like he expects all of us to be as well. Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in with my family," Ara confessed. "Mum is so brave, and beautiful, and bold, like Lyra. And Dad is smart, and cunning, and sneaky, and a little bit stubborn, just like Gemini. But what am I, Teddy? Where do I fit in?"
"I think you're smart," Teddy said, "and beautiful, and cunning, and brave."
Ara blushed, "Thanks Teddy," she said. The two looked softly into each others eyes and Ara's blush deepened.
"Teddy!" a voice suddenly yelled, shattering the moment. Teddy jumped, nearly falling off his branch. Ara giggled at him and he hushed her, pointing down at the intruder.
Victorie stood there, hands on her hips, looking around. "Teddy, I know you're here somewhere!"
"Be quiet," Teddy whispered.
"Why?" Ara asked.
"I don't want to play with her right now," Teddy whispered, "I'm having too much fun with you!"
Ara smiled softly at him again and nodded, placing her finger to her lips. "I'll be quiet," she mouthed.
"Teddy!" Victorie whined. "Where are you? I'm tired of playing with my siblings and cousins! And don't even get me started on those Malfoy kids!"
Ara gritted her teeth in annoyance and looked at Teddy who gulped but shook his head, trying to tell her to ignore Victorie. Ara nodded, taking a deep breath in. Just ignore her, just ignore her, just ignore her she repeated in her head over and over again.
"Humph!" Victorie stomped off in annoyance when Teddy didn't jump out of his hiding place for her and he smiled at Ara.
"I'm sorry she said that about your sisters."
"Not your fault," Ara shrugged, sitting up and dangling her feet off the branch. She swung them back and forth, back and forth. Teddy watched her for a minute before moving and sitting next to her.
"Ara?" Teddy asked her.
"Yeah?"
"What's it like to have your mum and dad around all the time?"
Ara turned to Teddy, looking slightly surprised. "Why do you ask?"
"I never knew my parents," Teddy said, "they died in the war when I was a baby."
"I know that,"
"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have them here, with me. Forget it," Teddy said shaking his head, "it was a stupid question."
Ara studied him for a little bit; she never realized how hard it would be not to have both her parents. She took for granted the fact that she had a mum and a dad. She never realized how lucky she actually was.
"Sometimes my dad makes me so mad," Ara began. "Like the other night he yelled at my sisters and me for fighting at the dinner table, it was a little scary. After dinner I went to my room and just sang along to music to calm me down,"
"You like music?" Teddy asked and Ara nodded.
"I like all sorts of music, muggle and wizard alike, and I love to sing too. Daddy says I have a really pretty voice. He actually came in to my room, while I was singing, to apologize for yelling at me. That's the thing about my dad, he may get mad, but he always says he's sorry. He may get angry with me, but I know he loves me."
"You're dad doesn't seem like that to me," Teddy said, "and Uncle Harry said he wasn't always a nice guy."
"Daddy told me he had a bad reputation in school," Ara said looking down at the ground, "he says I'm going to be the one to change how the world sees the Malfoy name."
"Tell me about your mum," Teddy said, "Uncle Harry says he was good friends with her in school."
"My mum is the sweetest woman," Ara said smiling again, "she always does whatever she can do us. She works a lot, and when she works we have to go to Grandma Cissy's house, but she always makes time for us. We each get one Saturday a month with her alone, if she can manage it. Mum and I like to go to muggle movies together, and she'll take me shopping. Mum hardly ever gets mad at us; dad, on the other hand, she's always blaming him for things."
"Like what?"
"Gemini's attitude," Ara shrugged, "she says Gemini is an exact replica of dad when he was younger."
"It must be nice to have siblings," Teddy said while picking bark off the branch.
"Sometimes it is," Ara nodded, "I love my sisters so much, but they can be a bother sometimes. Lyra is always bugging to fly with me on my broom, or play catch with a quaffle. Gemini always wants to borrow my things, and play pranks on me by hiding them around the house. Sometimes I wish I was an only child."
"No you don't," Teddy shook his head, "it's boring, not having anyone to play with."
"But what about the Potter kids?" Ara asked looking at him, "didn't you once tell me you're always at your godfather's house?"
"I am," Teddy said, "but they aren't my real family. Not really."
"I'm sorry Teddy," Ara said putting her arm around his shoulders.
"It's alright," Teddy said leaning his head on her shoulder. "At least I have people who care about me." They sat like that for a few minutes, looking out at the branches and the sky again, before the kids were all called in for dinner.
"We should go in," Teddy said. "Mrs. Weasley's food tastes best when it's hot and fresh."
"Alright," Ara said, hopping off her branch and floating softly to the ground.
"You're magic is pretty strong," Teddy noted, trying to hop down like she did, but falling in the process. "That was a pretty smooth landing."
Ara smiled, "I can't wait to get to Hogwarts and learn all the spells and charms."
"You'll be a brilliant witch, Ara," Teddy said looping his arm through hers as they walked towards the Burrow. "You really will be."
A/N:For Wolf Princess Julie who wanted a moment between Ara and Teddy
For Always Brook who wanted longer chapters (hope the last few have been better! Even longer ones coming in the future!)
And for countingmoons who loved the previous house talk between the adults, here was Ara's perceptive!
I hope you all enjoyed this! Your weekend update is happening now because I have a wedding to attend tomorrow and will be out of town and away from my computer alllllllllllll weekend and I wanted to make sure you had your update before then (that way I come home to some lovely reviews as well!)
I just finished writing a very very very very heartbreaking chapter, chapter 20. Let me just say that reading it over, I got teary eyed and I can guarantee some of you may cry. Just something to keep you on your toes and interested in this story!
I think I'm nearing the end of the story soon (not in updates but in writing). So if any of you have any special requests or characters they wish to see, now is defiantly the time to tell me, because once I'm done writing, the story is done and unless I'm unhappy with something I wrote I won;t be going back to add/change anything.
Alright, that's all I have to say. Have a good weekend everyone and please review!