Determination|| Remus lupin

Chapter eleven

Taking a deep breath, Ariana knocked on the door to Dumbledore's office. She had already uttered the password and been allowed up, now all she had to do was get through the door.

"Come in!" Dumbledore boomed. She jumped slightly, but placed a hand on the door handle and turned it, opening the door and allowing herself to enter the room. She walked up to his desk slowly, ignoring the comments the sorting hat was making.

"Ah, Ariana, what can I do for you?" He asked her. She swallowed and then spoke.

"I was wondering... what am I doing for the Christmas holidays?" She finally voiced her query.

"I was wondering when you would ask about that." The old man said.

"James invited me to stay for the holidays." Ariana added.

"I thought you wouldn't want to stay here for the holidays, and you may of course go to your friends." Dumbledore paused to look at the girl. "I trust you'll behave for Mr and Mrs Potter."

"I- I will. And thank you." She smiled slowly.

"You are dismissed. Have a good Christmas." He told her. She nodded.

"You too, oh!" She paused when she remembered that she had gotten him a Christmas present. "This is for you." She passed it to him.

"Thank you, there's a present for you on the table over there." Dumbledore smiled at her, nodding at a neatly wrapped parcel on the table

"Have a good Christmas." She waved at him, surprised when he waved back, and left the room. Finding James and Sirius waiting for her.

"You sorted Arie?" Sirius asked. The dark-haired girl nodded.

"Yep!" She nodded happily.

"You still good to come round for Christmas?" James asked anxiously, to his relief Ariana nodded.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." She grinned.

"What are you three doing out of bed?" The voice of Lily Evans broke the happy silence.

"Lily-" Remus attempted to stick up for his friends.

"No Remus, I know they're your friends, but this is ridiculous." Lily advanced towards the three, Remus sighing and following her.

"And before you ask, no Potter." She glared at the bespectacled big, who awkwardly looked away, scratching his neck. Ariana patted his shoulder.

"So? Who are you two trying to prank? And dragging Ariana into it by the looks of it." Lily was wearing her no-nonsense attitude, which would have suited any other situation, apart from that one.

"Actually, we aren't pranking anyone." Ariana spoke up. Lily raised her eyebrows.

"You aren't?" She questioned, surprise written all over her face. Ariana shook her head slowly.

"No, I went to see Professor Dumbledore, Sirius and James agreed to wait for me, so I would have to walk back to the common room alone." The brunette explained to the red-head. Lily nodded her head to show her understanding.

"You'd better hurry before you get a detention." She said Ariana nodded and she, Sirius and James walked down the corridor. Remus stopped her as she passed him.

"Are you alright?" He asked her gently. She nodded happily.

"Perfectly, what about you?" She asked. He was surprised, but went along with it anyway.

"I'm good, see you later Ariana." He smiled at her, earning a grin in return.

"Bye Remus!" She yelled, before running after Sirius and James.

"Where'd you disappear to?" Sirius asked, sliding his arm around his friends shoulders.

"I was talking to Remus." Ariana shrugged lightly.

"You talking to Lily, that was not like you." James said. Ariana shrugged.

"That girl confuses me. As long as we aren't harming anyone, why does she care what we're doing?" She asked.

"It's because she is a prefect. And she thinks we have something against the Slytherins." James answered with a shrug.

"We do have something against the Slytherins." Sirius pointed out.

"Hush child." James sighed, shushing his best friend.

The three entered the common room to find Peter sat waiting for them. He frowned in confusion.

"Where have you three been?" He squeaked.

"Arie had to talk to Dumbledore and we decided to wait for her." James answered as the group sat down.

"You excited for Christmas Ariana?" Peter squeaked. She shrugged.

"I can't remember the last time I celebrated it. But by what you've told me, I gather that it is a fun thing." She said. James, Sirius and Peter nodded eagerly.

"You'll enjoy it Arie, and don't worry, you'll get to spend it with us." Sirius hugged the girl happily. She nodded slowly.

"That's good?" She asked. James nodded.

"It is." He told her. She sighed.

"When do we go?" Ariana asked.

"Tomorrow." Sirius answered.

"Have you packed yet Arie?" James questioned. She shook her head.

"No, I should probably do that, shouldn't I?" She got up and  wandered towards the stairs to her dorm. James and Sirius laughing at her strange ways.

"Do you need help Arie?" Sirius yelled after her.

"I'm fine thanks Sirius."