Aradia

I lay on my bed. I'd won Draco Malfoy over. He wouldn't bother me now. All I had to do now was wait two days to be sorted and hopefully everything wouold go to plan. I looked at my watch. It was almost midnight. I'd heard Pansy come in earlier and I hoped they were all asleep. I crept out of the dorm and listened as the scruffle of people vanished behind the closed doors. The common room was almost silent, the fire still crackling. Trying to keep silent I left through the portrait hole and managed to make my way out on to the grounds. Tonight the sky was cloudy and I couod barely make out the moon. It wasn't quite full yet, but it would be in a few days. It was nice to be out inthe fresh air again. Feeling free I ran. Once I entered the woods I slowed to a walk and cautiously familiarised myself then went to find something. After about five minutes I was on the trail of a fox. I pursued it for another ten minutes before moving in for the kill.

It was strange to back on animals again. I'd been feeding off muggles the last year or so because they wouldn't recognise a vampire bite if it walked up and bit them. It was easier to live among muggles than among witches and wizards, who tend to be more cautious, or shouod be considering the circumstances. Anyway, feeling a bit more refreshed I went back up to the dorm and fell asleep.

Tuesday passed not much different from Monday, except I knew a few more people. That day I had History of magic (which was very boring and now I have to do a huge essay), Charms (which I think I'm up to standard in) and Study of Ancient Runes (which i'm ok in too). I remember Dumbledore saying that after I've been sorted he'll be able to sort out which lessons I may need to go dsown in because I've missed so much.

On Wednesday I have Care of Magical Creatures, Astrology and Herbology. After lessons I went to the library, to do that essay I got yesterday, and I started talking to Hermione Granger. We had similar classes, then again most people do. She was the one Draco insulted outside Potions that first day. However she seemed really nice, eventhough she didn't see me at first to be great. Then again I'm in Slytherin at the moment, though that may change tonight.

I said that I was being sorted tonight and that everything was alright so far. Shde talked about how she was muggle born and that Draco had bullied her about it since day one. When we went our seperate ways to dinner I thought about how level-headed she was. It looked like she didn't care what others thought of her. She was a strong girl, and would be a loyal friend.

At seven thirty I went to the gargoyle and met Dumbledore to be sorted. We climbed the stairs to his office.

'Hello again Aradia.'

'Hello sir.'

'I believe it is time for you to be sorted. Come and sit here.' He motioned a chair with his hand. I sat down and he brought the hat from it's shelf. He placed it on my head and went to sit behind his desk. On my head I felt the hat move and heard it whisper in my ear.

'Hmm... a late comer. Let's see. A confused one we have here' Confused, I thought, I'm not confused. Ok maybe a little with all the things about Dad and stuff, or maybe my mother. 'You seem well matched for all four houses. However you will be placed in... Gryffindor.' The hat fell silent above me. I sat stunned. I didn't expect to be placed in Gryffindor. Then again I didn't know which house I would be in. I thought I might've gone in Slytherin cinsidering I was in there the past three days. Now I'm a bit confused, I thought. I looked up to see Dumbledore smiling at me.

'I suppose you wuld like some answers to some questions Aradia?'

'Um... yes Sir.' He looked at me, as if waiting for a question. 'I have to say I'm a bit surprised to be placed in Gryffindor.'

'You are? I'm guessing your father has not told you then. Ah well the letter must not have arrived yet, therefore I will tell you myself.' He hesitated and looked directly into my eyes. 'Tell me Aradia. What do you know of your mother?'

'Not a lot, Sir.. She was a powerful witch, people say I lok like her. My father told me that she was once called an Enchantress.'

'That is all true. Did your father tell you her maiden name?' I shook my head. 'Her name was Jade Potter.' I stared at him a long time. Jade Potter? The name Potter kept floating around in my head. If she was Miss Potter wouldn't that make her James Potter's sister. Then in theory that would mean I am cousin to James' son, Harry Potter. As I was trying to process my thoughts I looked up and Dumbledore was nodding.

'Yes you are the cousin of Harry Potter.' I sat for about ten of fifteen minutes, maybe more I don't know, trying to register what was in my brain.

When Ileft McGonagall was standing there. I turned back and said,

'Thank you Sir.' He nodded.

'Your things have already been taken to Grffindor tower,' Professor McGonagall was saying as we walked.

'So do the people in Gryffindor know I'm coming?' McGonagall shook her head.

'I will anounce it it when we enter the common room.' The rest of the journey was made in silence, only broken by mcgonagall saying the password "Mirror Dreams". Oh yeah, I thought, I'll have to remember a new password. What was it? Mirror Dreams, I think.

When we entered the noise ceased as every hed turned to look first at McGonagall and then at me.

'Everyone listen. Some of you may have already seen this girl around Hogwarts. This is Aradia Dagaz. She has just started at Hogwarts and will be joining the fifth year. She has been sorted into Gryffindor and I hope that you will all make her feel welcome.' She looked around at the faces. 'You may carry on with whatever you were doing.' The noise around slowly started up again. 'Follow me,' McGonagall said. She lead me through the crowds towards the corner. Sat on three chairs talking were Hermione, Harry Potter and that Ron guy. McGonagall walked up to Hermione and said,

'Hermione would be a dear and help me make Aradia feel more at home.' Hermione nodded. 'Thank you.' Then turning to me she said. 'I presume Harry doesn't know you previous revelation. Maybe you should enlighten him to your relationship. Goodnight.' She turned and left through the portrait hole.

