"How are you really doing?"
Aria shrugged, lazily pulling a book of the library shelf. Draco leaned against the shelf, staring down at her. He seemed to have grown another inch or two between his time on Spinner's End and returning to Hogwarts, which Aria thought was very unfair. Just behind her, Harry kept a lookout for any students who might wander too close into the stacks.
"I've had better days," Aria answered. "I mean, I'm glad that the Durmstrang students are leaving me alone, though I could do without them staring at me whenever I sit at the Slytherin table. And it would've been nice not to have my name and face plastered all over European newspapers."
Fleur had shown her copies of the French, Spanish, and even a Bulgarian newspaper that had reported on the arrival of the three schools. All of them had had reporters present at Hogwarts and both the French and Spanish papers had had no qualms about calling Durmstrang out for its lack of manners and blood supremacy. The Bulgarian newspaper, on the other hand (one of the French students translated for Aria), had gone back and forth about whether Hogwarts should have done more from the outset to make Durmstrang students more comfortable or whether the heir to the Bulgarian throne should have had a harder spine.
"Yeah, it's not fun," Draco agreed. "Grandfather's made quite the name for himself abroad as well as here so I know a little about getting your name thrown about in other countries."
"I'm sure Lord Malfoy's been spreading charity and goodwill wherever he goes," Aria replied sarcastically. Draco laughed.
Harry sidled up to them, wand drawn.
"Incoming Durmstrang!" he whispered, glancing over his shoulder. Aria and Draco straightened, stepping back from each other, and drawing their own wands. When had they even gotten so close?
Viktor Krum and Nikola Petrov came around the stacks, pausing seeing all three of them with wands drawn. Aria snapped the book in her other hand closed.
"Can we help you?" Draco questioned.
"Ve vould like to speak vith Aria," Krum said.
"Alone?" Harry asked. "I think not."
Aria watched as Nikola's gaze flickered over Draco, a little furrow of confusion coming from his eyebrows before smoothing away. He looked at Krum who pushed his friend forward. Nikola's face went pink as he faced Aria.
"I vanted to say that I am sorry for my inactions at the Velcoming Feast," Nikola stated. Aria's eyebrows rose in surprise. Even Harry and Draco could not hide their surprise. "I vas . . . surprised. You had not said you were Muggleborn—,"
"Can you imagine why?" Aria demanded. Nikola's mouth clicked shut, as if unsure what to do with someone interrupting him. "When I first met you, I was alone in another country surrounded by people who may or may not like me based off my blood status, which is damn stupid if you ask me. Then, I had just be a-ass-assaulted—" she hated how much she stuttered through the word whenever she talked about the World Cup, "—by Death Eaters who apparently may have actually been targeting me specifically. Is it so hard for you to wrap your head around why I might not tell you my blood status?" Her chest heaved as she caught her breath. Harry and Draco glared at the Bulgarians. Krum seemed delighted at his friend's discomfort by her tirade.
"Right." Nikola rubbed the back of his neck. "And I agree vith you."
Aria blinked in shock. Krum beamed at his friend.
"You do?"
"I do. But . . . it is not easy in Bulgaria. Or at Durmstrang. Times are changing . . . but there are still many in my country and others who see Muggleborns as . . . stains."
"And you don't?" Draco questioned with a slight sneer. "With just a few words the Bulgarian royal family could help change the mindset of Eastern Europe, yet they continue to be silent in the face of ICW censor."
"Are you in any better a position, young Malfoy?" Nikola retorted. "The Malfoys too hold veight in Britain and yet you cannot do anything but bow to the vay of Abraxas Malfoy, no?"
Aria nudged Draco sharply, keeping him from snapping at Nikola.
"Please don't fight," she said, "I really don't like fighting."
"You're very good at it," Krum said.
"A lot of us are good at things we don't like," Aria answered. "Aren't we?" The boys around her all nodded.
"I appreciate your apology, Nikola," Aria continued. "And I forgive you." A weight seemed to lift off the older boy's shoulders and he stood straighter.
