Aria Black and the Battle for Hogwarts

Weasley Home Once Again

A pop sounds as I apparate on the Burrow's lawn. A storm brews above me, so I hastily walk inside. Ginny meets me at the door. "Come inside," she says. "Mum'll be delighted to see you."

"I haven't seen her lately." I say. "How've you guys been holding out?" I ask once we are safely inside.

"Playing Spot the Death Eaters spying." Ginny says. "It's a game we play 24/7. Bonus points if you can name them."

I grin. "Who's the best at it?"

"I can spot them, and Dad can name them. Mum doesn't usually play, says it's immature."

Ginny opens the door to the sitting room, where Molly and Arthur rest. "Mum, Dad, Aria's here."

"Oh dearie, welcome back!" Molly cries, embracing me.

"Thanks." I say, melting into her hug, which is as warm as a cup of hot chocolate.

When I hug Arthur, I whisper in his ear, "Travers. 7:00."

He smirks. "Yours or mine?"

"Mine."

We pull apart and he says, "Ginny, why don't you take Aria up to your room and get her set up. How long are you staying, Aria?"

I shrug. "Maybe I'll stay until Christmas, maybe I won't. I'm kind of a wild card. I AM going to visit my parents' grave in Godric's Hollow. Is Remus still on the run?"

Molly sighs. "Yes, but he still stops by Tonks' parents to see her."

"I think I'll go see her as well."

"I could go with you." Ginny says.

"You'll do no such thing!" Molly screeches.

Ginny nods to get her mother off of her back and leads me into her bedroom. "You know, I can accompany you right? Mum knows I can take care of myself."

"No thanks, Gin. Your mother'd go nuts. You wanna play Exploding Snap? I could use a game."

Ginny smiles wryly. "Okay."

We get the cards out and begin to play. Ginny is extremely good, better than the twins. She actually seems to be having fun, surprising me. We play for hours, her kicking my butt every time.

When Molly calls us down for lunch, I jump up and tell Ginny, "Race you!"

Then I apparate downstairs, smirking mischievously.

As she comes down, Ginny thumps me on the back of the head. "Cheater."

The sight of us having fun makes Molly smile.

For lunch we have casserole. It's delicious, but doesn't have Molly's usual flair. At lunch we discuss Ginny and I's game. There's not much to discuss, but to make Molly and Arthur happier, we embellish certain details.

After we clean up, I tell them I'm going to see Tonks.

***

Tonks is living with her mother Andromeda. Her father went on the run a while back so she and her mother live alone now.

Their house is in a gloomy neighborhood. I stop in front of it and take in the view. The house is big and purple, with closed shutters and dark drapes. I take long strides to reach the tall door.

It's Andromeda who answers. She has an apron on, and looks very stressed. I cannot get over how much she looks like Bellatrix. The only difference, it seems, is that Andromeda looks pretty. She has some quality that makes her radiate beauty and serenity.

"Oh, Aria! Come on in, I'm making soup!" She says, smiling at me.

I smile and follow her inside. While the outside of the house is cold and uninviting, the inside could not be more different. The furniture is all warm colors: scarlet, gold, sunset orange. It's beautiful.

Andromeda leads me past a portrait of someone who I recognize as my dad's uncle Alphard. We enter the living room to see Tonks, who lies on the couch with a wet rag on her forehead.

"She's having bad contractions." Andromeda explains. "That's why we put the rag on, she's running a fever too."

"Oh," I breathe, crossing the room over to Tonks. "Is she awake?"

From beside me, Tonks stirs, hair turning a bright yellow. "She's awake, but hurting like hell." She murmurs, looking up at me. "Wotcher."

I smirk, looking down at her. "Heya Tonks."

Tonks glances at her mother. "Where's the soup?"

Andromeda sighs. "It's not done yet, Dora. I'll go finish making it. I could use your help too, Aria."

I nod, and follow her into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry to take you away from Dora." She says. "But without her soup she won't be very pleasant to be around."

Andromeda stirs the soup, then leans against the counter. "How is everything with you?"

I shrug. "I'm staying with Molly and Arthur this Christmas and teaching Astronomy at Hogwarts."

Andromeda's eyes widen. "You are teaching there? With the Death Eaters heading the place?"

"Yes." I tell her.

Andromeda hands me a teacup with warm tea in it. "I admire your bravery. How are the students holding up?"

I heave a heavy sigh. "Ginny, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood have started the group Dumbledore's Army again. The rest of the students are sort of lost. My entire seventh year Astronomy class is me and my students talking about how to help people."

Andromeda frowns in disbelief. "How many are in your class?"

"Seven." I tell her. "Three Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff, a Slytherin, and two Gryffindors."

"Only one Slytherin!" Andromeda cries. "Back in my day Slytherins loved Astronomy! Did those Carrows outlaw liking Astronomy or something? The only Slytherin who didn't like Astronomy was that Mary Taylor."

The stove beeps with a five-minute warning.

"No, I think most of them don't-" I freeze. "Mary Taylor?"

Andromeda rolls her eyes at the name. "Real mysterious girl in my year. She seemed more like a Ravenclaw than a Slytherin. The only class she paid attention is was Divination. Her parents live on the corner of this road, I think. I don't even know what happened to her. Why do you ask?"

I almost drop my tea. "I have to go, Andromeda. Thanks for the tea!"