The Wolf's Lion ~ Harry Potter (Editing)

Chapter Seventeen | Remus and Rain

After dinner, Ariana, Harry and Hermione had returned to the Common Room. When they emerged through the portrait hole, the Gryffindors applauded. Ariana wholeheartedly hated their celebrations of her, so she bid them goodnight and hastily left.

She had managed to sneak out of the castle, being shielded by Harry's cloak, and sit on her usual spot on the grounds.

The stars shone like diamonds in the dark sky, illuminated by the waning moon. Trees around her rustled in the wind, causing Ariana to pull her light leather coat tighter against her skin.

Her Patronus sat by her side protectively. The girl had taken a habit of talking to it, instead of having to burden her friends with the information of her past. It was quite calming, and she had grown quite attached to the silver animal over the past year.

"Now, I am completely and utterly done for," sighed Ariana, fingering her wand as she looked at the lion stare back at her with piercing silver eyes.

It cooked its head and let it out a low roar, which Ariana had learned to recognise as an affectionate one.

"I for one certainly hope you're not 'done for'," a voice echoed in the dark.

The familiar scent of Remus Lupin hit her nose, provoking a large smile to grace her lips. She watched as the tall man walked over, without the aid of a cane like last time she had laid eyes upon him.

He looked better than he had last time they saw each other. His face wasn't as sullen and sickly, which Ariana knew was due to the fact that the full moon was not close.

Her Lion took a defensive stance in front of her, which was four foot tall. It began growling, preparing to pounce.

"It's alright," Ariana said, holding her hand out. "He's not a threat." With a flick of her wand, the lion dispersed into a fine, then non-existent, mist. "Hello. I presume you read about the fantastic news."

"Yes, I did," Remus replied, sitting down on the rough log by her side.

"How are you here? Not that I don't appreciate it."

"I think Dumbledore knew I would return once the Champion selection had been announced," Remus replied with a smirk, amusement dancing across his eyes.

Ariana shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. She caught his eyes glance at the necklace around her neck, which the witch pulled out and held in her hand. "I only ever take it off at night; don't wand to strangle myself."

"Fantastic idea," said Remus lightly, smiling. His hand rose to touch the small lion, holding it for a moment before letting it rest in Ariana's palm.

She knew there was a unspoken question in the air, so she, once again, bit the bullet, "Ask, just ask."

"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Remus questioned, his eyes searching hers.

Ariana shook her head slowly. "No. I honestly have no idea how my name ended up in the goblet."

"I had to ask," said Remus, then sighed. "Champions have died in this competition, Ariana."

"Yes, I've been reminded of that," Ariana added dryly, thinking back to the torturous interview with Rita.

"Someone clearly wants to injure you and Harry," he added, his face flashing with displeasure at the thought.

"I presumed they want to kill us, not injure us -"

"Ariana," Remus interrupted in a scolding tone, not wanting to think of her death.

"Anyway, it's an impressive feat, fooling the goblet, Dumbledore, and everyone else inside the school," the witch continued, her eyes shifting to watch a lone bird fly overhead, darkened in the shadows.

"You must be careful. Someone is going out of their way to make sure you are both in grave danger."

Ariana felt a pair of eyes bore into the side of her head with a pleasant sting. "It wouldn't be Hogwarts if we didn't have to face mortal peril," she chuckled dryly, although Lupin didn't seem to approve of her somewhat dark humour.

"Give me your word that you'll do all you can to survive. You and Harry."

The white-haired witch turned her torso around to link her gaze with that of her companion, her icy eyes getting lost in the depths of his ocean blue ones. "You have my word."

Ariana found it extremely challenging to pull her eyes away, but she forced herself to all the same. It scared her how much of a pull she had to the person beside her; it was as it they were magnets.

For a moment, the pair sat in a comfortable silence. Ariana noticed the wind pick up, piercing her clothing like icicles. Seconds later, rain began to fall upon them like someone had upended buckets in their heads.

Ariana immediately gasped then, after recovering from the initial shock, she looked up for a moment, watching as the massive droplets fell.

"You'd better get back to the castle!" Remus stated, shouting over the pouring rain.

"Where are you going?" Ariana asked, also raising her voice to avoid it being drowned out.

"Hogsmeade!"

"Watch out for Rita Skeeter, she's watching us all!" Ariana informed, referring to the Champions.

They quickly stood, preparing to scamper off to shelter from the rain. Ariana felt something drape over her shoulders; a brown suit jacket.

"You'll freeze on the return journey to Hogsmeade!" she stated, moving to jacket.

"I want you to have it! Go!" Remus shouted, his hair flattening over his forehead.

Seeing an attempt at protesting was futile, she caved. Also, if she spent longer here, the more rain-soaked they would both become.

She smiled a 'thank you' before covering herself with the Invisibility Cloak, both of then separating.

As Ariana listened to his hurried footsteps fade, she made a dash for the school. Using the Marauder's Map, she was able to avoid being seen, which was an incredible achievement.

The witch used an Obliteration Charm to remove the trail of water that she left in her wake, dripping from her clothes.

When she emerged through the portrait hole, the warm glow from the fire was still lighting the room. She thought that was odd, since it was eleven o'clock.

Hermione was sitting on a plush armchair, scribbling away on a large piece of parchment; Ron was slouched against the couch on the floor, his head lolling to the side as he dozed off; Harry was also writing, looking incredibly bored.

When she saw her three friends sitting in their usual seats, Ariana slid the wet coat off of her shoulders underneath the cloak. She placed it over her arm and then removed the cloak, revealing herself to her friends.

"Oh, Ariana!" Hermione gasped, shocked by her sudden appearance. "Where were you?"

Ron jumped awake, looking about. "I'm up."

"I went to clear my head," Ariana answered, standing behind sofa to conceal her arm.

"You're soaking," Harry said, turning to look at her.

"Yes, it began raining," Ariana shrugged, pulling her jacket off. "Thank you for letting me borrow your cloak, Harry."

"You're welcome," Harry nodded.

As Ariana used her wand to dry Harry's cloak, then herself. The hot air that emitted from the tip of her wand was brilliant, even better once she was pretty much dry.

"You're doing Herbology homework?" Ariana enquired, placing Harry's dry cloak beside him.

"Yeah," Ron yawned, blinking repeatedly to try and focus his eyes.

"I'll fetch mine and join you until we go to bed."

With that, Ariana jogged up the stairs to the dormitory. She packed the damp jacket into her trunk, smiling at it as she shut the case.

Seeing Remus had been a pleasant surprise, it had really given her a lift, even if it was short-lived. As she pulled her homework from her school bag, Ariana only wished she was still in that log with Remus instead of being a loathed, scarred and nervous Tri-Wizard contestant with Lycanthropy.