"Ve vill do our best to keep our schoolmates from bothering you," Nikola told her. "Viktor and I vil keep them in line."
"Is there a problem?"
Viktor and Nikola turned around, exposing Hermione and Ron who had snuck up behind them with wands drawn. Ron glared at the two Durmstrang students before confusion crossed his face for a moment seeing Draco. Hermione took one look at Draco, then at Aria, and immediately rolled her eyes, lowering her wand. Aria huffed, she seemed unable to hide much from Hermione.
"No, no problem," Aria said, putting her wand away. Harry and Draco were slower at putting their wands away, but they finally did. Hermione slipped her wand back into its holster and Ron sniffed before putting his away, looking the two guests up and down.
"I'm glad you have friends to stand by your side," Nikola murmured. He gave Aria a stiff bow before swiftly leaving through the stacks, Viktor Krum hurrying after him. Ron folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at Draco.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Weaselby," Draco said, although there was not real bite to it. "I'm going." Aria hit his shoulder even as he smirked at her and left.
"What was Malfoy doing here?" Ron asked.
"You don't want to know," Harry answered.
"I think I know," Hermione said at the same time. "Really, Aria, you could have any boy in our year!"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Aria cried. Hermione leveled her with a 'don't-be-stupid' look which Aria felt was uncalled for. She really didn't know what Hermione was going on about. She was distracted being able to further interrogate her friend by Ron's groan.
"Aria!" Ron cried. "Please don't tell me you were having a tryst!"
"Hardly," Aria answered. "Harry was chaperoning. It was all very proper."
"You just go looking for trouble, don't you?" Ron demanded. "What do you think's gonna happen when the whole of Hogwarts finds out about you two? Abraxas Malfoy will put a bounty on your head so fast it'll spin!"
"I'm surprised he already hasn't," Aria answered. "And no one's gonna find out because no one's gonna say anything. Or do you plan to go announce my business in the Great Hall?"
Ron shook his head, though he did appear a bit mutinous and Aria thought she heard him muttering about pranks with the twins. She ignored him, pulling Hermione away so that they could set up their study space. Harry followed soon after, towing a still muttering Ron behind him.
Aria wore a new set of robes that she had purchased over the summer to the will reading. It was a simple set, a deep blue that really brought out the dark color of her hair and did not wash out her face. At least, that's what the seamstress at Twilfitt and Tattings had said. Aria was inclined to agree, as modeling had allowed her to pick up some idea of what looked good on her and what did not, but she did not think she had the eye for it quite yet.
She had purchased this robe set because she knew that if she were to continue to be connected to Professor Snape as his apprentice or unofficial apprentice, then she would need robes that were more . . . business-like. Now she was glad that she had an opportunity to wear them!
Professor Snape and she walked into Hogsmeade. The morning was pleasant for how late in the year it was, but Aria thought she could smell snow in the air. The Scottish Highlands where Hogwarts was always got snow early and seemed to get rid of it late.
In Hogsmeade, the two of them used the Floo at the Three Broomsticks to travel to the Leaky Cauldron before making their way to Gringotts. A quick word to a goblin teller and they were escorted through a doorway that led towards the offices of the account managers as well as meetings rooms. They were brought to Meeting Room 3.
There were several people already there, talking quietly and drinking tea from a sideboard. Snape and Aria poured themselves cups before settling at the table.
Moments later another door opened, and two men and a goblin came through. Aria sat up straighter, recognizing one of the men. Teddy Lawrence smiled at her and winked before his face smoothed into a more business-like manner.
"Welcome all," the other man said, setting a briefcase on the conference table. "I am Axel Lawrence, and this is my assistant, Theodore Lawrence."
Aria tried not to laugh. Even now, a few years out of Hogwarts, Teddy did not seem like a Theodore.
"And this is Longclaw," Axel continued, motioning to the goblin. "The account manager for the late Mr. and Mrs. Flamel. I am their lawyer and executor. Shall we begin?"
