Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, nor will I ever be. Therefore, I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters... Just wanted to make that clear... haha

This story is rated T for foul language

Chapter 9

Ari's POV

"Did we miss something? Who is he talking about?" I look at Landen and frown.

He shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head. "Don't look at me. He didn't tell me anything about this last year… I more dealt with Andromeda Clarimonde than Caledon himself anyways."

James jumps up with wide eyes and looks at Landen. "Am I hearing you both correctly? HE personally knows 'Dark Lord Caledon'?"

Landen shakes his head and smirks. "Obviously you AREN'T hearing us correctly because I said I dealt with Andromeda, not Caledon."

James points an accusing finger at me and glowers. "You knew this about him and you still trust him? You're willing to put everyone here in danger just so you can have a bloody boyfriend? He's a bloody Death Eater!"

"Excuse me? EXCUSE ME?" I can feel my temper rising the more I look at him. "YOU don't know anything about me OR Landen!" Landen's arms tighten around me a bit, probably as a precaution to keep me from jumping off the bed and attacking James.

"Not according to Castor Perlorn! According to him, you and I were practically joined at the hip! Why didn't you tell me about that, huh? Was that to protect me too?" He is still glaring at me and each of his words carries a world of hatred in it.

I laugh icily. "I didn't tell you about that because you didn't want to hear about it! If it wasn't about Monroe then you didn't care! And…" I try to stand up but Landen holds me down. I frown at him and then turn back to James. "And if you and Perlorn are such great friends then why don't you go talk to HIM about this you bloody prat?"

Landen clears his throat, earning a glare from James, and lets out a laugh. "As entertaining as this is, we still aren't any closer to finding out WHO Caledon was referring to in his radio broadcast."

James shakes his head and walks to my door. "I don't want your help, Death Eater."

I break free from Landen's grip and launch myself at James, getting right in his face and glaring at him. "We're in this together, whether you like it or not so you might want to get used to the idea."

James opens my door and shakes his head. "I don't think so." With that, he leaves my room and shuts the door behind him.

I walk back over and grab Landen's hand. "Come on, we need to go talk to McGonagall. She might know something about this…"

We leave my room and rush through the common room and out into the corridor. We quickly walk up to the gargoyle that leads up to McGonagall's office and look around. The gargoyle opens its mouth and lazily says "Password?"

I sigh and smile nervously. "Well, we don't have it… BUT! This is really important! It's about Caledon!"

The gargoyle shakes its head firmly. "No password, no entry."

I throw my hands in the air with exasperation. "Are you bloody kidding me? The fate of the wizarding world is at stake and YOU won't let me in to talk to McGonagall because I don't have the PASSWORD? Fine… I'm going to get into that office one way or another…"

Landen pulls me away from the gargoyle and into a corridor. He looks at me firmly and says "Cover your ears." I do as he says and he points his wand at a wall and says "Reducto."

The wall explodes loudly, chunks of the stone wall flying everywhere. Landen and I are covered in dust from the explosion. I hear footsteps running toward us and shake my head with a chuckle, dust falling off my head as I do. "You're bloody mental…"

"Probably…" He says with a nod and a grin. He crosses his arms over his chest as he turns to the entrance of the corridor and waits.

As anticipated, Filch comes running around the corner with Mrs. Norris hot on his heels. He stops in front of us and doubles over with long, drawn out wheezes escaping his lips. "Wha' the bloody hell did you do?"

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. "We blew up the wall. You're not going to bring us to the headmaster, are you?"

He takes another wheezing breath and stands up straight. "You blew up a wall! Of course I am going to bring you two to the headmaster!"

I shake my head dramatically and frown. "No, please don't…"

He grabs my arm and pulls me behind him. I grab Landen's wrist just before Filch pulls me around the corner of the corridor. "You should have thought about that before you blew a gaping hole in the wall!" He steps in front of the gargoyle and says "Acid Pops."

The gargoyle moves and the stairs ascend and Filch drags us up the stairs. He stops us in front of the office door and tells us to wait while he walks inside, shutting the door behind him. I nudge Landen with my shoulder and smirk. "You could have at least TOLD me about what you were doing… How do you plan to explain that to McGonagall?"

