Secrets, Secrets

When Ari woke the next morning, she lay in the rays of sunshine spilling across her bed. A lazy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she quietly relished in the memory of the night before in the early-morning silence. The only sounds she heard were those of the early birds singing merrily outside her window, and for the first time in a long time, she felt as if she was soaring on their melodies. Her hair was fanned out around her, and she was so comfortable she felt she could stay there forever.

With a sigh, however, she realized that wasn't to be, and it was this thought that finally pushed her out from under her covers. She quietly dressed, seeing the other 7^th-year girls in her dormitory asleep, then packed her books in her bag and slipped downstairs into the common room.

Taylor heard footsteps behind him, but wasn't too fussed by it. There were some early risers, but if he knew Ari, she was still curled up in her bed. This thought brought a smile to his lips, and he was surprised to hear the footsteps come to a halt behind him.

"Hey," Ari whispered, resting her chin on his shoulder. "What were you thinking about? I hope I'm the only one who can make you smile like that," she teased.

"Hey yourself, gorgeous. I'm surprised you're awake, aren't you a late sleeper?"

"Usually, yes, but don't dodge my question. What were you thinking about?"

"You," he replied, inviting her to sit in his chair with him. She walked around and straddled his thighs, strategically placing all of her weight near his knees. "Gods, girl," he murmured, "not now, are you trying to kill me?"

"Mmm, no, I definitely want you to live," Ari purred, but Taylor had begun to wonder. She shifted deliciously in his lap, then brought her lips to his. Taylor wrapped his fingers into her hair, but broke off the kiss when it became too heavy.

"Not now," he laughed, kissing her nose. She pouted, but it was to no avail. "And they say boys are insatiable."

Ari frowned at him. "Insatiable? Is that what I am, then?"

"Yep," Taylor replied lightly, wrapping his arms around her waist to hold her still. "But I'm sure we could find some trouble to get into later..."

Ari laughed and swung one leg across his lap so she was sitting sideways, then rested her head on his chest. His steady breathing and rhythmic heartbeat calmed her, and it seemed to her that her body was trying to get in tune with his. Her own breathing and heartbeat slowed until she was in a warm, peaceful state.

"Hey now!" Taylor teased gently. "Don't go falling asleep on me already, classes haven't even started!" He received soft laughter into his shirt as a response, along with a murmured phrase. "What was that?" he asked, gently lifting her chin.

"I said, I'm glad you're here with me. I don't think I'd be able to handle this alone."

Taylor kissed her softly as heavier footsteps came down the boys' staircase. Ari glanced over Taylor's shoulder at Harry, then smiled. "Morning, Harry," she said brightly.

Harry returned the smile. "Morning, Ari. Morning, Taylor." He settled himself on the couch, staring into the burned-out bits of what was a fire the night before. Ginny, Hermione, and a disheveled-looking Ron soon emerged.

"So," Hermione said conversationally as she picked knots out of Ron's hair, "shall we all go down to the Great Hall together?"

No one saw any point in doing anything other than what she suggested. Ari and Taylor straggled a bit behind the others, frequently exchanging soppy, slightly randy looks. When the group walked into the Great Hall, Sirius and Remus were deep in a heated discussion about something, and it looked all-important. Snape had been watching them with the nastiest of scowls, but then he turned that glare on Ari.

It was as if a wave of power had surged into Ari's chest. She suddenly gasped and gripped Taylor's hand more tightly than necessary. Taylor wrapped his free arm around Ari to pull her close and steady her. Ari squeezed her eyes shut against an impending rush of color and pain, allowing Taylor to pull her to the bench at the Gryffindor table.

Malfoy, of course, was beside himself. When he looked up, he locked eyes with Taylor, and for some reason, the blonde looked, for once, frightened. Taylor was, after all, taller, more muscular, and it seemed, much more popular. What no one seemed to have noticed, however, was the look Sirius was now boring into Snape. The Potions master looked startled at Ari's reaction to his stare, and quickly retreated.

Remus elbowed Sirius in the ribs, hard, and just as the latter was about to snap at the former, Dumbledore caught the gaze and directed it to Ari.

Sirius suddenly felt short of breath. Something, though he had no idea what, had caused a reaction in Ari that he had seen before, only in someone else. Remus held his friend at bay with a simple look, but he knew the patience wouldn't last long. Sure enough, when Ari stayed leaning against Taylor, Sirius got up and strode into the chamber just beyond the Great Hall.