He pulled out a piece of parchment from his briefcase and Longclaw brought forth a scroll.
"These are the two copies of the Flamel Will," Axel continued. "They have both been verified to match."
Why was that important? Aria wondered. From what little she knew about Wills (and it was mostly from reading) Muggles tended to only have one official copy.
The Flamels, she discovered quickly, had amassed quite a fortune over the centuries. Neither Nicholas nor his wife had been extravagant, and the only family they had were decedents of their siblings. Apparently, according to Mr. Lawrence's explanation, the use of the Philosopher's Stone made it impossible for them to have children. So many of the people gathered at the reading were descendants of those siblings or family friends. There were also over a dozen people representing a variety of charities and research guilds that were also receiving significant bequeathments from the Flamels. Beauxbatons received over 5 million Galleons alone and the European Alchemist Guild received 3 million to provide financial assistance to those who wished to pursue an alchemist mastery but did not have the funds. Everyone was walking away with a large number of Galleons. Aria was impressed with the amount each were gaining. Various properties in France were also distributed out to people. The people and organizations she observed seemed pleased with what they were receiving, as if they had been expecting it.
"And finally," Axel read from the Will, "to Miss Aria Bourne of Cokesworth, England. For showing immense moral fiber, and an obscene amount of bravery and wit, we bequeath the remainder of the estate."
Aria glanced at Professor Snape, ignoring the whispers of the many other people present. What was left of the estate?
"The remainder of the estate," Axel continued, "contains 500,000 Galleons in cash as well as certain heirlooms found in Vault 142. All of which will be held in trust by myself and my law firm until you turn seventeen. You're to receive an allowance of 50 Galleons a month until then. There are, however, two heirlooms that you are to be presented with immediately." Aria accepted a little velvet box Longclaw held out to her. It reminded her of a ring box.
Opening the box, a pretty ring shone in the light, a simple gold band with a family crest right on top. Red and blue gems decorated either side of the crest.
"The family's heir ring?" Professor Snape questioned. Several people shifted in shock. A few made attempts to speak, mostly people that were descendants of the Flamels, but Axel silenced them with a sharp look.
"Miss Bourne has been bequeathed all rights and honor to the Flamel family name," Axel explained. "Upon her seventeenth birthday, she will receive the family ring."
"What does that mean?" Aria asked.
"It means you could take on the name Flamel if you wished," Snape said.
"Like adoption?"
"Not quite," Longclaw explained. "It is an old tradition, common during the time that Flamel and his wife were raised in. Not so common now. Should a family die out, they could bequeath their family name to someone. There is no sharing of blood or magic like in an adoption, just a simple passing on of name. Of course, you are not required to change you name. In the eyes of the law, however, you can be treated with the same respect that an old family name such as the Flamels would afford you."
Weird, Aria thought, but a nice thought. It still sounded like an adoption to her. But, she mused, it might do her a little good to be able to throw about such a famous name if she really needed something. She would need to go to the library and get some books that could hopefully explain more about it. Still, she slipped the family ring onto her left middle finger, which is the one Snape told her to put it on. It shrunk to fit her finger and she felt a warm jolt of magic shock her like static.
"And now for the other box," Axel said, gesturing to it. Aria took it from Longclaw. This box was heavy, wooden, and intricately carved with lots of vines and roses, similar to her second wand. There was a thrum of magic that she could feel just under her fingertips as she found the slightly hidden lock and lifted the lid.
Snape stiffened beside her. She was glad that she was on one end of the table, away from the others gathered for the Will reading. She took a deep breath and picked up the envelope that was in the box, letting the top of the box cover snap shut over the gleaming crimson stone that sat so innocently on top of silk cloth.
Inside the envelope was a set of parchment with the swoopy handwriting of Nicholas Flamel. It took a moment of her reading over the three pieces of paper before she realized what she held in her hand.
