Chapter Text
Ariel heard the twelve chimes of the Common clock. It was midnight, but Ariel was not tired at all. She sat on the edge of her bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, the emptiness being a painful balm, staring out at the rain-streaked window. Harry’s words echoed painfully in her mind: “My parents may be dead but at least they cared for me!”, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.
The Easter holidays had left the common room eerily quiet, devoid of the usual chatter and laughter. With the lack of laughter, Ariel was left alone to stew in her thoughts. She felt a pang of jealousy at her friends’ absence - an absence that made her confrontation with Harry feel even more isolating. Ariel hugged her knees to her chest, wishing she could share her burdens with someone, but the fear of being a burden herself kept her silent.
Despite never being friends, Ariel and Harry had known each other through Ron and Ginny. They moved in similar circles, sharing common friends and memories in the summer. However, an unspoken tension always lingered between them, rooted in misunderstandings and unvoiced assumptions.
That day, the argument had erupted unexpectedly. Ariel had made a passing comment about always loving the attention, not realizing how deeply it would cut Harry. His retort, sharp and unyielding, left Ariel reeling. She hadn’t meant to start an argument, but the damage was done.
When her friends returned, she plastered on a smile she’d been practicing in the mirror for days, hiding the turmoil inside. Ginny seemed to notice something amiss but said nothing, wanting to find out more before coming to a conclusion. Ariel was grateful, not wanting to be a burden, but a small part of her just wanted someone, anyone , to hug her and ask what was wrong.
Determined to keep her problems to herself, Ariel avoided discussing the argument. Whenever she saw Harry, she couldn’t help but give him a hard shove in the corridors, a physical manifestation of the anger simmering beneath her surface. Their eyes would lock briefly, a silent challenge hanging between them, but neither would speak.
One day, while wandering the quiet corridors, Ariel stumbled upon Luna sitting on the cold stone floor, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
“Luna,” Ariel whispered, crouching down beside her. “What’s wrong?”
Luna looked up, her eyes filled with an unusual vulnerability. “It’s the Ravenclaws,” she said quietly. “They’ve been awful. They think I’m strange… call me names.”
Ariel’s heart ached for her friend. “Luna, you’re brilliant just the way you are,” she said fiercely. “Don’t let them get to you.”
Luna managed a weak smile. “Thank you, Ariel.”
The next day, Ariel’s resolve was tested. She encountered a group of Ravenclaws in a deserted corridor, their harsh laughter bouncing off the walls like a cruel chorus. Luna stood against the wall, her shoulders hunched as insults cut through the air.
“Loony Lovegood, lost her mind again!” one jeered, their voices dripping with malice.
Ariel’s anger flared like wildfire, her hand clenching her wand tightly. “Leave her alone!” she shouted, stepping forward, her eyes blazing with defiance.
The Ravenclaws sneered, stepping forward with wands drawn. “What are you going to do about it, Gryffindor?”
Without hesitation, Ariel raised her wand. “ Flipendo !” she cried, her voice fueled by a mixture of fury and resolve.
The corridor erupted into chaos. Spells shot through the air, ricocheting off the stone walls. Ariel dodged a Bat-bogey hex, her reflexes sharp from Quidditch training, and retaliated with a “ Petrificus Totalus !”, each movement driven by protective instinct.
Ariel’s heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins. The duel was fierce, spells flying like fireworks, each strike filled with determination to protect Luna.
In the end, the Ravenclaws retreated, leaving Ariel and Luna victorious but breathless, the tension of the moment still crackling in the air.
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Later, in Professor McGonagall’s office, Ariel accepted her detention without complaint. Her only regret was not being able to shield Luna from harm sooner.
As Ariel returned to the common room, the unspoken tension between her and Harry simmered. She caught his gaze, filled with an unyielding challenge, and couldn’t resist giving him a slight shove as she passed by. Their friends were growing concerned, the divide between them becoming more apparent with each encounter.
For Ariel, the path forward was clear: protect those who matter, even if it meant facing the consequences (and Harry) head-on.
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The return of students’ energy brought a renewed liveliness to Hogwarts, the castle buzzing with laughter and chatter. Yet, amidst the vibrant atmosphere, Ariel felt like an outsider, her mind a storm of unresolved emotions.
Ginny, ever observant and intuitive, noticed the shift in Ariel’s demeanor immediately. Normally lively and quick to smile, Ariel now moved through the halls with a subdued air, her thoughts seemingly far away.
Ginny’s concern deepened one afternoon when she overheard a conversation between Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She had paused outside the common room door, drawn by the familiar voices.
“I shouldn’t have said it,” Harry admitted, regret evident in his tone. “But Ariel knows how to push every button. She’s just so… stubborn.”
Ron groaned in response. “Mate, you did kind of hit below the belt.”
Hermione’s voice was calm and rational. “You both need to talk it out. This tension isn’t helping anyone.”
Ginny decided then and there to speak with Ariel. She found her friend later that evening, nestled in a corner of the common room, an untouched Transfigurations book open in her lap. Ariel stared into the fireplace, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
“Hey,” Ginny said softly, pulling up a chair beside her. “Mind if we talk?”
Ariel looked up, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. “Of course, Ginny. What’s up?”
“Actually, it’s about you,” Ginny replied, her voice gentle but insistent. “I overheard Harry talking to Ron and Hermione. He mentioned your argument.”
Ariel’s expression tightened, and she glanced away, her fingers tracing the edges of the book’s pages. “It’s nothing, really. Just a stupid argument.”
Ginny leaned forward, her gaze unwavering. “Ariel, I know you. It’s not nothing. I want to help, but I can’t unless you let me in.”
Ariel sighed, a heavy breath that seemed to carry the weight of her turmoil. “It’s just… Harry said something really hurtful,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I know I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did, but it cut deep.”
Ginny nodded, giving her the space to continue. “What did he say?”
“He said… he said at least his parents cared for him,” Ariel confessed, her voice cracking as she relived the sting of the words. “I know he didn’t mean it, but it hurt.”
Ginny’s eyes softened with empathy. “Ariel, I’m so sorry. That must have been really painful to hear.”
Ariel nodded, her gaze fixed on the flames dancing in the fireplace. “I just can’t face him right now, Ginny. I don’t even want to look at him.”
Ginny reached out, clasping Ariel’s hand in hers, offering silent support. “You’re not a burden, Ariel. You’re our friend, and we care about you. It’s okay to take your time. You don’t have to talk to him until you’re ready.”
Ariel felt a small wave of relief wash over her, grateful for Ginny’s understanding. “Thanks, Ginny. I just need some space to sort things out.”
Ginny smiled warmly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “And when you’re ready, I’ll be right there with you, ready to punch the toe-rag. We all will.”
The two sat in companionable silence, the warmth of the fire casting a comforting glow around them. Ariel felt the tension in her chest begin to ease, if only slightly, as she realized she wasn’t alone in this.
With friends like Ginny, Ariel knew she could navigate her tangled web of emotions and mess, even if it meant taking each day as it came, one step at a time.