Can't Help Falling In Love - Harry Potter (Book Two)

I Won't Let You Go

Thursday, 31st of August 1995

"Last day of your holidays!" Mrs Weasley spoke, as the children of the house arrived to the kitchen the morning before their train back to school. She had a look of sympathy on her face, but they all knew there would be more to come. If the last few weeks were any predictor, she would likely request that they help with chores, as if it would keep them out of trouble.

"Oh yes," Ariana said, turning to glance at Ron and Hermione, who were taking their seats at the breakfast table. "One more day before Mr and Mrs Prefect-of-Gryffindor begin their reign of terror over us all!"

Ron's cheeks went predictably red at this comment, as he shot a glare towards his friend, whilst Hermione simply smiled. They had discovered the morning after Albus Dumbledore's birthday party that Ron and Hermione had been made Gryffindor Prefects, and whilst initially there had been some awkward questioning regarding why Harry and Ariana weren't selected, they had then celebrated accordingly.

"Well, what better way to spend your last day before school cleaning up a little bit?" Mrs Weasley slyly suggested, a shug of her shoulders as she served up some fried eggs, as Fred and George groaned in protest.

"Haven't we done enough slave labour for you this summer?" Fred questioned.

"Yeah, can't we have a nice day for once? One which can be spent having some fun?" George asked, and his mother rolled her eyes.

"Are you trying to imply the pair of you won't be having any fun at school?" She laughed, though it was full of sarcasm. "No, before you lot go off causing trouble, you can help me!"

------

That was how Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ariana found themselves in one of the many bedrooms upstairs in Grimmauld Place, using good old elbow grease to rid the place of the many layers of dust that covered it.

For all they were quite irritated to be doing household chores, they had all had quite a pleasant day, chatting and laughing, feeling like carefree kids, for what they knew was probably going to be the last time for a long time.

The mood was high in the house, at least for a short while. But as ever, that soon changed, when a scream sounded from a bedroom down the hall.

Ariana was closest to the doorway, and so she was the first to see what was causing such a commotion.

There stood Mrs Weasley, trembling hands on a pale, tear-soaked face, as she stared down at the evidently dead body of Ron Weasley.

Ariana's initial reaction was to panic, to rush to her friend, until logical portion of her brain kicked into gear, reminding her that Ron was alive and well, and he was stood behind her, looking down at his own dead corpse.

He didn't need to look for long, however, as the body rapidly changed to take the form of Fred and George, and then Ginny, and finally, Percy, which caused the wails coming from Mrs Weasley to intensify.

"Sod this," Ariana muttered, pulling her wand out of her waistband and moving to push Mrs Weasley out of the way.

"Ariana, you can't!" Harry's voice stopped her in her tracks. "You'll be expelled,"

It was too late. The damage was done. And Ariana felt her blood run cold at the sight now lying on the ground before her very eyes.

The Boggart had transformed once again, this time taking the shape of yet another corpse. This one was brutally mutilated, blood appearing to gush from open wounds, as it's bright green eyes stared up at her, unseeing, unmoving.

She couldn't breathe, she couldn't look away. For all she knew that it wasn't real, and Harry Potter was safe and well behind her, his hand tugging on her arm, trying to make her move, she was glued in one place, unblinking.

Mr Weasley had arrived at some point, it could have been seconds, minutes, hours, Ariana didn't know. She just knew she was running, and praying nobody was following her, as she bolted in the direction of the bathroom.

She slammed the door behind her, emptying the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.

Her biggest fear in the world was Harry ending up dead.

————

"Can we chat?" She had been sat in the bathroom for some time, when a small voice came from the other side of the door, startling her from her thoughts, causing her to stand.

She pulled open the door, aware that she probably looked completely disheveled, but finding that she didn't care too much.

"Sure," She said, following Sirius Black into one of the bedrooms, taking a seat on the bed as he closed the door behind him.

"I care about Harry very much," He stated simply, and she frowned.

"I know," She deadpanned. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

"I need you to be honest with me," Sirius said, and she nodded. "Are you and Harry dating?"

Ariana almost laughed. The look on his face had implied that he had an important matter to discuss with her, she could hardly believe that was all he wanted to ask.

"No," She responded, trying to hide the confusion she knew was displaying itself in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" He asked, and this time she couldn't help the laughter which escaped her.

"Last time I checked, yeah," She said.

"But you love him," He didn't phrase it as a question, but rather as a fact, and Ariana wondered if she had truly been that obvious with her feelings.

"No..." Ariana said, but she couldn't finish her sentence, when the glare from Sirius shut her up.

"Don't bullshit me, Ana," She was shocked when he swore, but the passion was evident in his grey eyes. "That boy has been through so much, so much,"

"I'm aware," Ariana stated. "I'm just not sure what this has to do with us possibly dating,"

"He deserves to be happy, and you make him happier than anything else," Sirius said. "I may not have known him for his whole life, but that much has been evident since he arrived here, you're special to him,"

Ariana didn't say anything, she simply looked at her hands, which were folded in her lap, as she contemplated his words. When she didn't volunteer the information, he spoke again.

"You're in love with Harry, aren't you?" Sirius asked, and she nodded. "So why don't you two just be together?"

"It's more complicated than that," Ariana shook her head. "There's going to be a war, I know that much, and Harry's going to play a huge part in that, he doesn't need distractions. You've fought in war before, surely you know that more than anybody,"

"There is nothing less complicated in this world than love, especially in times like this," Sirius spoke with such confidence that it just made Ariana believe every word he had to say, it was a talent that few possessed. "If Harry truly is going to fight in a war against the darkest wizard this world has ever seen, he's going to need things like love and friendship more than ever before, don't think you're helping him by pushing away your feelings, Ana,"