Aria Black and the Battle for Hogwarts

The Taylors

I pull my windbreaker over my body as I race down the road. My grandparents live here!

I apparate inside of the spiked fence in case there are protective enchantments on the door. The door is without a doorknob, but a serpent rests on the door. It's clear emerald eyes light up when I approach.

"Sssssssstate your name, witch." The serpent hisses.

I raise my eyebrows. "Aria?"

"Your full name pleassssssse." The serpent looks rather annoyed with me.

"Ariana Taylor Black." I tell him.

"Massster and Misssstresssss Taylor will ssssssssee you now."

I nod, and the door swings open. There's no one at the door waiting for me. I cautiously step inside.

"Hello?" I call. "Uriah and Elizabeth Taylor? I think I'm your granddaughter! Hello?"

A cold hand clasps my shoulder. I shriek and jump backward.

A woman stands in front of me, a stony glare on her face. "What are you doing in my home?" She hisses, almost like the serpent outside the door.

I shake her hand off, and look into her black, emotionless eyes. "The serpent opened the door."

"I certainly didn't authorize it." The woman says angrily. She doesn't take her eyes off me. "Who exactly gave you the authority-"

"That would be me, Elizabeth." A heavyset man booms with a dopey smile on his face.

The man (probably my grandfather Uriah) moves to where he's next to Elizabeth. "Might we interest you in a cup of tea?"

I nod, happy to finally have a proper welcome.

"Wonderful!" Uriah booms. "Tea, please, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth glares at me, before stalking off to what I assume is the kitchen.

Uriah smiles at me, and leads me into the gloomy family room. "I assume you are Ariana?"

"Yes," I tell him. "Are you Uriah, my grandfather?"

Uriah laughs loudly. "That would be me! Why have you come, young lady?"

I sigh, actually contemplating the question. "I heard that you lived here, and I had a few questions about our family so if you wouldn't mind-"

Elizabeth enters with the tea, a malicious look on her face. "Here's your tea."

I take the lone teacup gently from her hands and raise it to my lips. Wait...... I smell something. Is it poison? Are they trying to make me drink poison? My own family!

I set the teacup down, intent on asking my questions. "What happened to my mother?"

Uriah raises his eyebrows. "Your mother is in St. Mungos under the false impression that she is a Seer. Surely you've been told this-"

"That isn't my mother." I snap. "That's Mary, your older daughter! Danielle is my mother! Danielle!"

Uriah and Elizabeth exchange a glance. "I think you're a little mixed up." Uriah says sympathetically. "You are Ariana Black, correct? Daughter of Mary Taylor and Sirius Black?"

"MY DAD LOVES MY ACTUAL MOTHER, NOT MY AUNT YOU-"

Elizabeth smirks triumphantly at me. "Why don't you drink up, you'll feel much better."

I glare at her, nostrils flaring. "YOU ARE TRYING TO BLOODY POISON ME! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? I AM DONE WITH YOU FOOLS!"

The door out of the room slams shut, and I find my wand out of my grasp. Uriah falls unconscious and I turn my gaze to Elizabeth.

"Who are you?" I ask shakily.

"Elizabeth Greengrass Taylor."

My eyes widen. "You're related to the Greengrasses? How?"

"Are you referring to your friend Daphne, or your not-so-friend Ariel?"

I glare at her. How does she know everything?

"Daphne is my niece, and Ariel is my disowned spawn."

Spawn? "Spawn as in...... child?" I ask, bewildered that this woman has so many unknown daughters.

Elizabeth spits in disgust. "Sadly I gave birth to the little freak. She can do things- bring down buildings and shoot fire at people. I didn't want her to get tied to me- she's also a filthy Squib."

Ariel has powers?

"What about my mother?"

Elizabeth kicks the man at her feet in disgust. "My idiot of a husband cheated on me with a Muggle! A Muggle! After she died, he brought Danielle here and expected me to just be okay with it. I was fine, for a year or so. Then I'd had enough. I left her in a field and never looked back. Then Mary tried to figure out what had happened to her sister, so I sent her to St. Mungos where no one would take her seriously. I've vanquished my worst enemies, and the last of which stands in front of me."

"Are you going to kill me?" I ask fiercely.

She shrugs. "A memory charm, perhaps. But if I must result to force, I will."

Elizabeth lunges at me, and I jump to the left. She goes in again, and I jump again. Uriah stirs, and as I briefly turn my attention to him, Elizabeth pounces on me. She fires a spell at Uriah that knocks him out again. Elizabeth turns to me, wickedly grinning.

It's over. Will she take away all my memories? Probably, she's that cruel. I won't remember Fred or Dad, or any of my friends. I won't remember my mom's story, or Mary, or my students.

"Obliv-"

Elizabeth can't finish her spell. She gets blown off me by an unseen force. Ariel steps in, hands flaming.

***

"Why don't you fight with us?" I ask Ariel as we sit in her kitchen, talking.

"I don't want to be arrested and murdered by the Ministry after this all blows over. Even if you lot win, I'll still get arrested." She snaps.

I sigh. "I wouldn't let that happen, Ariel."

Ariel glares at me fiercely. "Who's to say you'll make it through? I'm not dying in a stupid war either!"

"I thought you'd do it for my mother." I say hostilely.

Ariel matches my glare. "Your mother is dead. It's about time you accepted it."