Heart pounding, hand shaking, she hastily stuffed the papers back into the envelope, shoving the envelope back into the box and locking it.
"That concludes our proceedings today," Axel said, setting the Will down. "I thank you all for coming. Any monies, deeds, or keys bequeathed to you can be arranged to be sent straight to you or your vault today, or you may wait the standard processing time of one week. Please speak to Longclaw."
The people began to rise and exit the conference room, conversations picking up as they went. Several people sent her strange looks as they walked out of the room. Aria waited until the room cleared out before approaching Axel and Teddy with her box.
"Mr. Lawrence," she said, "this box should be in my new vault." Axel glanced at the object.
"Does it displease you?" he asked.
"Do you know what it is?" she asked back.
"No. It is my not my place to pry when my client asks to pass along items in boxes when they die. However, I remember Mr. Flamel saying that he thought you might like it. You were added only a few months ago."
"I . . . am very flattered," Aria stuttered. "And I do like it. Very much. But I don't think I should just take the Philosopher's Stone and its recipe with me to Hogwarts."
Axel Lawrence's professionalism broke as he gaped at her. Teddy threw his head back, laughing.
"Mr. Flamel would leave you of all people something like this!" Teddy cried, wiping away a few tears that had sprung from his eyes. "Oh, Aria, you never cease to amaze me."
"I talked to Mr. Flamel once," Aria cried, thrusting the box at the two lawyers. "I'm not sure why he feels the need to gift me the Philosopher's Stone, I gave it back to him for a reason, but I'm certainly not going to say no to it."
"If you don't mind me asking," Axel said, "how did you meet Mr. Flamel?"
"Dumbledore borrowed the Stone my first year," Aria answered. "Hid it in Hogwarts. I'm not sure why. Anyway, Professor Quirrell, the DADA professor that year, was being possessed by Lord Voldemort—"
The three men all flinched.
"And he kidnapped Harry, so I went after them. And . . . well . . . I suppose possession isn't the right word. It was more like Lord Voldemort—"
More flinching.
"—was acting like a parasite on Professor Quirrell. He had to drink unicorn blood to sustain himself. Anyway, he wanted the Stone so that he could get his body back. Voldemort that is. But Dumbledore had hidden it in the Mirror of Erised and the only way to retrieve it was to look in the mirror and want the Stone without desiring to use it, and it ended up in my pocket. But I didn't tell anyone, not even Dumbledore, until Nicholas Flamel came to collect it. Then I gave it back to him. I don't think Dumbledore even knew I did that."
"You . . . secretly were in possession of the most coveted magical object in the world and you just . . . gave it back?" Axel questioned.
"Well, yeah. I didn't have any use for it. Still don't, but I understand now how important it is. And it wasn't mine either way, and Flamel wasn't trying to use it for evil or anything, and it wasn't his fault that Harry got kidnapped. He did say something, I remember, about keeping it to use, but the only person I would ever think to use it on was Muggle and I don't think the Philosopher's Stone would work on Muggles. And she's dead and the Stone can't bring back dead people either, Muggle or not."
Axel stared over the top of her head at Professor Snape before swiveling his head to stare at his son.
"I told you," Teddy said to him. Aria narrowed her eyes at him.
"What did you tell him?" she demanded.
"There truly is something about you," Axel said. "I was very pleased to meet you last year when I came to Hogwarts with Mr. Black. I had had to listen to my son and his husband talk about you prior to that. I still had to listen to them rant and rave about Bulgarians for hours! And then, of course, Mr. Black inquired about protection amulets for you."
"Yes, my dad mentioned something about that."
"Well, you can tell him that you've got an heir ring now. Family rings hold layer upon layers of protection. It should protect you from most magical attacks. A ring as old as the one you've received will protect you better than any protection amulet made today. You can still, of course, get into duals and such if you're so inclined, but poisons and random sneak attacks in the hallways of Hogwarts from disgruntled classmates will not harm you."
"Poisons?" Aria shuddered at the idea. "Well, glad to know that no one can take a pot shot at me."
