The Tabby, the Phoenix and the kitten

chapter twenty five

Arianna sat stiff backed in the living room, starring at the wall while she waited for her parents to finish speaking with her grandmother and uncles before they came in to meet her for the first time since she had returned.

She was shaking with nerves, what if they didn't like her? What if they hated her? many questions came running through her head, but before she had the time to think about them, the door opened and in came her parents followed by three new people.

Her grandmother, Arianna noticed was almost identical to her mother, only older, and her uncles, she could see that they were defiantly all related.

Arianna stood as they walked in. Minerva came and stood by Arianna's side, putting an arm around her daughter, Albus came and stood on her other side.

Isabel's hands went to her mouth, and tears came to her eyes as she saw the eleven year old. She felt a hand on her shoulder as Malcolm pulled her into his side, a large smile on his face. But it was Robert, who went up to Arianna first.

Arianna watched with scared eyes as he came up to her and stuck his hand out. Minerva had to give her a nudge before she put her small hand in his and shook it.

"Hello, you probably don't remember me, but I'm your uncle Robert." he said, Arianna gave a small hello and an applogy that she didn't really remember him. He smiled before allowing his brother to come up.

"That makes me your uncle Malcolm. This all must be pretty scary for you." he said, Arianna bit her lip and gave a small nod.

"That's okay, we don't bite. All this must be so new for you, I can only imagine everything going through your mind." Malcolm said with a small smile and then stepped aside to allow his mother a chance with Arianna.

Isobel walked up to Arianna slowly, cupping her hands around Arianna's face, after looking her over, for what seemed to Arianna an eternity, Isobel engulfed her in a tearful and bone crushing hug.

Arianna slowly hugged her back, not knowing what else to do. She hadn't ever been in a situation like this, the whole idea of having a family, and one that loved her at that, was still so new to her. of course she had dreamed of it while she was with the Winters but, it couldn't be compared to this.

After a few moments, Isobel let go, and they all went to sit down to talk. Arianna sat beside Albus on the loveseat, while Minerva sat beside her brothers on the larger couch and Isobel sat in the large chair next to the fire.

Arianna asked questions to her family and they asked many as well, to try to get to know her. They told stories of what life was like with her here before she was taken, to help show her how loved she truley was. 

"I remember when you were only a few weeks old. Your daddy was holding you, looking more proud than I have ever seen him. I remember you reached up with your tiny hand and grabbed as much of your daddy's big beard as you could and gave a good tug, oh how your daddy wailed! He had to hand you to me so he could try to release your grasp! You're a strong one you are! And thank Merlin for that!" Isobel told her, Arianna had laughed, she couldn't imagine Albus wailing like her grandmother had described, but she thought it would be funny to see. 

The more they talked, the more comfortable Arianna got. She excitedly told them all about her first year, though leaving out the part of finding the philosopher stone. She enjoyed watching their reactions to her stories, and good grades. 

Minerva's family was so happy to be there with Arianna. They were so happy to be together again. Things since Arianna's dissapearence had not been so good between the family, but now that she was back, that was changing. They laughed, and smiled, things they had not done for a long time.

Albus looked at Minerva to see her looking at Arianna a big smile plastered on her face. It was the first time since Arianna went missing that Albus had seen her smile like that.