What If? Year 1

Chapter 36

"Don't get my boyf- Cedric in trouble, Ara," I scold, as Ara puts packets of something in her pockets. 
"Almost slipped up there, Golds," she teases back, "and I won't he's just going to walk me around." I shake my head and giggle. Heather and Ginny where already asleep, but I was waiting up to follow Ara. 
"What are you going to do?" Ara laughs. 
"You'll know, don't worry. Tomorrow morning." 
"Ara, just tell me!" 
"Just a little pay back, alright?" 
"Be careful." 
"I will, Golds. Don't worry." I nod and she smiles at me. I lay down on my bed and she ties up her shoes. 

I follow Ara down to the common room. She cannot see me, so I wait for her to open the door. 
"What have I gotten myself into, Ara?" Cedric asks, as we step out of the portrait hole. 
"Just a little pay back, Diggory," she replies, "Don't worry. No one will be harmed. Just some mindless fun." 
"Where am I taking you?"
"Slytherin common room, if you don't mind." I shake my head and follow them. 
"This involves what exactly?"
"Glitter.. lots and lots of glitter." 
"Oh Merlin." Cedric and Ara make it to the dungeon stairs and I stop. I wish to follow them, but something holds me back. 
Maybe I should go see Regulus.  My feet take me straight to the hospital wing, while my mind wanders to Ara and Cedric. I kneel down next to Regulus and swipe a strand of hair from his eyes. 
"Hey, Reg. I'm going to figure out how to fix this, okay? You're going to be okay. You have to be okay." I smile and touch his forehead. 
"Snake. Must warn Goldie." 
I shoot back and gasp. 
That was Regulus' voice.. what the hell?  I reach out and touch his forehead again. 
"Don't go, Siri. Please."  A teenage Sirius stares down at me. 
"I can't stay, Reggie. Come with me. The Potter can help you too." 
"I'm sorry, Siri. Oh, Merlin, please don't-." 
"Goodbye, Regulus... be safe." 
"Goodbye, Sirius.. I love you." Tears drip down my face, but they were not mine. 
"I.. I love you too." Sirius kneels down and gives me a hug. I see a mirror and my stomach ties in a knot. A pale face with silver eyes and long black hair greeted me.
My head gets pulled back to the floor, and pain shoots through my hand to my head. 
"Regulus!" I shout. I look down at him and his eyes were misty. I get up and run off. 
What the hell was that? Did I just see a memory?  That was something private for sure. Anxiety makes my spine shivers. I keep running until I reach my bed. 
Just go to sleep.

In the morning, Ara was just getting back. My head was still racing from last night. 
Poor Regulus.  I look at Ara and she smiles. 
"Prank is in position." 
"Why did it take you so long? It's morning for Merlin sake."
"Lot's of bed in the Slytherin common room." 
"Everyone?" 
"No.. they don't have their doors labeled, so I had to search." 
"Did you have fun?" Heather asks, making me jump. Ara nods. 
"Are you going to get caught?" I ask. 
"Of course not." Heather laughs, and I throw my covers off. 
"It's Sunday, Goldie. We don't have any classes." 
"I know. I want to go talk to Hermione really quick." I walk up the stairs and open the door. As I presumed, Hermione was up, doing homework. 
"Good morning, Goldie," she says, "Do you need something?" 
"I have an idea about the monster." Hermione sits up straighter and pats her bed. 
"I think, it's some kind of snake," I tell her, "It's small enough to go through the walls and the pipes. We just have to figure out the petrifying part." Hermione nods and takes out a spare piece of parchment. 
"We should go to the library today," She says, "There are so many books, one of them has to have the answer. I don't know where to start." I nod. 
"After breakfast then?" I ask. Hermione nods, and I get up. I go back to my dorm. Ara and Heather have both gone back to sleep when I get back. I grab a quill and a piece of parchment. 

Dear Mum,
I went on the date with Cedric. It was amazing. He's so sweet and he gave me a pair of ice skates. We skated on the Black Lake and talked. It was great. 
I have a question for you and Dad. I was looking through some files in the library for History of Magic and I came across a name. I could not find any other documents of him so I am asking you. Thomas Marvolo, who is he? The name just sound so familiar to me, and I cannot put my finger on it. 

All of my classes are going wonderfully. I have O's in all of them. I have been bored in some of them, because I have read ahead. In Potions, I think I might have impressed Professor Snape with my random knowledge of potions. I cannot figure out which is my favorite class. Potions, Charms, and Transfigurations are certainly my told three. 
I love it here, but I miss you, Dad, and Evie. I'll write you again next weekend. 
Love, Goldie

I fold my parchment and seal it in an envelope. Ara was studying me as I do. 
"There's something wrong, isn't there Goldie?" she asks, "does it have to do with Cedric helping me with the prank?"  The comment throws me off and I look at her oddly. 
"No," I reply, "It have absolutely nothing to do with that. I'm actually really happy you two are getting along." 
"Then what is it? You're upset, I can tell." 
"We found Regulus last night."
"Oh, Godric. Is he alright?" 
"He's been petrified."
"But he's... dead, isn't he?" 
"I know, I'm trying to figure it out too." 
"Do you want me to help?" 
"Hermione and I are going to the library after breakfast, if you'd like to join." Ara smiles and starts to get ready. 
"So.. you don't talk about Regulus very much? What is he like? Is he like Sirius?" I shake my head, searching for a pair of jeans and a jumper. 
"No, he's not," I answer, "he's  more chill, definitely smarter. I think you'd like him." 
"Have you told Sirius?" 
"Regulus told me not to." 
"Oh, is there a reason?" 
"It so I don't upset him, I think." We both finish getting ready and we walk down to the Great Hall. I fill Ara in on what we are looking for at the library. Hermione is waiting at the Gryffindor table for us. 
"Good morning, Ara," she says, "Are you coming with us to the library to-" Snape walks by. He looks at us, almost suspecting us of something. 
"Yes," Ara replies. 

We leave the library after three hours of searching. We found no more leads, but we all agreed to come back next week.
"I've got to go find Harry and Ron. They need help with their Potions essay. Of course, they procrastinated and it's due tomorrow."
"Okay, thanks, Mione." Ara and I continue our walk to the common room to grab out books. After grabbing out books, we decide to go back to the Great Hall to do some homework. Rachel runs up to us on the Grand Staircase. Gold glitter was scattered in her hair.
"Ara! Thank you so much!" I look to Ara, confused.
"It's not a problem, Rach. What else are friends for? Would you like to come with us? We're going to do some homework in the Great Hall."
"Yeah! What classes?"
"Potions and Transfigurations," I answer. She smiles.
"I'll go get my books." she runs off and I stare at Ara.
"So.. what happened?"
"The Slytherins are still bothering her about her blood. I offered a prank." I nod.
"That was nice of you."
"I wish we could hang out with her more often. I wish we had more classes with her."
"We'll have to invite her more," I offer, "Like today. Homework." Ara smiles. We get to the Great Hall and find an empty section of a table.
"Potions or Transfiguration first?"
"Transfiguration," I say, pointing to McGonagall sitting at the teachers table, "So if we need help, we can ask." Ara nods and Rachel walks in. We wave to her and she sit down next to Ara.
"We're starting with Transfiguration," Ara tells her. Rachel pulls out her Transfiguration book. I quickly look through the homework question and mentally answer all of them.
"If you need help, just ask Goldie," Ara jokes, "I know that look, its annoying. It means she's already figured out the answers." I smile and stick my tongue out at her.
"You should be thankful.. that means I can answer your questions." Rachel and Ara both laugh and we start to work on homework.