Out of respect, Remus gave him a minute, but only followed after a quick exchange with the headmaster. Sirius was pacing the room, not sure what to make of the situation at hand. Remus lingered on the steps for a few moments, waiting for Sirius to speak first. Finally, he did, and it was exactly what Remus had been braced for.

"Dammit!" Sirius growled at the wall. "If I'd known Abby would pass this on, if I'd realized... shit... fuck..."

Remus watched, slightly bemused; Sirius hadn't used this kind of language directed at no one in a long time--even while cooped up at Grimmauld Place, the outbursts were always directed at someone (usually one Severus Snape, even if Snape wasn't anywhere nearby). Not for the first time in their long friendship, Remus wondered what was going on in Sirius' head.

Sirius stopped pacing at last, sinking onto a step with the heels of his hands pressed over his eyes. A bone-deep exhaustion and confusion was fogging his brain, which was certainly not what he needed; he had lessons to teach that morning. Too many questions tumbled around in his brain, and his head wasn't the only one that was muddled.

Ari had finally managed to open her eyes without getting sick, although she still felt wobbly and uneasy. Taylor kept one hand around her waist protectively, and she slipped both arms around his waist and breathed in deeply. His body was tense, and it was no wonder; none of them knew the burden she had to bear. Years ago, Ari's mother had told her of the flashes, the feelings, the sickness that would come, but nothing, nothing at all, could have prepared her for what she had just experienced.

She glanced up at the staff table curiously. Snape had disappeared long ago, but her father and Remus were also curiously missing. Dumbledore had long since stopped eating, and was surveying the enchanted ceiling with indecent concentration.

No, Ari thought, trying to relax, it's not the ceiling. There's something else on his mind. There has to be. I wonder what it is, though? She watched Taylor putting strawberry jam on his toast, and let her thoughts wander. He's my strength. I thought he was before, but now I know. My mom told me what Sirius--my dad--always did for her when this happened, and Taylor does it for me.

Settling on that thought, Ari softly kissed Taylor's arm. Bemused, he looked down at her and set down his piece of toast as he swallowed a bite. "Any particular reason for that?"

Ari shook her head. "It just needed to be done. Are you done or am I distracting you from your food?"

Taylor ducked his head so he was whispering in her ear. "Even if you were a distraction, a distraction from your sources would always be a welcome one, Ariana."

She smiled at him, wishing with all her heart that he knew who she was, who she really was. Then again, would he feel the same way if he knew she was a Black? Maybe. But she wasn't going to risk it, not until it just had to come out in the open. Just as she was getting comfortable in his arms again, she shivered. It was as though the room had been doused in an icy cold. Ari looked across the room, and felt the source of the chill.

It was Malfoy. Ari couldn't help her instantaneous reaction; she began to shake and buried her face in the familiar feel of Taylor's chest. She felt his breathing increase, and suddenly the chill was gone. "Come on," Taylor whispered, getting up and holding out his hand. He took her bag and led her to a shortcut corridor on the third floor.

"What's this all about?" she asked hoarsely, not daring to meet his eyes.

"It's about you," he murmured, and he pressed a light, feathery kiss to her neck. This action elicited exactly the response he wanted from her; she gave a deep sigh and moved her head to allow him full access to the tender skin. He slowly licked and kissed a path to her lips before resting his forehead against hers. "We'll get through this... whatever it is... I promise you that, Ari." Then he captured her mouth in a kiss so thorough, her cheeks were flushed and she was out of breath. "That's my girl," he smiled, kissing her again.

Their kisses were cut abruptly short by the sound of the first bell, and they both sighed. "Double Potions," Ari groaned. "After earlier, I don't know if I can handle Snape any more."

"You can," Taylor replied as they headed to the dungeons, "because you're not alone. I'm here with you, Ariana."

The way he said her full name made her feel like she had melted into the floor. He generally did so sparingly, but when he said it, the effect was instant. She kissed him, but they had reached the dungeon classroom, and the catcalls from the Gryffindors did more to cool them off than the icy glares from the Slytherins.

Snape wrenched the door open and ordered them inside. Ari avoided looking at the greasy-haired man at all. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and her dad didn't trust him, and she trusted them; therefore, she didn't trust Snape either. Taylor and Ari gathered around a table with Ron, Hermione, and Harry as Snape took a silent count of students. Apparently satisfied with their class of 16, Snape shut the door with a snap.

