The Lion, The Wolf and The Phoenix ~ Harry Potter

Chapter Twenty-Seven | Even More Detention

The next morning, Ariana felt a sense of lightness that she hadn't felt for years. Even getting a fraction of the crippling weight off of her chest made her able to breathe easier than the witch had been able to in a long time. Part of her felt extremely disappointed with herself because she had cried in front of others: she had never liked crying at all, nevermind allowing others to see her so... vulnerable. Nonetheless, if anyone had to see her in such a state, Ariana was pleased that it was Harry, Ron and Hermione. Remus would be her sole other choice but he wasn't with her, which felt like a belt tied around her heart, squeezing with every beat it took.

Detention had been terrible again. Ariana had sat in the hideously pink room into the early hours of the morning, almost gagging due to the disgusting, sweet perfume that lingered in the air. The worst part of the entire duration of the detention wasn't the searing pain of a knife cutting into Ariana's skin, or even the sight of her crimson blood forming words of untruth, it was Umbridge's smug face lording it over the younger witch, thinking she had bested the Heir of Godric Gryffindor and her 'lies'.

Everything that had happened in the graveyard, Cedric's murder (not accidental death)... It was all being painted as a massive lie in a bid for Harry and Ariana to get attention. The white-haired witch had never even wanted attention! As of everything else wasn't enough, the information from the book hadn't stopped playing in Ariana's mind since she read it. While some questions had been answered, so many more had arisen, and sometimes, questions are more powerful than answers. Argh, it was all torture.

Shockingly, the least irritating part of the night was going to the dungeons to drink a goblet full of vile Wolfsbane Potion.

"Ariana, you really should eat something," said Hermione, before yawning and taking a swig of coffee.

Ariana had fallen into one of her usual trances and, after a moment, slowly drew out of it as Hermione's voice penetrated her thoughts. "Thanks, Hermione, but the thought of eating makes me feel nauseous. The smell alone is making me ill," she said, politely pressing her fingers to her nose, even though it didn't help much at all.

"Oh yeah, it'll be the fu-"

Ron cut off when Ariana kicked his leg order the table. "Sshhhh," she hissed under her breath.

"Oh, the mail's here," Hermione interjected, changing the subject.

Right on cue, owls of various colours and sizes flooded the Hall, carrying letters and parcels to students. Ariana felt a pang of sadness over Nova. She would have loved to see the beautiful owl soaring into the Hall, her black and white feathers bristling softly as she flew. The witch picked up her coffee and inwardly toasted to Nova, hoping that she was a peace, and took a small sip.

A handsome screech owl landed in front of Ron, and Ariana recognised him immediately: he was Hermes, Percy's owl. The witch knew that Percy's relationship with his family was, um, strained at best, so she wondered why he would be sending a letter to his younger brother. Apparently, Ron was pondering the same question.

"What d'you reckon?" he asked, looking up at his three friends.

"Open it!" Hermione said eagerly, Harry nodded, and Ariana watched with interest.

Watching Ron read the scroll was certainly the most curious, and slightly amusing, thing she had seen all morning. His eyes travelled down the paper, moving back and forth, and a scowl became deeper and deeper as he progressed down the sheet. Ronald Weasley looked absolutely disgusted by the time he had finished. He wordlessly thrust the scroll into Harry's hands, so Hermione and Ariana scooted closer to him to read it together.

Dear Ron,

I have only just heard (from no less then the Minister for Magic himself, who has it from your new teacher, Professor Umbridge) that you have become a Hogwarts prefect.