Written In the Stars | s.b |

SIX

Ariah entered Professor Dumbledore's office feeling herself overcome with anxiety and uncertainty.

She was in Herbology, partnered up with Sirius as Meeka was feeling ill, when she received a note to meet in the headmasters office at once.

"Professor?" she asked timidly. "You asked to see me?"

"Ah yes," Dumbledore said, smiling up at the girl. "Ms. Lupin. Please take a seat."

Ariah walked over, sitting awkwardly across from the Professor. A wave of calm hospitality hit her as she entered Dumbledores presence. She knew she wasn't in any trouble, so when Dumbledore offered her a cauldron cake she gladly took two.

"Professor McGonagall tells me you believe you're a legilimens?" Dumbledore said as he, himself ate a cauldron cake.

Ariah nodded, swallowing her bite of food. "Sirius Black said I am. Because I got inside his head and read his emotions. But I don't know if I believe it," she said. "I can't read his mind, I can just feel others emotions."

Dumbledore nodded. "How interesting. I've met very few empaths in my life."

"A what?"

"An empath, dear," he said. "You can feel others emotions. Right now I'm assuming it's just while in a certain radius of someone, correct?"

Ariah thought it over. She currently felt Dumbledores — just the basis though as she could tell there was more than just the calmness. She felt Sirius' and Remus' the most intense, often taking their emotions as her own. Theirs she could feel from across the Great Hall but thinking it over, other people's she could only feel when face to face.

"For the most part," she answered. "Remus and Sirius, I can feel from as far away as across the Great Hall. But other people I have to be face to face with."

Dumbledore nodded again, thinking over her statement.

"I see. Empathy is a rather tricky gift, but with the right training, you'll be able to do great things with your gift."

"Like what?"

"I think Madam Pomfrey would be best fit to teach you."

"Madam Pom? Is she an empath too?"

"Yes. A very talented one at that."

Ariah had spent the last few months of the school year studying, trying to help Sirius study, and learning from Madam Pomfrey on how to use her gift.

She had gotten a lot better at it and though she wasn't able to turn it off, she was now able to expand the distance in which she could feel someone's emotions, how to make them feel her own emotions, and how to tune into one person at a time. Though that last one was still rather tricky.

She was now sitting outside with Meeka and Marlene, basking in the sun after their final exam. Ariah could now relax knowing that for two whole months she needn't worry about homework, essays, or the migraine that came from her gift.

"Can you believe first year is already over?" Marlene asked. "It feels like just yesterday we arrived in those boats."

"Maybe for you," Meeka said as she leaned against a tree. "I felt like it took ages to get here!"

Ariah giggled, laying back against the warm grass. She was enjoying the content emotions flooding around them. Suddenly a wave of anxiety disrupted the calm aura.

She opened her eyes, expecting to see her brother but was instead faced with Sirius.

Upon looking at him she noted his sunken eyes. She didn't have to been an empath to feel his sadness. Sitting up she smiled at Sirius.