Lionheart ~ Harry Potter (Under Heavy Editing)

Chapter Three | A Dark Start to The Year

It was always a pleasure to see Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ron's parents. His mother was the epitome of a warm and caring soul, who had had Ariana under her wing and treated her as if she was one of her own children for years now. It never failed to astound the white-haired witch that someone could be so full of love that she not only had enough for her husband and several children, but enough for her youngest son's three best friends as well. She was a slightly plump woman with hair as her children, red as copper, and blue eyes; her husband shared her hair colour and eye colour but their personalities differed. While Mr. Weasley was a devoted father and just as protective of his children as his wife, Ariana had seen that he was less strict as a dad; he also had a very good, strong moral compass and had a profound fascination of Muggles (non-magic folk), which earned him the disapproval of select other wizards, but Ariana simply loved answering his questions about the Muggle world.

Mrs. Weasley was thrilled to see Ariana and immediately engulfed the younger witch in a very mothering hug, then proceeded to tell her that she was too skinny; Ariana was, perhaps, a little underweight but she had just had another growth spurt. The girl could only be described as a very early bloomer, as she looked three years older than she actually was, and was often confused by younger Hogwarts students as a much older pupil.

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The following day was hectic. Mr and Mrs Weasley escorted Ariana, Hermione and Harry to King's Cross Station with her own children, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny, as they were the only ones who were still of age to attend Hogwarts for another year of studies. The train station's architecture was beautiful, but it didn't compare to the magical properties it had been blesses with centuries earlier. To separate the magical station from the Muggles' station, each witch or wizard entering had to run through the wall between platforms nine and ten, for it was enchanted to act as a portal to safely deliver magical beings to the other side. Ariana was in awe of the magic and could only imagine the complexities involved in creating it in the first place, and recalled the anxiety and thrill she felt when she first ran at the wall two years ago, feeling slight pressure in her ears as she pushed through to the other side, as if it was yesterday.

Once again, Ariana, her friends and the Weasley family stood before the wall between platforms nine and ten, their trollies lades with luggage and pets. Ariana was one of the first to go and, with one last glance at the Muggle world, she heaved her trolley forwards and disappeared through the wall. She shook her head once she emerged through the other side; she always got a slight pounding in her head when she used the portal, but it disappeared in moments. As it usually was at this time on the first of September, Platform 9 3/4 was bustling with Hogwarts students and their families. The sound of animals chirping and excited conversations could be heard as Ariana ducked past the thousands of people on the platform; she could see eyes turning to look at her as she passed, both due to her frosty white hair and her title of the Heir of Godric Gryffindor, but she simply held her head high and continued on her way. The magnificent steam train that was the Hogwarts Express stood on the tracks in all of its red and black glory, bathed in a cloud of white steam. Even smell of the platform made Ariana reminisce, inhaling the smoky, sweet scent.

"All right," Mrs Weasley said, turning to face the ensemble of students in front of her, "are you all sure you have everything you need?" A series of yes-es followed her question. "Well then, in that case, you'd best board the train." She hugged and kissed her children as they passed her, lugging their trunks and pets onto the train with them. She came to Ariana after seeing Fred and George, and pulled her into her arms. "Stay safe this year, Ariana, won't you?"

"Yes, Mrs Weasley," Ariana said, though, somehow, she knew that she wouldn't be able to keep her word. Trouble always seemed to find her. Always.

"Okay," she said, smiling as she released the younger witch from the hug. "Here, you'd best take Nova and get on the train quickly."