Aria Black and the Battle for Hogwarts

First Day of Classes

Someone is tapping on my door. Ugh. I stand up and open it. Minerva's here, sharp and straight face and robes trailing behind her. "You've got to get ready, dearie." She says in her thick Scottish accent.

"Okay." I say.

She smiles grimly at me. "I noticed some house elves left the kitchens last night."

I raise an eyebrow. "Probably playing hide 'n seek. You know those house elves, always-"

"Doing as they're told." She chimes in, winking at me.

***

My first class is the seventh years. I haven't even planned it, in my determination to get some sleep. But I'm pretty good at talking about Astronomy.

There are 3 Ravenclaws, 1 Hufflepuff, 1 Slytherin, and 2 Gryffindors.

"I have decided to be a nice person today and give you an essay on the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Parchment an inch thick. You have all of class to work on it." I say.

They all seem very surprised that I've been so nice.

I begin writing out my plan for classes, now feeling guilty about not making one already.

The door opens to reveal Sprout. "The Pureblood Headmaster wishes to see you, Aria." The way she says Pureblood makes me think that it's the password to get in. All the teachers speak like that.

I nod. "Thank you." I turn to my class. "Go work on this in your common rooms. You have official study hall. I'll see you tomorrow."

They nod, and file out.

Snape wants to see me? That can't be good.

"Pureblood." I say, after heading upstairs to the Headmaster office

The Griffen swings open to reveal the all too familiar staircase.

I make my way up, a bit scared. He can't kill me after one day, could he? I didn't do anything yet!

"Come." Snape's cold voice says. "Sit Black."

I shakily walk over to him and sit down.

"I would like to ask you where Potter is."

"I don't know, sir." I say calmly.

My eyes flicker around the room. It's dark, with black drapes and low-lit lamps. Dumbledore's portrait hangs on the wall.

"You are lying." He says.

"No, sir, I am not."

"Never mistrust a Black's word, Severus." Phineas Nigellus Black says from his portrait.

"Quiet." Snape says. He looks at me again, with his cold black eyes narrowed. "Do not give me a chance to send the Snatchers after you."

"Of course not." I say, holding my head high. "I don't wish to resign."

***

"WHAT?" I screech at Ginny. "WHAT!"

We currently reside in my office, with a charm on the door so that no one can hear us.

"I said, Neville, Luna, and I want to reform the DA!" Ginny cries.

"No. Absolutely not! Not happening. I told your family I'd protect you, Ginny! And that is what I plan to do."

She looks at me stubbornly. "It's happening. What are you going to do, report us?"

I sigh.

"We're just going to graffiti the walls and things like that." Ginny says. "Show Hogwarts that we're ready to fight back."

"How many people do you think will join?" I ask her.

"A bunch!" She says. "All the Gryffindor seventh years agreed when Neville asked them! Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff are in, and so are a few Ravenclaws. Terry Boot and Michael Corner offered to tell more people in their house."

"If it gets too dangerous, you're quitting, okay Ginny?"

"Deal."