Aria Black and the Battle for Hogwarts

Making Deals with the Devil

A storm brews outside Ariel's small cottage. I knock on the door and step inside. She'll be pissed that I just walked in, but we have urgent business to discuss.

"Ariel?" I call. "It's Aria, we really need to talk. Ariel?" I enter the kitchen, where soup is cooking on the stove.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here." She huffs, shoving me into a dining chair across from her. Ariel remains standing. "Well?"

I sigh. "We really need your help, Ariel. Please, just consider it."

Ariel rolls her eyes. "I've got enough to worry about right now without the war. And, if it doesn't include me, why should I uproot my life to a possible loss, when I can stay here untouched either way if I'm not involved?"

She's right. From her point of view, I'm crazy. Even I wouldn't do it if I was in her shoes. But I'm not in her shoes. She is. Only Ariel can make this decision.

"I know it sounds stupid, but do it for my mum, Ariel, please." I beg.

"No." Ariel spits.

"Please." I say. "We need you."

"Are you aware that you and my mother are sisters?" I blurt out.

Ariel's eyes narrow. "How did you know?"

I am relieved to finally have piked her interest, but I can't let it show. People like Ariel hate it when other people are happy.

"Elizabeth Taylor told me, before you came in." I tell her. "You didn't hear?"

Ariel scoffs. "I didn't need to. Dani and I were close enough to know we were closely related."

"Then you would do it for a sister?" I say.

Ariel shakes her head. "No. Dani would want me to live my life, ALIVE."

"But this isn't living!" I exclaim. "This is being cooped up in a little house with no family or friends. This is SURVIVING! Mum would want you to LIVE!"

Ariel turns away from me. "No. Now if you don't have any further questions-"

"When did you meet my mum?" I ask. "Because I have her diary, and I want to see when you are in it."

Ariel's eyes are wide as she turns around. "You have her diary?"

I nod, a little surprise that she just now turned up the intensity. "Yes?"

Ariel's eyes done leave mine. "I'll fight for the diary."

I sigh. "Let me think about it."

She glares at me. "You'll make the right decision if you're Dani's kid."

***

My Astronomy class are all in high spirits. Not. I get to class late, and when I do, everyone is screaming at each other.

"Slytherin traitor." Pavarti hisses at Daphne.

"Reckless and stupid Gryffindor!" Daphne spits angrily.

"At least Daphne isn't a backstabbing-" Hannah begins.

"STOP!" I yell. "What is going on?"

I cast a Silencing charm over the door and look at them, expecting an answer.

Terry sighs. "We are all mad because of Fay, and it all started when Padma-"

"It wasn't me!" Padma exclaims angrily.

"Was to!" Hannah cries.

"If Fay were here-" Pavarti begins.

"SHE'S NOT!!" Michael yells. Everyone falls silent. "She's not here! It's up to us to make our own decisions! People come and go and you just need to bloody move on! Fay might live, sure. But will we ever see her again after that? No! We have to make our own decisions based off of what we want! Not what Fay WOULD want, because she isn't in this puzzle right now, dammit!"

Everyone looks at him in awe.

Hannah looks at Terry. "I'm sorry I called you a stupid bookworm."

Terry, Padma, and Pavarti all exchange apologizes with everyone.

Michael doesn't have anything to apologize for. He said nothing this entire time. Everyone looks to Daphne, who gazes fiercely at the wall.

"C'mon, Daph." Hannah says. "WE all said we were sorry."

Daphne sighs, not taking her eyes off the wall. "I guess it comes with being a Slytherin traitor, doesn't it?" She says bitterly.