It was then that Ari noticed just how cold the room was. She had goosebumps, and couldn't stop shivering for anything. Taylor discreetly took her hand in one of his and slipped it into the pocket of his robes as Snape discussed what they would be doing that day.

Ari had always been inordinately good at Potions, like her mother, and this fact annoyed Snape almost as much as the fact that she existed. Snape had been warned not to goad Ari--at least not by use of her last name, since hardly anyone in the school knew of the closer-than-expected bond between Sirius and Ari. But Snape seemed more bent on frustrating Ari than Harry, and even Hermione noticed as he hovered around Ari's cauldron.

As class was being dismissed, Snape silenly used Legilimency on Ari, but was shocked to find her Occlumency blocked him effectively enough for the situation. Get out, you foul, slimy, stinking bastard, she thought rashly, daring him to fish it out. I don't care what Hermione, Dumbledore, and Remus said, I'm with Harry, Ron, Ginny, and my dad on this.

Snape actually growled in frustration, but of course, no one else knew why. The interaction, however, left Ari weakened considerably, and the cold dungeon wasn't helping any. Taylor wrapped her in his arms and they slowly sidled up the stairs and caught up with the others.

"We've got Charms next," Ron said, not giving Hermione a chance to read off her schedule. Ginny sauntered by Harry, who grabbed her and kissed her rather possessively and warned her about the state of the dungeons (and of Snape) before letting her get on to Potions.

Ari liked Charms; she was good at them. But she didn't have to work at it, and not unlike Sirius, found the in-class practice boring and tedious. Taylor was watching her out of the corner of his eye, and was startled to remember she was left-handed. Things, odd things, were piecing together in his mind that he didn't believe should be there. Sirius was left-handed, and dammit if Ari didn't look like him.

She has the temperament of her mother, though, he thought, amused, as he watched Ari deftly produce a flock of tiny black-and-yellow birds. Orioles. Leave it to Ari to produce something so blatantly North American. Then again, that was part of the reason he--

"Mr. LENSK! Kindly do NOT wave your wand like that! You are in your seventh year, surely basic wand instruction is left to first years everywhere?"

Taylor winced, partly at the sound of his newest disguise last name, partly at Flitwick's tone, and partially at the look on Ari's face. She had been snaking one hand up his thigh but was now forced to abandon her efforts, at least momentarily. He sighed, and nodded, making sure that the next time Ari distracted him, he stopped waving his wand around so absentmindedly.

Ari raised her eyes almost shyly to Taylor's. She knew what it was like to have to hide who she was, but she still didn't think she knew who he really was. Of course, he didn't know who she was either, and she wasn't sure she was ready for him to know. Unfortunately, she was going to have to be ready.

Lunch was quick, but Ari didn't care; she was thoroughly looking forward to her afternoon classes. Taylor only had one of them with her, and it wasn't Transfiguration; Ari thought that was just as well as they parted ways. When she entered the classroom with Ron, Hermione, and Harry, a familiar black dog was sitting on the floor by the desk.

Ari grinned at the dog, knowing as well as the other three that this was really Sirius. "Hey, Snuffles," she said softly as Ron slid another seat up to a front desk so it would seat four instead of just three. Ron and Hermione slid into the middle. Ari sat on the outside next to Hermione, and Harry sat on Ron's other side.

When the last students had entered and the door was shut, Sirius transformed into himself. Even though the class was used to seeing McGonagall change, there was still an appreciative gasp. Sirius wasted no time setting them to work. He had Parvati and Lavender give each student in the class a basket, from which constant "mew's" could be heard.

"Kittens to spider monkeys," he announced as the girls were seated, now himself walking among the students and giving each one a color picture of said kind of monkey. Once he had completed his task, he stood back to watch.

Ari was irked within 10 minutes of beginning her task. Her black kitten had two monkey paws and was scrambling about the desk. Finally having enough of its mews and its wandering, she Silenced it. As soon as the kitten could no longer make noise, it sat haughtily in front of Ari with its back turned. She had no idea Sirius was behind her.

"I think you've tortured the kitten enough," he said roughly, causing Ari to jump and nearly drop her wand. "Remove the spell and put her away. I want to see you after class."

