Hi all! Here is another chapter. And this one is dedicated to highlander348 who is a wonderful wonderful reviewer and tells me to get my arse into gear

Thank you

Dragoness

I pretty much dragged Ari into the Hall. The faces that turned and now stared at us were just a blur as we pretty much ran to the Gryffindor table. I stopped suddenly, unsure what to do. It was obvious by the smells that we had missed both the sorting and dinner. I hoped she wasn't to be sorted with the first years. I snuck a look up at the Heads table and saw Dumbledore looking straight at us with an odd look on his face. I wonder how his hand was.

"Wait, where do you sit?" I asked. She shrugged, her hair swaying around her shoulders.

"Can't I just sit 'ere for now?" She asked. I nodded and turned to the table. I saw Hermione and Ron both looking up at me. Ginny was next to Dean with a fowl look on her face. I wondered for a brief second what her problem was.

"Ari, this is my two best mates Ron Weasley and Herm…."
"'ERMIONE?" she yelled in surprise.

"ARI?!" she yelled back. Ari laughed and pretty much crash tackled her into a huge hug.

"Oh my god! 'Ow 'ave you been?" Ari asked pulling away to look at Hermione. "You look great."

"Me? Look at you! You're bloody gorgeous. Oh Ari!" she laughed pulling her into another hug.

"Uh…how do you guys know each other?" I asked, judging by the look on Ron's face, he was as shocked and slightly scared as I was. They turned and giggled together.

"I met Ari here when I went to France. She took me on a tour and my family stayed with her for a few days. We became very close. I haven't seen her in years!"

"I completely forgot you attended 'ogwarts" Ari laughed as Hermione hugged her again.

"Ah so this is how you knew about Ron?" I asked smiling at Ari, who gave me a cheeky grin.

"Oui. Mione never shut up about you two." She giggled as Hermione blushed. Ari turned to Ron who was sitting there with a raised eyebrow.

"We're being rude. 'Allo, my name is Arielli Lumiere, but please call me Ari." She said with a huge smile. Ron smiled back although somewhat hesitate.

"I'm Ron Weasley." Ari broke into giggles again and elbowed Hermione in the ribs. I sat down next to Ron and shrugged at the strange look he gave me.

"You were right. 'E is quite cute." Hermione went bright red and glared at Ari. Ron's face went bright red including his ears.

"Ah, so…um would you like some treacle tart Ari?" I asked quietly. Ari couldn't help but giggle again and nodded.

"Thank you 'Arry. Sorry 'Ermione." she whispered. Hermione just shook her head and smiled.

"Harry!" Ginny interrupted us. "Why is there blood on your face?" Hermione and Ron both whipped around to look at me. I sighed.
"I had a run in with Draco. I will explain later." I mumbled, embarrassed. Ari rubbed my leg under the table. I smiled and grabbed her hand. It was smooth on top and rough underneath. Like she had workers hands or something.

"So, tell me what you have been up to?!" Hermione said, taking the attention off of me. I don't think I had ever loved Hermione more in that moment. I chuckled as the girls put their heads together and started chatting away about everything. Dumbledore stood up and the typical silence fell over the Great Hall. He spread his hands open and smiled. The gasps started and I had to swallow the treacle tart that lodged in my throat. His hand was still black. Why hadn't he healed it?

"What has happened to his hand?" Hermione asked horrified. Ari was frowning at the hand with a slight tilt to her hand. It looked like she was trying to solve a difficult puzzle. I choked a little on the tart before it finally went down.

"I'm not sure." I replied coughing slightly. "It was like that over the summer though when he picked me up."

"Why did Dumbledore pick you up?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged.

"To meet the new professor." Before anyone else could ask him anything, Dumbledore started his speech. It was a few minutes into it that Harry realized that he was still holding Ari's hand under the table.

"Very best of evenings to you all!" Dumbledore started. "First off let me introduce you all to our newest member of our staff, Horace Slughorn." Slughorn stood and waved. Harry rolled his eyes.

"I am most pleased to say that Professor Slughorn has agreed to take back his old job as Potions master." Harry's stomach sunk. "Meanwhile the post of Defense against the Dark Arts will be taken by none other than our old potions master, Professor Snape!" Harry's stomach fell out.
"What the hell is Dumbledore thinking?" Ron whispered loudly.

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded but Harry paid them no mind. What WAS Dumbledore thinking giving Snape the teaching position? What had Snape said to possible change his mind? He thought clenching his hands

"'Arry?" A small voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked at Ari.

"You are squeezing too tightly." She whispered. It was then that Harry realized that it wasn't just his hands that he was clenching, it was Ari's as well.

"I'm so sorry." He mumbled releasing it. Ari smiled and discreetly rubbed it .

"It's okay 'Arry. Are you ok?" she asked. Harry almost told her no. NO he was not okay. He hasn't been okay in a very long time and everyday he woke up wishing he could be normal for once and actually just be okay for once instead of pretending to be. He didn't know what it was but there was something about Ari that made him want to blurt everything out and tell her everything. But he didn't. He did what he normally did and smiled and nodded.

"I'm alright."

"As you know, "Dumbledore started against, hushing the whispers. "Each and every one of you were searched when you arrived and you have the right to know why. Once there was a young man who like you, sat in this very hall, walked in the corridors. It seemed to all the world that he was nothing more than another student like any other. His name was Tom Riddle." Ari gasped besides him. Harry frowned. Not many people knew of his real name so how does she knew? He made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"Today he is known by a different name which is why I stand looking out upon you all tonight. I am reminded of a very sobering fact every day, every moment perhaps even this every second, that dark forces attempt to penetrate these castles walls." The crowd shuddered as one. "But in the end, the greatest weapon of all, is you. Just something for you all to think about. Now, before I send you to your warm waiting beds, I would like to introduce you all to a new student amongst us." The Hall erupted into loud whisperings and I noticed people looking over to us. Ari sighed and looked at the table. I

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Arielli Lumiere up here to be sorted." Dumbledore tapped his injured hand ever so slightly as the hall filled with clapping. Ari blushed and stood up. The hall began to whisper again as she reached the stage. Harry felt a pang for her. He knew what it was like to be in the spotlight and surrounded by unwanted attention. God I hoped she was in Gryffindor.

Cliff hanger!

Sorry I didn't originally plan it like this but I need the next parts to be in Ari's p.o.v.

So, what do you thin of it so far? It will be a slow build but I promise I will try not to drag it out . Review?

Dragoness