He smirks and shrugs. "I was just going to wing it."

The door to McGonagall's office opens and Filch sneers at us while motioning us into her office. I walk in first and see James sitting in a chair across from McGonagall's desk. "What the hell are you doing here?"

McGonagall doesn't give James the chance to respond. "Why are you two blowing holes in my school!"

"You know, we wouldn't have to do anything that drastic if you were easier to get ahold of. Now, I assume that James has informed you about the radio broadcast we just heard?"

McGonagall huffs and nods tersely. "Yes, he did and he didn't do so by blowing holes in my walls!"

I shrug and smirk. "I'm American, what can I say?"

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she clears her throat. "This news is a bit troubling, especially since we don't know who he's targeting…"

Landen laughs. "Well what are we going to do about it?"

"Well you three…" She points to me, Landen and James, "…are going to go to breakfast and leave the worrying to me. I will figure out what to do." With that, she waves us out of her office. We walk out of the office and into the corridor. James gives me and Landen one last glare before turning and walking away.

(Break)

Red, blue, green and yellow baubles adorn the corridors with the faint smell of pine emanating from the Christmas trees that decorate the corridors as well. December is one of my favorite months to spend at Hogwarts because the corridors are decorated so ornately and intricately and the castle smells of Christmas all month long.

It's been three months since the radio broadcast, and not much has happened since then. It turns out that, since the broadcast was done so early, not many people heard it. Landen and I had told Al and Freddie about it, but other than that next to nobody knew.

Since the broadcast, McGonagall has been missing in action. She left abruptly, leaving Professor Finnegan, the DADA professor, as the acting headmaster in her absence. He is nice enough, but he doesn't understand me like McGonagall does.

James has been avoiding me since he found out about Landen. He even stopped coming to the tutoring sessions! Not that I mind, when I DO see him he shoots me dirty looks and hits me with his shoulder like a twelve year old girl. His girlfriend has been tormenting me too, but not for her usual reasons. This time she's harassing me because she thinks Landen and I are dating. Well, we ARE dating but she's upset for Ashlynn. Apparently, after Landen winked at Ashlynn, she got it in her head that he wanted her to stalk him. Because that's what everyone wants, right?

I am sitting by Freddie, stacking some toast on my plate and talking about DADA class when the owls come swooping through the great hall. A small purple envelope falls in front of me and I recognize it immediately. I drop my plate and grab the envelope. I slide my finger under the sealed flap and pull the contents of the envelope, revealing McGonagall's personal stationary. I unfold the parchment and read the letter.

Ariana,

I will need you and James in my office tonight at 11:00 pm.

-McGonagall

P.s. No need to blow up my castle to get into my office. Just remember that I am particularly fond of sugar quills…

I fold up the parchment and turn to Freddie with a frown. "Looks like I'm going to have to cancel our study plans for tonight, sorry."

Freddie frowns at the table. "Why?"

"McGonagall has called for me. Hey… Would you like to come with?"

His frown changes to a grin immediately. "Of course! I never miss out on a chance to see Old McGonagall!"

I nod at him with a grin. "Lovely! Meet me in the common room at 10:30 then!"

I get up from the table and walk over to James. Monroe looks up at me with a grimace. "What traitor?"

I roll my eyes and scoff. "Traitor? That's a new one! I thought I was a slut?"

"James told me about Landen. Now I KNOW why all of your friends are dead."

I take a deep breath and clench my teeth. "Please, enlighten me."

"It's because you're a nasty traitor who will sell out her friends to live just a few pathetic moments longer." She has a nasty sneer on her face, as if she knows everything she's saying is pushing me closer and closer to snapping. I close my eyes and try to think of something happy, something to diminish the fiery hatred that is burning inside me. She chuckles, breaking me out of my thoughts. "What's wrong traitor? Dark Lord got your tongue?"

At that, my eyes snap open and I brandish my wand, pointing it at her face. "Stupefy!"

Monroe collapses unconsciously onto the table, earning collective gasps and claps from the students surrounding us, along with a loud cheer from Freddie. I look at James through narrowed eyes and toss him the purple envelope. "Come alone." I turn away from him and march out of the great hall.