'What was that about your's and Harry's relationship?' Hermione asked. I turned to see three expectant faces loking at me. I pulled up a chair to their circular table and faced Harry. He sat opposite me and now I that I'd been given a chance I was able to see how he resembles my mum, with the green eyes and the unruly brown hair. All the while three pairs of eyes waited for me to answer.

'Harry,' I said, 'what do you know about your Dad's family?' He looked at me, then shrugged.

'Not much. I didn't know my Dad or Mum. They were both killed, you've probably heard the story.' I smiled.

'Well I never knew my Mum either. She was killed when I was four. Her Name was Jade Dagaz. She was supposd to be an incredibly powerful witch. Now what I found out about about an hour ago was that before my Mum met my Dad she was known as.' I paused. 'Jade Potter. She was your Dad's younger sister.' I watched Harry's face, waiting for him to say something. He was obviously trying to think things through. It was Ron who spoke up.

'So you're saying your Mum was Harry's aunt?' I nodded.

'Making me Harry's cousin.' At this Harry stared at me. As if trying to find answers in my mind, however there weren't any. Suddenly he got up and ran upstairs. Ron started to get up, but Hermione stopped him.

'Leave him for a bit Ron. This is big news for him.' The minute silence following that was awkward. After about a minute or so I said,

'Do you want me to go talk to him?' Hermione looked up.

'Yeah, I think that would help. Ron show her where your dormitory is.' Ron obeyed and I followed him up the stairs at the back of the common room.

'He's in there,' he said, pointing at a wooden door. I nodded a thanks and he left. I faced the door. It was solid wood and had the Gryffindor logo at the top. I knocked and let myslef in. Harry was sat on, I'm guessing, his bed.

'Harry I know this is big news for you, but it's a shock for me too.'

'Aradia come and look at this.' He looked up and now I could see he was holding a book on his lap.

'What is it?' I said, walking over to the bed. I sat next to Harry and my question wa answered.

'It's a photoalbum Hagrid gave me at the end of my first year.'

'Hagrid's the game keeper right?'

'Yeah. Over the years, as I've met new people from my family, I find their picture and write their name next to it. In theory if you Mum is Dad's sister then she should be in here. I was looking for her. What did she look like?'

'Um... I don't really remember. People say I look a lot like her.' Harry nodded. He turned the page and I saw a huge group photo of all the family at the wedding. I could see where Harry had written the names of people he knew - Remus Lupin (Moony), Sirius Black (Padfoot), Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail), Mum and Dad.

'That's my Dad,' I said and pointed at the page. 'So that means that woman next to him is my Mum.' I hadn't seen a proper picture of her in ages.

'She's so pretty,' I heard Harry say. 'And you know what?'

'What?'

'I can see the likeness, green eyes, brown messy hair.'

'Like Potter, like Potter,' I said. We both laughed.

'I can't believe I found you,' he said.

'I can't believe I'm cousin to the Harry Potter.'

'No, no. It means that I have other family, wizard family. It means I may not have to go back to the Dursley's.' I stopped and stared at him.

'What?'

'Maybe I could go back with you for the summer. We are blood after all.' I stared at him.

'Whoa, whoa. Um... there's something you don't know about my Dad's side of the family, and it's something only Dumbledore, Snape and Freea know.' I didn't want to betray my secret, but he was family after all and I didn't want him believing things that may not come to be. 'Harry my Dad's a vampire.

'A vampire?' He wasn't repulsed, which is a good sign.

'Yeah, and that makes me a vampire too.'

'Ok.'

'That doesn't change anything.'

'I know.'

'It's just, um... we're always on the move because of it. It's why I haven't been here the last four years, and why you may not be able to stay with us.' I saw his face drop slightly, then he looked up again.

'Wait. If you were on the move, so you couldn't come here. Now that you're here you may not be allowed back on the road. In which case you may have to come and stay at the Dursley's with me.'

'Hmm, maybe. I don't know. We'll have to wait and see.' Harry reached for the quill on his desk and wrote down my parents names on the album.

'Your Mum was called Jade and your Dad is called?'

'Otto.'

'Thanks. Maybe we should go back downstairs and explain.'

'Oh by the way, don't tell anyone about the vampire thing.'

'Ok.' We got to the door. Harry stopped before he opened it. 'You know, it'll be nice to have some family around here,' I smiled.

'Yes it will.' We gave each other a hug and went downstairs to join Hermione and Ron.

I met the other fifth years - Parvati, Lavender, Seamus, Dean and Neville. Everyone was so nice and I suddenly thought about how easier it was to fit in here than it did in Slytherin. Oh no, Draco. He's not going to like the fact that I'm in Slytherin. Oh well I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I have Potions tomorrow we can talk then. I've already beaten him it shouldn't be hard to do it again.