Ari bit back her nasty retort and managed to be gentle with the purring kitten, maintaining a handle on her anger somehow. Harry felt the tension and glanced up, which allowed his own kitten to scramble under Ron's upside-down basket. Ari was shaking, her face pale and her fists clenched, as she glared at the desk. When the bell rang, Harry couldn't have lied--he was glad to get away from her.

Once the room had cleared, Sirius pointed Ari into his office. He only looked a little irked, which somehow served to make her even madder. Sirius locked the door behind them, took a deep breath, and spun his daughter around to face him.

The surge of power she released upon him nearly knocked him off his feet. He steadied himself, glaring back and radiating gentler waves of magic. Finally, growing tired and weak under his unwavering gaze, Ari relented and sank to the floor, holding her head.

"What is wrong with you?!" Sirius hissed. "Keep this up and we may as well hand you and Harry over to Voldemort!"

"I- what?!"

Sirius kneeled in front of her. "Harry's not the only one at risk, Ari, that was made painfully clear this summer. You have to control your emotions. You're a powerful enough witch that releasing that power on anyone not expecting it could kill them. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?!"

Ari's blue eyes widened, and she nodded, stunned into silence as her headache made her entire body throb. For a moment, she felt as though she were falling, then the sensation was gone. She realized with a jolt that Sirius had started gently massaging her temples and was slowly pouring magic into the gap between them. "H-how did you do that?"

Sirius rocked back on his heels and looked at her seriously. "I had to do that to-to your mum a lot," he said quietly. Ari reached into the space between them, and Sirius held her small hand between his own two, reveling in its warmth and what that meant to him. "We still don't know what happened to her, Ari," he confessed. "Right now, you're all I've got. I have to protect you." He helped her up, made sure she had her balance, then sent her on her way to class with a note.

When Ari slipped in 20 minutes late, Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry, on the other hand, didn't. He had the distinct feeling that neither of his other friends had felt Ari's emotional power, but he had, and she looked drained from whatever Sirius had told her. Silently, she handed the note to Remus, avoiding his gaze, and slipped into the seat Taylor had been saving for her.

Remus looked at the note before going on, frowning at what he was reading.

'Remus, Ari's a lot stronger than I thought, and she's worse

than Harry about controlling her power under emotional strain.

She nearly bowled me over when I just looked her in the eye,

and I knew what to expect. We need to take this to Dumbledore

before someone like Draco Malfoy notices--or worse, doesn't

notice. This could get very dangerous very quickly. I think

you have the proof of Ari's strain against her emotional pressure

right in front of you. I was going to let her go back to her

room but I thought I might let you have your shot at calming

her down. She seems to trust you most, maybe you can find out

what happened this morning to make her so tetchy.

-Sirius'

As Remus had been reading the note, Taylor had taken Ari's hand in his own and very, very quickly kissed her lips. She was visibly exhausted from whatever had made her late to this class, and apparently that something worried Remus as well. When the class was dismissed, Remus finally made eye contact with Ari, telling her in no uncertain terms to stay put.

"I'll catch you up," she said quietly to Taylor as she walked to Remus' desk. "Tell Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, okay?" Taylor nodded and shut the door behind him.

"Here, or in your office?" Ari asked wearily. She was growing tired of all the questions, and her body had begun to ache.

Remus looked around, not quite satisfied with the empty room. "My office," he said quietly. Once inside, he set a couple charms Ari had never heard, and it slightly unnerved her. Remus set a cup of tea in front of her, which she accepted without question, then sat down across from her.

"I didn't mean to startle you with the charms, but what we're talking about here shouldn't be overheard." Ari nodded her agreement. "Right now, though, that isn't as important as why you're in here. Ari, please, what happened this morning? I know what classes you've had and I know with whom; I also know there is an animosity between Severus Snape and your father that has existed... well as long as I've known either. There was an animosity between Severus and James Potter, as well, so you being close to Harry makes you more of a target than Harry."

Ari's head hurt under the strain of so much information, and before she knew it, she was spilling everything that had happened in the dungeons. Snape's looks, his "near slips" with her last name, his disapproval of her perfect potion, his accusation of eavesdropping. "All I do is EXIST!" she cried in conclusion, the waves of power pouring off of her again. She tried to stop them, to control her emotions, but this strain was too much.

Remus was stunned by how much magic was rippling off the 17-year-old. It was more unnerving than Harry's first Patronus, much more unnerving. "Ari," he said quietly, "I think we need to pay a visit to the Headmaster, and your father needs to come, too."