(Break)

Freddie and I make our way to McGonagall's office with a disgruntled James following behind us. We get to the gargoyle and it says "Password? Or are you going to blow up a wall again?"

I roll my eyes and flip it off. "Sugar quills."

The gargoyle nods and the stairs slowly rise up. Freddie raises an eyebrow at me and smirks. "You blew up a wall?"

I laugh and lead us up the stairs. "Yes. Well, Landen did. But only to get us into McGonagall's office so we could tell her about the broadcast."

He nods, looking impressed and amused. "And THAT is why you two are my best mates!"

James scoffs and pushes past us. "You two are bloody idiots."

Freddie and I laugh and high five each other as James opens the door to McGonagall's office. We walk in and see McGonagall talking to Professor Finnegan. Once she sees us, she dismisses Finnegan with a wave and motions for us to come in. "Well hello Mister Weasley. I didn't know I extended my letter to you as well."

I shake my head and answer before Freddie can. "Sorry Professor. Freddie and I had plans before this and I really didn't want to bail on him."

She nods with pursed lips. "Very well. I'm only here for tonight, so I can talk to you two about that radio broadcast from a few months ago. I found out who he was referring to… And I have a request of you…"

Landen's POV

"You're going where?"

Ariana sighs and grabs the tacky purple bag Hermione gave her for her seventeenth birthday. Hermione had said the bag had helped her during her a lot and was sure Ariana could find a use for it.

She grabs a handful of clothes and stuffs them in the bag. "America. McGonagall has us leaving tonight."

"Us? Whose 'us'?" I grab the bag and hold it above my head, knowing she won't be able to reach it.

She sighs and sets two pairs of shoes and a book down on her bed. "James, Freddie and I. Please don't be upset, it's just something I have to do."

I reciprocate her sigh and set the bag back down on her bed. "How long will you be gone?"

"I'm not sure…" She says with a shrug as she continues packing, sadness apparent on her face.

"Please, explain to me again why you have to go to America of all places." I sit on her bed and pat a spot next to me.

She sits down on her bed and leans back against me, grabbing my hand. She begins tracing shapes along the back of my hand as she explains McGonagall's reasoning to me again. I press my nose to her hair as she speaks, realizing this will be the last time I get to hear her voice for a long time. I can tell something else is up too, just by the way she is acting. It's one of the benefits of getting to be her best mate before her boyfriend. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, taking in every syllable and tone of her voice as she speaks.

"Well, according to McGonagall, Caledon had American ancestors who were either killed or tortured by American muggles for being magical. They used to burn witches at the stake… Or they would tie rocks to them and drown them… or they would do multiple other horrendous things to them, just for having powers and being different… But American muggles are different now! They don't even really believe in us, let alone try to kill us!" She clears her throat and readjusts, mattress springs squeaking as she does. "Anyways, apparently Caledon is holding a grudge against American muggles for something that happened so long ago. His radio broadcast was aimed at them, which is bloody stupid since nobody even heard it! Our first stop in America is my home state of Colorado. McGonagall wants us to warn the President and she says he's supposed to be in Colorado tomorrow."

"I'm coming with."

She laughs and shakes her head lightly. "No you aren't and I'll tell you why. Because one: I'll need someone here that I can trust who will give me updates about what's happening and two: because I need someone here to look after Al."

I chuckle and realize that she's right. "That sounds like a lot of work on my part. You don't plan on just partying in America do you?"

"Of course I do! That's REALLY why you're not invited!" She smacks me on the leg playfully and slides off the bed to continue packing.

I shake my head and laugh. "By the way, how exactly to you propose I keep you informed about the happenings of the school?"

Before she can answer, there is a knock on the door followed by, "Ariana are you almost ready?"

She nods, as if the person behind the door can see her, then says "Yes Freddie. Do you want to come in and say goodbye to Landen?"

The door to her room swings open, revealing a grinning Freddie who is wiggling his eyebrows at Ariana. "Is that why your packing is taking so long? Because you two were 'saying' goodbye?"

