The Lion, The Wolf and The Phoenix ~ Harry Potter

Chapter Eighteen | The New Professor

The journey to Hogwarts wasn't as satisfying as it usually was. Ron and Hermione, as they had found out a couple of days prior to leaving day, had been made Gryffindor perfects, so they had to ride in a separate compartment than Harry and Ariana. The white-haired witch felt a sense of loss, as she had never ridden the train without them, it was almost like a tradition.

When Ariana first found out she hadn't been made a Prefect, she was disappointed. She had done more for Gryffindor house than most students ever had, probably the most. Yes, the witch had been slightly crushed, but it didn't last long when she rationalized. After all, perhaps it was best she didn't have the added responsibility of being a Prefect this year. With Voldemort out there, Ariana was going to have her hands full, or so she predicted.

As soon as Ariana reached Hogsmeade station, the feeling of home settled into her chest even further. The witch never grew tired of seeing the spectacular castle rise up from the mountains, windows shining against the darkening sky. As the quartet of Gryffindors went to catch one of the carriages that would carry them the rest of the way to Hogwarts, something brilliant happened: Harry saw the Threstrals that pull them.

Since the first time the group laid eyes upon the carriages, Ariana had been able to see the creatures pulling them. They were large, horse-like creatures with black leathery skin pulled tight over their skeletal bodies, with massive black wings folded against their bodies. Pairs of eyes as dark as the night sky watched the students go by, each Threstral patiently waiting until they had to escort the Hogwarts students up.

No one else could see them, which originally concerned Ariana; why could only she see them? In all honesty, the white-haired witch was sure her friends thought she was insane. Ariana herself thought she had gone around the bend until she discovered that they can only be seen by people who have seen death, and as someone who had seen her brother be murdered, the witch certainly fell under that category.

"What are those things, d'you reckon?" Harry asked, nodding at the horses as the other students surged past them.

"Not you too," Ron sighed.

"You can see them now as well," Ariana said sullenly, thinking of Cedric. Fiera shifted on her shoulder, sensing the discomfort she was feeling.

Harry nodded slowly in awe. "Yes. What are they?"

"There's nothing there!" Ron added, putting Pigwidgeon's cage up onto the black carriage.

"That horse -"

"Oh, nevermind," Ariana said, then lowered her voice, speaking only to Harry, "I'll explain what they are later. I know what you're thinking, and no, you're not going insane."

Harry smiled a little and nodded, thankful that he hadn't lost his mind. Ariana knew how it felt to think that you're losing your mind and wanted to make sure Harry didn't have that same issue, not if she could help it.

When the group made it into the grand, beautiful castle that is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ariana finally felt as if she was home, and Fiera disappeared up to her owner's dorm. In the Great Hall, the four long house tables were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one another's new haircuts and robes.

Just like every other time she and Harry had been out in public in the wizarding world since the Daily Prophet began slandering them, the Hogwarts students threw the pair various looks of suspicion, hypocrisy and scepticism. Ariana held her head high, walking with an air of confidence and power, just like the force of nature she was.