Aria Black and the Battle for Hogwarts

The Barman

When I can't make a decision about Ariel, I go to Hogsmeade for a drink. Rosmerta's place is full of Death Eaters these days, so I set off for the Hog's Head.

Hogsmeade is different now. It is no longer a source of brightness and escape for the Hogwarts students. Nowadays the kids are allowed to go, but no one does. There are a lot of Death Eaters patrolling the place, and all the good stores have been shut down.

The Hog's Head is empty when I arrive, except for a goat. His name tag bears the name Oscar in scraggly handwriting.

The goat makes that weird goat sound, and the barman comes rushing in. "Oh, you." He says, moving to stand behind the bar.

"You don't even know me." I tell him.

He glances up at me, a challenging look in his eyes. "Aria Black, twenty-one years old, daughter of Sirius and Danielle Black. Astronomy professor at Hogwarts. Need I go on?"

"How do you know all of that?" I ask, astonished. This guy is creepy.

"My brother Albus told me all about you. He was worried you were finding out things he didn't want you to find out. It's just like Albus to be afraid of the truth."

I gulp. "Albus, as in Albus Dumbledore?" The man nods. "That would make you Aberforth Dumbledore, wouldn't it?" I say quietly.

"Yes."

Dumbledore told me about him last year. He didn't say they were on good terms.

Aberforth slides a butter beer across the bar.

"What did Dumbledore not want me to find out?" I ask.

Aberforth ushers me into what looks like his chambers. A large portrait of a beautiful young woman hangs in the corner. That must be Ariana Dumbledore. She waves at me, and I turn my attention to Aberforth.

"Albus told me you had an interesting family history. He didn't say how, but he did say that it's messy. He also seemed to think you had a prophecy made about you. Do you?"

I nod.

Dumbledore didn't want me to find out about the Taylors? Or my prophecy? What was his problem?

"Did Dumbledore say anything else about me?" I ask.

He nods. "He spoke very highly of you. Personally, I don't see why."

And the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore rolls her eyes.

***A/N: These are their codenames for Potterwatch: Romulus- Remus, Rapier- Fred, River- Lee, Royal- Kingsley, Rodent- George***

I miss Fred's voice so much that I turn on Potterwatch as I pack up my things for Easter Break.

"Support Harry Potter parties are unwise in this particular climate." Remus is saying.

They're talking about Hagrid!

"A moment of silence for our friend Hagrid. We hope you found a good place to hide." The deep, captivating voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt says.

I really hope he did.

"Some grim news for you lot, a Muggle family was murdered in Wiltshire." Lee! Lee is alive.

"Do we know their names, River?" Fred asks. Fred! Fred is there!

"Not yet, Rapier, although our loyal followers will be the first to know when we do." Lee replies in his old commentator voice. I've missed it.

The radio crackles, and I hear George warning us about the Taboo on Voldy's name.

"Quite right, Rodent." Royal says. "One must be careful about what comes off the tongue. It can mean so much more than you intend."

"And with that we're out." Lee, or River, says.

"We don't know when we can broadcast next, but the password will be Aria." Fred says. Aria. Their password is my name. "Love you, Ari." He adds.

Did he just say he loved me? He loves me! I want to cry out to him, to tell him that I love him too. But he's far, far away from here.

"I love you too, Fred." I whisper. "I love you too."

The words feel sweet on my tongue. He loves me, and I love him too. If only we could be together.

***

Of all the people I expect to find at Tonks and Andromeda's house, Angelina is not one of them.

She's sobbing into Tonks shoulder. Both of their bellies are bigger than ever. I drop my bags on the floor.

"What happened?"

She looks at me with a tear-stained face and I suddenly know exactly what happened. Her family is dead.

"Oh, Ange." I say, sinking to my knees and hugging her. "I'm so sorry."

"I should've made them listen." She whispers. "They could've been safe."

I shake my head ferociously. "No, Ange, you couldn't. They weren't going to see reason on such short notice. If I'd been quicker to address the problem this never would've happened."

"Neither of you can bloody blame yourselves." Tonks huffs. "The Death Eaters did this."

Angelina, fuming with anger, draws herself up. "I'm going to bed, because I have an effing funeral to host tomorrow. Goodnight."