"Are people trying to take pot shots at you?" Teddy asked.
"No," Aria admitted. "Not yet. Someone did destroy my bed. Professor Snape had to put up wards and stuff."
"If people really start bothering you, let Adrian know."
"Pucey?"
"He's my cousin, and I told him to look out for you." Teddy frowned. "If he not?"
"No, no. He's not . . . not looking after me, I guess. He's just no Prudence."
Teddy laughed. "Attlebury is her own brand of person, that's for sure. Adrian's also got an in with the Montagues and Warringtons. Not quite families the family want him associating with." Teddy and Axel shared a look of disappointment.
"I wouldn't want anyone associating with them either," Aria agreed.
"If you have too much trouble, write," Teddy instructed her as they now made their way out of the conference room.
"And if you need or desire anything from your new vault, write to me," Axel told her. "You'll receive an inventory by owl by next week. As I hold the trust, you need to request anything additional over the 50 Galleons a month from me."
"Got it," Aria said. "Doubt I'll need that much anyway, but I'll be sure to remember."
Saying their good-byes, the Lawrences went to deposit the Philosopher's Stone in the vault and Snape ushered Aria out of the bank. They stopped briefly at a little café near the guild hall for a light lunch before returning to Hogwarts.
"Can you explain what it means to have been bequeathed Flamel's name?" Aria asked as they waited for their food. "Am a Flamel now?"
"No, you're not a Flamel," Snape answered. "Adoption in the wizarding world . . . at least here in Europe . . . was not as practiced as it is nowadays. At one time the idea of adopting someone into the bloodline was scandalous. It became less so with the practice of blood adoption coming to Europe. With it, family magics could be shared and not die out, which was one reason wixen had been so against adoption before. Bequeathment, however, was widely practiced. Essentially, Flamel has given you permission to use his name in any capacity that you want. If you want to change your name completely legally, you could. If you just wanted to use his name professionally, you could. If you never wanted to use his name, you could do that as well. If you didn't legally change your name you can't pass on the Flamel name to any of your children, so think about that."
Aria did not want to think about having kids.
"Either way," Snape continued, "he has given you permission to open doors, so to speak, using his name instead of having to fight your way through."
"That feels a bit like cheating," Aria said. "Like I've gained access to something I didn't earn."
"I believe Muggles call this nepotism," Snape answered with a quirk of his mouth into a half smile. "Many of your housemates will be quite familiar with the concept even if they don't know the term."
"So . . . essentially . . . I've been bequeathed nepotism."
"I think you'll find having the Flamel name in your back pocket will be useful," Snape told her. Their food came floating towards them. "As someone who did not have such a luxury when starting out after Hogwarts, your path to success has just been made a little bit smoother."
"I thought it had already gotten smoother because of you," Aria said. "You're the youngest and best potions master in the world! I got invited to the YEP Symposium because you happened to write two letters of introduction for me. If I had to use any kind of connection to be successful, I'd rather it be my connection to you than to a man I only met once."
Snape cleared his throat a few times, taking a long sip of his water.
"I am deeply reminded that you are a child," he finally said, throat catching. He cleared his throat again while Aria rolled her eyes. "And you don't understand the gift handed to you. I assure you, Flamel's name is worth far more than mine."
"Not to me," Aria muttered mutinously. Snape cleared his throat again.
Aria had barely arrived back at Hogwarts and changed into more practical clothes to go visit the centaurs later when she was swept up by Daphne, Tracey, Pansy, and Millicent to go to the Great Hall to watch people put their names into the Goblet of Fire. There was a large crowd of students gathered, hanging about chatting or attempting to do schoolwork as they loitered about waiting for some brave soul to put their name in.
"Cassius apparently put his name in early this morning," Tracey told Aria as they settled on a bench.
