Determination|| Remus lupin

Chapter twelve

When Ariana removed her face from where she had hid it in Remus' shoulder. She found that she was now in the safety of the train compartment.

"I can't believe you've never seen a train before." Sirius said, sounding extremely amused. She giggled lightly and sat down in between Remus and Peter.

"I've never done a lot of things before." She answered, causing James and Sirius to chuckle. 

"Well, it's a learning experience for you." Remus told her comfortingly. She smiled at him.

"I suppose it is." She nodded, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Oh Arie, you have a lot to learn. Welcome to the Hogwarts express one oh one, it's time you learned the tricks of the train." James announced.

"Why is the train playing tricks?" Ariana asked with confusion written all over her face.

"Oh Arie. You are adorable." Sirius ruffled her hair, causing her to pull a face at him. He laughed.

"It was a valid question Sirius." She announced. The four boys just laughed more, causing her to shoot them with an uncharacteristic glare. They all gasped.

"Did you just glare at us?" Sirius asked, a hand on his heart, pretending to be hurt.

"I think she did!" James announced in the same hurt tone.

"Agreed." Peter nodded, shaking his head in disappointment.

"I do not understand you sometimes, I really don't." She told them.

"Arie, as precious as you are, there are still a few things you need to learn." Sirius told her. She frowned at him.

"As funny as your pranks are, I do believe that they are not always good. And I'd rather not participate in them unless they do not harm people." She said.

"We never harm intentionally." James said.

"But you still do harm." She countered factually. Remus chuckled at the exchange that was happening in front of him.

"But not always." James retaliated.

"But you do." Ariana said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"But-" James began, but Sirius cut him off.

"Okay Arie, you win." He said. Ariana grinned and looked at Remus with a victorious smirk.

"I won." She said. Remus laughed.

"That you did." He told her.

"So, seeing as I have the pleasure of your company for the entire holiday, what else have you never done before?" James questioned. Ariana frowned, her eyebrows knitting together in thought.

"I'm not sure." She answered.

"I'm sure you'll find out as you go along." Remus said, he took out a book and opened it onto the page he was at. They all looked at him with a frown.

"Remus, this is an important conversation, how can you read at a time like this?" Sirius said in mock horror, but they all knew that there was a pit of fear inside him.

"Such rudeness." Peter added, shaking his head.

"Are you sure you can't come for the entire holidays?" James asked Sirius quietly, Sirius shook his head.

"Sorry Jamesie." James threw his arms around Sirius' neck.

"What will I do without you!" He howled dramatically. Peter patted his back gently.

"Hush James, we will see Sirius presently." Ariana told him, James sniffed and they began to wonder if he was actually crying.

"Don't cover me in snot you hippogriff." Sirius pushed his best friend off him with a laugh. Peter passes James a tissue.

"Thanks." James mumbled.

"Back to our conversation, Remus Arie has much to experience, or do you not care!" Sirius said in mock horror.

"Of course I do." Remus told them.

"Then put your book away!" Peter told him, Remus sighed and did so, before fully participating in the conversation with his friends.

^^^
James had brought a assortment of sweets from the trolley lady, saying firmly that Ariana needed to have the full Hogwarts express experience. Currently the girl was opening a chocolate frog.

"Who've you got Arie?" Peter asked as she looked at the card.

"A Mr Godric Gryffindor." She answered.

"That's a good one." James said, she assumed he knew what he was talking about and nodded with a smile.

"A founder, am I correct?" She asked, Remus nodded.

"The founder of our house." He told her. She looked at the card again.

"How curious."

"Curious?" Peter asked her. She nodded.

"Indeed, I remember being told about him once." She nodded. James leaned forwards eyes wide.

"Like your past?" He asked hopefully.

She nodded. "I do believe I had a brother once. Maybe two."

"Oh this is so exciting I can't breathe." James yelled excitedly. Sirius patted his back.

"Calm down mate, she hasn't remembered that much." He said.

"I know, oh Arie I'm so proud." He squealed.

"Hush James, the other carriages don't wish to here you." She told him wisely.

"Sorry." He murmured, but smiled at her, she smiled back.

"We're almost there." Remus murmured softly, they all saw the colour drain from Sirius' face.

"You okay Sirius?" James asked, Sirius nodded at once.

"I'm fine, just my father's angry at me." He answered. James' eyes went dark with anger.

"For what?" He asked sharply, Ariana took Remus' hand in fright, she hadn't seen this side of James before. Peter mouthed 'it's okay' at her.

"I don't know." Sirius answered. James anger was replaced with fear, fear for his best friend, as though worried something would happen to his friend.

"Sirius please, come home with me and Arie." James begged him. Sirius just shook his head.

"I can't James, you know I can't." He told him.

James sighed in frustration. "Come a few days earlier at least, please?" He tried again. Sirius nodded slowly.

"I'll try." He agreed.

"If not we'll break into your house." Ariana announced.

"Arie!" Peter exclaimed in shock.

"What? We could do." She said, Remus whispered to her that it was against the law. "Well then he'd better come a few days later, unless he wants us to break the law."

"I couldn't have you locked up in prison Arie, what would I do?" Sirius joked.

"She's right, you better come on Christmas eve, or we will break into your house." James told him, he laughed.

"I will."