How I Met The Marauders

To Potter Manor

Ari quickly took a shower, changed into the black and white dress and stepped out of the bathroom.

Sirius and James were waiting. Luke was downstairs.

Ari packed her bags in seconds, mainly because most of the things were already packed and she had very few things to call her own.

The boys took her bags downstairs while she dried and brushed her wet hair.

After a brief goodbye to her few friends, she went downstairs where the Potters and Sirius were waiting.

"I sent the trunks." Whispered Luke. "They'll be waiting for you in the Manor."

"Thankyou."

They jogged up the street.

"Arianna, is there a spot from where we can apparate?" Asked Luke.

"The Park is usually empty." Was her reply.

So, they disapparated from the park.

They arrived at a forest.

"Actually," said Luke. "The Manor is protected from Muggles and Death Eaters so we can't apparate to there. It's a short trek, can you manage?"

She smiled. "Obviously."

As they walked uphill, James said, "Dad, she can climb trees, swim in water and jump down from cliffs."

"Jump off a cliff?" Repeated Ari. "Why'd I do that... Oh! To kill myself, obviously."

"What?" Cried Luke. "But... but why child? Why would you kill yourself?"

" If I'd jump off a cliff, it'd be to kill myself. And about why I'd do that... What're the reasons to live?"

"Well... the reasons to live are more important than the reasons to kill yourself. Always remember. Something good is still in store for you."

She smiled, sadly. "Of course..." She changed the topic. "How much longer?"

"Tired?" Asked Sirius.

She laughed. "No. I was just asking."

A few minutes later, they came to the end of the Forest: a cliff.

"That's what it was about." Said James, referring to the cliff jumping. "You can jump this, I'm sure. It's only a few metres."

"She's wearing a dress." Luke pointed out.

"A dress that ends at my knees so I can run in it... and I just trekked in it." Laughed Ari. "So I just jump to the other side? That's all?"

James nodded and she smirked. "Piece of cake." With that, she sprinted towards the cliff and at the edge, she jumped on her toes, her arms extended backward, as if she was a bird, taking flight.

And just as lightly, she landed on the other side.

When the others had jumped successfully, Luke said. "Look at that large rock in front of you, we just climb onto it and Potter Mansion is a kilometer away."

So they walked to the rock. Sirius climbed first. Ari stepped onto the smaller rock but just as she was about to lift herself onto the larger one, the smaller one fell from beneath her feet.

She would've fallen, if Sirius hadn't grabbed her waist. And so, he hoisted her up.

"Merlin! That was close!" She exclaimed. "Thank you, Sirius."

"I wouldn't have let you fall down into the stream. You can't swim out of that one. And I certainly don't want you dead."

And soon, they were at the large gate of the mansion.

"Charles Lucas Potter." Luke said to the gate. "James Edward Potter. Sirius Orion Potter and Arianna Scarlet Potter."

As the gate opened, he said. "It recognises you as our kid."

Ari smiled to herself.