A group of Hufflepuffs came striding in, loudly cheering on two of their housemates. Beatrice Haywood and Cedric Diggory were shoved forward across the glowing age-line that surrounded the Goblet, laughing all the while. Cedric gave a flourishing bow towards Beatrice who had to stand a little on tiptoe to toss her parchment with her name into the fire. The Goblet blazed for a second before dying back down to its usual flames, apparently accepting her as a candidate. Cedric tossed his name in next, and the Goblet flared in the same way.
"We can't have a Hufflepuff champion," Pansy moaned quietly. "How embarrassing!"
A group of Slytherins entered, Adrian Pucey stepping forward to put his name into the Goblet. Aria cheered for him as he did so, her voice rising with the other Slytherins that were gathered.
"Pucey's a much better choice than Warrington," Aria said as the fourth year Slytherin boys came over to join them.
"Too right!" Harry agreed. "Can you imagine Warrington as our champion? He's like a sloth."
"You were gone for ages," Blaise said, pushing between Tracey and Aria to sit next to her. "Tell us all about this Will reading."
"Oh . . . um . . ."
Someone grabbed her hand and she barely managed to keep from snapping once she realized it was Draco. He struck an important, snooty pose as he held her hand with the heir ring aloft.
"I'd say she came out rather well," he declared. Aria snatched her hand back.
"I'm not announcing it to the whole world!" she cried.
"So, she got a ring," Harry said. "Big deal."
"It's an heir ring," Draco stressed. "It's a very big deal. Surprised your godfather hasn't gotten the Potter ring for you yet. Or the Black."
"He's been a bit busy in Switzerland lately, hasn't he?"
"I only got what was left of his estate after everyone else got their stuff," Aria told them. "Some money and a vault of heirlooms. I'm supposed to be getting an inventory later."
"Now that is something I'd love to see," Theo said. "I can't imagine what the Flamels have collected over the centuries."
"I bet they've got some impressive chess sets," Daphne teased.
Beauxbatons students strolled into the Great Hall. Many of the male students fell silent with mouths open as Fleur Delacour strolled forward at the forefront of the group. She crossed the age line and tossed in a piece of paper, other students following her example.
"Think she'll get it?" Tracey asked.
"She's a bit of a princess isn't she?" Millicent commented. "I mean . . . it's no secret she's the queen of Beauxbatons, much like Krum's the leader of the Durmstrang delegation, but she . . . ." she trailed off with a shrug.
"I bet she's tougher than she looks," Aria said. "I just hope that, if she does get picked, then whoever gets picked from Hogwarts cannot be distracted by her."
It was like almost every boy lost their heads whenever the French girl was around. It was very strange.
"There's Veela blood in her," Draco explained. "Many French families have it. It was all the rage at one point."
"Do you have Veela blood?" Harry asked.
"No," Draco answered.
"Lies!" Theo whispered. "Don't believe a word he says."
"I don't have Veela blood," Draco insisted. "My side of the family left France before the Veela blood came in."
The Beauxbatons students were about to head out the doors when they stepped aside for the Durmstrang delegation. Nicholas was leading a loud cheer of some kind, it almost sounded like a war chant, as Viktor Krum and several others stalked forward to put their names into the Goblet.
"I bet we know who the Goblet's choosing for Durmstrang," Blaise said.
"How do we know anything?" Aria asked. "It's an inanimate object. What enchantments are on it? How does it determine who is worthy and who isn't?"
"Haven't you and Hermione already researched this?" Daphne asked.
"Yes, but the library is woefully lacking in anything regarding the Goblet of Fire specifically."
As if summoned by her name, Hermione appeared, a thick book in her arms.
"You're back!" she cried in greeting.
"And just about to leave again," Aria said. "I've got to walk out into the woods. I don't even know where I'm going."
"I'm sure someone will be there to guide you," Harry said.
"I can't believe you get to learn under the centaurs!" Hermione sighed. "The knowledge they must have!"
"I think it's disgusting!" a voice said from behind them.
"No one asked you, Astoria!" Daphne snapped. "Stop eavesdropping. It's like you're stalking us or something."