Ariana tosses a shoe at Freddie with a laugh. "Shut up Fred Weasley! We were just talking about how Landen here can inform us about what's happening in the school while we're gone."

Freddie looks at me. "Well my dad said that when Harry was out looking for horcruxes, a couple of the students had a radio broadcast that told the world what was happening in Hogwarts. You could do that… You might even be able to turn the Room of Requirements into a radio station."

I look at him with a grin. "Freddie Weasley, you're a bloody genius!"

Ariana grabs the bag Freddie has with him and stuffs it into her bag, then slings the bag over her shoulder with a sigh. "Fred, can you wait outside for me? I have to talk to Landen right quick…"

He nods seriously and leaves the room. I look at Ariana, who has a strange expression on her face, and finally understand the strange behavior from before. "Ariana don't. Just… d-"

She holds up her hand and frowns. "Please Landen… I don't have a choice… It's not for forever, just while I'm gone… In case anything happens…"

"So you're breaking up with me in case anything happens? Why?"

"Because it's easier to lose a friend than anyone who's more than that…" I suddenly understand that she's not only talking about protecting herself. She, in a last ditch effort to protect me from more heartbreak than necessary, is telling me that if she dies on this trip then it will be easier for me to deal with if she is a friend rather than a girlfriend.

I nod and sigh. "Can I at least walk you to wherever you need to go? As a friend, of course."

She nods and we leave the room, only to meet up with Freddie in the common room. Ariana looks around and groans. "Where the hell is James?"

Freddie points to James' room and rolls his eyes. "He's saying goodbye to her royal bitchiness."

Ariana walks over to his room and pounds on the door. "JAMES SIRIUS POTTER! STOP SNOGGING THAT TROLL AND GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE! WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!" The door swings open wildly and Ariana grabs a handful of James' robe, yanking him out into the common room.

Monroe steps out with puffy lips and says "What's with all the bitchiness, traitor?"

Ariana glares at James. "We don't have time for goodbyes." She then look over at Monroe and sneers. "Make sure to tell Rylan I say hi…"

With that, she shoves James toward the portrait and quickly flips Monroe off before gesturing for me and Freddie to follow her.

James sees that I'm walking with them and grimaces. "If we don't have time for goodbyes, then why is he coming with us?"

Freddie pushes James forward and small growl escapes his throat. "Shut it and keep walking."

I grab the bag from Ariana and shrug. "I'm just carrying the bag since it's a bit heavy." We walk the rest of the way in silence. Ariana steps in front of the statue and says the password. Once the statue has moved, she leads us into the bathroom and through the broken stall. We enter the dark tunnel and Ariana waves her wand. "Lumos maxima." A ball of light erupts from her wand and floats to the front of the group. Freddie leads, followed by James, then Ariana, and finally me.

As we get to the end of the tunnel, I hear Ariana murmur "Haven't been here in a while…" I grab her hand and give it a squeeze. Before she exits the tunnel I squeeze her hand again and pull her to a stop, evoking a sigh from her. "I have to go Landen."

I nod. "I know, but this will only take a second. I just want to say a proper goodbye."

"Landen, I REALLY have to-"

I place my hand over her mouth with a laugh. "Do you EVER stop talking?"

She shakes her head and earns a smirk from me. I remove my hand from her mouth and lean toward her. She brings her hand up and places it over my mouth while shaking her head with a smirk. "Save it for when I get back."

I nod and hand her the bag. "Don't be gone too long then."

We emerge from the tunnel and are greeted by a familiar view. We see McGonagall standing among the headstones and dug up graves, talking to Freddie and James, who are staring at us as we walk out of the tunnel. Ariana gives me a peck on the cheek and walks over to them, leaving me standing in the opening of the tunnel to watch them leave.

McGonagall says something to them, then James and Freddie grab Ariana's arm and they apparate away.

Alright... I know I told you I wouldn't be updating for a week, but I didn't have work today so I figured I could give you guys a chapter. But after this I REALLY won't be updating until after next week.

Anyways! I hope you lovely readers enjoyed the chapter! Things are about to get pretty interesting...

Thank yall for your support! :)

-Tx