"I think she's obsessed with me," Aria whispered to Daphne.
"It's ridiculous!" Daphne muttered. "Father did not raise us this way."
"No, but your mother did," Blaise said.
Aria gave her seat to Hermione, waved good-bye to her friends, and headed out of the Great Hall. Her stomach churned and buzzed in anticipation as she made her way in the direction of Hagrid's hut, but veered off to where there was a path that entered into the Forbidden Forest.
A few yards into the forest, a centaur stepped out from behind a large tree and bowed towards Aria. Aria was glad to bow back as it gave her a few seconds to come to terms with the fact that the female was bare chested.
"Greetings, young one," the centaur said. "I am Selene and Bane asked that I escort you to our herd's camp."
"Thank you," Aria answered, falling into step beside the centauride. She admired the centaur's sleek chestnut coat and took note that her hair was long and glossy and a bright red that put even the Weasley's hair to shame.
They walked along in silence for fifteen minutes. Around them the forest was alive with the sounds of birds and the rustling of branches devoid of leaves or the rustling of creatures underneath the fallen foliage.
"When the snows come, you will not be able to come to us," Selene said, startling Aria. "The snows in the forest are too deep for foals like you."
"What about you?" Aria asked.
"We are made to live through such things," Selene answered.
The path curved and it was here that Selene veered off into the trees. Aria scrambled after her, clambering over roots of the largest trees she had ever seen. She knew from reading that the Forbidden Forest was an old-growth forest, or an ancient woodland, which was why there was so much controversy about the British ministry taking acres from its edges to build wixen-only communities similar to Hogsmeade. Aria thought of the Forbidden Forest more like an enchanted forest, one that she would read about as a small child with her mum in fairytale books.
After almost hurting herself several times in the pits of uprooted trees, Aria and Selene emerged into a clearing. Campfires and erected structures of branches and moss filled the clearing. Centaurs of all colors and child-centaurs moved about in such domestical tranquility, Aria felt it almost sacrilegious to step into their domain. Yet, Selene motioned for her to keep up, so Aria kept to her side as they strolled across the clearing towards the largest campfire. All around centaurs paused in their work to stare at her and she felt her face grow warm under their scrutiny.
"Welcome, Aria Bourne," Bane said from where he sat by the campfire. "Come, sit." He gestured to a stump that had been placed between him and Firenze. "It is time for you to begin your lessons."
Aria plopped down on the stump.
"You have questions," Firenze commented after a moment.
"So many!" Aria agreed.
"Then ask them," Firenze said. "And we may answer."
"Why me?" Aria asked. "Centaurs and wixen don't get along very well. Yet you're more than willing to give me lessons."
"The stars have shown us that you are worthy of our lessons."
"So you've said. But why did the stars tell you that?"
"Great change is about to come to these shores," Bane answered. "You are to play an important part."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"You don't believe me?" Bane asked, amused.
"I'm hardly the kind of witch that gets marked for greatness," Aria said. "I'm Muggleborn, I come from a poor family . . . if anyone were to be marked for greatness, I'd have thought it would be Harry. I mean, he did survive Voldemort when he was a baby."
"Harry Potter's name is also in the stars," Firenze responded, gazing up at the canopy of trees. Aria could see that there was a wide opening above the clearing for the centaurs to see the sky. "Your names circle each other. But it is you that is the epicenter. He has his place, and you have yours and that is why we agreed with the gods to teach you and not he."
"Gods?" Aria squeaked. "Like . . . the old gods? Pagan gods?"
"The gods of the isles that both magicals and nonmagicals once worshipped together," Bane replied. "And the gods that many still do."
A shiver ran up Aria's spine. Suddenly, it felt like the woods around them had eyes and that she was being watched by more than just the centaurs. She fought the urge to look around for the source, almost too afraid of what she might find.
Bane cast some sort of powder into the fire and immediately the flames sprang skyward, and a myriad of colors appeared in the flames.
"Let's begin," he said.